Why accountability matters

On a Monday afternoon in early March, my nurse and I took Rachel and Janneke to a doctor’s office in Hamilton. Most of the girls’ care over the years has taken place at McMaster Children’s Hospital, but now that Rachel is officially an adult, and Janneke is 16 years old, we are slowly transitioning to other care providers.

Time for a workout

We arrived at the address and searched for parking. I drive a large Sprinter van with a lift that, when activated, extends out the side door. This means I need a wide accessible spot. We were able to eventually secure street parking only to have our attention drawn to the entrance. A concrete ramp was visible next to a set of stairs, but oddly enough, the door to the office was only in front of the stairs. This meant I had to push each girl quickly up the ramp, so as to gain speed, and then take a quick right and quick left, while leaning on the back of the chair to overcome the additional height of the doorway’s threshold. It would also require someone to open the front door (no automatic option) so we could land forward in the small foyer instead of backwards down the stairs. Experiences like these are why I don’t bother joining a local gym for calisthenics.

It was a decent visit, all things considered. The doctor was gentle with each girl and apologetic about the physical barriers. He explained, wisely, that we would do the next appointment via phone. As we drove home that afternoon, the nurse and I wondered how on earth an adult without an attendant might navigate that office.

Is anyone listening?

The word “accountability” comes to mind. Many individuals impacted by disability have daily experiences with poorly modified public and private spaces. Though complaints are registered, petitions are distributed and frustration is shared via social media, often change happens slowly or not at all. Who is held accountable?

At the time this column is published, Canada will have heard the results of the discussion with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities regarding our country’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Countries and civil society organizations share reports with the CRPD Committee about how they’re putting the CRPD into action. Then, they all engage in conversation to talk through what’s working and what’s not. Afterward, the Committee gives feedback and advice – called Concluding Observations – to help countries improve. From there, countries work on those recommendations, and the whole review process starts over again to keep things moving forward.

This international dialogue is so important, but I worry it’s being lost in current news cycles. There’s something powerful and enabling about the idea of countries working together to hold each other accountable for protecting the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, ensuring their full and equal enjoyment of all human rights. May we persist.