Accessibility champion Rick Hansen brought a deeply personal message to the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) board at its June 19 meeting, urging them to lead the way in building inclusive, accessible communities for all.
Hansen was there to introduce the (RHFAC) 乌鸦传媒� a national program that helps governments and organizations assess and improve the accessibility of their buildings. But first, he shared the story that changed his life forever.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 from Williams Lake, up in the Cariboo,乌鸦传媒� he began. 乌鸦传媒淢y whole life revolved around physical activity and the use of my legs. I had big dreams 乌鸦传媒� maybe one day representing .乌鸦传媒�
At 15, he was returning home from a fishing trip when the pickup truck he was riding in rolled on a gravel road. 乌鸦传媒淚 was thrown back-first into a steel toolbox. I couldn乌鸦传媒檛 get up. My legs just wiggled like jelly,乌鸦传媒� he recalled. 乌鸦传媒淭hree hours later, the doctor told me I乌鸦传媒檇 broken my back and damaged my spinal cord. I乌鸦传媒檇 never walk again.乌鸦传媒�
At the time, disability was viewed with pity, not a possibility, Hansen recalled. But then he met 乌鸦传媒� a man who had lived with paralysis since the 1940s.
乌鸦传媒淗e had this incredible smile. At first, I wondered what he had to smile about. But then I saw it 乌鸦传媒� he wasn乌鸦传媒檛 focusing on his disability. He was focusing on his ability. And I realized, if he could do it, so could I.乌鸦传媒�
That attitude propelled Hansen to become a world-class wheelchair athlete and eventually launch the , wheeling more than 40,000 kilometres through 34 countries to raise awareness and funds for spinal cord research.
He recalled one moment that has stayed with him ever since.
乌鸦传媒淭his one event in Poland 乌鸦传媒� I乌鸦传媒檒l never forget it. There was a young man sitting on a piece of plywood with a pillow on it and four little skateboard wheels 乌鸦传媒� that was his mobility machine. With tears streaming down his face and, through a translator, he said 乌鸦传媒楾hank you. This is the first time that my family and my community have looked at me with ability. Keep going.乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕
Over the years, Rick Hansen has worked alongside some of the world乌鸦传媒檚 most recognized champions for change, including Terry Fox, Michael J. Fox, and Christopher Reeve. He and Terry Fox shared a close friendship, both growing up in B.C. and turning personal adversity into a national movement for hope and action.
Hansen supported Michael J. Fox乌鸦传媒檚 efforts to advance Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 research and raise awareness about neurodegenerative diseases. With Christopher Reeve, Hansen collaborated on global initiatives to push for medical breakthroughs and better quality of life for people living with disabilities.
Hansen noted that there are 1.3 billion people on the planet living with a disability, including one in four Canadians. He pointed out that there are still 270 different accessibility codes across Canada.
乌鸦传媒淐an you imagine what that does to the industry? The cost, the inefficiency?乌鸦传媒�
He said the RHFAC offers a national standard 乌鸦传媒� paired with training for planners, architects, and developers 乌鸦传媒� that makes it easier and cheaper to design buildings that work for everyone.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a lot easier to use an eraser on a pencil than a jackhammer on concrete,乌鸦传媒� he said.
Hansen challenged the RDCO board to lead.
乌鸦传媒淲ouldn乌鸦传媒檛 it be great if this region came together and brought this forward to the Union of B.C. Municipalities 乌鸦传媒� or even the Federation of Canadian Municipalities? We could build a movement.乌鸦传媒�
He closed with a message of encouragement and urgency.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 here not just to challenge you, but also to say thank you 乌鸦传媒� because it's the work you do that makes a difference," an emotional Hansen said. "I know it's hard. I know it's sometimes thankless. But you're doing good work. You're helping people like me feel that I乌鸦传媒檓 not alone 乌鸦传媒� that we can work together and get there faster. The country needs you.乌鸦传媒�
