View from the Strip
By Casey Lessard

It’s no secret that the newspaper business is in free fall as businesses tighten their advertising budgets. Local papers, like the Grand Bend Strip, are supposed to be immune to such a tightening, but that’s changing. I have to admit that I didn’t see the change coming.
It’s my worst kept secret that my profit margins are so slim that they’re often non-existent. And that was before the economy tanked. I faced this reality earlier this month when I headed into early May prepared to put a newspaper together. News came that several key clients decided not to return to the fold for the summer, and it became apparent that I would no longer be immune to the changes that are happening in this industry. Faced with taking a fairly large loss, I was forced to cancel the May 13 edition of the Strip. It was a hard decision to make.
Even harder is the decision I’ve had to make since then, and that is the one to end free distribution of the Strip. It’s simply no longer sustainable, especially for an independent publisher like me. So, despite a letter that went out to subscribers outside the free coverage area of Grand Bend, Exeter, Dashwood, and Crediton, the paper will no longer be available free anywhere after the June 17 edition. Starting with the July 8 edition and going forward, the paper will only be available by subscription or paid at local shops.
Going forward, I want to thank you, the reader, for helping the Strip achieve the success it has to date, and hope you’ll continue to support it. I am especially grateful for the 600 loyal subscribers who mailed in their cheques, often with kind notes. It’s important for someone like me to receive such affirmation, especially considering I have done this for two years without pay.
Not that there haven’t been other rewards. Last year, I earned first place in Canada for reporting, second in Ontario for photography, and third for photo page design. This year, mostly for my reportage, I earned two first-place awards in Ontario, a second in Canada and one in Ontario, and four thirds in Canada. It’s among the best turnouts for any paper in Ontario (and possibly Canada) this year. A full list of the honours can be found on page two and at GrandBendStrip.com.
So, if you think what we are doing with this newspaper is worthwhile, please support it financially. First, I hope you will subscribe, and second, support the businesses that have advertised in the past and those that continue to advertise in the Strip. I also hope you’ll consider taking one of my photography classes, and attending my art show and sale at Bliss Studio this summer. Reprints of photos from the newspaper are always available for sale, so if you like a photo, please consider taking one home.
I’ve said this in the past, but I’ll say it again: Thank you. I can’t do this without you.

Excerpts from comments by CCNA and OCNA award judges:

CCNA judge Michelle Stewart (2nd place in Canada for feature series):
Casey Lessard’s series on wheelchair accessibility had touching personal stories of people confined to wheelchairs and their everyday struggles with limited access. Lessard accompanied his subjects in their everyday activities and spent time getting to know this issue through their eyes. This writer wasn’t satisfied to just report on an issue, he took time to live it and do his part to remedy it.

OCNA judge Ted Murphy (1st place Sports & Recreation story for No Lifeguards…)
Lessard did a masterful job on two fronts: he highlighted a dangerous situation (three drownings in three years) in addition to paying tribute to the most recent victim, a 14-year-old girl. It was a clear cut winner.

OCNA judge Kelly Clemmer (1st place Best Editorial for No Lifeguards…)
This editorial… was striking. It was worth the additional effort. It begs the question, how much is a life worth?

Dear Casey,
I just wanted to let you know how very well received your (wheelchair accessibility) article was, by your readers and by many merchants. I know it can be a gamble when dealing with businesses and I admit it was not always comfortable for me, but it truly has turned out to be such a worthwhile project.  Scott and I have had so many calls, beautiful letters, and well wishing comments that we were overwhelmed; I have never known such heartfelt concern and support. As we discussed, there have been some incredible hurts and frustrations with people who could not handle the changes in our life. Well, this has done so much to restore my faith in human kindness. Some of the businesses immediately made changes as a result of your article and became very proactive in their attitude.
You are a very kind and generous man yourself and this series of articles demonstrates your commitment to bettering life for all citizens. I hope you feel proud and not too humble that you won’t print this. To all the people who approached Scott and me, wrote and sent cards, I thank you so much as it is just this sort of thing that empowers us to advocate for better services for all persons requiring chronic or long term care. We have a long way to go in getting drug coverage, but the financial services firm of Campbell and Lehman have been very kindly working on a trust fund for myself and others in my position to help with costs until one of either the Ontario Ministry of Health or Hoffman-LaRoche steps up to the plate and does the right thing. It is not my wish to be in the public eye for the reasons that I have been, but if this is what it takes to make improvements for myself and others, then so be it. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Denise Halpenny
Exeter

To the Editor:
I appreciate your recent efforts to grade accessibility in the area. I have arthritis in both knees and use a cane constantly. Entry to buildings, washroom facilities etc. are things I struggle with on a daily basis.
I was surprised to read that Gar’s (Bar) in Exeter got an average rating. I guess it was fair by your scoring system. However, what distressed me was your mention of the cleaning equipment in the handicap washroom. This is because I was at that facility this past February for lunch and when I went to use the handicap washroom there was a bucket and mops and no room for me. I had to use the regular washroom and – because the toilet was abnormally low – I had to grasp under the door to pull myself up; otherwise, I would still be there. Thank goodness the door held and I was again upright.
I asked to speak to the manager who was “not in today.” So I spoke to the person at hand and asked her to accompany me to the handicap washroom to show her why I was upset. She then explained that the equipment was in there because if she stored it downstairs, she would have to carry it up to clean. Because I didn’t agree this was a good reason to block handicap usage, I then demanded some compensation for my troubles. Am I wrong in assuming there is a law about having a handicap washroom available in public areas?
My compensation ended up being a free lunch. But as my friend expressed to the woman why I was so upset, she responded, “She’s not handicapped!!” I guess more education is needed here. You don’t have to be in a wheelchair to be handicapped! So I was happy to see you mention that in your recent editorial. Thank you for doing this.
There are other problems that people are often not aware of. The number of marked parking spaces is never enough and when I mention this at the municipality I am told the code requires one space for every thirty regular spaces. Is there a law that says you can’t include more than the building code stipulates? Duh! I would think the number of handicapped persons is only going to increase this decade.
Another seldom-confronted situation is the installation of handrails on stairs. Some are on the left and some are on the right. Some people have trouble going up, I have trouble going down and need a rail in my left hand. Why not have rails on both sides?
As Lisa Grady mentioned in her article, people want to do it themselves and maintain their dignity and independence. So let’s help them do that!
Thanks for listening Casey. You are doing a good thing. My next topic will probably be the development of a scent-free environment. Do I have any support on that issue?
Wilma Harris
Port Franks

