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Two champions of accessibility and inclusion shared their personal experiences and delivered powerful messages about the importance of creating a barrier-free society at a virtual forum hosted by the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Julie Sawchuk, an accessibility strategist and storyteller, and Michael Jacques, an author and activist, spoke and answered participant questions during the ‘No Barriers, No Problem’ speakers’ forum Monday afternoon.
Sawchuk turned from teaching high school science to educating people about the importance of accessible spaces after sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2015. She is the best-selling author of multiple books on accessible spaces, was consulted on the development of the National Building Code and was appointed chair of the Standards Development Committee leading Ontario’s review of accessibility standards for outdoor spaces.
She emphasized to forum participants Monday that barriers to accessibility take mental and physical energy away from those who encounter them, detracting from the quality of their lives and their ability to enjoy things others take for granted.
“People who have to make decisions on accessibility all day long miss out on so many opportunities,” she said. “The more access you have throughout your day, the more energy you will have at the end of your day.”
She added it was essential to think about people more than codes or cost when it comes to accessibility and that it was important to question traditional thinking patterns. She stressed that virtually everyone will experience, at least temporarily, some form of disability in their lives and that municipalities and businesses that become accessibility champions will be seen as leaders and gain a competitive advantage.
Jacques, 30, was diagnosed with autism and an intellectual disability when he was young. He constantly looks for opportunities to inspire and educate people about diversity and inclusion and is the youngest-ever President of Community Living Ontario’s Board.
He used speech-to-text technology over the course of five years to write on an iPad his first book, Can’t Read, Can’t Write, Here’s My Book, which was published in 2018. In 2020, he released the children’s book I Belong: Can I Play? – which he co-authored with Heather Gale.
Jacques told the forum Monday that his goals are to “help people stay, live and work in their own community” and to “increase authentic inclusion, not tokenism.” He also said it was important for people to “focus on the things that you can do.”
Warden Gary McNamara praised the two speakers as “champions of accessibility” and thanked them for sharing their “experiences and insights with County of Essex residents and employees.”
He also praised the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee for its ongoing efforts to create a barrier-free community accessible to all. He noted the committee had just launched Phase 2 of its WE Check the Trails initiative, which empowers trail users to report issues of accessibility on area trails and pathways.
“These programs and initiatives are making a real and positive difference in our community and I applaud you for all of the good work you do,” said McNamara.
Learn more about Julie Sawchuk!
Learn more about Michael Jacques!
Learn more about Phase 2 of the WE Check the Trails initiative!
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