A group participated in MapMission Day in downtown Ottawa on Saturday with the purpose of mapping out public spaces and to reshape how people think about accessibility for those with disabilities. MapMission Day is an annual event organized in cities across Canada by AccessNow to pin, map and review accessibility data on a mobile app for individuals and local businesses. The AccessNow app was created so people can check how accessible a location is before heading out with rated reviews. According to organizers, the hope of MapMission Day is to build and improve more inclusive and barrier-free cities. AccessNow captains, who are in wheelchairs, guide attendees on a scavenger hunt across downtown Ottawa to create new pins and provide new information on the accessibility of specific spaces. “We’re looking at improving people’s access to restaurants, might be shops, it might be bars or coffee shops, kind of anything in the area within your community,” said Ellen Rowe, team captain and ambassador for AccessNow. “While it might be accessible for me in a wheelchair, it might not be accessible to everyone else.” Saturday’s hunt kicked off at the National War Memorial and travelled through the streets of downtown Ottawa. “Using the AccessNow app, we’re going to track and go into different shops around us and see, are they accessible, are they partially accessible or are they not accessible at all. Looking at washrooms, we’re looking at entrances, stairs. Is there a ramp? Is there a handle?” said Rowe. Jay Baldwin is an ambassador with AccessNow living with cerebral palsy and other disabilities which can impact their daily life. They say an event like this is the beginning of change. “A day like today is monumental for me to be around community and like-minded people and be a part of a common goal, which is access ability for everyone, everywhere,” said Baldwin. “It means everything because I get to show up for myself and my super cool disabled community.” AccessNow says 56 per cent of Canadians with disabilities encounter obstacles in public spaces, making accurate and reliable accessibility information essential. Participants encountered firsthand how accessible the city is and highlighted any accessibility challenges along the way, uncovering barriers invisible to most. Stephanie, who has siblings in wheelchairs, wanted to join the hunt to know what places she can take them around the city. “I will try to plan fun things for my siblings who are in wheelchairs to come and do during summer vacation or a weekend, and I will scour Google Maps. I’ll look at Street View and we’ll get there, then I have to say sorry or we can’t even get in the building,” Stephanie said. Stephanie says those with disabilities deserve to have space in the community. “I’m here on my own two feet, but I think it’s important to do it with people who direct the experience, those barriers because as much as my loved ones need this access, I can’t see it through their eyes,” said Stephanie. Participants say the hunt addresses things that people wouldn’t normally think about for people who have visible and invisible disabilities. Rowe says it’s also to see what can be improved. “There’s a difference between a coffee shop saying, we’re accessible and arriving and there’s a step and maybe it’s not great for those that have sensory disabilities or those that are visually impaired,” said Rowe. “You kind of have to think about it in the full spectrum, the full circle of, okay, is this accessible for everyone? And if not, be curious of how can we make this accessible.”