From the editor: Wilma, thanks for your observations. It must be frustrating when a business has the infrastructure in place, but does not make it available to the customers for which it is designed. Our standard required that someone using a wheelchair can get in the door from the street and get around. If a person could use the washroom, reach the counters and sit at a table, those counted, too. I called Gar’s, and the owner is on vacation, but I was told the cleaning equipment still restricts use of the washroom. It’s a shame because this is a simple change (like other changes that could be made there and elsewhere) that could have helped it earn a higher rating. I was told Gar would likely reflect on this upon his return. Ultimately, business owners need to make accessibility a priority because, as you suggest, more people require such services each year.
Regarding the legal question, I do not believe restaurant washrooms are covered under the law yet, so if you would like to complain, your best avenue would be the Ontario Human Rights Commission. They, however, recommend you address your concerns with the business first.
And regarding the scent-free environment question, that’s certainly a good fight to wage.

I was pleased to see your newspaper in my mailbox; very interesting. I live in Parkhill and do a lot of my shopping in Grand Bend and area. I am very disappointed in the law enforcement that they don’t take care of the ongoing problem with wheelchair parking spaces. I find myself being mad most every time I have to park my truck when I see countless people (parking in these spaces) with no problem walking to the store. You people should be glad you can walk; STOP parking in the wheelchair space. I would stand out in the rain all day just to give out tickets to people who take the wheelchair parking spaces.
For the businesses that make excuses about why they don’t have wheelchair spaces or ramps, you should be ashamed of yourselves. It seems to me that everything has to be about the money. Why does it seem that bad things have to happen to someone before they make changes in their life? We want to make changes in our community but we only want to go halfway. The people in wheelchairs have a right to shop anywhere they want, so why are they being left out?
Patti Wilton
Parkhill

How pleasant a surprise it was to see how well Grace Hodgins was doing after her surgery on Friday, June 13. Grace had to get a pacemaker and I was so worried for her, but like the trouper she is, she rallied once again and is expected to be home shortly. Lots of love and encouragement in your quest for better health. Love and good luck. You go girl!
Joan McCullough
Shipka

Scott and Denise Halpenny met in 1978 and started dating soon after. 
“She was a bright and fun girl – she still is,” Scott says, “and that’s why I was attracted to her.”
Denise Halpenny, a former laboratory technician at South Huron Hospital, has had multiple sclerosis for 21 years, but the last four years have been the worst. The disease has taken away her mobility, and she is now struggling to preserve the last bastion of her independence: the ability to use her left arm.
“I feel like she’s been short-changed,” Scott, a physical education teacher at South Huron District High School, says. “I wish it could be different, but it can’t. If she loses her left side, then what does she do?
“It’s been tough adapting and realizing it’s probably not going to get any better. No one ever plans for this type of thing and you wonder why it’s happening and how you’re going to deal with it.”
The quick deterioration of Denise’s condition has forced the family to move to Grand Bend, where Paul Pittao of Medway Homes is building them a wheelchair accessible house.
“We just want to enjoy a certain quality of life and enjoy the time we have together, especially now that we’re going to be empty nesters. That’s why we’re building this house, so we can get rid of some of the barriers.”
“In a lot of ways, (MS) has made our relationship stronger,” Scott notes, “but we certainly deal with a lot of frustration, especially with the financial burden. We’ll continue to work together and try to enjoy the years we have together.”
 
As told to Casey Lessard

My first symptom was 21 years ago, when Kendra was a year old. It was September of 1986. I remember it distinctly. I was sitting in the car and Kendra was in the car seat behind us. I turned to look at her and had a sharp pain in my eye. I had no idea what it was about, and it persisted for a week or so. Every time I moved my eye, it was sore in the back of the socket. The eye doctor diagnosed it as optic neuritis, and they sent me to a neurologist because that’s a symptom of MS.
It took about three years until I had my second symptom, which was called L’hermittes Sign. You get an electrical shock in your legs when you drop your head. The only people who get it are people with MS, so they diagnosed me then, and that was June 1989.
I had a pretty uneventful first 10 years. Benign symptoms: sensory kinds of things, tingling, numbness, but no motor symptoms. For about five more years, it was the odd episode of weakness in my right side, and then the last four years have been what they call secondary progressive, where you get ongoing, increasing disability.
When the disease became quite aggressive, I had allergic reactions to the recommended treatments that are available for relapsing MS. There was nothing left for me to try, so I went online looking for research studies and came across a woman in Burlington who was part of a study in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was having incredible results; she had chronic progressive MS, had been in a wheelchair for years and was walking. I phoned her and said, What are you on? She told me it was Zenopax. We hit it off as friends, and she took my medical files to Utah the next time she went. The doctor down there, Dr. John Rose, phoned me and recommended that I try his study. That was it; I went down and got on the drug that I’m currently on. That was in December, 2001.
There were 12 people in the study, and I was the 12th. I asked him why he took me on, and he said he looked at my file and couldn’t believe my bad luck. He thought I would do well on it and that I deserved a chance to get healthy.
I tried the drug and did well. It was extremely expensive. I was not covered under any drug plans down there and because it was an off-label study, I had to pay for it myself. The Exeter community and my family rallied very hard and raised a tremendous amount of money. It was $2,000 American a month, plus my flights, hotels and meals. I went to Utah every 28 days for two years. I stabilized and actually increased my disability scores, and everybody was really happy and excited. But the study ended in 2004 and I wanted to stay on the drug, so I paid for it myself as best I could.
 
Financial burden
It became a huge burden financially, so after six or seven months, I decided to try going off it to see if I could stay healthy. I went off it for seven months and went from walking with a cane to needing a walker.
Scott and I decided that I had to go back on it, no matter what. We tried to handle the finances and did so for another year and a half, two years. But the debt load was getting huge and Dr. Rose and I decided maybe we would try one drug that was still available that I hadn’t tried up here. He thought it was a long shot that I would do well on it, but because of the finances, we went for it. Went off the Zenopax and decided to try Copaxone. You need to be off Zenopax for a month and a half before you can try a new drug, but within two and a half months of being on Copaxone, I had a huge allergic reaction and then a big MS episode. I went from the walker to the wheelchair.
At that point, you go back on the Zenopax. You can’t do anything else. I had to. Now, I can’t go off it.
Dr. Rose has tried to see if Roche will pay for the drug, but because I’m Canadian, it doesn’t fall under their jurisdiction; he’s still working on that. I had approached the drug company earlier and they wouldn’t help. They showed some interest in giving me some compassionate help, and then they stopped. They wouldn’t call back and dropped any interest whatsoever.
I started asking for help from the government and applied for a Section 8 (Ontario’s special coverage of a non-listed drug product mechanism). They turned me down. I had an interview with Health Minister George Smitherman. The drug is in phase two of research, and after phase three they apply for approval, so we’re about three years away from approval. You can get the drug here, but it’s not approved for MS.
Someone from the government called me and told me to appeal my Section 8, and I had to collect all these letters from my doctors saying this was the only drug I could take. They said I would get my 2006 and 2007 money back.
We heard nothing, heard nothing, heard nothing. Finally, my doctor here, Dr. Milne, phoned me and said it wasn’t approved for exactly the same reason as the first time: that the pharmaceutical company had never applied to have this drug approved for MS.
Then I got quite angry and the letters started going back and forth. Finally, someone else from the ministry phoned me and told me they should never have recommended I appeal it; I will never get approval as long as Roche has not applied. This was in March.
Now, an insurance company in London has set up a fund to help with the costs. The health ministry won’t help me and the drug company says I do not qualify for their compassionate subsidy. They don’t feel accountable at all, even though people volunteer to test the drug, and they’re going to make a lot of money. That’s pretty immoral.

Facing challenges
At 28, when you have one baby, a husband and a fabulous life and your future ahead of you, you don’t think anything lousy is going to happen.
Today, I have a pretty amazing life. I’m not complaining. We have three great kids and a pretty good lifestyle. I just didn’t think things would be this hard. I spent the last two years fighting for drugs to keep me healthy. I didn’t think I’d have to build a barrier free home and have no programs available to help me with some of those costs. I didn’t realize that when you get sick, there would be so little out there to help you with that.
We have an incredible group of friends – the ones that did stick by us – that have been there through thick and thin.
The hardest part of a disability isn’t the loss of the use of your limbs. That part has been probably the easiest. The hardest part is dealing with the change in people, and the change in the things you have to fight for to stay living normal and your kids well-adjusted. I don’t mind being in a wheelchair as much as I mind the way it affects my family.

A sense of loss
You grieve what you lost. It’s not that I think it’s my fault, but I think what it would be like for Scott if I didn’t have MS. His day should not have to revolve around me. Right now he does everything twice – once for me and once for him – and then worries about me all day long. I can’t even brush my own teeth right now. In the new house, the only thing Scott will have to do for me is put me in bed and get me out.
Before I had the allergic reaction to Copaxone, I was having difficulty walking up and down the stairs. Within three weeks, I was unable to do stairs at all. All of a sudden, my kids or my husband had to carry me to bed every night and downstairs in the morning. I can no longer get in or out of the house independently, go to the washroom independently, use the shower independently, and can’t use my kitchen or laundry room. I literally am carried down in the morning, put in this easy chair, and am carried up at night. That’s my entire independence lost within one month. That was a big adjustment.
I went from being an independent person who could drive, who did her own shopping and cooking, took care of her kids and worked, and all of a sudden, I was completely dependent.
My goal, when we move into our new house, is to not get in this chair in the morning. I’m going to stay in my power chair and do laundry and have coffee with a friend, get my own breakfast, and have my life back. What would really make it nice is if we didn’t have a huge financial fear every month with this $2,000 burden. If I have to go off this drug because we built this house, I don’t know if I’m going to be well enough to stay in the house. That’s the catch-22. Scott’s afraid to take the chance. We’re not sure what to do.

