Collingwood is joining communities across Canada celebrating National AccessAbility Week from May 28 to June 3.
In the spirit of celebration, the Accessibility Advisory Committee, with the support of residents and local organizations including E3 Community Services and Breaking Down Barriers, will be sharing individual experiences through a Telling Our Stories initiative.
National AccessAbility Week will feature five different stories each with a focus on building awareness, breaking down assumptions and advocating for change. Stories will be featured at Town Hall and shared on www.collingwood.ca/accessibility.
“Storytelling is an incredible tool for bringing people together, inviting the community to think about accessibility, inclusion and the importance of building a community for all,” said Jennifer Parker, Coordinator, Community Well-being & Inclusion.
National AccessAbility Week was inspired by Rick Hansen’s Man In Motion World Tour and National Access Awareness Week founded in 1988. The week provides an opportunity to celebrate the contributions and leadership of Canadians with disabilities, highlight the work people, organizations and communities are undertaking to remove barriers and to promote accessibility and inclusion for all in our community, businesses, and institutions.
In Canada, 1 in 5, or 6.2 million people have a disability. We all benefit when we build a more accessible community that enables everyone to fully participate and contribute without barriers.
Barriers to accessibility can include:
- Negative attitudes or beliefs
- Organizational rules and practices that discriminate or leave people out
- Physical or structural features of a building or outdoor space
- Ways in which information is shared making it difficult to understand
- Technology including computers, websites, equipment that are difficult to use
Take time this week to learn more about accessibility. We can all make a difference, even the smallest actions can have an impact, building greater equity and access. To learn more, visit www.collingwood.ca/accessibility.