AccessAbility Week and Toilet Talk with Michelle Mahoney

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Welcome to Trans Canada Stories.

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I'm Cyn Sweeney and I'm joined

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by the lovely co-host, Emma Stanley.

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And in Trans Canada stories we're all about going

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beyond binary and telling stories of trans people as people.

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Welcome to the show.

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Alright folks. Hello, my name is Emma Stanley.

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I she her pronouns.

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And I'm Cyn Sweeney.

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I use she her pronouns,

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and together we host the podcast Trans Canada Stories.

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Uh, trans Canada Stories is all about celebrating trans

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folks and their allies, uh, from coast to coast to coast.

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And we're doing things just a little bit differently today.

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Number one, uh, we are live streaming in, uh,

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with a new platform.

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So this is new, uh,

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and we're also celebrating AccessAbility Week.

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the theme for AccessAbility Week is forward Together

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accessibility and Inclusion for All.

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And it runs nationally from Sunday, May 26th

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to Saturday, June 1st.

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And it's celebrating the valuable con contributions

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and leaderships of people with disabilities in Canada.

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The work allies, organizations

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and communities that we, that are removing barriers

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and ongoing efforts to become a more accessible

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and disability inclusive Canada

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phy, excuse me.

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Physical accessibility is like a major component

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of inclusion work, but we always also have

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to consider less obvious barriers, um,

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to creating welcoming environments.

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Today we've called in an expert

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and she is unstoppable when it comes

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to her valuable contributions

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and leadership advocating

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for accessibility, life and laughter.

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Michelle Mahoney, sorry.

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Michelle Mahoney was born with a condition

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that limited mobility in her hands, uh, arms and knees.

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And she was born with clubbed feet and a dislocated hip.

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The doctors told her parents she would probably never walk,

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But flash forward

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to 1995 when Michelle graduated from St.

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Francis, Xavier or St.

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FX University with what she likes to refer as a

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Bachelor of Arts and a major in Independence.

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Actually, it was a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

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and a major in Independence.

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Um, after working at Dalhousie University for 23 years,

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Michelle, uh, now sits on the board, um, of directors

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with Easter Seals Nova Scotia,

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and Easter Seals Board of Canada

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as the Nova Scotia representative.

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She's also the accessibility officer at University

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of Kings College, right here in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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Michelle is also an avid surfer, enjoys downhill skiing

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and water skiing,

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and enjoys spending time with her husband, family,

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friends, and her dog.

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Gus, welcome to Trans Canada Stories. Michelle,

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Thank you. Thank

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you so much for having me.

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Having it really is wonderful to have you here.

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So, Michelle, and I'm sorry if I'm getting the

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pronunciation wrong here.

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The condition you were born with is called Arthrogryposis

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You're muted. Oh, I'm so sorry.

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It's okay. 'cause we're in the office together

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so I can still hear you.

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Um, Michelle, the condition you were born with is called,

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Arthrogryposis

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and it was a pretty dire diagnosis when you were young.

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Uh, and now you're serving in water skiing.

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Uh, can you tell me how you got from there to here?

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Uh, yeah, sure. So, um, thank you

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for having me today, you guys.

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Um, this is such a very important week.

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It's National AccessAbility

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or access awareness week.

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So I really am very excited to,

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to be here and join you today.

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Um, so I was born in Spring Hill, Nova Scotia.

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I'm the youngest of five kids.

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And, um, so yeah, I was, I was the third known case

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of, uh, the condition called Arthrogryposis.

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And what that is is lack of muscle in various joints, uh,

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like, like Emma said earlier.

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And, um, my doctor sat my mom down

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and said that people

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with this condition lead very normal lives.

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So treat her like you would a regular kid.

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And being the youngest of five kids,

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that's exactly how I was raised.

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Um, I was never pitied

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or, um, you know, I was, I was able to be involved in

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anything and everything I wanted to be involved in.

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And, uh, yeah, I have a twin brother.

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We were wo mates and, um, um,

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he does not have a disability.

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Um, I always say that he maybe beat me up a little bit,

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but in the womb, and that's why.

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No, I'm kidding. I'm just kidding

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Your brother.

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I know, right? We're best

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of friends today too, by the way.

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Um, but,

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but yeah, so I guess, you know, being, being a person

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with a disability and,

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and growing up in a small town, like my mom advocated

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for me for everything.

