if you’re a regular reader, you know that I persistently advocate for accessibility at every opportunity, despite the pushback, defiance, ignorance, and attitudinal barriers.
During the 2022 municipal election, some statements were concerning because of misinformation. I wondered, do people realize their positions are based on ableism?
An excellent article by Andrew Pulrang, Contributor, Forbes: Words Matter, And It’s Time To Explore The Meaning Of “Ableism.”
As you know if you’ve read a few of my posts, I raise awareness at every opportunity about the need to ensure equality for persons with disabilities.
Following my post, Council Candidates: Accessibility Evaluation, and due to some attitudes and misinformation I encountered during this campaign, I emailed this:
“Research has defined hidden mobility disabilities (HMD) as being able to walk – but only for 35-50 feet – and being able to stand unsupported – but only for 1-2 minutes – without significant health consequences.”
I urge you to attend a FREE WEBINAR: Hidden Mobility Disabilities. Candidate Lori Wightman replied and let me know she registered.
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Candidate Linden Crain tweeted his congrats about The Richmond Popcorn Company’s October 8 grand opening. Even if it is unwelcome, I raise accessibility awareness at every opportunity so I tweeted, I’m not celebrating; it’s another one step barrier to a shop that may exclude some people with disabilities in Amherstburg.
I guess Dan Gemus saw it and replied, ‘Just so happens we have custom ramps on order for our building. They are scheduled to arrive any time now’ to which I responded, ‘Just so you know, Accessibility involves more than ramps.’ Besides, access delayed is access denied.
October 18, The Richmond Popcorn shop’s Facebook page states, “It was super important to us to make sure our non accessible building was fully accessible for the newest shop in town! We had to get a little creative, but we made it happen!”
October 20, I commented, I’d like you to explain how this is ‘fully accessible’ and by what or whose standards? the stop gap ramp company stipulates it is not intended to be a permanent fixture and should only be used when required. the permanent accessibility design should be incorporated at the design stage so it’s never an afterthought and full accessibility would include many more features than a ramp.
October 21 I went to check out the store but the ramp wasn’t out. There still would have been barriers though.
It seemed like ‘accessibility’ and ‘inclusive’ were new campaign buzz words, but it was very disappointing to discover that 18 of the 25 candidates may have excluded persons with disabilities. The town was to have provided accessibility information ‘to ensure equal opportunity for all electors to access your candidate information and to interact with you.’
A few ‘A’ words come to mind; acceptable applies to a few but then there’s awareness, attitude, and ableism.
One Guide covered print material, websites, physical spaces, audio/video media, one on one communication, accessible parking, barriers, customer service, budgets, service animals and a resource.
I wonder if the candidates with accessibility barriers read it or read it and ignored it?
JUST THE FACTS
Stats Canada states one in five (22%) of the Canadian population aged 15 years and over had one or more disabilities, or approximately 5000 Amherstburg residents.
The Retail Council of Canada states over half of the Canadian population is affected every day by disabilities, or approximately 11,700 Amherstburg residents.
ACCEPTABLE
John Laframboise’s meet and greet at the K of C hall was accessible and I didn’t encounter any issues with Joe Shaw’s website.
BARRIERS
Not one candidate made the no e-scooters pledge. I expected a simple yes or no answer to a reader’s question: Will you remove barriers during Open Air weekends that block people with disabilities from driving to the bank, local stores, bars, and generally driving through town?
Some candidates were in favour of removing the barriers, some would modify the time frame, some didn’t answer and some have publicly supported it but didn’t answer. For those who are in favour of the barriers, how will they fulfill their obligation to remove barriers, if elected?
Some print materials were unacceptable and for those who want to continue relying on social media, I would encourage them to learn how to remove barriers.
| Candidate | Meet & Greet | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerasa, Frank | x | |||
| Prue, Michael | x | x | x | |
| Rozankovic, Bob | x | |||
| Atkinson, Nancy | x | x | ||
| Gibb, Chris | x | x | x | |
| Moore, Gregory | x | |||
| Sanson, Dennis | x | x | ||
| Allaire, Molly | x | x | x | |
| Argoselo, Andrew | x | |||
| Crain, Linden | x | x | x | x |
| DiPasquale, Frank | x | |||
| Kearsey, Tara | x | x | x | |
| Kretschmann, Holger | x | |||
| McArthur, Donald | x | x | x | x |
| Renaud, Marc | x | x | ||
| Simone, Patricia | x | x | x | x |
| Theriault, Gerry | x | x | ||
| Wightman, Lori | x | x | x | x |
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I appreciated Mayoral Candidate John Laframboise holding his meet and greet at the K of C Hall in Amherstburg, while several other candidates held meet and greets in locations with barriers.
I was just as disappointed that the Chamber of Commerce used the stage, with its stairs, for the Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral Candidates’ Night on October 12, 2022.
I asked; none of the twenty-five Amherstburg candidates for council would make the “No E–scooters Pledge.”
The AODA Alliance wanted electors to ask candidates for City Council or mayor anywhere in Ontario to pledge not to allow e-scooters. They endanger safety and accessibility for people with disabilities, seniors & others!
The following candidates use Facebook, that I’m aware of, but may have issues that prevent some people with disabilities from accessing their information:
Mayoral candidates:
Michael Prue
Bob Rozankovic
Deputy Mayoral candidate:
Nancy Atkinson
Chris Gibb
Gregory Moore
Dennis Sanson
Councillor candidates:
Molly Allaire
Andrew Argoselo
Linden Crain
Tara Kearsey
Donald McArthur
Marc Renaud
Patricia Simone
Gerry Theriault
Lori Wightman
The town was to provide candidates with accessibility information.
Some of the candidates use twitter but can everyone access the information?
Deputy Mayoral candidate Chris Gibb’s account is used for Gibb Insurance but some town events are promoted.
The following Councillor candidates may have issues that prevent some people with disabilities from accessing information:
Linden Crain
Tara Kearsey
Holger Kretschman
Donald McArthur
Marc Renaud
Patricia Simone
Lori Wightman
Candidates have increasingly relied on websites to generate their campaign platforms and promises of representing everyone, but can everyone access the information?
2014: only three candidates created websites – all had accessibility issues.
2018: I mentioned website accessibility issues generally.
2022: twelve candidates created websites that I’m aware of.
I found no issues with Deputy Mayoral candidate Joe Shaw’s site.
The following may have issues that prevent people with disabilities from accessing information.
Mayoral candidates:
Michael Prue
Frank Cerasa
Deputy Mayoral candidate:
Chris Gibb
Dennis Sanson
Councillor candidates:
Molly Allaire
Linden Crain
Tara Kearsey
Donald McArthur
Patricia Simone
Gerry Theriault
Lori Wightman (c 2018)
Edited: to include Dennis Sanson’s site
The following candidates should have known better than to hold meet and greet session in these locations since the town was to provide them with accessibility information.
Downtown Espresso Cafe wouldn’t allow my comment to be posted, but it was advertising the following candidates’ meet and greets. 
Linden Crain launch July 14
Frank DiPasquale August 30 6 to 8 pm
September 27 6 to 8 pm
Lori Wightman September 13 6 to 8 pm
Molly Allaire September 22 6 to 8 pm
Patricia Simone October 2 11am to 2 pm
Donald McArthur October 3 6 to 8 pm
Gregory Moore October 5 6 to 8 pm
Holger Kretschmann October 6 6 to 8 pm
Artisan Grill
Michael Prue October 3 7 to 9 pm
Speck’s
Nancy Atkinson September 21
the burg watch 