Mandatory access vote a win for disability advocates like Des Ryan, OAM, after years of obstruction

Des Ryan was awarded an Order of Australia for his work in disability advocacy — but he probably can’t come to your house.

He’s spent decades on the Queensland board of Spinal Life Australia travelling the country and pioneering employment opportunities — but he still rings ahead to cafés to make sure he can enter.

Through Mr Ryan’s advocacy work, he’s helped knock down barriers for people with disabilities.

But little things — narrow hallways or door frames or even steps — can still hamper him.

Talking about his achievements, Mr Ryan — a partial quadriplegic after suffering a spinal injury when he was 14 — is grateful for his father’s Irish humour, for thickening his skin, and…