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And, you know, every year she would have to go in

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and educate the teachers that they would be having a student

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with a disability in their class that year.

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And, you know, it just, uh, that, that's kind

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of just how we, we went on and, and, you know,

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but like I said earlier too, about being involved in,

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in many things, um, you know, my mom

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would be sitting on the sidelines worried.

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Little did I know that she, you know, was worried,

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but again, I was just involved in anything

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and, and everything.

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And so to me, I was a normal kid

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because I just did everything that, uh, you know, that,

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that everyone else was doing.

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And, and, uh, yeah,

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I love that. And

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like, really, I think what you said there when you

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link back to like accessibility and inclusion, isn't it?

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I think Emma, you had said right earlier today,

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it's about finding, like, coming into alignment

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with this sense of normalcy, this sense of, of fit,

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you know, um, uh,

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or belonging is much better, uh, than the word, uh, fit,

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but that sense of belonging, um, in that space.

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Is there, you know, anything that stands out to you, like

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as far as, you know, your journey has gone so far, uh, that,

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you know, somebody who maybe has, you've said your mom, um,

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that has really helped you to ensure you're being included.

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Um, is there anyone else that like,

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has really helped you along the way?

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Like maybe we can talk about your time at, uh, at St. FX

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and, and what accessibility look like there for you

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and, you know, from that first day that you started?

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Sure. Um, so I looked at St. FX

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because, um, it was a small town is a small town

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like Spring Hill where I grew up.

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And, when I was in high school, in grade 12,

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of course, I, you know, wanted to go to university, wanted

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to do what everyone else was doing, of course.

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And, and, uh, you know, I was, I was, uh, you know,

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I wasn't a straight A student,

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but I was a typical, uh, you know, teenager

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and just wanting to be like everyone else.

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And so I was looking at St. Mary's University because St.

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Mary's University at that time was known as the university

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that, um, that, uh, not, I don't wanna say caters,

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but they had, uh, the Student Center for Excellence.

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It was called, um, for people with disabilities.

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And it really was the university back in 1991, known,

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um, as, as the great university for people, uh,

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with disabilities to attend.

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And, um, but, uh,

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I had spent some time at the rehab center here in Halifax,

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uh, working with an occupational therapist to come up

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with gadgets and stuff to, to learn to do things for myself.

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And, um, during the time that I was here, I really kinda,

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I found the city to be so big and really too much for me.

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And as an 18-year-old, I just felt really, um,

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really overwhelmed by the, by the bigness of the city.

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And that's when I looked at another, uh, at, at St. FX

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because, um, it was a smaller town.

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So we made a few visits to the university, uh, my mom and I,

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and, I mean, they literally bent over backwards

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to accommodate my needs.

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And, they gave me a room with, with my own bathroom.

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And I lived, I lived there for four years.

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Um, I lived on campus for four years.

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actually, uh, kind of a funny story.

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My mom, um, talked to my twin brother into going to

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St. FX to look out for me for my first year.

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and I didn't know that,

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so I just knew we were both going to St. FX.

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Um, and, uh, you know, little did I know

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that, that he did not want to go there.

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He wanted to go to UNB, he was accepted to UNB,

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I'm pretty sure he wanted to get as far away as possible

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because, you know, all of our lives, um, you know,

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my mom would bring me to the IWK

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and, you know, my mom was always, always that person that,

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that took me everywhere.

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Um, and my sisters

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and my dad would, would stay home with my brother.

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And then, you know, my, my brother when we were younger,

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even took my mom aside

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and told my mom he wished he had a disability

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because, you know, my mom's always taking me, taking me

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to Halifax and, you know, for doctor's appointments

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and stuff, but, mm-hmm.

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You know, mind you, my time wasn't rosy.

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These were not rosy fun times for me.

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So, um, you know, we graduate from high school and,

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and of course he's off to St. FX with me in the fall.

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And, and, you know, he came with me and,

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and, um, it really was such a, a very,

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um, amazingly scary, uh, time for me

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because, you know, I realized how much I took my mom

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for granted, my mom helped me

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with everything from getting dressed to doing my hair.

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We had such routine.

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And then, um, you know, I, I, uh,

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I got my period the first time at, at university

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and I thought like, okay,

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like I can't have somebody assist me.

