June 01, 2020
Here at March of Dimes Canada, we enable, support and champion accessibility and inclusion every day. But National AccessAbility Week is a chance to focus on how far we’ve come as a society and how far we need to go.
When Canadians living with disability access and participate in education, sports, politics, the arts, we all benefit. That’s why MODC’s goal is accessibility and inclusion where we live, work and play.
We need to keep in mind that we are talking about equitable access, not just equal access that would mean we all get the same level of support. For many people with disabilities, equitable access requires accommodations – a ramp, special technology, large print, extra time, home care, etc. With these accommodations, people with disabilities can be fully included in our communities and live up to their full potential.
Assistive Mobile Technology Initiative
Technology has become a crucial part of our lives – we use it for everything from work to watching movies and, right now, it’s our access to the outside world. For Canadians living with disability, though, it’s also a tool. The right device or platform or software may be the difference between isolation and inclusion.
That’s why MODC’s Assistive Mobile Technology Initiative (AMTI) provides customized tablets to eligible Canadians. Each device is set up so the recipient can access the resources they need to meet their specific goals.
As the world moves online, we’re learning that technological accessibility is just as important as physical accessibility. AMTI is one way that MODC is helping to meet that need.
Virtual access to programs and services
Access is crucial for people living with disability across Canada, and sometimes it’s elusive – particularly during a pandemic. COVID-19 has cut off access to supports relied on every day, as well as to families and friends. Going out may have been difficult before the pandemic, but now it’s dangerous.
That’s why we’ve moved as many programs and services as possible online and we are raising funds for even more virtual programming to be created. We’re providing access to networks, tools, and resources that people can use from the safety of their own homes.
We’re all learning how important connection, support, and access is to our physical and mental well-being. National AccessAbility Week is our chance to discuss what universal access means, and how we can get there.
DesignAbility®
Every person living with a disability has unique needs and goals that may require unique solutions. Maybe you like baking, but have trouble holding a mixing bowl because you’ve survived a stroke. Or perhaps you need a dining chair to accommodate a child with specific mobility challenges. You won’t necessarily find the device you’re looking for on the market.
Accessibility looks different for everyone. Let’s use National Accessibility Week to support and celebrate that.
Home and Vehicle Modification Program
Your home and vehicle both need to work for you, particularly if you live with a disability and particularly during a pandemic. The right modifications can make an enormous difference by maximizing independence and supporting access to school, work, health care, entertainment, and social connection.
That’s why National AccessAbility Week is the perfect time to announce that our Home and Vehicle Modification Program (HVMP) is back! Restrictions on residential construction have been lifted in Ontario so HVMP (a provincial program) is once again providing grants so that people living with disability can function safely and comfortably at home and on the road.
Technology is critical to improve accessibility and inclusion
This year, accessibility and inclusion are more critical than ever before. Because of COVID-19, people living with disability across Canada are being separated from supports they rely on every day with potentially devastating consequences. For them, access is a unique challenge that we’re meeting together.
