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鈥檚 Cottonwood Four Cinemas and you鈥檒l see it checking boxes for 鈥榓ccessibility鈥� and 鈥榳elcoming diversity鈥� while also earning little green icons for 鈥榝un and lively spot鈥� and 鈥榓 spot to meet new people.鈥�
Visitors can click the 鈥榓dd a place鈥� 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 鈥榓ccessible washrooms鈥� according to the letter of the law, but in reality the bathroom stall isn鈥檛 wide enough for a bigger wheelchair, or the grab bars are in the wrong place.
鈥淪omeone needs a toilet when they鈥檙e out and they can鈥檛 get into the bathroom, that鈥檚 a pretty big problem,鈥� King said. 鈥淲hen you鈥檝e got to go, you鈥檝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鈥檓 tired or my back is sore on a particular day and I鈥檓 not confident there will be enough space to do that, we just don鈥檛 go. She ends up not participating in things in the community that she has every right to participate in.鈥�
When submitting a location to the map, there is a spot for users to type their thoughts on what was or wasn鈥檛 good about it. King said having reports 鈥榝rom the field鈥� makes her more confident going to a particular venue, and that could be beneficial for businesses who pay attention.
鈥淲hen I have a really good experience I tell businesses and thank them for it,鈥� King said. 鈥淭his map can be a big part of sharing that, and what I鈥檇 eventually like to see is stickers on the windows of businesses that are truly accessible.鈥�
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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 terrible when you get to a place you were excited to go to, but you get there and realize it鈥檚 not accessible,鈥� said Retief, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to get around. 鈥淵ou really want to be a part of something, but you can鈥檛.鈥�
Retief remembers a trip to play mini-golf at Castle Fun Park in Abbotsford.
鈥淲hen you go onto the pitch, there is a step going down, and I can鈥檛 do that with my wheelchair,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 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鈥檚 awkward because everyone knows you鈥檙e the one person who can鈥檛 do what they鈥檙e doing.鈥�
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 鈥渇un and engaging,鈥� and maybe create real progress.
鈥淎ccessibility is a work in the progress. People need feedback to learn and grow and better the services that they make available,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t opens up communication and awareness and opens up the conversation about inclusiveness.鈥�
鈥淲ith this map, it will just be nice to be confident knowing that if someone says a place accessible, it truly is.鈥�
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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