Event helps MPs to understand obstacles wheelchair users face

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This article was published 13/05/2010 (5671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — For Manitoba MP Shelley Glover, wheeling a mile in the chair of a disabled person was an eye-opening experience.

The St. Boniface Tory was one of 23 MPs and three senators who spent the day in a wheelchair as an awareness-raising exercise hosted by the Canadian Paraplegic Association.

"I really do appreciate the people who have a disability but perhaps not enough to understand completely what it is they go through from one day to the next," said Glover.

Canada’s Parliament Buildings were not built with accessibility in mind.

In fact, Glover and the other MPs had to ditch their wheels for question period because there is only room for one wheelchair on the floor of the House of Commons. That spot is reserved for Manitoba’s Steven Fletcher.

Fletcher, 37, is the only quadriplegic to be elected to Parliament. In the six years since he arrived on Parliament Hill, he says some improvements have been made, such as more ramps and lifts. But his access has been helped mainly by his own experience.

"I think over that time becoming more familiar with the buildings has been helpful to me because in several of them there is only one wheelchair-accessible entrance and unless you know where that is, you’re not going to get into the building," he said.

Fletcher said it was nice to see so many MPs willing to try something outside their comfort zone. He said it raises awareness of accessibility among the nation’s decision-makers.

"Especially when they try to find a wheelchair-accessible washroom around here," he said, chuckling. "I think it is a good event. I think it’s helpful for the members of Parliament and the general public to see what the barriers are."

The day’s events included noon-hour wheelchair relays around the driveway in front of Centre Block, which includes both downhill and uphill stretches. Glover had already had a warm-up on part of the course by the time the races occurred as she had a meeting off the Hill. Going down the hill was a bit scary, she noted, adding she was glad to have long sleeves for help with braking. Going back up was just plain hard.

"I couldn’t do it," she said. "I had to get someone to push me the rest of the way."

During the races she got a boost from Ottawa Senators mascot Spartacat, who pushed her part of the way back up.

Glover said most of the day was fun but some of it was shocking.

"I was sitting there waiting for an elevator and the ambulatory people stood there and then got in and left (without me)," she said. "It shocked me to see how little awareness there is by ambulatory people towards those who are non-ambulatory."

Glover said to have a tiny glimpse of the obstacles Fletcher faces every day added to the admiration she already feels for what he has accomplished.

"It’s astounding," she said.

mia.rabson@frepress.mb.ca