By Magali Goblot
Accessibility impacts all elements of interaction between us, whether we realize it or not. Before this summer, I engaged with the concept of accessibility somewhat passively. However, throughout my remote internship at Citizens with Disabilities Ontario (CWDO), I have directly engaged with various manifestations of accessibility. CWDO is an entirely volunteer-run organization that focuses on issues affecting people with disabilities in Ontario. Throughout this time, I’ve had significant time to reflect on various and somewhat arbitrary barriers that can render living significantly more difficult or frustrating for people with disabilities. These barriers can take form in various ways, whether administrative, social, or physical, and occasionally overlap with other identities (race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation).
Sometimes, these barriers are simple to address. Prior to the official start of my internship, I attended the CWDO’s annual general meeting. This meeting was hybrid, allowing flexibility for people to attend either in person or virtually. Additionally, it took place in the evening to account for greater attendance. This hybrid meeting then introduced the various options in place to make attendance at the meeting as accessible as possible. These small acts, such as introducing options like live captioning, identifying washrooms, and presenting a quiet room (to name a few accessibility options), align with the larger goal of creating inclusive spaces.
I have attended several other similar talks or meetings like this one with other organizations, yet none ever embodied accessibility to this extent. The host took on the burden of accessibility and access rather than putting it on those requiring alternative measures. Instead of asking attendees to speak up or reach out for these options, they existed as a default.
Almost all the accessibility initiative implemented throughout my education are directly tied to the pandemic and lockdown. Now, several of my professors offer hybrid classes and record lectures so that anyone needing to stay home can do so. They are more accommodating and flexible when students reach out for support. There exists other small changes even amongst my peers, most notably in masking when people are sick or even a higher increase in staying home if sick.
While these changes might be small, they represent a larger picture of a slightly more inclusive society, where we think of others and offer support as opposed to placing a burden on them. I do think we have a lot more that we can do. I am, however, optimistic about these small changes and hope we continue to foster a more inclusive society. Sometimes, however, these barriers are much more complicated to address. These more complex cases are the core of CWDO’s work, among other things.
I struggled significantly when trying to write this blog post. There are so many topics that intersect with the work done by disability activists and, most specifically, by the CWDO. I wanted to ensure I do proper justice to whichever topic I choose to write about. However, the concept of “nothing about us without us” stood out to me the most throughout my internship. This reminder encompasses the entirety of disability activism, and what I’ve learned so far throughout my internship. It involves taking a step back and letting others lead and speak while you listen. It also requires engagement and respect.
The newly implemented Canada Disability Benefit (200$ a month) is a key example. Several advocacy groups have criticized it and its inability to achieve its targeted goal of raising people with disabilities out of poverty. Part of the disappointment in the benefit is directly linked to the lack of consultation with people with disabilities. Again, these policy decisions were made without the full input of those impacted by them.
I do not think there is any one solution to any of these issues. I do believe it will take significant effort to create meaningful changes in Ontario and Canada generally. By making a conscious effort to foster more inclusive environments and taking a moment to sit back and allow others to speak and share their thoughts and opinions, we start to head down a path towards a more welcoming society.
