Importance of Access Awareness Week

May 22

The annual week of celebrating the leadership of persons with disabilities and the inclusion and access within communities is coming up! Depending on where you are, the week can have different names but the same common goal. I am going to use the example of where I am to explain the history and connection of the week of celebration and awareness.

The week started by being inspired by Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion Tour. Nova Scotia is the first province to recognize the week in 1987 known as “Access Awareness Week (AAW)” to spread awareness on disability issues and celebrate the work that is being done. Shortly after, the initiative got other provinces and national interest to do “National Access Awareness Week (NAAW).” This became a collective of efforts across the country led by First Voice and connecting the efforts of provincial initiatives to a common goal.

Like any grassroots movement, resources and capacity determine how big the effort can be sustained. Over the years, efforts were reduced to provincial levels where it was sustainable to maintain the interest and reason why the week is important to persons with disabilities.

In Nova Scotia, the effort continued since it was initially started by the Nova Scotia League for Equal Opportunities (NSLEO) and the Partnership for Access Awareness Nova Scotia, a committee under NSLEO. This coming week will be their 38th year doing the week that is now known as “Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia (AAWNS).” There are some provinces that have provincial initiatives of the week like Nova Scotia’s.

“National Access Awareness Week” got rebranded and revived by the federal government’s interest and commitment to the Accessible Canada Act to proclaim “National AccessAbility Week (NAAW)” in 2017 and provide opportunities for funding and collaboration through the country.

Each has their own theme and approach to the week working towards the main goal of accessible and inclusive communities. It is both raising awareness, celebrating the leadership of persons with disabilities, celebrating the changes and improvements made so far, and paving the way for conversations and change to happen to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities.

Regardless of which name you would like to connect to, inspiring conversations around the experiences of persons with disabilities, taking action on improving access and inclusion in your communities, and celebrating the work that has been done is incredibly important. Below are some ideas on how you can participate!

Start a conversation about accessibility and the inclusion of persons with disabilities
Proclaim the week in your community
Look out for events in your area or virtually that you could view and/or participate in
Listen to persons with disabilities’ experiences, concerns, and highlights that can help improve and inform the changes that is needed

Most importantly, accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities is a conversation every day, all year round. The week is to spotlight the work to create and maintain the collaboration and celebratory aspect of social change and accountability. It does not mean that we forget to include persons with disabilities and not make the necessary changes needed for an accessible and inclusive community.