Discrimination is rampant across campuses in New Brunswick

As so many young people are starting up their first weeks of university, it seems like a great time to discuss a large segment of people who will never have that opportunity; at least until YOU stand up and make some noise about this injustice.

If you are on campus, take a look around you. If you are a little past those years, think back and ask yourself: how would I manage on campus with a disability?

Are all the building entranceways accessible?  Are they large enough to fit a wheelchair, walker, a mobility scooter through? Do they have automatic door openers? Is all the signage in extra-large bold print for those with low vision? Are all instructions available in an auditory fashion for those who are low vision and/or blind?

If you happen to be a part of the 70 per cent with invisible disabilities, you are out of luck! Post-secondary institutions will expect you to explain and divulge your disability, even though that infringes the Charter of Rights. Often they will simply disregard your accommodations altogether.

Discrimination is alive and rampant across campuses in New Brunswick. Although students with disabilities pay the same tuition as able-bodied students, we get a minimal number of services.

Post-pandemic, many schools took away the ability to attend classes virtually, even on days when it is snowing, and the walkways have not been cleared enough. If you have never tried to maneuver a wheelchair or walker in the snow, I challenge you to give it a try just once and you’ll understand.

Some professors not only do not allow you to attend virtually because of your disability, they also require you to do additional assignments for each missed day. They will ding you marks if they are not satisfied with the assignment. Does that sound accommodating to you?

Most schools only have a few accessible dorm rooms. Believe me, there are not that many more accessible accommodations available in town and those that exist are very expensive. This is but another barrier we face.

There have been schools known to turn down alumni donations that are linked to requirements for accessible renovations, schools that do not have automatic doors or ramps into classrooms buildings, the library, the cafeteria, etc.

There is also the lack of extra curricular activities for us. Have you heard of para-sports teams at NB schools? There’s a reason you haven’t! What about clubs that ensure accessibility?  Nope, just the “disability club.”

Speaking of which, most post-secondary institutions in New Brunswick have some form of accessibility committee, but there is almost never a person with a disability on it. They are made up of able-bodied people telling us what we need. What we never need is that!

So, why is this so important you may ask?  Well, our human rights are being violated and we are also paying for school. But, did you know that the largest underemployed demographic is persons with disabilities?  Over 80 per cent of persons with disabilities want to work and 76 per cent can work at least part-time.

If the lack of accommodations keeps us from finishing high school as well as post-secondary education, we will not be employable. More importantly, we will not be available to apply for some of the higher positions within the government or disability organizations that are working on creating accessibility legislation and plans.

If policy is not created by persons with disabilities, for persons with disabilities, it will fail. These will become expensive failures that will be required to be adapted and changed at a very high price tag for society.

You may be thinking “well, it doesn’t affect me.” However, if you know someone attending post-secondary or is about to, keep in mind that people can go to bed fine and wake up the next day as a member of the disability community.

In fact, it will happen multiple times at all schools this year. Someone who was able-bodied today will wake up tomorrow with a physical, invisible, or mental health disability. Or, someone who had a disability will see it worsen overnight or develop a new co-morbid condition.

Before you are faced with this dilemma: stand up and add your voice to ours! Demand better for all who attend or want to attend post-secondary institutions.

Not only is it our right to attend these institutions in an equitable way but, without this opportunity, more and more persons with disabilities will be unable to ever support themselves and will continue to rely on provincial funding and subsidies at an elevated cost to all taxpayers. That alone should convince the few who do not believe in full equality!

For the rest of society, empathy, compassion, and reason should more than enough make you want to write your New Brunswick alma mater and demand better!

Shelley Petit is the chair of the New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities.