A pensive man, a stroke survivor, stands against a wall wearing a light blue shirt and holding a pair of glasses, reflecting on accessibility and serious life changes.

Stroke survivor frustrated by attitudes and accessibility

Frustrated by Accessibility

That’s just the reality of stroke survivor accessibility as she has come to face in the past seven years since that stroke left her partially paralyzed and legally blind.

It’s slow and steady.

Colbourne came from her room, clearly freshened up and happy with her attire, with quad cane in hand. Her mind cleary sharp, she apologized for the wait and, it being years between visits, she ask question after question, rather than providing answer after answer.

An active businesswoman and community volunteer was always her way. She cares about people, and dedicated a lot of her time to helping others, much of that through the Canadian Cancer Society. Even since her stroke, she continued to give. She was instrumental in starting a local brain injury-stroke survivors support group.

Following her stroke, she says she believed she would make a full recovery. Now, she realizes she is as mobile as she will ever be.

Through her battles with disability, she sees the world through a different lens — and that has little to do with her partial blindness. Colbourne is dismayed at the lack of accessibility throughout Corner Brook. That is only topped by what she says is the ignorance of many people she encounters as she struggles to get around.

“There are a lot of good people too, don’t get me wrong,” she said. “But, wow, some people are so mean and inconsiderate.”

She was in one store, she says, and a woman told her she shouldn’t be there because the wheelchair she was in took up so much room.

“I just sat there and cried,” she said. “People have no respect for the handicapped.”

At least that store had a wheelchair. Colbourne has found many stores without one, something she feels should be mandatory. When there is not one, she is not mobile enough to make her way through aisles to shop — one of the few things she says she can still enjoy doing, under the right circumstances — and she has to return home frustrated and dejected.

Other times, the chairs are so far damaged they are practically unusable.

There are also not enough ramps to provide access to the buildings throughout the city, she added.

Transportation for the disabled in the city is practically non-existent, she said. She can’t use the bus and she cannot afford to continually use taxis. Colbourne is also shocked at the number of people without disabilities who take up the blue zone parking spaces.

During the winter months, she is even more confined to her home. She said sidewalks, if they are adequately in place, are often not cleared.

Colbourne went to exercise her right to vote one time, she recalls. When she got there, the disabled entrance was locked and she couldn’t get inside. Then she got stuck in the elevator. Finally getting to the polling station, she learned she was at the wrong location. They would not take her vote, so she went home discouraged, not able to make the additional effort after what she just endured.

There are also few places to turn for help. The Spinal Cord Injury office, formerly the Canadian Paraplegic Association, shut down in 2013.

“We didn’t ask for this. It is something that happened to us. We should be treated fairly.”

Our Popular Blogs

A modern office lobby bustling with professionals, featuring a wheelchair-accessible entrance and various workstations, reflecting the new accessibility requirements for the B.C. public sector.
In an era where inclusivity is not just valued but essential, the public sector in British Columbia is stepping up to the challenge. Recent legislation has introduced new accessibility requirements, marking a significant step towards a more inclusive society. This blog post explores these new mandates and how Accessibility Partners can play a pivotal role in aiding public sector organizations to meet these evolving standards.
A woman in a wheelchair and a man in a suit are engaged in a conversation, with a screen displaying a translation service in the background, highlighting the importance of accessibility in hiring and recruitment.
In today’s evolving marketplace, accessibility in hiring is a legal requirement. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) alongside other Canadian legislations, such as the Canadian Human Rights Act and provincial codes, mandate and set the framework for inclusive recruitment practices. But the implications of these policies stretch well beyond compliance; they pave the way for a diverse, innovative, and adept workforce that is
A climber ascends a rugged rock face, showcasing determination against a backdrop of clouds and mossy stone, symbolizing the spirit of overcoming challenges — much like how AODA WCAG destroy accessibility barriers for new opportunities.
What do you think of when someone mentions Accessibility Barriers? Does it perhaps pertain to buildings or sidewalks with a narrow walkway unsuitable for wheelchairs? How about infographics with no alternative text (alt text)? While society has come a long way in creating more accessible environments, persistent challenges remain as barriers to total inclusivity. Accessibility barriers are challenges or obstacles that limit individuals with disabilities
A modern office showcasing work models from an accessibility perspective, featuring a wheelchair user at a desk, surrounded by accessible workspaces and employees collaborating overhead.
The seismic shift in our work culture post-2020 has turned long-held assumptions about the workplace upside down. Organizations are now more open to a spectrum of work models, from fully remote to the traditional office, and everything in between. With these changes, it's imperative to examine how each model caters to the needs of the entire workforce, including individuals with disabilities. In this comprehensive exploration,
A group of people collaborates around a table, with laptops and tablets, discussing a mobile app design displayed on a computer screen, exploring the reasoning behind accessibility testing.
Have you tested your website recently? Not for common error pages or new customer journey maps but to see if users with disabilities can use the website as seamlessly as those without disabilities.
A diverse group of people holds signs advocating for values such as equality, respect, justice, and integrity, promoting unity and harmony, highlighting the dangers of euphemisms in disability language and the importance of authentic representation.
Language is a powerful tool; it can inspire, comfort, and unite, but it can also oppress, demean, and divide. For the disability community, language plays a crucial role in the fight for inclusivity. It is especially significant in shaping public perception and personal identity.] In a society where words reflect and sometimes dictate our collective beliefs and behaviours, the careful selection of terminology is paramount.