More work on accessibility needed, say people with disabilities as awareness week marked

A recent experience Anna Quon faced with barriers to accessibility helped inspire the poem she read at an event Monday at Halifax City Hall marking the beginning of Access Awareness Week.

The Halifax Regional Municipality's poet laureate, who is mobility impaired, said voting in the recent federal election was not accessible for her or her father.

"There were few chairs to sit on. We had to stand in lines and both of us were with our walking sticks," said Quon in an interview.

"It was … a tiring and painful experience at the advance poll."

Quon said there's a much smaller percentage of people with severe disabilities who vote in elections.

Access Awareness Week is marked annually with the aim of bringing attention to the importance of removing barriers for people with disabilities.

It's been observed for 39 years now, according to the Nova Scotia League for Equal Opportunities.

This year's theme centres around the importance of voting and taking action in the community. 

The theme was chosen because of the multiple elections Nova Scotians have been a part of in the last year, and to highlight ways to take action and support people with disabilities beyond the ballot box, said Sherry Costa-Lorenz, the organization's executive director.

The Halifax event included a flag raising and a presentation of the Mel Hebb Hourglass Action Awards, which recognize people who have taken action toward improving accessibility and the lives of people with disabilities. 

Accessibility is more than just things like parking spaces or being able to get into a building, said Costa-Lorenz, who is also part of the disability community.

"Equally as valuable is having access to the support, services and systems that give you a better quality of life," she said.

Quon would like to see a guaranteed basic income for people with disabilities, and said income is a large barrier for many people. 

"People with disabilities are employed at a lower rate than others," said Quon, adding it's especially true for people with mental health concerns.

To Costa-Lorenz, more progress is needed to address the less visible barriers like those that people with chronic illnesses and hidden disabilities can face. Hidden disabilities can include mental health conditions, autism, and brain injuries.

"Until we — persons with disabilities — can access everything on an equitable basis as those who do not have disabilities, we still have a lot of work to do," she said.

This year's Access Awareness Week runs from May 25-31 with events being held virtually and in different parts of the province.