Rick Hansen has issued a challenge to the business community, and Canadians to make a difference in the lives of persons with disabilities.
First, I challenge builders, decision makers, corporations and government leaders to join with the charitable and social sector to make accessibility a human right. Only by working together can we realize real change. Only by working together can we show the world that accessibility benefits people of all abilities. Ramps, as one example, aren’t just for people who use wheelchairs, they are for parents pushing strollers, or the elderly who find stairs a challenge. Furthermore, creating accessible infrastructure has no downside. “I sure wish this wheelchair ramp didn’t exist and this doorway wasn’t so wide,” said no one ever.
Second, and perhaps more importantly, I encourage every one of all abilities to challenge the way people with disabilities are perceived. Do you look at people in wheelchairs differently? Do you think someone with visibility issues would be less competent at their job? Do you focus on physical differences instead of the person inside?\
By reflecting on our own actions and beliefs, we can challenge existing standards and dream up new ones. If we can learn to perceive differently, we can learn new behaviours that benefit everyone. Together, we can change the world, but it starts with each and every one of us.
First, I challenge builders, decision makers, corporations and government leaders to join with the charitable and social sector to make accessibility a human right. Only by working together can we realize real change. Only by working together can we show the world that accessibility benefits people of all abilities. Ramps, as one example, aren’t just for people who use wheelchairs, they are for parents pushing strollers, or the elderly who find stairs a challenge. Furthermore, creating accessible infrastructure has no downside. “I sure wish this wheelchair ramp didn’t exist and this doorway wasn’t so wide,” said no one ever.
Second, and perhaps more importantly, I encourage every one of all abilities to challenge the way people with disabilities are perceived. Do you look at people in wheelchairs differently? Do you think someone with visibility issues would be less competent at their job? Do you focus on physical differences instead of the person inside?\
By reflecting on our own actions and beliefs, we can challenge existing standards and dream up new ones. If we can learn to perceive differently, we can learn new behaviours that benefit everyone. Together, we can change the world, but it starts with each and every one of us.
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