Title

Accessibility perspective in the Canadian Federal Transportation network: panel discussion

Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2007

Subject Area

Mobility - Disabled, Mobility - Guide Dogs, Population - Elderly, Transport accessibility - Access to Information, Transport accessibility - Access to Technology

Abstract

The panel will present and discuss the Canadian national transportation network from the point of view of the traveller with disabilities and the facet of accessibility for all people. The panelist will represent vision and hearing loss, mobility and learning disabilities, as well as seniors in the federal network. The interactive experiential panel discussion will capitalize on the valued experience of the panelists while serving on the Minister of Transport’s Advisory Committee on Accessible Transportation and/or the Canadian Transportation Agency’s Accessibility Committee and being involved in Canada’s consultative process. The Panel will discuss the consumer role towards developing an inclusive federal transportation policy, training and access to the various modes of transportation. Policies need to be prepared taking into account the experiential role that comes from the end user rather than what it should as depicted by the bureaucrat. A country’s transportation policy affects all people but until recently, in some countries, have excluded the rights of many travellers. A transportation network needs to be founded on inclusion of all people for all people remembering that the network is a socio-economic lifeline for any nation and its people. The interactive panel discussion will engage the audience’s questions and responses with full participation on concerns and issues, as observed by travellers regardless of ability from planning a trip to security and the final destination.