The early years

In 1947 Frank Lionel Watts “Lionel” to his mates, made a pact to join the navy with his friends from the Manly Surf Life Saving Club. Lionel eagerly signed up only to find that his friends’ mothers had banned them from joining, so Lionel went off to service on his own. He was stationed at Geelong in Victoria, where he met his bride-to-be Dorothy, at a dance at the Palais Ballroom.

In 1956 the young ambitious 28 year old Lionel Watts was enjoying life, living in Sydney’s beachside suburb of Narrabeen, with his wife Dorothy and 2 young daughters Nicole, aged four and Kerry aged two. They owned their own home, and the future looked bright. Employed by GJ Coles, he was a dynamic Junior Executive Manager, with an assured career ahead of him. Little did they know what lay ahead for both of them. All this was to change, overnight...

Later in 1956, Lionel was struck down with Chronic Bulbar Poliomyelitis, commonly known as Polio. The disease was to leave him a quadriplegic, with only the use of his left forearm, and the fingers and thumb of his left hand. The disease left him weighing just 5 stone (32 kilograms)! He spent the next 2 years convalescing at Prince Henry Hospital, and Royal North Shore Hospital. After 2 years he finally returned home. He was ready to go back to work, but was rejected at every turn, and became very disillusioned with the attitude towards people with a disability.

Born out of frustration with his immobility Lionel enlisted the help of his brother Lloyd, and a friend Ian Harrison, to build him a motorised wheelchair. Using a Banana lounge from a disposal store, they developed one of the first “electric” wheelchairs in Australia. In early 1962, for the first time in over 4 years, Lionel was able to leave his home.

Having been rejected by rehabilitation agencies, on the grounds that “he was too badly handicapped ever to be rehabilitated”, Lionel joined forces with other people with a disability, to form an organisation known as the Motorised Wheelchair Club. Later renamed The Wheelchair & Disabled Association of Australia, Lionel was appointed as the first President of the Association. The Association raised money by selling button badges on the streets of Sydney. With much assistance from Rotary, and many hours of time donated by local tradesmen, they managed to build their first clubhouse at Narrabeen, which opened on 10th June 1962.

Lionel's Vision

The organisation continued to work hard to raise funds, and channelled their money into the development of electric wheelchairs with Jack Cragg, who played a leading role in the development of new models of wheelchairs well into the future. The association also established a benevolent fund, to assist the most needy, and purchased 2 vehicles to provide much needed transport for their members. As president, Lionel Watts had a vision, and set down a blueprint for the future, with 4 key aims for the organisation:

1. To build a clubhouse for the group at Narrabeen
2. To construct an Administration block
3. To develop a Sheltered Workshop for people with a disability
4. To design and construct a residential hostel for people with a disability

Following a request from a member to find a house with no steps to live in, the project was to be named ... House with No Steps

Early in 1964 the Association leased 1000 square feet of factory space in Brookvale to setup a sheltered workshop to provide employment for people with a disability, under the banner of “Progress Industries”. This was mainly to assist them to regain the skills required for employment. The sheltered workshop and employee wages, were subsidised by funds raised from 2 Ladies Auxiliaries in Manly and Narrabeen. One of the members of the Auxiliary, Mrs Clara ‘Twinkle’ Stevenson MBE, was to bequeath the Association a beachside property at Narrabeen. The Association also purchased a parcel of land in Brookvale, with plans to build a large model workshop to provide employment in the future.

1964 became a turning point for the Association, with the Association’s fundraising base firmly established. As well as the annual ‘Button Day’ which raised ₤620, there were raffles, street stalls, bingo nights and door knock appeals. Art Unions were then introduced with a brand new Mercedes Benz as first prize, raising ₤4700! These Art Unions became a very lucrative source of income and were to raise the bulk of the funds required to build the first “House With No Steps”.

Fighting for the dream

Lionel Watts continued throughout 1964, to lobby the NSW Labor Government, in particular, the Minister for Lands Keith Compton, seeking a land grant in the Belrose area, for the first “House With No Steps”. Meanwhile ACROD (The Australia Council for Rehabilitation of the Disabled) was lobbying the federal government for assistance. Until now, any rehabilitation of people with a disability, had been left entirely up to volunteer organisations. With a federal election looming, the Association was hopeful that Federal assistance would come. When the budget was handed down they were all sadly disappointed.

1965 was a turning point for the Association, when after 15 months of negotiations, the NSW State Government finally agreed to grant the 2.5 acres of land at Belrose, so eagerly sought by Lionel Watts, for the construction of the first “House With No Steps”. An official dedication of the land was held on 24th July 1965 in front of a large crowd, marching girls, 200 Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. During July 1965, the Warringah Shire Council also voted unanimously, to give the name “The Lionel Watts Park” to a 20 acre parcel of recreational parkland, opposite the newly granted Belrose site.

The Dorothy Watts Vocational Training Unit

Finally Lionels vision came to life with the launch of 'The Dorothy Watts Vocational Training Unit'. The Units for Independent Living in Belrose, were opened on 29th March, 1969. The building was later awarded the ACROD/Royal Australian Institute of Architects “Building for the Disabled” Award in 1972.

