Every adventure requires a first step.</span></p>OpenTrax is bringing the adventure and outdoors one step closer to NDIS participants through their unique approach to Allied Health Services.  With their own picture of inclusion, OpenTrax staff make it possible for people of different abilities to experience activities they never thought possible or want to start doing again.</span>[/column_text][empty_space height="22px"]Cycling can be a very enjoyable way to get in some endorphin-releasing physical activity,  social interaction, and a sense of independence. Despite its popularity, many adults and young people with disabilities face significant challenges to learn how to ride and participate in community cycling both recreationally and for transport. Riding is a common aim for many people with disabilities who aren't able to drive for one reason or another.  But, more on that later….</span>[/column_text][empty_space height="25px"][edgtf_blockquote text="Many people with disabilities didn't think that certain opportunities were open or available to them. We're changing that!"][empty_space height="40px"][edgtf_button size="medium" type="" target="_self" icon_pack="" font_weight="700" text="Apply Here | OpentraX Rides ©" link="https://opentrax.com.au//pages/opentrax-rides-application-page/" font_size="30"][empty_space height="40px"]</p>One of our dads of the program was telling me about how he and his son had attended an adventure talk at a prestigious adventure venue in Brisbane, and whilst the lad was fidgeting a bit during the talk, the lady in front turned around and told him to “shut up”!</span></p>The father bravely waited to the end of the talk and approached the lady to explain that his son had autism and that what he was doing during the talk was normal and due to his autism; on hearing this the lady retorted arrogantly, “Well, maybe he shouldn’t be here then!”...</span>[/column_text][empty_space height="25px"][edgtf_blockquote text="We want to make the outdoors accessible to everybody, especially those who might have a few more barriers in their way, ensuring they are getting the most out of their lives too."][empty_space height="22px"]It got me thinking… If he wasn’t supposed to be there, where was he supposed to be?</span></p>This is clearly one ignorant person, though it does make you think about wider attitudes towards people with disabilities and inclusion in the outdoors. How do people from all areas of society see themselves in the outdoors, regardless of colour, ability, social status, age and gender these days? OpenTrax is an inclusive, unique allied health provider specialising in using adventure-based education and activities.</span>[/column_text][empty_space height="22px"]The visibility and inclusion of disability in society have increased in recent years with growing exposure through the Paralympics, Invictus Games and plenty of media exposure covering stories of achievement and performances of people with disabilities, but it seems to take longer to filter into the outdoor world. Whether it’s popular in the mainstream media or not, who cares, it’s about making sure that the opportunity is given to those that may not have access to activities like these that are appropriately delivered considering the varying nature of different participants needs.</span>[/column_text][/column][/row][empty_space height="25px"][edgtf_blockquote text="We enable our participants to make significant progress with whatever it is they are wanting or needing to work on."][empty_space height="22px"]Since OpenTrax has been running various programs, a lot of people with a disability have been able to enjoy active adventure sports and a ‘relatively’ rugged environment, skill or activity that they can master.</span></p>From the beginning, we were going to change the paradigm so that the outdoors can be a place where everyone sees themselves and has the opportunity to experience it for themselves if they want to.</span>[/column_text][empty_space height="22px"][edgtf_button size="medium" type="" target="_self" icon_pack="" font_weight="700" text="Apply Here | OpentraX Rides ©" link="https://opentrax.com.au//pages/opentrax-rides-application-page/" font_size="30"][empty_space height="22px"]So how do people get to see themselves in the outdoors?</span></p>OpenTrax makes the outdoor more equitable by looking at how people from a range of backgrounds see their place in the outdoors, what do they want to do and how do they want to participate. This is done through various cultural, social and functional lenses.</span></p>OpenTrax does everything possible to get people involved in outdoor recreation and to enable them to perform to their own highest levels relative to what it is that THEY ARE WORKING ON.</span>[/column_text][empty_space height="25px"][edgtf_blockquote text="We embrace a purpose-led philosophy. What we do is beyond work. We are here for the greater good – to provide something that cannot be manufactured."][empty_space height="22px"]There are organisations that do some amazing work in this area. Some are traditional outdoor centres, others are community-based organisations or support organisations that might provide adaptive equipment or training. Many of them have a long history of inclusive practice. But the same applies to disability as it does to all inclusion: the door is open but the route to the door is hard and littered with obstacles.</span>[/column_text][empty_space height="25px"][edgtf_blockquote text="OpenTrax is committed to making a significant difference in improving accessibility to the outdoors for people of all abilities."][empty_space height="22px"]We all have a role in helping to remove these barriers so that more people can get into the outdoors, be this having a broader diversity of people in outdoor magazines and adverts for equipment, making equipment that fits a wider range of participants, having more coverage of amazing projects that show people of all abilities enjoying and performing in the outdoors, and training community change drivers in organisations or outdoor professionals to work in a more culturally aware and inclusive way. OpenTrax is committed to making a significant difference in improving accessibility to the outdoors for people of all abilities.</span>[/column_text][empty_space height="22px"]It is our hope that anyone who joins in on one of our program's information nights or webinars is more than welcome</em></strong> to shift about and make a bit of noise, it might make a welcome change to the heckling and shouting.</span>[/column_text][empty_space height="22px"][empty_space height="22px"][edgtf_button size="medium" type="" target="_self" icon_pack="" font_weight="700" text="Apply Here | OpentraX Rides ©" link="https://opentrax.com.au//pages/opentrax-rides-application-page/" font_size="30"][/column][/row]</p>