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Oh, I forgot to mention I had an attendant who would come in

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and help me every day, or maybe I did mention.

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Um, and so, but it just wasn't the same

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because we had such such routine.

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And so when it came time for me,

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when I had my period the first time I

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thought, I gotta figure this out.

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I gotta, you know, it's such an intimate, private, um,

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dignified, uh, process.

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And I just, you know, I, I said, I've,

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I've gotta figure things out.

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And, and I did, I figured it out.

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I came up with a, with a way to, to, um,

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be able to take care

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of myself every time I would have my period.

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I, I was able to completely independently take care of that.

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And that was such, such a big, uh,

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a big obstacle.

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And the day that I did that for the very first time,

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I called my mother on the phone collect

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and said, I can do anything in this world.

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I can conquer the world because I can do that for myself.

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And to me, that was everything I could, you know,

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bring on the world because I can, I can handle it.

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And so that's why I tell people

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that I graduated in May, 1995 with what I like to refer to

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as a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Independence

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because, um, you know, I have an X ring and, and,

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and I earned that X ring.

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And I, I earned my degree.

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My marks are horrible,

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but the life lessons I learned were invaluable.

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Well, that's it. So many people go off for life skills,

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but you know, for yourself that looked completely different

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and it must have been even that much more scary.

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You know, it just must have been in

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00:12:41.765 --> 00:12:42.805
that moment when you're trying

252
00:12:42.805 --> 00:12:44.205
to figure it out in real time.

253
00:12:44.985 --> 00:12:47.565
How do you do this? And your brother is your support.

254
00:12:47.865 --> 00:12:51.125
And it's like, I'm don't think I want my brother

255
00:12:51.145 --> 00:12:52.445
to be helping me out with this,

256
00:12:52.545 --> 00:12:55.165
or, um, I mean, that's incredible.

257
00:12:55.985 --> 00:12:58.885
And I mean, the thing about my brother too is, is

258
00:12:59.445 --> 00:13:02.005
I always knew that I would have supper every night

259
00:13:02.005 --> 00:13:05.965
because we planned, regardless of where we were, we planned

260
00:13:06.265 --> 00:13:08.325
to go to supper together every night.

261
00:13:08.345 --> 00:13:12.685
So that's what we did at the meal hall every night, so

262
00:13:12.905 --> 00:13:13.905
That's amazing.

263
00:13:13.915 --> 00:13:17.065
Yeah. What kind of things did he help you with then?

264
00:13:17.085 --> 00:13:19.425
Was it, um, like, because it's trade, right?

265
00:13:19.425 --> 00:13:20.945
Cafeteria? Yeah.

266
00:13:20.945 --> 00:13:23.505
Yeah. So he'd carry my tray and we'd sit together

267
00:13:23.645 --> 00:13:26.505
and then, you know, as, as the year got going, you know, we,

268
00:13:27.045 --> 00:13:30.465
we, uh, we would have the same, we had the same friends.

269
00:13:30.565 --> 00:13:32.705
We had a couple of classes together, but,

270
00:13:33.085 --> 00:13:34.545
but that's, that's really it.

271
00:13:34.545 --> 00:13:38.225
And then after, after my first year, he didn't go back

272
00:13:38.225 --> 00:13:39.505
to St. FX, but I did.

273
00:13:40.005 --> 00:13:42.865
And then I did have the attendant who would come in

274
00:13:42.865 --> 00:13:45.225
and help me, but it just kind of got less and less and less.

275
00:13:45.225 --> 00:13:48.945
Like, I just, I really figured, figured out how to do things

276
00:13:48.965 --> 00:13:50.025
for myself and,

277
00:13:50.205 --> 00:13:53.345
and really, I, I learned to live away from my mom.

278
00:13:53.405 --> 00:13:57.425
And that's really, I'm so glad I was given that opportunity.

279
00:13:58.125 --> 00:13:59.905
Um, 'cause I know a lot

280
00:13:59.905 --> 00:14:03.625
of times growing up I was really hard on her and, um,

281
00:14:03.935 --> 00:14:06.905
because we're hard on the ones we love, right?

282
00:14:07.085 --> 00:14:09.265
But, but, um, um, you know,

283
00:14:09.285 --> 00:14:11.505
she would always be there no matter what.

