Perth Zoo wins national disability access award

Perth Zoo's long-term commitment to being a user-friendly place for people with disability has been recognised with its receipt of the Companion Card Affiliate of the Year Award.

Companion Card promotes the right of people with a disability who require a companion with the opportunity to attend cultural, entertainment, sport and recreation events and activities at no cost to the carer.

Perth Zoo has been affiliated with the program since 2006, implementing a range of services to make the zoo user-friendly for everyone.

These include accessible parking, mobility scooter and wheelchair hire, an accessibility map, an accessible children's playground, wheelchair friendly drinking fountains, soundscapes and audio devices, hands-on activities and a higher path at the Savannah exhibition to provide better viewing for people using wheelchairs and mobility devices.

634 businesses, organisations, events and venues in Western Australia registered as affiliates in the Companion Card program while 9,000 card holders are registerd to affiliates' events.

National Disability Services, operates the Companion Card program in Western Australia.

Commenting on the initiative, National Disability Services Manager Julie Whalin stated "the Companion Card is all about promoting fair ticketing, giving these people the chance to have a really good social life and participate in the community."

Companion Card promotes the right of people with a disability, who require a companion, to fair ticketing at events and venues across Australia.

The National Companion Card Scheme brings together State and Territory Companion Card programs that enable eligible people with lifelong disability to participate in activities without incurring the cost of a second ticket for their companion.

14th April 2014 - VISITORS GET UP CLOSE TO PERTH ZOO’S ORANGUTANS

14th December 2012 - WORLD-FIRST BREEDING SUCCESS AT PERTH ZOO