One local group is handing out certificates to recognize places that are making an effort to accommodate people with mobility issues and physical disabilities.
The Access Squad, a group of volunteers who advocate for accessibility issues in the Pontiac, has spent the past few weeks making certificates and delivering them to businesses, organizations and individuals that have improved accessibility through step-free entry, clear signage, accessible washrooms, staff support or other inclusive practices.
“The idea is just to raise awareness, not to embarrass those who haven’t done the access thing because we all understand that it’s not always easy,” said group member Robert Wills.
Jim Crawford, a member of the Access Squad who uses a wheelchair and crutches due to major mobility loss in his legs, said many older buildings in the Pontiac are not accessible for people with mobility issues. For example, he said it can be difficult or downright impossible for someone with a disability to climb stairs.
“I’m not very step friendly, and someone who’s in a wheelchair would have the same issues as me,” he said.
Château du Dollar Plus owner Amreen Akhtar installed a ramp late last year that can be placed over the steps into her business on Shawville’s Main Street when a customer needs it.
“They give me a call before they come, and I roll it out for them,” she said, adding that her customers have been happy to have the extra level of accessibility. Akhtar said she was pleased to receive the award, which she has displayed in her front window.
Crawford said they hope that more businesses or public places will make accommodations for folks with disabilities. He said one of the “gold standards” in the Pontiac for accessibility is Shawville’s Anglican Church Hall, which he said has widened its doorways and made its washrooms fully accessible.
“It’s like chipping away at a big boulder [ . . . ] it could always be better. But I think we have made a difference in our little town,” he said, adding that they are trying to raise awareness of the “everyday struggles that people with mobility issues can encounter.”
Along with Le Château du Dollar Plus, J&J’s Grocery, Dépanneur Eardley, Tim Palmer, Shawville’s Anglican Church Hall, and the Campbell’s Bay RA have all been nominated. Access Squad member Emily Taylor said the group is still inviting the public to nominate other deserving businesses and members of the community.
The group is also inviting community members to nominate others who they feel might need some words of encouragement in the form of a wooden heart, handcrafted by group members and painted with a kind message. The messages are bilingual.
“The goal is to spread kindness by circulating these hearts to people in the community who could benefit from a little encouragement or kindness,” Taylor wrote.
Wills said group members remain available to speak with anyone in the community who has accessibility concerns.
“The general public can contact any one of us, to discuss possible improvements in accessibility, or delineate obstacles not recognized by those with fully functional appendages,” he said.
If a member of the public wishes to nominate someone to receive a heart, or to nominate a business in the Pontiac (from chemin Terry Fox to the tip of L’Isle-aux-Allumettes), the Access Squad encourages them to reach out via email to accesssquadpontiac03@gmail.com.
