About

The Obstructed Technology blog began after I was present at a meeting with Bill Shorten and realised that there were a lot of stories about the Australian Assistive Technology system and people were eager to tell their stories and there were politicians and journalists and other people who wanted and needed to read these stories.

I would like everybody affected by the Assistive Technology System – including people with all types of disabilities, parents, children, siblings, paid and unpaid carers, and any other professionals – to have a chance tell their stories about their experiences with the system. We would like to know what it’s like trying to obtain the assistive technology solutions (including equipment, environment change and personal care) that you need, whether you’re trying to obtain it for yourself, for your children, for your parents, for your clients, or something else. You can find some example questions that might remind you of stories you can tell. If you need help telling your story, I’ll give you all the help that I can – just contact me and ask.

And if you’re a politician or journalist or other professional reading these stories, please take a moment to recognise the emotions and what it might feel like to be the person experiencing the events in the story. Every story in this blog is real and has happened to a human being who deserves all the dignity and respect that you do.

Journalists, if you’d like to be put in touch with some individuals so you can write a more in-depth story then again, please contact me and I’ll do my best.

Everybody, remember to subscribe so you can read all the new stories as soon as they’re available, and tell all your friends about the site!

Are you itching to tell your story now? You can go straight to our Tell Your Story page and upload your story if you want to, or if you’re not sure about it you can contact me and I’ll help in any way I can.

- Ricky Buchanan