Global Accessibility Awareness Day

This ‘new normal’ has been tough on all, overwhelming for many and a necessary inconvenience to fight the pandemic. Not being able to go out and participate in the things you want to do has been a difficult adjustment.

For the estimated one billion people worldwide who experience some form of disability, not participating in the things they want to do IS their normal. That’s more than 15% of the world’s population.

Researching and planning any trip can be detailed, exhaustive undertakings. Whether it’s visiting a park in your neighborhood or booking a flight and hotel for a beach vacation, the unknowns can be a huge source of stress for individuals and families.

Will there be accessible parking near the location?

Is there a bathroom big enough for a wheelchair or scooter?

Is there an elevator or are stairs the only option?

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, and it’s a great opportunity to share a few tools and resources that help address the question of access for all:

I Access Life Available in the App Store and on Google Play, this mobile app allows people with disabilities and their loved ones to rate, review and discover locations based on their ease of access. Users can rate places like restaurants, stores and hotels based on the accessibility of the parking, entrance, interior space, and bathrooms.

Google Maps The app can be used to find wheelchair accessible entrances, disability-friendly transit options, and the turn-by-turn navigation works whether you’re walking or using a wheelchair.

Wheelchair Travel This site is a tremendous resource provided by world traveler and disability advocate John Morris, who catalogues his experiences while exploring the world with one hand, a passport and his power wheelchair.

Words matter, but action is more powerful than words. Saying that we agree the world should be more accessible for everyone, isn’t as meaningful as building that world.

I’m mom to an amazing daughter who doesn’t let her cerebral palsy diagnosis get in the way of her dreams — from twirling in ballet class to being an inventor — and she’s also the reason I launched the non profit, WAWOS and WAWOS Canada. I’m passionate about celebrating the personalities and interests of these kids, and making the world a more inclusive place that embraces everyone for every single piece of themselves.

What are your favorite resources and tools that make the world more accessible? I’d love to hear about them.