STAGE 1 The Dorothy Watts Vocational Training Centre for the training and employment of people with disabilities. This facility which included a Wheelchair Factory and Sheltered Workshop provided employment for over 100 people with a disability.

STAGE 2 Self Contained Units for Independent Living.

STAGE 3 The Accommodation Centre was never completed due to a shift in objectives within the organisation and the Intensive Care and Disability Rehab Unit was no longer required as hospitals had started building their own spinal and rehabilitation units.

Architect Frank Fox, whom Lionel Watts had met some years earlier, had offered his services as honorary Architect to design the first “House With No Steps”. Spectacularly modern plans were developed for a 3 staged development and builder Arthur Little appointed. The continued support of Frank Fox and Arthur Little was of great benefit to The Wheelchair and Disabled Association. Frank Fox remained honorary architect to the Association until his death. Arthur Little was later to become patron of the organisation.

On 15th October 1966, Stage One of House With No Steps at Belrose was officially opened by the NSW Premier, Sir Robert Askin in front of a crowd of 500 people. It was named the ‘Dorothy Watts Vocational Training Unit’ in honour of Lionel’s wife Dorothy who was a tower of strength throughout his life. Lionel’s vision was finally coming to life!

Public areas become more accessible

The next project for the Association was to change the building codes and architectural standards.

In 1966 ACROD passed a resolution to strive for the elimination of architectural barriers. Lionel And Dorothy Watts travelled the world including Britain and the USA researching what other nations were doing in regard to this problem.

In the USA, President Lyndon Johnston was breaking new ground, establishing the National Commission on Architectural Barriers in May 1965. The British standard Code of Practice, ‘Access for the Disabled to Buildings’ was published in 1967. Lionel, along with ACROD and other organisations, continued to lobby the Federal and State Governments, The Institute of Architects, the Real Estate Institute of NSW and other groups seeking a commitment.

ACROD and its affiliates were finally to achieve their aim when in 1968 the Australian Standard Code of Design for access by Handicapped Persons: Part (1) - Public Buildings and Facilities, was published. This was to bring about the most significant change to the lives of people living with a disability in Australia’s history, making day-to-day living easier on many fronts. These new laws incorporated:

1. Mandatory wheelchair access to ALL public buildings via ramps (previously people either had to be carried up stairs, or access via the delivery dock or kitchen in many public buildings).
2. The introduction of parking permits for the physically handicapped
3. The mandatory inclusion of ‘laybacks’ in footpaths and kerb crossings

FACT: International symbol of Access was designed by Susanne Koefoed in 1968. This symbol is seen where access has been approved, particularly for wheelchair users, but also for other disbility issues. The symbol denotes the removal of environmental barriers such as steps.

In 1969 Lionel was invited to attend the President’s Committee on Rehabilitation in Washington by President Nixon. He was to attend similar seminars on 5 other occassions over the following 8 years.

International research

In 1968 Lionel and Dorothy flew to the United States to inspect sheltered workshops and observe new automation methods. They visited one of the most successful disability ventures in the World, Ability Industries on Long Island, New York. The company competed in the open market. It had a turnover of $US 4,500,000 and employed more than 400 people with a disability. They went on to Honolulu where he had been invited to attend a seminar run by the World Vocational Rehabilitation Committee. Before returning to Australia, they attended the fourth Pacific Conference on Rehabilitation, where Lionel had been invited to present a paper on the ‘Establishment of Sheltered Workshops’. They returned to Australia “filled with enthusiasm and optimistic hope”.

Rewarded for service

In 1969 Lionel Watts received further recognition for his great contribution to the welfare of people with a disability by being awarded an M.B.E. in the New Year’s Honours. Later in 1982, Lionel was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his work in rehabilitation.

Expansion continues

Even before the first House with No Steps was completed in Belrose, plans were underway to construct many more facilities throughout NSW.

The organisation shifted its focus, recognizing the need fot more regional centres to be built, meaning that people living with a disability in regional areas were mot forced to move into the city to gain employment and fulfillment. Over the next 10 years, the organisation expanded into NSW – Hunter (Speers Point) and Southern NSW (Fernhill) in 1964, Western NSW (Forbes) in 1971 and Northern NSW (Alstonville) in 1972. In 1975, the organisation crossed the NSW borders into Queensland with the opening of an office in South East Queensland (1975). Further expansion north came more recently into Townsville in North Queensland in 2009 and the ACT in 2010. House with No Steps now provides services to 3300 people in 160 locations across NSW, Queensland and the ACT.

Sadly, Lionel passed away in 2000 but his wife Dorothy remains an important part of House with No Steps. Even now well into her 80’s, she continues to attend functions, visit facilities and advocates for the rights of people living with a disability. Lionel Watts was a true innovator and visionary. He passed on his passionate belief in the human rights of people with a disability and his spirit of entrepreneurship to the organisation he founded. 50 years on, House with No Steps continues to champion the rights of people with a disability and are constantly looking for new ways to provide support.