NATIONAL ACCESSIBILITY WEEK

National Accessibility Week is from May 25th to May 31.  The purpose of the week is to bring awareness of the physical, digital and systematic barriers experienced by Canadians.  I would like to share with you what is important to me and just a  few of the barriers I experience as a blind abled person.  These opinions are my own and do not represent those of other blind individuals.

I  would like to access my community in a way that is safe.  I want to be treated with dignity and respect.  I  want to participate in recreational and cultural events that can accommodate my needs.  I  want to take the bus to the local recreation center or pool and be able to get inside the building safely.  I  want to be able to find a public bus stop easily with a tactile marker.

I would like to be able to use a point of sale machine that is accessible with buttons, not a flat screen.  I  want to be spoken to, not about in my presence.  I am blind and am unable to make eye contact which may seem awkward.  I love being included in random conversations  I  am super excited to hear that local cultural events are beginning  to include showings that accommodate various needs.  I would love to go to a play that has descriptive audio.  I  wish our local movie theatre had the technology for me to listen to descriptive audio so that I can be included in movie night.

I am grateful for the City of Fort St. John that provides handidart services.  A  bonus would be to have on demand services for special events in the town.  I am grateful that I  can have a  swimming pass at a discounted price and that I  can have a companion/navigator accompany me for free.  I look forward to going to the library to learn about all the resources available to the blind and low vision community.

I  wish I had more access to certified orientation and training on a  bi-weekly or monthly basis so that I may learn how to navigate my city safely.  Having access to training is a very cost-effective way to accommodate the blind and low vision community versus costly infrastructure.  I love that there is APS cross walks in the downtown core.  Unfortunately, many of the cross walks are not fully utilizing all technology to keep me safe.  I wish that street crossings do not have a forty-five-degree cut-out.  It is hard to line up safely to cross the street.

I love the local walking trails.  I wish these trails had posted signs that ask cyclists to ring their bell when approaching a pedestrian from forward or behind.  I  wish everyone knew and understood what a white cane means.  I wish all service type businesses and government employees had training on how to accommodate a  blind person.  

I  wish surveys and websites were accessible for my screen reader. 

I  want people to understand that I am fully abled.  I do things differently and have to use assistive technology or do things differently than a sighted person.  I am fully abled to participate in life fully. I  want to be included like everyone else.  Please don’t tell me to get someone else to read documents for me.  Ask me what I need to assist me.  Work with me.  I  am happy to offer alternative solutions or explain why a  scanned document is not accessible for me.

Please take time to discover resources on how to help.  CNIB has wonderful resources on their website.

Edwina Nearhood is a long time Fort St. John resident sharing her vision loss journey.  Please remember, every person’s vision loss experience is as unique as they are.  Please forward any questions you may have to blindscentz22@gmail.com.