by Patrick Porter (Nanaimo)
Patrick and fellow members of the Self Advocates of Nanaimo help to raise awareness around important issues including accessibility.
An accessible future to me means that there are no more barriers. Services, buildings, housing, employment and health care would be accessible for everyone.
As a person with a diversability it is difficult to walk around and get to places I need to go. Reading and learning bus schedules and routes are hard; some buildings are difficult to get to by bus, or have stairs could cause me to trip; financial limitations to affordable housing, health and dental care are barriers I face.
To help make the future more accessible, I belong to the Self Advocates of Nanaimo. We meet every month to talk about issues that are important to us. We made a film called “Food, Fun and Advocacy” that you can watch on YouTube here.
We present our film and share our stories with organizations in the community. Last May, we presented a workshop at the Inclusion BC Conference in Victoria.
I have written letters to the university and conference centre with concerns for people with mobility issues. Both times I received an answer promising better accessibility.
I also filled out the B.C. government’s survey on accessibility. If we all do small things to make a difference, our future will be more accessible.