Another ceremony. Another speech. Another photo op.

Some of Amherstburg’s politicians attended the town’s National AccessAbility Week flag raising ceremony at the Libro Wednesday morning.

Aside from Councillor Diane Pouget, the only council member who has consistently advocated on behalf of residents with disabilities, the others embraced the optics of inclusion.

Mayor Prue delivered a political speech. It sounded like he was reading from a script meant to assure the small crowd that accessibility and inclusion matter in Amherstburg.

I wasn’t convinced. Formed by my lived experience as a person with a disability, attitudinal barriers guide decisions that negatively impact Amherstburg’s disability population.

Prue recognized council members in attendance and wanted to thank the members of the Disability Committee. 

(The correct name is the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee).

“It’s National Accessibility Week, and across all of Ontario, across many parts of Canada, people are wearing red shirts. If you’re wondering, some people, why there’s so many red shirts here today, this is the, this is the logo for today, Red Shirt Day, and people are coming together to celebrate and to acknowledge the accessibility, the importance of accessibility in all of our communities.” 

(No, red shirts are not the logo. Red Shirt Day is an Easter Seals Society initiative that is held on the Wednesday during National AccessAbility Week).

Prue acknowledged, at least on this occasion, “that many individuals continue to face barriers every day. These barriers can limit participation and independence, and it is our shared responsibility to remove them.” 

(Yet my input on barriers that prevent equal participation has been ignored, dismissed and has resulted in litigation against the town and town clerk). 

“Accessibility and inclusion go hand in hand when we design a community to be inclusive, we create a better, more welcoming place for everyone.”

(Yes, but stating a fact doesn’t make it a reality). 

Prue then stated council remains, “committed to preventing and reducing barriers in Amherstburg, and to working alongside our accessibility advisory committee, community partners, and residents to make meaningful progress. 

(oh, but my April delegation request to call for council to act and create a community engagement policy was denied).

“I just want to say on behalf of the town council, on behalf of everybody who is here, occasionally, some of you may think that we don’t do things fast enough, but I will tell you, within the budgets we have, we try our very best to make that commitment that every event, every festival, every street, every playground, everything that we do has accessibility written right into it. 

(Every street can’t have accessibility written right into it when it’s closed. Fourteen weekends of closures that prevent equal access to our own community. Street closures have nothing to do with money or timelines but I think they have everyting to do with attitudinal barriers).

“We’re very proud in the last this year to open two or three new playgrounds, all of which are hugely, hugely accessible.”

(No, they’re not hugely accessible. They’re minimally accessible according to minimal standards).

“They’re designed for children, especially to make sure that they have the same opportunities as other children to go to the playgrounds and to participate in all of the very best ways…”

(Some children with disabilities will not have the same opportunities because minimally accessible playgrounds will exclude some children).

Prue thanked the accessibility committee again, noting they meet about once a month, and they have a lot of thorny issues. 

(The committee does not meet monthly, and I don’t recall thorny issues being dealt with. The committee didn’t even discuss my list of barriers encountered when voting).

“They are the eyes and ears of our community, and they advise us as councillors what to do and how to make the community more accessible,” said Prue. 

(But Amherstburg isn’t an inclusive community. There are legislative obligations to consult with the public and people with disabilities as well as the committee. I asked for the dates of those consultations; no answer).

Before Prue read the proclamation, he explained his chain of office.

“The chain of office is worn every time there’s a big public event where something of note takes place, or when the mayor is with important people, this is this meets all three criteria. So that’s why it’s being worn today, because you are important. All of you are important to our town in making sure that we do right by the people who need just that little nudge to fully participate.” 

(And the ‘nudge’ comment convinced me this was just another speech. It confirmed my belief that attitudinal barriers are prevalent along with a disability model that should’ve faded away a long time ago).

Prue then read the proclamation.