Student challenges Georgina to move forward on accessibility

YorkRegion.com
July 21, 2016
Heidi Riedner

Compliance with the province’s accessibility act is in the queue for 2025, but one Keswick teenager is doing his part to get it on the radar now to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people coping with all disabilities.

“It is important to move forward now in terms of dialogue and education because accessibility isn’t just an issue for those with visible disabilities,” says Mitch Stark, a 17-year-old Keswick resident who organized the Keep Calm and Roll-On Enabling Georgina event at The ROC last month.

The event was designed to bring people together to share the stories and progress of accessibility through a speaker series, as well of activities such as a wheelchair race that would provide participants with a “lived experience.”

“The goal was to widen perspectives and educate,” explains Stark, who requires a wheelchair due to his cerebral palsy.

“Everyone at some point in their lives will face the issue of accessibility, whether it is a physical limitation or to do with hearing or sight or another form of impairment,” Stark adds.

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) became law on June 13, 2005.

Compliance with its accessibility standards is slated for 2025, but Stark says there is no reason why communities can’t take it upon themselves to get the dialogue going now to understand why it matters and what changes are necessary.

“Compliance is 2025, but that is nine years away. We need to be talking and thinking about it now. And the onus isn’t just on businesses; everybody needs to think about what policies, procedures and the simplest of things that can be done so everyone has access to their community, social interaction and physical places that make life worth living,” says Stark.

“No one wants to be on the periphery of their community, but that is exactly what happens when your places to go are minimized because of access.”

Sadly, our town isn’t very accessible to those with accessibility needs, says Keswick High School teacher Karin Simpson, who helped Stark organize the Keep Calm and Roll-On event after some very thought-provoking conversations around accessibility with her Grade 12 English student.

“Those of us who don’t experience ‘life on wheels’ are likely not aware of this fact. The Keep Calm event was our way to encourage change by educating our community about where we can do better both in our physical environment and in our treatment of those with accessibility needs,” she says.

Simpson also speaks to a fact that is very close to Stark’s heart.

“We would talk at length about the general misunderstanding people have regarding people who are in a wheelchair. He opened my eyes to a new perspective on many things, including how people viewed him more as an object, rather than being a human being.”

Mitch is the kind of young man who lives every part of his life with a genuine, kind and compassionate ear, Simpson adds.

“He is an inspiration to all who know him, and each of us who were involved — from vendors, to speakers, to volunteers, to our sponsor Hanna Gillis —were involved because we believed in his cause. Mitch feels strongly that if you have a voice to speak up for those who may not be able to speak for themselves, that you should use it to help make life better for them. That’s what the event was all about.”

“See the person before you see the wheelchair, guide dog and cane, hearing aid or whatever else,” Stark says. “That is not who we are. That does not define us, but it does shape our ability to go about our lives.”

That is why Stark believe dialogue is so important.

“Don’t be afraid to ask us about our challenges. People may then better understand how important accessibility is for everyone and their community as a whole.”

Royal LePage Your Community Realty sales agent Hanna Gillis threw her support behind the cause, sponsoring the event precisely because of who Stark is and the conversations they shared.

No stranger to supporting her local community, Gillis says she knew she had to get involved once she talked with Stark.

“He is the most incredible, passionate, articulate young man I have met whose drive is unmatched,” she says.

No doubt Stark’s drive will keep him and his cause calm and rolling on to accessibility for all.