For individuals on the autism spectrum, the bright lights and loud sounds of a busy supermarket can cause sensory overload. In response to customer feedback, Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) in partnership with Coles, has rolled out "Quiet Hour" in 68 supermarket stores today to make the shopping experience a little easier. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-21/coles-rolls-out-quiet-hour-to-help-shoppers-with-autism/9176272

A wristband called Sunu emits a high-frequency sound wave that bounces off objects as far as 14 feet in front before registering as a gentle, pulsing vibration. The closer the object is ? whether it?s a wall, trash can or person ? the more frequent the pulses become, allowing blind people to create a mental map of the world around them using echolocation. It?s like the sonar device being used in vehicles to sense nearby objects and avoid crashes. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2017/10/27/for-decades-the-blind-have-used-canes-to-get-around-now-an-special-wrist-band-helps-them-locate-hazards/?

Starting with the 5 dollar note this year, Australia's Reserve Bank is releasing new notes which are a world first. Most noticeably they have a clear vertical strip down the middle, which houses various security features that become visible when the note is tilted. They also include a "tactile" feature, so people who are blind or vision-impaired can distinguish between different denominations.

Australia's first national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth mental health campaign led by youth was developed by an indigenous creative agency. www.gilimbaa.com.au

Great idea seen at Hervey Bay -space at community table to allow wheelchairs to fit.

Hireup is an online platform that is changing the way Australians with disability find, hire and manage their own support workers, along with recent changes in legislation. Previously people with disability had to accept support work on someone else?s terms. The new approach encourages investment in technology and the community. The Hireup platform is designed to be secure, easy to use and flexible, benefitting both people who need services and those who provide them. It matches people with a disability and support workers not just on qualification but on shared interests. www.hireup.com.au