To see things from another person’s perspective, you have to walk a mile in his or her shoes, the expression goes.
Participants in Accessibility Queen’s “Wheelchair for a Day” event did just that, without taking a step.
As one of those participants, I was able to experience first-hand some of the challenges involved in
navigating the University campus in a wheelchair.
The event began at 10 a.m. with Principal Karen Hitchcock, AMS Vice-President (Operations) Ian Black, the incoming AMS executive and individuals from the Equity Office and Accessibility Queen’s in attendance. While everyone else was seated in wheelchairs they could operate themselves, I had a push chair, one that could only work properly with someone else’s assistance. Wai May Wong, ArtSci ’07 and Accessibility Queen’s co-chair, volunteered to help me.
My perspective on the environment around me shifted completely the minute I sat down in my chair: I was completely dependent on Wong for any mobility. Entering the elevator, I instinctively moved my arm to press the ground floor button and was surprised to discover that I couldn’t reach it.
Entering at the University Avenue entrance of the JDUC, our group went through the lower level to the elevator, located down the hall past the Society of Graduate and Professional Students office. We went from the Common Ground to Wallace Hall, where the large wooden doors proved to be a bit of a challenge for some of our group. Here we discussed various ways the campus could improve its accessibility. Incoming AMS President Kingsley Chak suggested better maps placed in the entrances
and prominent spaces of every building that clearly illustrate the accessible entrances and elevators throughout. Creating accessible tour routes for prospective students was also an idea under discussion.
Disability Services Advisor Barbara Roberts said deg an accessible route in advance would prevent mistakes and delays later. “One student had a tour during which it was discovered that many
doors were locked,” she said. With the new Queen’s Centre being built over the next few years, accessibility is an issue under discussion during the building process.
Audrey Kobayashi, a geography professor who uses a wheelchair, said she was surprised to find that many questions could not be answered by the designers regarding accessibility.
Hitchcock said making the new facilities accessible is a priority, however. “We will keep on it, doorway
by doorway.” Kobayashi said entire buildings, like Ontario Hall, are inaccessible. “Some buildings are quite good, like Leggett Hall, but there are still some newer buildings such as BioSci with all kinds of problems.” Kobayashi said Stauffer Library also needs improvement to make it more accessible, including lower stacks and wider aisles. “Costs would go up, and we would have to ask ourselves if we
are willing to do this,” she said. “For most buildings, the costs are not that big if planned in advance.”
Roberts said advance accessibility planning saves time and money, citing the lift in Mackintosh-Corry Hall as an example.
Because it was installed later, she said, the result was an added stress on the building, and resulted
in leaks, which could have been avoided with a better initial plan.
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