284
00:14:11.725 --> 00:14:14.865
So I guess I kind of really learned, um,

285
00:14:15.175 --> 00:14:16.185
what I took for granted.

286
00:14:16.405 --> 00:14:19.625
And, and, yeah. So I have such a lot of respect

287
00:14:19.645 --> 00:14:21.025
and love for my mom.

288
00:14:24.875 --> 00:14:26.615
So something that comes up for me in

289
00:14:26.615 --> 00:14:28.655
that story is this idea of the balance

290
00:14:28.795 --> 00:14:30.695
of independence and support.

291
00:14:31.795 --> 00:14:36.735
Um, so as the accessibility officer at King's,

292
00:14:37.595 --> 00:14:41.135
um, when you are thinking about different supports

293
00:14:41.135 --> 00:14:44.135
to offer students, how do you balance that,

294
00:14:45.075 --> 00:14:46.655
the independence on one hand

295
00:14:46.715 --> 00:14:48.175
and learning to live on your own

296
00:14:48.675 --> 00:14:51.055
and support, uh, on the other,

297
00:14:52.125 --> 00:14:54.625
and wanting to avoid being overbearing,

298
00:14:54.765 --> 00:14:56.865
but also not wanting to leave people without,

299
00:14:57.045 --> 00:14:58.145
uh, enough support?

300
00:14:59.965 --> 00:15:01.265
So, it's kind of funny.

301
00:15:01.665 --> 00:15:05.025
I actually, I tell a lot of my stories to students

302
00:15:05.495 --> 00:15:09.345
because I know what it's like to go to, you know,

303
00:15:09.365 --> 00:15:12.545
to be a student with a disability at, uh,

304
00:15:13.385 --> 00:15:14.945
a very inaccessible campus.

305
00:15:15.005 --> 00:15:16.945
And I mean, let's talk about the world is very

306
00:15:16.945 --> 00:15:18.505
inaccessible Mm-Hmm.

307
00:15:18.585 --> 00:15:21.825
Um, you know, St. FX where I went was very inaccessible.

308
00:15:22.445 --> 00:15:26.825
So, um, but if a student comes into my office

309
00:15:27.045 --> 00:15:29.425
and they wanna go to the accessibility center

310
00:15:29.925 --> 00:15:31.745
and they don't know where it is, well, guess what?

311
00:15:31.925 --> 00:15:33.025
I'm gonna walk them over there

312
00:15:33.025 --> 00:15:34.505
because I know exactly where it is.

313
00:15:34.805 --> 00:15:37.945
And, um, so what I do is I, I,

314
00:15:38.005 --> 00:15:40.785
and I help students to navigate the process of,

315
00:15:40.845 --> 00:15:42.105
of getting accommodations

316
00:15:42.105 --> 00:15:43.625
through the Student Accessibility Center.

317
00:15:44.165 --> 00:15:45.305
Mm-Hmm. And, um,

318
00:15:45.645 --> 00:15:47.505
but, you know, often I've been able

319
00:15:47.505 --> 00:15:49.865
to assist students here at King's.

320
00:15:50.365 --> 00:15:55.145
Um, you know, I was able to assist the student last fall to,

321
00:15:55.485 --> 00:15:58.305
um, to get a, uh,

322
00:15:58.565 --> 00:16:01.585
an accessible room on a different floor in a one

323
00:16:01.585 --> 00:16:04.745
of our residences so that they could access, um,

324
00:16:05.535 --> 00:16:09.465
they could access the, uh, no threshold into the shower.

325
00:16:09.765 --> 00:16:11.745
So, you know, things like that. And Mm-Hmm.

326
00:16:11.825 --> 00:16:14.785
You know, so even just having conversations with students,

327
00:16:14.985 --> 00:16:18.465
I kind of found, found out that a student was kind of, um,

328
00:16:19.285 --> 00:16:22.865
um, dealing with that sort of a, uh, challenge that

329
00:16:23.415 --> 00:16:26.305
they would carry their, their, um,

330
00:16:26.565 --> 00:16:30.785
shower stuff from the third floor where they lived to the

331
00:16:31.785 --> 00:16:34.225
basement, because the basement floor had a,

332
00:16:34.445 --> 00:16:35.505
an accessible shower.

