Brighton Coun. Bobbi Wright experiences navigating downtown in a wheelchair during the 2024 AccessAbility Awareness Day event, which returns May 30, 2025. /Sarah Hyatt/MBC
Northumberland and area communities like Brighton are rallying in support of National AccessAbility Week.
The awareness campaign is held annually starting on the last Sunday of May.
This year’s effort runs from May 25 to May 31 – again, with a goal of shining a light on the significance of creating more accessible and inclusive communities and the contributions of persons with disabilities, as well as the work of allies, organizations and communities that are removing barriers.
This year’s theme is “Breaking barriers together: Paving the way for an inclusive future,” with an emphasis on building a fairer, more inclusive Canada and a joining of forces to achieve just this.
Brighton Coun. Jeff Wheeldon, who also serves as a member of Brighton’s accessibility advisory committee, tells us more about coming plans locally.
Brighton’s “AccessAbility Awareness Day” happening on Friday, May 30 will offer people the chance to learn and take part in a series of interactive activities, explains Wheeldon.
“This is an opportunity to get to know a little bit more about your neighbours, a little bit more about how we can keep our community accessible, and make sure that everybody feels welcome in all aspects of our society,” says Wheeldon.
The activities – which will see people navigate businesses, cross streets and use accessible public transit – are designed to highlight the importance of accessibility in the community, note committee organizers.
The Brighton event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the downtown area. Quinte Transit will also be on hand to showcase its services.
The event can be eye-opening – just last year, Wheeldon tells us Coun. Bobbi Wright had a close call with a car while trying to navigate the downtown area in a wheelchair. Her trip was just from the park to get a coffee next door.
Meanwhile, at the county level, the Northumberland accessibility advisory committee (NACC) is pushing development of an additional theme: “Challenge Your Perspective: Rethinking Accessibility.”
The theme encourages all to reflect on how disability is perceived and to consider the impact of both visible and invisible barriers, explain county officials, while adding this is a call to examine assumptions, promote understanding, and support the full participation of people with disabilities.
“People access services and information in different ways,” echoes Andrea Nicholson, the county’s HR/accessibility co-ordinator and staff liaison to the NAAC. “By learning about the challenges people with disabilities face at work, in businesses and in the community, we can start to see things differently.
“This helps us find more ways to create a Northumberland community that welcomes and includes people of all abilities.”
To mark the week, the committee has also launched a social media campaign via the county’s platforms, which is encouraging people to consider taking small steps that can have a tangible, significant impact.
Challenging your perspective can start with small but meaningful changes, stress advocates.
Some examples include using accessible and clear, easy-to-read fonts that are large enough to read, and making physical spaces more inclusive through ensuring walkways are clear, or doorways can accommodate mobility devices and/or signage includes visual and tactical elements.
In public spaces, considering accessibility means thinking about seating, lighting and sound levels, in addition to ramps, elevators and accessible washrooms, add advocates. Meanwhile, when it comes to improving digital accessibility, there’s assistive technology, the addition of text descriptions, captions on videos, and more that people can do.
You can learn more via the county’s social channels or online.
The hope is these experiences and messages will stick beyond the week.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