View from the Strip
By Casey Lessard

This week’s Grand Bend Strip goes to Exeter for part two of a survey to see what barriers people with mobility issues face every day. For readers who did not see the Strip’s survey of Grand Bend and Parkhill, please visit our website, http://www.grandbendstrip.com/ where you can see the material in its entirety.
To perform our survey of Exeter, I hit the streets with Denise Halpenny, who uses a three-wheeled scooter to get around. Admittedly, she doesn’t get around much because she already knows the limits she faces. She looks forward to fewer challenges when she and husband Scott move to Grand Bend this summer.
The most pressing issue in Exeter is the state of the sidewalks, especially the curbs at major intersections on Main Street. There were several times I thought her scooter was going to flip her into the road because of the condition of the curbs at James Street and Sanders Street, which are best described as dangerous for someone using such a device. The municipality needs to address this issue immediately.
The powers that be should also consider the fact that they scored fairly poorly on this survey because it is very difficult for someone using a wheelchair to get in the doors of The Olde Town Hall. Unlike the library, which shares the same building but with a different entrance, the town office lacks the option to press a button to open the door to their administration staff. There are other limits at town hall, too. For example, as it stands, anyone using a wheelchair can not sit behind the mayor’s desk in council chambers because it is on an elevated platform, and the tables for all councilors are too low for someone using a motorized wheelchair to sit behind. Want to sit in the bleachers? Impossible. Wheelchair users must sit in front of them.
In contrast, the library is a beacon for wheelchair users, complete with tables that rise and lower to accommodate wheelchair users. I know it took some encouragement from Maxine Hyde and her son Allan, but it’s a facility they can be proud of. Why did the municipality skimp on services some find critical for access?
“I want to have some amount of dignity when I’m out there,” Denise says when reflecting on her excursions downtown. “I want people to understand I was like them at one time. I want to feel like that, too. I don’t want to feel like, Oh, here comes that lady in the wheelchair.”
Denise was only able to perform four hours of the survey – which took about 12 to complete – before the rain started and the battery on her scooter lost power, stranding us in the middle of the road in front of the post office. Luckily, the traffic wasn’t too heavy at the time, but it was a reminder to me about the challenges people using such devices face regularly. I can only imagine what would have happened if she had run out of power while traveling alone.
I expected to get a lot of flak for publishing the results of the Grand Bend and Parkhill surveys, and I am sure there are people out there silently upset with me. But my intention was to bring this issue to light for the people who are marginalized because of their physical condition. We’re all getting older, and the odds that each of us will face mobility issues, or live with someone who does, increase daily.
I invite you to look at your store or the stores you frequent and ask, could I get in here – without help – if I were using a cane, a walker, or a wheelchair? Can’t get perspective yourself? Invite someone you know who uses such devices to assess your building to see if they can independently access it. What are the barriers to access? Find out and work to improve. Denise Halpenny and the many others who face such barriers daily will appreciate your efforts.

To the Editor,

I was a bit disappointed that you didn’t include St. John’s by the Lake Anglican Church in your list of wheelchair accessible buildings. St. John’s has two ramps; one to the church proper and one to the parish hall direct from the parking lot and a wheel chair marked parking space at the parish hall door. In the parish hall we have one wheel chair accessible washroom. If a person is in the church and cannot get up the steps to the altar, the priest brings communion down to him or her. The person can access the altar by coming in through the parish hall. There is a lovely large porch at the back of the hall that is also accessible from inside the parish hall and from the lawn (another ramp).

Sincerely,
Elinor Clarke

Our assessment stopped just short of the property housing St. John’s by the Lake, so thank you for sending in your assessment of the church. Unfortunately, Rick and I noticed many churches in the area do not have ramps to their front doors, effectively blocking access to many people who would like to worship.
Casey

To the Editor,
I read your article about the need for wheelchair-friendly businesses in Grand Bend with interest. The Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations (OACFDC), together with Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI), has created  an on-line course to assist businesses with accessibility. This is an EnAbling Change Initiative to increase the awareness and readiness of small and medium businesses in northern and rural Ontario to respond to future mandatory accessibility standards being developed under the Accessibility for Ontarian’s with Disabilities Act (AODA).
This is one of our free courses, which can be accessed on-line at www.cfdlearn.ca. Register with the website, then go to the Course Catalogue. Scroll down to the section on Customer Service, where you’ll see “Accessibility: Its Impact on Small and Medium Business” and click “Buy” (even though it says Buy, there is no charge for this course). This course will raise awareness about various disabilities, how to accommodate customers with disabilities, providing excellent customer service and increasing business, and how to accommodate employees with disabilities. The on-line learning website at www.cfdlearn.com is available for anyone to take courses anytime – there are courses available in English or French for a variety of small business needs.
Mary Alderson
Member Services Coordinator
Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations Inc.

To the Editor,
Forest Baptist Church has become a member of Neighbourlink in an effort to reach out to those who might use the services provided by this organization, which is currently operating in Sarnia, but has no representation in areas outside the city. As Forest Baptist Church has congregational members from a vast area, it is their wish to provide the services of Neighbourlink to people living anywhere in Lambton Shores.
What is Neighbourlink? It is a ministry made up of people who give practical help to those needing a helping hand. It’s a national ministry of World Vision Canada that equips churches and members to work together in local networks to respond to specific needs in their communities. This allows individuals the opportunity to express the love of God to their neighbours. Neighbourlink networks with other service organizations in order to avoid duplication and or abuse of services. When someone is beyond the limits of other service agencies, Neighbourlink responds through the many volunteers who are ready to act. Neighbourlink is the only transdenominational nationwide program of its kind in Canada.
Forest Baptist Church has volunteers ready to act. People needing assistance have only to call the office in Sarnia at 519-336-5465 and then Forest Baptist Church will be given directives.
To learn more about Neighbourlink, just put that word into your search or add the word Sarnia or Canada and you get lots of information. You could also call or email me and I would be happy to try to answer any questions you might have. My wife and I are church coordinators. Thank You.
Ivan Anderson
8324 Goosemarsh Line,
RR2 Grand Bend,
N0M 1T0
519-243-2126
ivan340@execulink.com

165 Exeter businesses surveyed
44% are 100% inaccessible by wheelchair
Only 1/5 have wheelchair parking
1 in 5 has a powered door opener
Exeter’s average mark (on Strip survey): 40%

