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Accessibility for All; Grimsby Resident Battles for More Accessible Transit

By Moosa Imran, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thu., Dec. 2, 2021

According to one Grimsby resident, transit accessibility goes beyond just priority seating.

After struggling with vision in his left eye and ultimately losing it, Stephen Barker said he woke up on the morning of his birthday in 2009 totally blind.

His retina in his right eye had detached “and that was the end of it.”

Barker, now the chair of the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee (JAAC), said that he has long adjusted to life without vision, but it does not come without its struggles. Commuting is one of those struggles, especially living in the Niagara region, where driving is often the most efficient way to get around.

Barker has concerns that the Niagara Region is not doing its part in making the NRT OnDemand app accessible for everyone and is worried about the work to consolidate public transit in Niagara.

Even as chair of the JAAC, Barker said he was only made aware of NRT OnDemand and its app once it had been launched and media outlets reached out to him to ask for his opinion on the accessibility features of the app.

Barker relies on his iPhone accessibility features to allow him to use different apps, but the NRT OnDemand app is not compatible with those features.

“We regret the difficulties these issues have caused for individuals in our community living with disabilities, and are committed to improving service for these individuals,” said Matt Robinson, director of Niagara Region’s Go implementation office.

Robinson said that while the region did not previously consult the JAAC, the NRT team remains “open to continued discussion” with the JAAC and other municipal advisory committees.

Barker said when he opens the app on his phone, the only option his phone can read aloud to him is a button that says “I’m ready to go,” and offers no other options, such as changing or putting in a new address as his phone is unable to detect them and Barker can’t see his screen.

Barker said he brought the issue to the attention of the region in December of 2020 and although he was told it would be investigated, he has not heard back from them since July of this year. This, he said, concerns him about the potential transit system consolidation as well.

Recently, Barker has sent out letters to seven different municipal councils, urging them to ask the region to include the JAAC in accessibility discussions going forward.

He said accessibility features will help everyone, not just those with disabilities, giving the example of buttons that open doors in public places “now that button has become everyone’s button.”

“This is how accessibility should be when something’s built; it should have everyone in mind,” he said. “When you’re beginning a project, think of everybody you know, and that way when you build it, it accommodates everybody like that. Including everybody, because I mean, why wouldn’t we include everybody?”

“Niagara Region takes the needs of individuals living with disabilities seriously,” said Robinson, adding that the region is committed to ensure the standards laid out by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Robinson said that action has already been taken to address the issue within the app and that it is currently meeting accessibility obligations.

“We regret the difficulties these issues have caused for individuals in our community living with disabilities, and are committed to improving service for these individuals,” he said.

Robinson said that while the region did not previously consult the JAAC, the NRT team remains “open to continued discussion” with the JAAC and other municipal advisory committees.

He added, as the region goes about the process of obtaining responsibility for transit services, two out of 20 spots on the future advisory committee will be dedicated representatives from accessibility advisory committees.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Often people with physical disabilities rely on public transit to get around. With ongoing efforts to consolidate Niagara’s public transit services, reporter Moosa Imran spoke with the chair of the Joint Advisory Accessibility Committee to learn about ways that accessibility has been overlooked when it comes to transit.

Original at https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/local-grimsby/news/2021/12/02/accessibility-for-all-grimsby-resident-battles-for-more-accessible-transit.html