Advocates supporting individuals with disabilities in New Brunswick responded to the province’s recent unveiling of a five-year accessibility strategy with a blend of hope, positivity, and caution. Jean-Claude D’Amours, the minister of post-secondary education, training, and labor, highlighted how the plan outlines the collaboration between the government and New Brunswickers facing barriers to achieve a more accessible province by 2040.
Marisa Hersey-Misner, chair of the Saint John Ability Advisory Committee, expressed satisfaction with the ongoing engagement efforts by the province. However, she voiced concerns over the lengthy timeline until 2040 due to the numerous existing accessibility challenges, emphasizing the need for quicker action.
The strategic plan emphasizes three main objectives: identifying and eliminating barriers in collaboration with all sectors, fostering a culture of accessibility, and establishing and enforcing accessibility standards. It stresses the importance of involving individuals with disabilities in decision-making processes that affect them directly.
Hersey-Misner stressed the significance of including people with disabilities in decision-making, citing their firsthand understanding of existing barriers. She highlighted the need for tangible progress in making life more accessible and cultivating an inclusive environment, alongside ongoing consultations leading up to 2040.
Randy Dickinson, head of the Premier’s Council on Disabilities, who serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board, acknowledged the complexity of addressing various issues requiring specific standards and regulations. He emphasized the long-term benefits of promoting accessibility not only for individuals with disabilities but also for the wider community.
Shelley Petit, chair of the New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities, appreciated the emphasis on fostering an accessible culture in the plan but expressed reservations about the feasibility of completely removing barriers across all sectors, especially for small businesses and community organizations.
Despite the challenges, Dickinson expressed optimism about the transformative potential of the plan for future generations of individuals with disabilities. He highlighted the plan’s capacity for substantial change and its positive impact on upcoming generations benefiting from the Accessibility Act initiatives.