Criteria and results

We assessed 165 core businesses in Exeter, from the Exeter Pentecostal Tabernacle in the south, to RONA Cashway in the north, plus stores in the plaza ending in Canadian Tire in the east.
Our eight equally weighted criteria for assessment were as follows:
1 – Does the facility offer wheelchair parking on site?
2 – Is there a level entry to the building? If there was a step, the business automatically received zero on the assessment.
3 – Can the entry door accommodate a motorized wheelchair? Our standard was 36” wide.
4 – Does the door have assistive power, where a person can press a button to open the door or it opens automatically?
5 – Can a person sitting in a wheelchair see over the counter?
6 – Are aisles easy to navigate through the entire store?
7 – Can someone in a motorized wheelchair use the washroom?
8 – If tables are offered, are they high enough to accommodate a person using a wheelchair?

Dr. Klein & Dr. Bardecki (Optometrist)
11 Huron Street East
519-235-2433
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 50% accessible washroom. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.
Front door entry is difficult for motorized wheelchair to cross, and mat caused difficulty upon exit.

Hensall District Co-op (Gasoline)
51 Main Street North
519-235-0444
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom.

Gar’s (Bar)
58 Main Street North
519-235-2773
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Aisles are passable. 50% accessible washroom. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.
Entry through right side of main doors. When assessed, washroom was inaccessible because it was full of cleaning supplies.

Little, Masson & Reid (Lawyer)
71 Main Street North
519-235-0670
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door.
Unable to assess completely.

Pinder, Taylor, McNeilly, Godkin (Accounting)
71 Main Street North
519-235-0101
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door.
Unable to assess completely.

Stu Homuth (Accounting)
71 Main Street North
519-235-3863

The Beer Store (Beer)
78 Main Street North
519-235-0544
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

MacLeans (Hardware)
110 Main Street North
519-235-0800
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.
Some areas of store are inaccessible by wheelchair.

Heartland Credit Union (Bank)
118 Main Street North
519-235-3356
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Shell (Gasoline)
119 Main Street North
519-235-0119

Exeter Chrysler (Automotive)
136 Main Street North
519-235-1525
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.

Tim Horton’s (Dining)
153 Main Street North
519-235-4540
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.

Eric Campbell Ford Lincoln (Automotive)
165 Main Street North
519-235-1380
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

BDM Motor Cars (Automotive)
207 Main Street North
519-235-3698
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door.
Unable to assess completely.

Partners Paint & Paper (Home)
210 Main Street North
519-235-0181
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.
Entry door faces wrong direction for wheelchair access. Can only navigate part of store.

Subway (Dining)
210 Main Street North
519-235-1273
Pop machine obstructs entry to restaurant.

Donuts Now (Dining)
217 Main Street North
519-235-1838

Movie Gallery (Video Rentals)
220 Main Street North
519-235-3880
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

KFC (Dining)
227 Main Street North
519-235-2424

Exeter Toyota (Automotive)
242 Main Street North
519-235-2353
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Aisles are passable.
Small bump at entry. Did not assess washrooms.

OPP (Police)
245 Main Street North
519-235-1300

Algoma Tire (Automotive)
246 Main Street North
519-235-0330

McDonald’s (Dining)
261 Main Street North
519-235-4227
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.

RONA Cashway (Building)
265 Main Street North
519-235-2081
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

ETM Television (Cable Television)
41 Main Street South

Belongers (Worship)
63 Main Street South

TJ’s Billiards & Eatery (Dining)
63 Main Street South
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.
Did not assess washrooms.

Caven Presbyterian Church (Worship)
68 Main Street South
519-235-2784

South Huron Office Solutions (Office Supplies)
92 Main Street South
519-235-1840

Drs. David and Geoff Hann (Chiropractors)
105 Main Street South

Royal Lepage Heartland (Real Estate)
109 Main Street South

The Ridge (Dining)
125 Main Street South
519-235-3333
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Aisles are passable. 50% accessible washroom. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.
Main bar is inaccessible. To access back part of restaurant, one must access a back door.

Huron Family Restaurant (Dining)
134 Main Street South
519-235-4623
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Aisles are passable. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.
Ramp leads to one room only, with no access to main counter or washrooms.

Stratford Memorials (Graves)
141 Main Street South
519-235-3958
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

LCBO (Liquor)
146 Main Street South
519-235-1942
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Mark McLlwain Insurance & Financial Services (Financial)
183 Main Street South
519-235-1344
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.
One area inaccessible.

Thames Insurance (Insurance)
186 Main Street South
519-235-2211

Becker’s/Mac’s (Variety)
190 Main Street South
519-235-2503
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Dairy Queen (Ice Cream)
190 Main Street South
519-235-2253
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.

SAAN (Clothing)
193 Main Street South
519-235-2552
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Barry’s Barbershop (Barber)
213 Main Street South
519-235-0451
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.
Did not assess washrooms.

Harvey Bierling (Income Tax)
221 Main Street South
519-235-1424

Royal Bank (Bank)
226 Main Street South
519-235-2111
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Foodland (Grocery)
227 Main Street South
519-235-0212
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Sharon’s Hairstyling (Hair Salon)
249 Main Street South
519-235-2696

Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church (Worship)
264 Main Street South
519-235-2565
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door.
Unable to assess completely.

New Orleans Pizza (Pizza)
277 Main Street South
519-235-0188

Scotiabank (Bank)
280 Main Street South
519-235-1142
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Gaiser Kneale Insurance (Insurance)
284 Main Street South
519-235-2420
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Quilts & Calicos Teaching Cottage (Crafts)
287 Main Street South
519-235-4084
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Selah Books (Books)
291 Main Street South
519-235-0571

Noah’s Ark (Thrift)
293 Main Street South
519-235-3744

Seasonals (Crafts)
294 Main Street South
519-235-4611
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.
Many obstacles, but it is possible to get in. Motorized wheelchairs may have slight difficulty getting out.

Exeter Lawn Bowling Club (Sports Club)
298 Main Street South

Curves (Fitness)
301 Main Street South
519-235-0414
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.
Did not assess washrooms.

ReelTime Video (Video Rentals)
309 Main Street South
519-235-4877
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Aisles are passable.

Ellison Travel (Travel)
311 Main Street South
519-235-2000
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Aisles are passable.

Burkley Restaurant (Dining)
312 Main Street South
519-235-1730

Olde Town Hall (Municipal)
322 Main Street South
519-235-0310
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom.
Could attend council meetings, but could not sit in mayor’s position.

Library (Library)
330 Main Street South
519-235-1890
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.
Excellent facility with computer access using tables that can rise or lower.

Exeter Cleaning Centre (Laundry)
342 Main Street South
519-235-4101
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 50% accessible washroom.

Exeter Music Centre (Music)
342 Main Street South
519-235-1263

Tasty Bites (Dining)
345 Main Street South
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.

Mane Event (Hair Salon)
346 Main Street South
519-235-0410

The Centre for Employment & Learning (Services)
349 Main Street South
519-235-0471
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.

Co-operators (Insurance)
350 Main Street South
519-235-1109
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.

The Purple Turtle (Clothing)
355 Main Street South
519-235-1500
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

In Style with Michelle (Hair Salon)
359 Main Street South
519-235-4665

TKO Computers (Computers)
360 Main Street South
519-235-0996
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Katch A Ray Tanning Salon (Tanning)
362 Main Street South
519-235-2243
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Aisles are passable.
Unable to assess completely.

Cuts Plus (Hair Salon)
363 Main Street South
519-235-2887

Flames (Dining)
365 Main Street South
519-235-4443

John AM Norris (Accounting)
370 Main Street South
519-235-3240
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door.
Unable to assess completely.

Wuerth’s Shoes (Footwear)
371 Main Street South
519-235-0611
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Aisles are passable.

Brigitte’s Fashions (Clothing)
373 Main Street South
519-235-0442
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Thomas H (Clothing)
373 Main Street South
519-235-0442
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Discover Health Centre (Medical)
374 Main Street South
519-235-2225

Injoy (Clothing)
375 Main Street South
519-235-1865
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

The Critter Barn (Pets)
378 Main Street South
519-235-3335

Turnips Children & Maternity (Clothing)
379 Main Street South
519-235-3500

The Jewellery Box (Jewellery)
382 Main Street South
519-235-4200

Big Reds/RSD Authentics (Clothing)
383 Main Street South
519-235-1314

Sew Fine (Sewing Supplies)
385 Main Street South
519-235-4023

Raymond & McLean (Lawyer)
387 Main Street South
519-235-2234

Licence Office (Government)
388 Main Street South
519-235-4578
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Aisles are passable.

Ontario Mortgage Action Centre (Mortgage)
388 Main Street South
519-235-0020
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Home & Company (Home)
390 Main Street South
519-235-4663
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Village Vines (Florist)
391 Main Street South
519-235-0009
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Quilts & Calicos (Crafts)
392 Main Street South
519-235-4084

Otterbein’s Barbershop (Barber)
394 Main Street South
519-235-0559

Sugar & Spice (Chocolates)
395 Main Street South
519-235-1211

Re/Max Dave Youmans (Real Estate)
396 Main Street South
519-235-3777

Designers (Clothing)
397 Main Street South
519-235-3035
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Bank of Montreal (Bank)
400 Main Street South
519-235-2860
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Greeting Card World (Stationery)
401 Main Street South
519-235-1019

The European Addition (Clothing)
403 Main Street South
519-235-1795

Shipping Store (Stationery)
405 Main Street South
519-235-0892

Coldwell Banker (Real Estate)
407 Main Street South
519-235-1449

Take Two (Hair Salon)
409 Main Street South
519-235-4879

Four Seasons Wholesale (Jewellery)
411 Main Street South
519-235-2666

Collins Barrow (Accounting)
412 Main Street South
519-235-0345
Level entry or ramp.

Ranch House Motel & Inn (Motel)
414 Main Street South
519-235-3141
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. 50% accessible washroom.
Toilets are fine, but sinks and tubs are not accessible.

South Huron Chamber of Commerce (Chamber)
414 Main Street South
519-235-4520
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Aisles are passable.

BPS Enterprises (Fundraising)
415 Main Street South
519-235-2520
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Custom Covers (Home)
415 Main Street South
519-235-2444
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Robert J. Deane (Lawyer)
417 Main Street South
519-235-0440

Bakelaar (Jewellery)
421 Main Street South
519-235-2720
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Four Seasons (Jewellery)
423 Main Street South
519-235-2666

Times Advocate (Newspaper)
424 Main Street South
519-235-1331

Godbolt, Ciufo Insurance & Financial Services (Financial)
425 Main Street South
519-235-2740
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.

Greg Hodgins Dolphin Insurance (Insurance)
425 Main Street South
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.

Best Computers (Computers)
429 Main Street South
519-235-3430

South Huron Window Centre (Home)
432 Main Street South
519-235-4502

SK Convenience (Variety)
433 Main Street South
519-235-1661
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.
Deserves special mention for wide aisles and low shelving.

Edward Jones – Mark Hartman (Financial)
436 Main Street South
519-235-3881
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.

