Dr Kelly Fleming

When people think about accessibility, they generally do so from three perspectives :

• What they personally need
• What their child or loved one needs
• An outsider from the disabled community trying to think of what disabled people need

Making places and events accessible, requires the input of all the people mentioned above.

A person who is blind cannot give information about what is accessible for someone who uses a wheelchair. A person who uses a wheelchair cannot give information about a parent with a growing child who uses a wheelchair but also requires a safe environment for changing their child who requires diapers.

However, when everyone comes together to create an accessibility panel, we can create an accessible world to the best of our abilities to provide for the broad spectrum of disability needs.

I am Deaf, I use a power chair, I have limited use of my arms. I also have low vision so I don’t see obstacles that may be in my way.

I can provide input in these areas. I cannot provide input on what a person who is blind requires.

Understanding that the disabled community is vast with many differing needs is the real key to creating an accessible world.

We will never have an accessible world that meets the needs of every type of disability. However, by creating panels to discuss a wide range of needs, even people with disabilities that are not directly addressed, will still benefit. One step is better than none.

What are you doing to advocate for accessibility for disabled people?