333
00:16:35.725 --> 00:16:37.425
So I advocated

334
00:16:37.485 --> 00:16:39.905
and assisted that student, uh, to be able

335
00:16:39.905 --> 00:16:44.185
to get an accessible room on the, on the floor that, so,

336
00:16:44.185 --> 00:16:48.465
you know, uh, I guess also, um, you know, just, uh,

337
00:16:49.065 --> 00:16:51.865
chatting with students like every student is, is different

338
00:16:51.865 --> 00:16:53.065
and their needs are different.

339
00:16:53.685 --> 00:16:57.505
Um, so yeah, I'm learning, learning

340
00:16:57.525 --> 00:16:58.905
to assist however I can.

341
00:17:00.385 --> 00:17:01.825
I love that it's, well, I mean,

342
00:17:01.825 --> 00:17:03.865
it's like a one step forward, you know,

343
00:17:04.045 --> 00:17:05.665
and each one person that you help,

344
00:17:05.665 --> 00:17:07.145
then hopefully it overcomes, you know,

345
00:17:07.145 --> 00:17:09.225
or it creates that need that Okay, this needs

346
00:17:09.225 --> 00:17:10.625
to be in place, so let's make it better

347
00:17:10.625 --> 00:17:11.785
than for others coming in.

348
00:17:11.925 --> 00:17:16.505
So maybe asking those questions before the person is there

349
00:17:16.685 --> 00:17:18.865
and needs a shower, and, you know,

350
00:17:19.845 --> 00:17:22.185
And, but I can kind of see where students

351
00:17:22.215 --> 00:17:23.545
with disabilities come from.

352
00:17:23.545 --> 00:17:27.145
They don't wanna, like, you know, nobody wants to scream

353
00:17:27.905 --> 00:17:32.025
disabled person here, you know, like as a, as a 18-year-old,

354
00:17:32.045 --> 00:17:34.385
you just wanna fit in and you just wanna be Mm-Hmm.

355
00:17:34.565 --> 00:17:36.025
You just wanna be like everyone else.

356
00:17:36.125 --> 00:17:37.665
You don't wanna want any special treatment.

357
00:17:37.905 --> 00:17:39.265
I know what that's like. Mm-Hmm.

358
00:17:39.565 --> 00:17:44.465
Um, but I, I think it's, it's, it's okay to ask

359
00:17:44.485 --> 00:17:46.625
for that, and it's okay to ask for help.

360
00:17:46.805 --> 00:17:51.085
And it's okay, um, that, uh, that, you know,

361
00:17:51.385 --> 00:17:53.765
you don't ask for it right at the beginning, as long as,

362
00:17:54.145 --> 00:17:55.685
you know, um, 'cause sometimes

363
00:17:55.705 --> 00:17:56.925
it doesn't happen at the beginning.

364
00:17:56.945 --> 00:18:00.205
It, it might happen halfway through the, the, the year

365
00:18:00.465 --> 00:18:01.845
or, or whatnot.

366
00:18:01.845 --> 00:18:03.605
Right. So, you know, and,

367
00:18:03.665 --> 00:18:07.925
and, uh, every individual person is there, uh, you know,

368
00:18:08.305 --> 00:18:12.325
has their own needs and what, you know, needs and goals

369
00:18:12.385 --> 00:18:14.885
and whatever I can do to help help them get there.

370
00:18:17.815 --> 00:18:19.185
Yeah. I suppose in the end,

371
00:18:19.185 --> 00:18:21.745
it's not any different from anybody else that, like,

372
00:18:21.755 --> 00:18:23.465
every kid going to school is gonna have

373
00:18:23.465 --> 00:18:25.705
to strike the dependent, the, the, the balance

374
00:18:25.705 --> 00:18:28.105
of independence and support and learning life skills.

375
00:18:28.765 --> 00:18:32.185
Um, but certainly with when there are disabilities involved,

376
00:18:32.185 --> 00:18:33.825
there's a little more consideration

377
00:18:33.825 --> 00:18:34.905
that needs to go into that.

378
00:18:35.805 --> 00:18:38.225
Um, that's, that's quite interesting.

379
00:18:39.005 --> 00:18:43.165
Thanks. Um, so it's accessibility week this week,

380
00:18:43.785 --> 00:18:46.285
and Red Shirt Day is coming up on Wednesday.