Upper Class Pawn Brokers (Pawn Brokers)
437 Main Street South

Bio-Connections (Medical)
438 Main Street South
519-235-3154

Golden City Chinese Restaurant (Dining)
439 Main Street South
519-235-0464

IDA Huron Apothecary (Pharmacy)
440 Main Street South
519-235-1982

To Dye For (Hair Salon)
441 Main Street South
519-235-2394

McBrydes Rentals (Party Rentals)
443 Main Street South
519-229-6151

Mirror Image (Hair Salon)
445 Main Street South
519-235-4030

Unusual Finds Dollar & Discount (Discount)
456 Main Street South
519-235-2632
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Floors First (Building)
457 Main Street South
519-235-4401

Huron Dental Centre (Medical)
466 Main Street South
519-235-0601
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom.
Entry at back door

Dinney’s Fine Furniture (Furniture)
467 Main Street South
519-235-0173
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door.
Poor access to all of building. Products obstruct all aisles.

Dashwood Lock & Key (Security)
472 Main Street South
519-235-3931

BDO Dunwoody (Financial)
476 Main Street South
519-235-4776

Dale’s Barbershop (Barber)
476 Main Street South
519-235-2801

Dr. Lui Redigonda (Orthodontist)
476 Main Street South
519-235-0400

Jane & Company (Income Tax)
476 Main Street South
519-235-3595

PACE Home Care (Medical)
476 Main Street South

Bridal Elegance (Clothing)
483 Main Street South
519-235-0858

Digisplint (Medical)
489 Main Street South
888-775-4687

Freedom 55 Rob Tait (Financial)
489 Main Street South

G. Marr State Farm Insurance (Real Estate)
490 Main Street South
519-235-0434

Aldea Spa (Spa)
496 Main Street South
519-235-0835

Has back entrance ramp, but door is locked and went unanswered on our visit.

H&R Block (Income Tax)
506 Main Street South
519-235-1153

Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance (Insurance)
507 Main Street South
519-235-0350
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.
Entry through side door

Exeter Flowers (Florist)
509 Main Street South
519-235-0111

Godfather’s Pizza (Pizza)
518 Main Street South
519-235-4235
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.

Eddington’s (Dining)
527 Main Street South
519-235-3030

Esso (Fuel)
544 Main Street South
519-235-2244
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 50% accessible washroom.
Washroom is tough to access, but possible. No grab bars within.

Country Corners (Equipment Rentals)
586 Main Street South
519-235-3456
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.
Entry through one door, which was locked when we visited during business hours

Brander Steel Industries (Industry)
593 Main Street South
519-235-1462
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door.
Entry through bay doors. Unable to assess further.

Enterprise Rent a Car (Car Rental)
593 Main Street South
519-235-2333

Vincent Farm Equipment (Agricultural)
615 Main Street South
519-235-2121
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Huron Motor Products (Automotive)
640 Main Street South
519-235-0363
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom. Tables can accommodate wheelchairs.

Exeter Pentecostal Tabernacle (Worship)
70670 Main Street South/London Road
519-235-2991
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door.
Unable to assess completely.

Exeter Animal Hospital (Veterinary)
70676 Main Street South/London Road
519-235-2662

Becker Power & Leisure Products (Small Engine)
70740 Main Street South/London Road
519-235-2757

Moving to new location in July.

Gary Bean Securities (Financial)
70778 Main Street South/London Road
519-235-4099
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door.
Unable to assess completely.

South Huron Automotive (Automotive)
70782 Main Street South/London Road
519-235-2277
Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door.
Entry through bay doors. Unable to assess completely.

AIM Health Care (Medical)
26 Thames Road East
519-235-4892
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable. 100% accessible washroom.

Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmacy)
38 Thames Road East
519-235-1570
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

CIBC (Bank)
44 Thames Road East
519-235-1050
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Eclipse Hairstyling (Hair Salon)
50 Thames Road East
519-235-1880
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Pet Valu (Pets)
54 Thames Road East
519-235-6124
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Hansen’s Independent (Grocery)
62 Thames Road East
519-235-6131
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Canadian Tire (Hardware)
100 Thames Road East
519-235-0160
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Powered door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.
People in wheelchairs require assistance to get in through gate once inside door; staff must press a button to open gate, making independent entry impossible.

Herbal Magic (Personal)
8 Wellington Street West
519-235-3088
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

M&M Meat Shops (Grocery)
8 Wellington Street West
519-235-2682
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

First Choice Haircutters (Hair Salon)
10 Wellington Street West
519-235-3580
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.
Looks like washroom was previously accessible, but is not today.

Exeter Variety (Variety)
14 Wellington Street West
519-235-3523
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.
Many aisles are inaccessible.

Scotty’s Pizza (Pizza)
14 Wellington Street West
519-235-1234
Wheelchair Parking. Level entry or ramp. Wheelchairs can get through door. Counters are at reachable height. Aisles are passable.

Story by Casey Lessard

It’s not easy to find wheelchair accessible buildings in this area, but it was a challenge Lisa Grady knew she had to overcome for her business, Sport-Med.
“Accessibility is hard to find,” says Grady, whose store sells aids for people with mobility issues. “We manufacture orthotics, orthopedic products, and we sell aids for daily living – walkers, wheelchairs, bathroom aids. People who require those items usually have some sort of disability, and need help getting around. Plus, our clientele are mostly in their retirement years. They need space to get in and out, and they have to have railings to hold on to things.”
Grady notes that many commercial buildings in Grand Bend used to be homes, and therefore it’s harder to find one with a level entry or wide doors.
“I get people almost daily complaining that they can’t get into someone’s store,” she says. “We have an aging population. We have a large retirement community here. These elderly people are going to require these services. You just have to deal with it.”
Being able to allow a customer to maintain their dignity is another good reason to make a business accessible.
“They don’t necessarily want to come in and ask for help. It’s bad enough for them that they have to use the aids,” she says.
For people who can’t come to the store, as with other store owners, Grady offers in-home service.
“If they require a rental, like a bath bench or clamp-on grab bar, we’ll take the product to them. A lot of the time, it’s a person who has had a knee replacement or hip replacement. They need a walker, raised toilet seat, and bath or shower bench,” installed before they get home from surgery, she notes.
If you need ideas on how to make your home or business more accessible, Grady’s store is located at 38 Ontario Street South.

