#accessibletransit

[torontocentre-blog1]

Part 1: A Walk Through Norman Jewison Park in Ward 13

As we walked through the park, we saw many kinds of people; young, old, some with children, some walking their dogs.

Walking through the park, we stopped to talk to a couple sitting on a bench, watching their toddler play on the field in front of them.

We asked them about the upcoming municipal elections:

Did you know there’s an election coming up? What issues would you like to see addressed by incoming leaders and City Hall?

Thet knew about the election and they mentioned transit improvement, and increased and better quality mental health services.

The couple spoke to each other in another language and had thick accents, but their insight on the needs of the community they lived in were similar to just about everyone else we spoke to in the area.

[disabledsecretpolice]

Dear able-bodied people,

You sitting in the accessible seats? It really isn't working out. I am sure you don't mean to be jerks by taking up the accessible seats on public transit. My able-bodied friends and family members tell me that most of you only plan on sitting in the seat until someone with a disability tells you they need it. 

But that's not working out for people with disabilities. Not one bit. There are people out there with invisible disabilities who need to use those seats as well and they deal with a whole ton of harassment because they don't look disabled enough to need the seat. This may come as a surprise but with invisible disabilities the disability is invisible. I can't tell the difference between you the well meaning able-bodied person sitting in that seat and a person with an invisible disability. 

Please stop sitting in the damned accessible seats. 

Hugs and kisses, 

DisabledSecretPolice