A 59-year-old resident in Nipigon, Ontario, named Linda Jensen, who faces challenges due to a disability, discloses her dependence on the kindness of strangers to access her local pharmacy. Jensen, dealing with limited hand mobility from arthritis, struggles to open the two entrance doors of the Rexall Pharmacy and Drug store in Nipigon. This leads her to wait outside until another patron assists her in entering, a situation she finds disheartening.
Being the sole pharmacy in Nipigon, Jensen highlights the impracticality of traveling over two hours to reach the next closest pharmacy. She advocates for mandatory installation of automatic door openers in pharmacies to cater to individuals like herself who cannot independently operate doors. Jensen emphasizes the responsibility of pharmacies, as frequented establishments by elderly and ill individuals, to ensure accessibility for all patrons.
Responding via email, Rexall’s communications director, Erica Hung, mentions that the manual door at the Nipigon location complies with the Ontario Building Code. However, acknowledging the barriers it poses, the pharmacy plans to install automated doors by early 2026, citing the need for custom door frame fabrication and safety testing of the automated door button as reasons for the timeline.
In the interim, Hung suggests that customers needing assistance with the door can seek help from an employee near the entrance. Despite this option, Jensen expresses difficulty in successfully flagging down employees and instead relies on fellow customers for assistance. David Lepofsky, chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Alliance, points out that many pharmacies find value in providing accessible entrances due to the positive impact on customer engagement and revenue generation.
Lepofsky underscores the legal obligations of businesses, including pharmacies, to accommodate individuals with disabilities, highlighting the potential violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code and AODA for pharmacies with inaccessible entrances. He emphasizes the feasibility of spreading out the costs of retrofitting entrances over multiple years, making it challenging for businesses to claim undue hardship in accommodating accessibility needs.
Jensen expresses hope that sharing her experience will contribute to raising awareness about accessibility challenges faced by individuals with disabilities.