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Making Communities Accessible for All

By 250 News

Tuesday, March 24, 2009 09:40 AM

Prince George, B.C. – “Everyone wants wider doors” says Laurie Riengert of Measuring up the North and if she has her way, builders will get that message.
 
Riengert says building homes with one step entrances, and wider doors isn’t  just for those with disabilities, “I know of a couple that spent two hours just trying to get a new fridge in their older home because the doorways weren’t wide enough.”
 
Riengert says it makes sense to build homes with the disabled or elderly in mind as such homes reduce the risk of injury from stair falls and make the home more marketable. “You know Home Hardware now has those automatic doors, and those were initially installed for the disabled, but now we all take those kinds of doors for granted.” She says everyone appreciates things like automatic doors and cut curbs, but Measuring Up the North is all about make them part of the building code.
 
April 6th to the 8th the Measuring up the North conference will take place in Prince George. Delegates from all over the country will be coming to this conference, sharing ideas on how to make our communities more accessible. 

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Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 09:40 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Comment Posted by: Loki on March 24 2009 11:27 AM
Makes perfect.
That is why it will never happen.
Comment Posted by: Loki on March 24 2009 11:27 AM
Makes perfect sense.
That is why it will never happen.
Comment Posted by: meinbcbud on March 24 2009 4:59 PM
Almost 3 percent of people of all ages in Prince George are forced to ride Power Mobility due to age, illness or accident. This computes to about 4100 powered mobility users (Powerchairs and Electric Mobility Scooters).

When businesses and retailers realize that about 3 percent (*and the special access requirements of a further 25 to 30% of the general population with other non- mobility issues like vision and upper body weakness) of the population is denied access to their establishments preventing them from doing business with them, they will find the resources to accommodate those persons with just a little encouragement.

Society as a whole has to change attitudes towards access in Prince George. As time goes on, the population of persons who require special access will rise, aided in part by Prince George's reputation as medical center status and the need to reduce fuel costs for local transport. As the story reads, it makes sense for establishments to consider access for all.
Comment Posted by: meinbcbud on March 24 2009 5:00 PM
Almost 3 percent of people of all ages in Prince George are forced to ride Power Mobility due to age, illness or accident. This computes to about 4100 powered mobility users (Powerchairs and Electric Mobility Scooters).

When businesses and retailers realize that about 3 percent (*and the special access requirements of a further 25 to 30% of the general population with other non- mobility issues like vision and upper body weakness) of the population is denied access to their establishments preventing them from doing business with them, they will find the resources to accommodate those persons with just a little encouragement.

Society as a whole has to change attitudes towards access in Prince George. As time goes on, the population of persons who require special access will rise, aided in part by Prince George's reputation as medical center status and the need to reduce fuel costs for local transport. As the story reads, it makes sense for establishments to consider access for all.
Comment Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on March 24 2009 10:20 PM
I must be disabled... I'm seeing double of everything.