WINNIPEG — Everyday errands, from buying lunch to getting groceries, can be made difficult for people with disabilities.
“If you don’t have a white cane and aren’t bumping into everything the natural assumption is you can do anything and that isn’t the case,” said Doug Gordon, who is visually impaired.
He struggles to see, especially when travelling.
“The big television screens saying where the flights are I can’t begin to read those,” Gordon said.
The province is trying to make Manitoba more inclusive.
It’s starting with the people we all interact with every day, those in the customer service industry.
“When someone in the front line comes in communication with a person with disability they aren’t shocked, alarmed,” said John Wyndels, with the Manitoba Disability Issues Office. “This is about creating a greater understand and a dialogue between persons with disabilities and changing attitudes.”
The office is working on what the accessibility standards will be. They will start to be rolled out next year for government departments. The public sector has two years to comply and private businesses and non profits will have three years.
“This is an opportunity for them to look at their own policies, practices and facilities,” said Wyndels.
That includes how a building is laid out.
“We had to make some changes,” said Steve Walker, with the Hilton Suites.
The hotel near the airport recently modified its front desk and other amenities.
Walker hopes other businesses seriously consider also making changes.
“Businesses have a social responsibility that if they are in the communities making profit and doing business they should be out there trying to assist,” he said.
It is unclear at this point how customer service workers will be trained and what penalties will be in place for businesses that do not comply.
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