381
00:18:47.385 --> 00:18:50.445
Um, for me, this is my first one, uh,

382
00:18:50.445 --> 00:18:51.645
since moving back to Canada.

383
00:18:51.845 --> 00:18:54.165
I was away for a long time, so, uh,

384
00:18:54.265 --> 00:18:55.565
can you tell me what I should expect?

385
00:18:56.705 --> 00:18:59.945
Um, well, so just to kinda, um,

386
00:18:59.955 --> 00:19:04.305
throw some stats out there, um, uh, 30,

387
00:19:05.045 --> 00:19:09.825
is it 38% of Nova Scotians live with a disability?

388
00:19:11.645 --> 00:19:15.305
So that's, um, almost one in four Nova Scotians live

389
00:19:15.305 --> 00:19:17.945
with some kind of, I'm just reading my, my tips over here.

390
00:19:18.425 --> 00:19:23.025
Um, so almost one in four Nova scotians live with some kind

391
00:19:23.025 --> 00:19:25.385
of disability, many of which are invisible.

392
00:19:26.445 --> 00:19:29.785
Um, so when you consider their families

393
00:19:29.885 --> 00:19:31.945
or friends, disability touches close

394
00:19:31.945 --> 00:19:34.625
to every other Nova Scotia Mm-Hmm.

395
00:19:34.705 --> 00:19:37.225
This is an important demographic to remember.

396
00:19:37.965 --> 00:19:42.705
Um, so I, I love that, that this week,

397
00:19:43.005 --> 00:19:46.745
um, is, is, um, I guess

398
00:19:47.545 --> 00:19:48.545
I don't wanna say mandated,

399
00:19:48.685 --> 00:19:53.265
but, um, you know, it's, it's a national, um, um,

400
00:19:54.125 --> 00:19:55.265
what's the word I'm looking for?

401
00:19:55.515 --> 00:19:56.945
Maybe recognition that

402
00:19:57.075 --> 00:19:58.075
Thank you. Yes.

403
00:19:58.075 --> 00:20:00.865
A national recognition, um,

404
00:20:01.405 --> 00:20:04.265
to celebrate the contributions of Canadians

405
00:20:04.265 --> 00:20:07.265
with disabilities and to promote accessibility

406
00:20:07.285 --> 00:20:09.625
and inclusion in, in everyday life.

407
00:20:10.445 --> 00:20:14.585
Um, so, uh, over here at Kings,

408
00:20:14.665 --> 00:20:15.865
I have posters.

409
00:20:15.935 --> 00:20:17.265
I've hung them up everywhere.

410
00:20:18.205 --> 00:20:22.025
Um, I've sent out an email a few weeks ago, um,

411
00:20:22.215 --> 00:20:23.545
promoting our week.

412
00:20:24.125 --> 00:20:27.825
Um, we do have a flag that's, that was raised this morning,

413
00:20:27.885 --> 00:20:30.065
and it'll be, um, put up every day.

414
00:20:30.845 --> 00:20:33.825
Um, and it's, it's right outside of our library.

415
00:20:34.765 --> 00:20:37.385
Um, and it's beautiful. It's so beautiful.

416
00:20:37.845 --> 00:20:41.785
And then I have pins, I'm wearing a pin right now on my, uh,

417
00:20:43.125 --> 00:20:47.145
my, uh, my shirt top and, um, yeah.

418
00:20:47.245 --> 00:20:52.125
There, yeah. Um, and I have, uh, uh, stickers

419
00:20:52.185 --> 00:20:53.245
and pins to give away.

420
00:20:53.305 --> 00:20:55.325
So I, I just kind of, um,

421
00:20:55.435 --> 00:20:57.685
sent out a message again this morning, um,

422
00:20:58.225 --> 00:21:02.565
to everyone saying Happy National Access, uh, ability Week.

423
00:21:03.265 --> 00:21:08.045
And that on Wednesday is Red Shirt Day, no, red Shirt Day,

424
00:21:08.625 --> 00:21:11.645
um, was established, uh, through Easterseals.

425
00:21:11.865 --> 00:21:15.605
And, um, I know, uh, sin you said that, uh,

426
00:21:15.865 --> 00:21:19.125
you told everyone that I'm a part of Easterseals, uh, Canada

427
00:21:19.505 --> 00:21:21.845
and Easterseals Nova Scotia.

