How Accessibility is Driving Innovation: Launch of in-person Accessibility Consultations

Hello everyone. It’s my pleasure to be here with you at Whitby’s state-of-the-art Abilities Centre. What a wonderful facility! Wouldn’t it be great if we had centres like this in communities across Canada?

This space and this community are true examples of what we can do when we start from a place of inclusion and keep opportunity in mind.

I was deeply honoured to be named the first federal Minister dedicated to persons with disabilities.

The creation of this cabinet position makes it very clear that people with disabilities are important to our government and that we deserve to be considered in every decision around the Cabinet table.

A Shift in Thinking About Accessibility

We must consider the needs of Canadians with disabilities in every aspect of society. We need to create services, workplaces, transit systems and communities that consider accessibility from the outset.

We want to move from a model where accessibility is the exception and accommodations come after we discover barriers to one in which we incorporate accessibility – in every sense of the word – into everything we build and use.

This shift – both monumental and simple at once – is a game changer.

To start, we need a legal framework that protects and promotes accessibility.

Right now, within our current legal framework, people with disabilities can only defend their rights after they’ve been ignored.

The current system unfairly burdens individual Canadians to identify a barrier or instances of discrimination which are then brought forward for examination and resolution. Needless to say, this vigilance is exhausting, prohibitively expensive, and I know you agree with me that it is unfairly burdensome.

That’s exactly why Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked me to lead a process on planned accessibility legislation.

In order to create relevant and robust legislation, I need to get input from Canadians like you.  I appreciate you taking time to be here to help us get this right.

In a few minutes, I look forward to speaking with several outstanding “Accessibility Innovators” about their take on what an accessible Canada means. These young Canadians are demonstrating how accessibility can drive innovation, and create a new way of doing things. Better ways of creating and thinking about accessibility.  I have said this before and expect you will hear it from our Accessibility Innovators as well – when systems and spaces are accessible, every Canadian wins.  Barriers are bad for business.

Innnovation and Accessibilty

When asked about Fred Astaire’s dance ability, Ginger Rogers once responded that she had to do everything that he did, but backwards and in heels. Imagine the creativity that persons with disabilities must employ every day to navigate buildings, products and services that were not designed with their needs in mind. Development of creative products, ways of doing things and, ultimately, a different way of looking at the world. These young innovators have done exactly that: tackled barriers that could otherwise impede people with disabilities from easily and seamlessly participating in their communities. 

Their work takes innovation, drive, determination and yes, creativity.  In fact, I find their work tremendously inspirational.

I am honoured be share a bit about them with you.

Maayan Ziv is founder and CEO of AccessNow, an on-line platform that uses crowdsourcing to pin-point the accessibility status of locations on an interactive map.  Living with muscular dystrophy, Maayan is motivated to create a more accessible world.

Micah Rakoff Bellman student of Carleton’s Industrial Design program, has seen his invention called Lift taking the top prize in this year’s IDeA competition through which Ontario’s university undergraduate students compete to come up with inventions that help remove barriers for people with disabilities. His innovation is a height-adjustable, movable table with integrated storage that provides home cooks a comfortable and flexible work surface in the kitchen. The height adjustability allows Lift to be used as a counter at a suitable height for users of any level of ability. This device strives to give more freedom to older individuals and people with disabilities in the kitchen.

Quayce Thomas, an entrepreneur and architecture student at Carleton University, saw his app take the top prize in the IDeA competition in 2015. Timsle is an app that promotes healthy active living using social networks. This “accountability network” helps people with disabilities to meet academic or other goals and prevent depression.

I can’t wait to hear what these inspiring young people have to say.

This discussion on accessibility is so important and like all journeys may take us down a variety of avenues. Is accessibility about ensuring accessible buildings? Or making sure programs and services are truly accessible to all Canadians?  Or is it about removing barriers to Canadians with disabilities entering the workforce?

What does an Accessible Canada mean to you?

I have some ideas on what it means to me.

First, it means providing people with choices. When Canadians engage in their communities, their workplaces, or with their government, those interactions should be designed to accommodate everyone.  Barriers to accessibility limit choice – “I can’t”, “she’s not able”, “wouldn’t it be nice if he could…”

I believe Canadians shouldn’t have to defeat barriers to fit into a world that society has deemed as normal. Everyone should feel a sense of inclusion and should have options that allow them to participate equally.  If I want to ride a bus, or enter a building through the front door, or check out a website, it’s my choice.  I want to be able to do that.

Second, accessibility means breaking down the stigma surrounding disabilities, especially for Canadians with disabilities which may not be apparent to everyone. We need to focus on everyone’s potential and contribution – not on their limitations. Changing perceptions is a tough battle, but I know we’re up to the challenge.

And lastly, I want all Canadians to see accessibility and inclusion as the keys to productivity. Accessibility is good for business.  Barriers are bad for business. That might be a good hashtag?

Canadians with disabilities are an untapped resource who can offer so much to our communities and our economy. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Canadians with disabilities and helping to create environments where they can be independent and participate equally in their communities and workplaces. Removing barriers and creating opportunities for a more active and prosperous society is good for our collective health and for our economy.

When I was growing up, my world was not as accessible as it is now.

I can tell you that I learned some of the most important lessons in my life by considering my choices.  I learned that I had a right to be accommodated. I learned that asking for help was not a weakness; in fact it was a strength.

And I learned that there was always another way of doing things if you couldn't do something the way that it had always been done.  Today we call this innovation.

Who better to inspire innovation than people who innovate every day of their lives? 

Designing the physical environment, programs, products and services in a way that accommodates people with varying needs can only lead to bigger and better ideas.

That’s what I think about accessibility. But that’s just one small voice – I want to hear from our innovators here today, I want to hear from all of you, and from all Canadians.

Consulting with Canadians

As many of you already know, in July we launched our online consultation at Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada. To date, we have received close to 700 responses, ranging from stakeholder organizations, employers, families and people with disabilities themselves. And the rate of participation continues to grow.

Canadians are eager to share their stories and we are eager to hear them.

Today we are taking another exciting step in our discussion on accessibility. Increasing accessibility is not only the right thing to do, but has social and economic benefits for all Canadians.

Canada is well positioned to become a global leader in innovative service delivery, technology and universal design. Together we will reshape the landscape for Canadians with disabilities.

And today I’m here to celebrate the launch of our in-person consultations on accessibility legislation.

These consultations will be starting soon in cities across the country and continue throughout the fall.  And I am looking forward to hearing from all Canadians.

On November 1^st, I’ll also be hosting a one-day national forum for young Canadians with disabilities and those involved with disability and accessibility issues. This will give young people a chance to share their ideas on accessibility, to showcase their accomplishments, and to inspire other youth.

The bottom line is our government is eager to get your input. So I'm asking you and all Canadians to join the conversation.

You can participate online or find a session near you at Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada.

We need your ideas, your insight and your advice.

Together we will reshape the legislative landscape for Canadians with disabilities.

Together we will make history!