Federal funding cuts have forced the closure of an essential disability support service that has linked millions of people with inclusive travel and recreation.
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Nican was forced to close its ACT-based office and phone and email service last week, after almost three decades of supporting people with a disability.
The closure followed the federal government's decision in 2014 to cut funding to specialist disability information services, despite a period of major and disruptive change with the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Nican provided a national database and information referral service linking people with a disability to more than 3500 accessible accommodation, recreation, transport, equipment and other services.
Nican marketing manager Craig Wallace said the loss of the national service would cause a "huge gap" in support and information, at a time when it was needed most.
"For people with disabilities like me, travel is a really anxious experience, you have to plan it like a military expedition," he said.
"If something breaks down, or if you arrive in a hotel that couldn't take a wheelchair hoist onto the bed, then what are your other options and how do you find them?
"We did that and kept it continually updated to try and take some of the fear out of travel."
The service, like many similar, had aimed to break down barriers preventing an inclusive society.
It was described as the only major comprehensive national source of information and advice of its kind.
Nican also offered a concession card for those travelling with a carer, giving a 50 per cent discount.
Mr Wallace said the service employed three full-time staff and one project officer, who were now looking for new jobs.
He said the mood was one of sadness last week, as the Mitchell office was cleared out.
"Our other mood is one of surprise and bafflement, because we expected with the NDIS coming, there would actually be more need for information," he said.
"For an organisation that's closing down, we're as busy as ever, despite the fact that we're having to shut up shop."
Nican's website had five million hits per year.
It also delivered a highly cost-effective service.
The funding levels, about $161,000 per year, had remained unchanged since it was launched by Hazel Hawke in 1988.
The service had fought hard to stave off the closure.
It launched the Save Nican Campaign encouraging supporters to ring their local member of parliament, the minister, or spread the news on social media.
Despite their efforts, Nican was unable to bring about a reversal of the 2014-15 budget decision, or find alternative funding sources.
"They're going to need to reinvent us when the NDIS rolls out what's called tier two services in 2016," he said.
