LETTER TO THE EDITOR BARRIERS FOR THE BLIND

It is so wonderful to leave my home to catch the bus to my office. It arrives on time, as usual, and I can hear the beeping of the bus floor lowering to facilitate my access. The bus driver confirms my number and the route.

I get off at my usual stop, a block from my work, and I walk the rest of the way.

Unfortunately, none of this is true — it’s just a dream for someone living with sight loss in rural Nova Scotia. As we strive to build better communities, we must ensure public transportation is accessible to everyone. As someone who is blind, I am disproportionately impacted because I can’t drive.

Whether it’s participating in the workforce or benefiting from social inclusion, I’m unable to live the life I want without access to transportation.

It’s time for our governments to step up and demonstrate their commitment to accessibility. Get it right and all of us will benefit.

Sylvia Parris-Drummond,

HRM