428
00:21:22.865 --> 00:21:27.325
Um, and, um, so this was an initiative in 2019,

429
00:21:27.905 --> 00:21:29.725
and I've taken part in it every year.

430
00:21:30.385 --> 00:21:34.605
And so, uh, red Shirt Day is on Wednesday,

431
00:21:35.225 --> 00:21:40.165
and I, I, um, encourage everyone to wear a red shirt and,

432
00:21:41.025 --> 00:21:44.245
and have a photo, uh, uh, take a photo.

433
00:21:44.945 --> 00:21:49.645
Um, and I have some, uh, links link, uh, sorry, links

434
00:21:49.825 --> 00:21:53.365
or, um, hashtags that you can, um,

435
00:21:53.515 --> 00:21:56.165
that you can, uh, tag. Is that right?

436
00:21:56.795 --> 00:21:58.245
Yeah, perfect. You can share them

437
00:21:58.265 --> 00:22:01.005
and we can put them in the notes too. I'll

438
00:22:01.005 --> 00:22:02.005
Share them.

439
00:22:02.025 --> 00:22:04.525
I'm sorry, I didn't even think of that until now. Of course.

440
00:22:04.835 --> 00:22:06.565
Yeah. No, that's okay. Do you know why the

441
00:22:06.565 --> 00:22:08.325
color red was chosen? Um,

442
00:22:09.105 --> 00:22:10.105
Oh my goodness. I'm

443
00:22:10.105 --> 00:22:11.805
not sure you caught me off guard.

444
00:22:12.005 --> 00:22:13.445
I can, I can, I can figure

445
00:22:13.595 --> 00:22:14.805
find out though, and let you know.

446
00:22:14.835 --> 00:22:15.885
Okay. Okay.

447
00:22:15.885 --> 00:22:17.325
Yeah, no, that'd be great to know

448
00:22:17.325 --> 00:22:18.845
because I'm, I was wondering if it's in the

449
00:22:19.275 --> 00:22:21.165
Easterseals logo or,

450
00:22:21.705 --> 00:22:25.765
Um, so there is red in the Easterseals logo, both Canada

451
00:22:26.185 --> 00:22:27.245
and Nova Scotia.

452
00:22:28.105 --> 00:22:30.725
Um, I'm, I'm Googling

453
00:22:30.725 --> 00:22:32.445
and I shouldn't Google while I'm on it.

454
00:22:32.985 --> 00:22:37.565
Oh, that's totally fine.

455
00:22:37.805 --> 00:22:38.925
'cause we'll, we'll find it

456
00:22:38.925 --> 00:22:40.525
and we'll, uh, we'll pop it in there after.

457
00:22:40.525 --> 00:22:41.965
Okay. And the nice, yeah.

458
00:22:42.475 --> 00:22:44.485
Okay. Thank you. Mm-Hmm.

459
00:22:44.785 --> 00:22:49.125
And so I think, you know, we're talking about accessibility

460
00:22:49.345 --> 00:22:52.725
and celebrating the week, and it was interesting.

461
00:22:52.725 --> 00:22:56.085
So we had this great conversation when we got together, Emma

462
00:22:56.305 --> 00:23:00.405
and yourself and myself, uh, in April, gosh,

463
00:23:00.485 --> 00:23:01.845
I think it was April now at this point.

464
00:23:02.265 --> 00:23:04.085
Anyway. And like, of course, I don't know

465
00:23:04.085 --> 00:23:06.005
how the conversation got onto toilets,

466
00:23:06.345 --> 00:23:08.645
but, uh, maybe you took us there, I'm not sure,

467
00:23:08.645 --> 00:23:11.005
but probably, you know, we learned so much.

468
00:23:11.185 --> 00:23:13.445
And I think the idea of like, okay, what you don't know

469
00:23:13.625 --> 00:23:16.965
around accessibility or you think, you know,

470
00:23:16.965 --> 00:23:19.805
and what you don't really know, I think can be illustrated

471
00:23:19.805 --> 00:23:21.765
through some of our toilet talk conversation.

