Canada’s federal government plans to host its first National Air Accessibility Summit in May in Ottawa.
A March 18 news announcement said the summit will be cohosted by Pablo Rodriguez, the Canadian Minister of Transport, and Kamal Khera, the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities.
“The government of Canada continues to work towards becoming the most accessible and inclusive country in the world,” the announcement said. “Barriers faced by Canadians with disabilities while travelling are completely unacceptable. That is why the government of Canada continues to advocate for accessibility and the full inclusion of Canadians with disabilities, working closely with the disability community, stakeholders, all orders of government and international partners.”
The announcement described the summit as including “a range of participants across Canada representing the air sector as well as representatives from the disability community. It will focus on discussing issues currently facing passengers with disabilities; working to identify potential solutions and action plans to address ongoing issues; and reporting on progress made since the coming into force of the Accessible Canada Act in 2019, and the Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations in 2022.”
Wheelchair damage goes viral
“The government of Canada is committed to ensuring transportation is accessible and barrier-free by 2040,” the announcement added.
The challenges of air travel for Canadian wheelchair riders went viral in September 2022, when Maayan Ziv, founder of AccessNow and a Toronto-based entrepreneur and disability advocate, posted to social media about her experiences with Air Canada.
Despite working with Air Canada ahead of time — Ziv reported bubble wrapping her Complex Rehab power chair for her flight to Tel Aviv and explaining to Air Canada staff how the power chair should be handled to ensure its safety — upon landing, Ziv discovered the chair had been severely damaged.
A photo posted to X (known as Twitter at the time Ziv posted in September 2022) showed the power chair’s seat pan partly folded upward, as if the power chair had a folding frame. The backrest was also partly folded vertically and appeared to have been twisted to the right.
“I got off a plane to find my independence stripped from me,” Ziv posted at the time. “This cannot continue happening to disabled people. This #wheelchair is my mobility. My entire life is powered by this wheelchair. Another flight, another broken wheelchair damaged by #airlines.”
Ziv’s post was reposted more than 9,000 times and garnered 30,000 likes as other Canadian wheelchair riders shared their own experiences of damaged wheelchairs and the perceived indifference often demonstrated by airlines.
A year later, the issue went viral again when Stephanie Cadieux, Canada’s first Chief Accessibility Officer, posted to X that Air Canada had left her wheelchair behind after she boarded the plane. “Well. @AirCanada left my chair in Toronto,” Cadieux said in that post. “I’m now without my essential equipment. Independence taken away. I’m furious. Unacceptable. #RightsOnFlights.”
“Equitable and dignified access to air transport for Canadians with disabilities is non-negotiable,” Khera said in the announcement. “Recent events demonstrate that our airlines are not meeting the standards that Canadians with disabilities expect or deserve. It’s time for action, and it’s time for change. Through the National Air Accessibility Summit, we will ensure airlines take responsibility and deliver long-term and sustainable solutions to guarantee that all Canadians regardless of their abilities enjoy barrier-free air travel.”
Image: istockphoto/Sumetha Suebchat