Toronto, Ontario – Traveling can be a very stressful event for people using mobility devices and can negatively impact their independence and safety. Far too often, we know critical mobility devices are being damaged in transit impacting a person’s mobility. Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) and AccessNow are partnering to equip travellers with the information they need to plan and advocate for safe and comfortable travel.
Travel inequity is something AccessNow founder and disability activist, Maayan Ziv, has experienced herself.
“It is so important for people with disabilities to be aware and knowledgeable of their rights. Too often there are excuses for why we can’t be accommodated. Knowing your rights is half the battle,” said Ziv. “These incidents continue to happen, so until legislation is passed by the Canadian government, we have to equip people with the information and resources they need to avoid as many problems as possible.”
“We’ve heard far too many accounts from our clients and others about inequitable travel experiences,” said Stacey Lintern, CEO, Muscular Dystrophy Canada. “We are committed to better understanding the barriers and working with AccessNow, people with disabilities, the travel industry, government and other stakeholders to address these issues so people traveling with mobility devices have an equitable, positive and safe travel experience. Currently, Canada does not track this information so our first step is to gather data.”
This lack of information makes it difficult for people with disabilities to prepare and make informed travel plans. MDC and AccessNow are committed to working with people with disabilities to gather data, and then develop an Accessible Travel Toolkit that can be used as a guide for persons with disabilities to use to ensure positive travel experience.
We want to hear from you. We’re collecting travel experiences to address the inequities people with mobility devices face when travelling.
Resources:
- Learn more about Muscular Dystrophy Canada
- Follow the #RightsOnFlights Campaign on Twitter
- Find the AccessNow app on the Apple app store or Google Play
