Dr Kelly Fleming

I would like people to remember me for my accessibility advocacy for disabled people and for service dogs.

I am a firm believer in fighting for the rights of disabled people and access to everything that abled people are privileged to have.

I have faced discrimination all my life in school, employment, housing, social services, mental health, places of worship access as well as simple access to restaurants and stores.

Having had 3 service dogs more over the past 25 years, I’ve also experienced additional discrimination. Many people do not understand the purpose of service dogs. They are not pets, nor are they companion dogs. My dogs have my arms, my legs, my ears and my eyes. Without my dogs, I’m not complete.

It is sad to see in 2023, physically, verbal and emotional discrimination against disabled people as well as against service dogs.

I want people to remember me for always fighting for my own rights and that of my communities – the disabled community itself and the disabled community with service dogs.