CHAIR-LEADERS- May 14th 2010
18
2010
On Friday, May 14th 2010 I participated in the 1st annual CHAIR-LEADERS "Enabling Access" Event. This means that I spent the day in a wheelchair, experiencing every aspect of my day as someone in a wheelchair would. This was a fundraiser to support the Canadian Paraplegic Association (Alberta). This campaign aimed to raise awareness of issues surrounding mobility, independence, and self-reliance within the city of Edmonton.
This was the first CHAIR-LEADERS event in Edmonton and I was proud to be a part of it. The CHAIR-LEADERS initiative will increase awareness of accessibility in Edmonton as well as raise essential funds for persons with spinal cord injuries and mobility issues. There were a number of prominent Edmontonians volunteering to spend the day in a wheelchair, including Mayor Stephen Mandel, MLA Laurie Blakeman, Greenhouse Guru Jim Hole, former City Councillor Michael Phair, Director of DATS Lorna Stewart and EZ Rock’s Ron Clarke to name just a few! These able bodied individuals had the opportunity to experience the barriers persons with disabilities face on a daily basis by spending the day in a wheelchair.
I was happy to experience the fantastic job that Edmonton Transit does as I traveled into the office on the bus. I found it very accessible. The entire experience was an eye opener for me as I went from the kickoff at Westmount Mall, to City Hall, to and from meetings. I have a whole new level of appreciation for the challenges that people in wheelchairs face. This was a great experience and I commend the Canadian Paraplegic Association (Alberta) for all the great work they do.
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