Advocates supporting individuals with disabilities responded to New Brunswick’s recently unveiled five-year strategic accessibility plan this week with a mix of hope, positivity, and caution. During the plan’s launch, Jean-Claude D’Amours, the minister of post-secondary education, training, and labor, emphasized the government’s commitment to collaborating with New Brunswickers facing obstacles and all sectors to achieve a more accessible New Brunswick by 2040.
Marisa Hersey-Misner, chair of the Saint John Ability Advisory Committee, expressed satisfaction with the ongoing efforts by the province to engage with the community and make progress. However, she expressed concern about the lengthy timeline until 2040, citing numerous systemic accessibility challenges that need urgent attention.
The strategic plan outlines three primary objectives: collaborative barrier identification and removal, fostering a culture of accessibility, and establishing and enforcing accessibility standards. Central to the plan is the principle of involving individuals with disabilities in decisions that impact them directly.
Hersey-Misner stressed the importance of active involvement of disabled individuals in the decision-making process, although she highlighted a disconnect between participation in advisory roles and the pace of tangible outcomes. She hopes that alongside ongoing consultations for the 2040 target, tangible actions will lead to enhanced accessibility and a more inclusive environment.
Randy Dickinson, chair of the Premier’s Council on Disabilities, and a member of the Accessibility Advisory Board, emphasized the significance of working towards a culture of accessibility, noting its benefits for both disabled and non-disabled individuals. Dickinson acknowledged the complexities involved in addressing various barriers and the importance of developing specific standards and regulations.
Shelley Petit, chair of the New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities, expressed contentment with the plan’s focus on fostering an accessible culture but raised concerns about the ambitious scope of barrier removal across all sectors. She noted challenges small businesses may face in implementing accessibility measures and suggested prioritizing government buildings and communication channels.
Despite the challenges highlighted by advocates, there is optimism for significant positive change under the Accessibility Act. Dickinson, with decades of advocacy experience, sees the plan as a catalyst for transformational change, particularly benefitting the upcoming generation of individuals with disabilities.