Consultation for disability services

Queanbeyan has 1380 people who identify as having high support needs for their disability.

According to Deb Gillman the community development officer at Queanbeyan City Council, this is slightly higher than other NSW regional areas.

"When you add the people who care for those people, that adds another 3000 people on," Ms Gillman said.

"It's quite significant for Queanbeyan's population."

"People with a disability often increases as people age, and with our aging population, this is going to become more important into the future that we plan for."

"We need to have the right amount of services and a community that people can actively and fully participate in."

A problem for a long time is that disabled needs are often not taken into consideration when building new community infrastructure, such as paths that aren't wide enough for mobility scooters and cafes with steps.

At the meeting, discussions focused on attitudes and behaviours to people living with disabilities; the livability of the community; access to employment and navigation of the services.

Larry Schwass a Queanbeyan local living with a disability said generally getting around Queanbeyan is quite good.

"But the footpaths need repairing, they need to be wider and the tree roots are a real issue," he said.

"Some of the shops you can't get into because of steps or not enough room."