An new online tool is making it easier for people with disabilities to find accessible places.
The myCommunity BC map was launched at findsupportbc.com around a year ago with around 400 places tagged across the province, and now, there are nearly 1,000. For example, click on the pin for Chilliwack香蕉视频直播檚 Cottonwood Four Cinemas and you香蕉视频直播檒l see it checking boxes for 香蕉视频直播榓ccessibility香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播榳elcoming diversity香蕉视频直播� while also earning little green icons for 香蕉视频直播榝un and lively spot香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播榓 spot to meet new people.香蕉视频直播�
Visitors can click the 香蕉视频直播榓dd a place香蕉视频直播� button on the top right to do just that, giving Esther King and others a better sense of what awaits them when they leave the controlled environment of their own home.
King has a 17-year-old daughter, named Joudelie, who needs significant help wherever she goes. She has taken Joudelie to places that have 香蕉视频直播榓ccessible washrooms香蕉视频直播� according to the letter of the law, but in reality the bathroom stall isn香蕉视频直播檛 wide enough for a bigger wheelchair, or the grab bars are in the wrong place.
香蕉视频直播淪omeone needs a toilet when they香蕉视频直播檙e out and they can香蕉视频直播檛 get into the bathroom, that香蕉视频直播檚 a pretty big problem,香蕉视频直播� King said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen you香蕉视频直播檝e got to go, you香蕉视频直播檝e got to go, and what are you going to do? I have to lift Joudelie to help her transfer onto the toilet, and if I香蕉视频直播檓 tired or my back is sore on a particular day and I香蕉视频直播檓 not confident there will be enough space to do that, we just don香蕉视频直播檛 go. She ends up not participating in things in the community that she has every right to participate in.香蕉视频直播�
When submitting a location to the map, there is a spot for users to type their thoughts on what was or wasn香蕉视频直播檛 good about it. King said having reports 香蕉视频直播榝rom the field香蕉视频直播� makes her more confident going to a particular venue, and that could be beneficial for businesses who pay attention.
香蕉视频直播淲hen I have a really good experience I tell businesses and thank them for it,香蕉视频直播� King said. 香蕉视频直播淭his map can be a big part of sharing that, and what I香蕉视频直播檇 eventually like to see is stickers on the windows of businesses that are truly accessible.香蕉视频直播�
Phillip Retief is a student at the University of the Fraser Valley and said the tool is great because it allows people with disabilities to gain independence.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 terrible when you get to a place you were excited to go to, but you get there and realize it香蕉视频直播檚 not accessible,香蕉视频直播� said Retief, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to get around. 香蕉视频直播淵ou really want to be a part of something, but you can香蕉视频直播檛.香蕉视频直播�
Retief remembers a trip to play mini-golf at Castle Fun Park in Abbotsford.
香蕉视频直播淲hen you go onto the pitch, there is a step going down, and I can香蕉视频直播檛 do that with my wheelchair,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 need someone to pick me up and bring me down. It is sad when friends are down there enjoying mini-golfing and there is no access for me to join them. It feels uncomfortable and unfair, and it香蕉视频直播檚 awkward because everyone knows you香蕉视频直播檙e the one person who can香蕉视频直播檛 do what they香蕉视频直播檙e doing.香蕉视频直播�
The myCommunity BC map is based on the BC Community Asset mapping network, and icons come from Green Map, an international non-profit actively mapping assets in 65 countries around the world. More help comes from the Family Support Institute and Community Living BC.
Retief said it has the potential to make discussion about accessibility 香蕉视频直播渇un and engaging,香蕉视频直播� and maybe create real progress.
香蕉视频直播淎ccessibility is a work in the progress. People need feedback to learn and grow and better the services that they make available,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t opens up communication and awareness and opens up the conversation about inclusiveness.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲ith this map, it will just be nice to be confident knowing that if someone says a place accessible, it truly is.香蕉视频直播�
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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