Accessibility gaps remain 40 years after historic tour, says Rick Hansen

Forty years after his groundbreaking world tour, Canadian athlete and disability rights advocate Rick Hansen reflects on progress and remaining challenges on the path to an accessible and inclusive Canada. The 1985 journey, covering over 40,000 kilometres across 34 countries, aimed to raise awareness and tackle barriers faced by people with disabilities.

Hansen, who became paralyzed from the waist down after a truck accident, returned to Ottawa to celebrate the world premiere of the documentary "Man In Motion: The Rick Hansen Story" at Parliament Hill. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney contributed $1 million towards the tour, which raised $26 million for similar initiatives.

Hansen acknowledges that significant strides have been made in promoting inclusivity, yet he emphasizes that the task is far from complete. He stresses that the built environment remains a critical area requiring attention, as current building standards only achieve about 40-50 out of a possible 100 on an accessibility scale. Hansen contends that these minimum compliance codes are insufficient and that sustainable solutions need to be adopted to prevent creating barriers in future constructions.

The federal government's 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability revealed that 8 million Canadians – more than 27 percent of the population – have a disability, highlighting the broad impact of this issue.

The Canadian Press reports that Hansen advocates for sustained programs supporting accessibility, urging governments to allocate funds efficiently to ensure meaningful progress. He believes that accessibility and inclusion extend beyond physical structures, encompassing people's engagement and connections. In 2019, Canada adopted the Accessible Canada Act, setting a target of achieving a barrier-free environment by 2040.

However, Hansen cautions that this is an ongoing process, as accessibility is not solely about physical structures but also about fostering an inclusive society where everyone is included and no one is left behind.