The old saying about getting your foot in the door is bitter irony for people who don’t have the ability to walk through that door. Inaccessible workplaces make finding work much harder for people with disabilities. But it doesn’t have to be so hard, says Jeff Withers of Strathroy’s LEADS Employment Services.
“It all depends on the person,” Withers says. “Our services are individualized. We don’t have a magic door of jobs waiting. We look where a person’s skill set lies and match that to an employer. What does this person have to offer an employer, and then we go out and target those particular employers.”
This philosophy presumes that people with disabilities have skills as useful as those without disabilities, and Withers’ job is to convince employers of that fact.
“We do a lot of education to employers to dispel some myths about people with disabilities,” he says. “When you say disability, a lot of time people think it’s someone who is in a wheelchair or a physical limitation. Sometimes it’s a person who has a mental health issue but their medication has it under control. A disability could be someone who has tennis elbow, or who played football in high school and has bad knees.”
Simple solutions are often all that are necessary to make a workplace accessible.
“We talk about accommodations in the workplace. For people who are hearing impaired, instead of a bell going off at the break or lunch hour, there are lights that may flash. For someone who is in a wheelchair, it doesn’t have to be a big thing. Maybe it’s as simple as raising it up on wood or bricks so that person is higher.”
Plus, LEADS does much of the work for the employer, including training and screening to determine suitability for a job.
“We try to help them get to a point where they’re ready to go out and work.”
For more: http://www.leadsservices.com/

Accentual Hair & Spa owner Tina Davey asked us to reevaluate her business for wheelchair accessibility as we noticed a large front step and no sign saying access at the back. For most businesses, we did look around the back, but overlooked a back entry.
Upon reevaluation, here are our results: Partially level entry at back, which would be difficult for an independent wheelchair user to get across. Doors can accommodate wheelchairs. Counters and aisles are accessible. Washroom is not labeled accessible, but is large enough to accommodate wheelchair; no grab bars for toilet.

View from the Strip
By Casey Lessard

“We’re only open two months, so…”
“We don’t get a lot of people in wheelchairs, so…”
“It’s an old building, so…”
These are only three of the reasons Rick Lewcock and I heard from business owners about why their businesses weren’t wheelchair friendly. We made a journey through Grand Bend to examine the town’s accessibility and the findings of our study – which is as comprehensive as possible in the time we had – are included in the next few pages.
The results are disturbing, but should surprise few. Our rural communities are old, with some buildings erected more than 100 years ago. Many have one or several steps before you can access the door. These steps are instant barriers to accessing a business, a legacy our ancestors handed down that stops many from shopping in our stores, eating in our restaurants, playing our games, and enjoying our culture.
It’s true that some people will risk the business lost by sticking to the theory that they don’t get a lot of people in wheelchairs, but do you ever wonder why people in wheelchairs aren’t customers? They can’t get through the front door! Shockingly, many of the businesses with steps cater to older customers, the same people who are more likely to have mobility issues. Maintain a “don’t get many” attitude, and you’ll notice you have fewer customers with mobility every year.
I do realize Grand Bend is a beach town. Yes, it has a short season for the businesses on the main strip. Maybe it’s time to change that. I have been an supporter of moves to make Grand Bend’s main street work year-round since my return to the area last year, and I know there are many who would like to see the same change happen. Businesses on Highway 21 seem to be able to stay open year-round. How can those businesses stay open, while the Main Street ones can’t? One way is to change your market to the people who live here (and who, by the way, have money, too).
We’ve all heard a lot about the community plan and proposed changes that will cost taxpayer money to make the town more pedestrian friendly and attractive.
One of the first steps in that progress was this month’s opening of the beach house elevator. That’s where I met Rick Lewcock, who lost the ability to use most of his body in a car crash 17 years ago. He was excited to be able to see the view from the beach house roof. But the elevator is more than the key to a nice view. It is a way to remove a barrier to access. It’s a small step toward giving equal access to one location in our community we all take for granted.
I wanted to see what Rick could and couldn’t access – on his own and without any assistance from anyone – wherever the sidewalk could take him in Grand Bend (I assessed Parkhill independently and will assess Exeter for a future issue).
Our journey through the streets opened both of our eyes to the empirical evidence about what is and what is not accessible. Rick was reminded of places he has never been able to access, but was pleasantly surprised to find he could access others.
Our study is not intended to embarrass you or your business. Perhaps you are not aware of the way the construction of your building limits access for your customers. If a change needs to be made, perhaps it is as simple as moving some clothing racks or boxes on the floor, changing the way a door swings, or pouring a little bit of cement. For others, major changes are needed, and perhaps it’s not feasible for you right now.
That said, whatever business you are in, you have until 2025 to make your building meet Ontario building code requirements for accessibility, and standards must also be met for the customer service, communications, transportation and employment. The rules will affect you eventually, so now’s a good time to think about how your business sets limits to access.
I can see why the community plan so heavily favours accessibility. It’s going to take time and money to make change happen, but it is a good reason to change. I may not agree with all of the details (e.g. the bridge through the yacht club confuses me), but the overall plan makes sense when you look at how our community is changing.
Change is happening, and it is a good thing (for the most part). The question you need to ask: Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?