INCLUSION BY STUART MCREYNOLDS
ACCESS NOT ACCESSORY we collectively rebuild our economic and social infrastructure post pandemic. If effectively leveraged, accessibility can reap significant economic returns. Canadians with disabilities represent $55 billion of purchasing power annually, and by 2035, 40 per cent of Canada’s consumer base will be people with disabilities. Inclusive and accessible infrastructure allows spending to happen in our communities. VALUES LIVE THROUGH ACTION
As the pandemic exacerbates social distance and longstanding inequalities, the idea of creating inclusive community hubs—where people of all ages and abilities can gather together—is gaining significant momentum.
T
he negative impacts of social isolation are real, but reverberating even more so within our disability community. In the national COVID-19 Disability Survey, conducted by the Abilities Centre in partnership with Canadian Disability Participation Project researchers from The University of British Columbia and Queen’s University, 80 per cent of respondents reported greater social isolation compared to the average population. As we look forward to fully participating in community life once more, we must also plan
for a future through the lens of accessibility and inclusion. Creating fully accessible environments that foster a sense of belonging and psychological safety are critical for realizing the social and economic potential of our communities. Canada must move beyond simple compliance and box-checking, to transformational change where every individual has an opportunity to contribute to every facet of community life. Yet the value of inclusion and accessibility has long been misunderstood. So have the legislative requirements for communities to remove barriers to participation. These are missed opportunities that demand attention as
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The purpose of embedding inclusion and accessibility into facilities and community spaces is to influence cultural change, where values live through action. We can create communities that are more accessible and welcoming for all by removing the attitudinal, social and community barriers—both physical and invisible—that segregate populations from full community engagement. Social and cultural understanding of differences guide how a society includes and excludes and are a reflection of attitudes, beliefs and assumptions made by people about people. These attitudes and beliefs shape economic choices, policies and behaviours, as well as the sharing of social spaces. For instance, adopting the attitude that disability means “different” leads to a belief that “different” is too challenging, which impacts how social spaces are designed, used, and how people collaborate within them. Segregation or exclusion perpetuates beliefs. To break this cycle and spark a societal and economic shift, one step forward is creating social spaces where people are able to participate and observe social collaboration between “different” parties. BECOMING INCLUSIVE
One social space that serves as a replicable model around the globe is the Abilities Centre, a not-for-profit organization in Whitby, Ontario. As a community hub,