472
00:23:22.425 --> 00:23:25.605
And we thought was pretty relevant as well,

473
00:23:25.605 --> 00:23:27.565
because there's a lot of talk around inclusion

474
00:23:27.705 --> 00:23:31.285
and accessibility with regards to washrooms for trans women

475
00:23:31.425 --> 00:23:35.565
as well, and for trans youth who, you know, statistically,

476
00:23:35.945 --> 00:23:39.725
um, in schools, you know, the washrooms are not monitored.

477
00:23:39.755 --> 00:23:41.885
They are one of the most, you know, scary spaces

478
00:23:42.105 --> 00:23:45.605
for young trans people, uh, who are often, you know,

479
00:23:45.865 --> 00:23:48.205
not drinking water during the day or liquids

480
00:23:48.205 --> 00:23:50.245
or holding all day, um,

481
00:23:50.245 --> 00:23:52.925
because of that fear of, of going into a washroom

482
00:23:52.925 --> 00:23:54.285
and what might happen if the school

483
00:23:54.285 --> 00:23:55.525
doesn't have an everyone washroom.

484
00:23:55.525 --> 00:23:57.845
So I thought that, you know, this could be really, uh,

485
00:23:58.365 --> 00:24:00.485
relevant to just talk about, you know,

486
00:24:00.485 --> 00:24:02.325
when you're talking about accessibility, some

487
00:24:02.325 --> 00:24:04.805
of the things I thought were accessible within a washroom,

488
00:24:05.035 --> 00:24:06.285
like weren't at all.

489
00:24:06.585 --> 00:24:08.805
And of course, that's because I don't know.

490
00:24:09.345 --> 00:24:11.565
Um, so why don't we, uh, why don't we

491
00:24:12.275 --> 00:24:13.525
talk toilets for a few minutes?

492
00:24:13.955 --> 00:24:16.965
Okay. Everybody wants to hear about toilets.

493
00:24:17.185 --> 00:24:21.005
Um, so when I actually,

494
00:24:21.005 --> 00:24:23.005
when I go into the world, um,

495
00:24:23.865 --> 00:24:26.285
I'm constantly assessing the world

496
00:24:26.285 --> 00:24:29.405
because that's, I, I can't, I can't shut it off.

497
00:24:29.565 --> 00:24:32.445
I can't turn it off. I'm constantly aware

498
00:24:32.505 --> 00:24:33.725
of my surroundings.

499
00:24:34.325 --> 00:24:38.365
I am constantly, um, if, if I have to use a washroom, I kind

500
00:24:38.365 --> 00:24:41.805
of dread the, like, my, my initial thought of going

501
00:24:41.805 --> 00:24:44.325
to the bathroom is, oh my God, am I going to be able

502
00:24:44.325 --> 00:24:45.565
to access the toilet paper?

503
00:24:45.995 --> 00:24:48.805
Like, who thinks like that? Um, I do.

504
00:24:49.025 --> 00:24:52.925
Um, I used to work in a building, um, at Dalhousie

505
00:24:53.335 --> 00:24:57.765
where I would go into, uh, uh, into, uh,

506
00:24:58.835 --> 00:25:00.525
ladies' locker room every day.

507
00:25:00.625 --> 00:25:04.645
And, and, um, I would check out all four stalls

508
00:25:04.945 --> 00:25:07.005
and whichever one had the least amount

509
00:25:07.005 --> 00:25:09.445
of toilet paper in it would be my stall for the day.

510
00:25:09.945 --> 00:25:13.325
And I told so many people a story like that, that

511
00:25:13.955 --> 00:25:15.325
they were then going out

512
00:25:15.385 --> 00:25:19.245
and noticing things like this in, in public.

513
00:25:19.545 --> 00:25:24.245
And, and to me, um, you know, uh, they, they would come back

514
00:25:24.245 --> 00:25:26.085
to me and they would say, um, oh,

515
00:25:26.205 --> 00:25:28.285
I was in a bathroom the other day and I thought of you.

516
00:25:28.505 --> 00:25:30.605
And, um, unfortunately,

517
00:25:30.645 --> 00:25:31.565
I don't like it if you think

518
00:25:31.565 --> 00:25:32.725
about me when you're in the bathroom.

519
00:25:32.865 --> 00:25:37.485
But what it did for me was it made it so that like,

520
00:25:37.915 --> 00:25:40.205
like when I share these kinds of stories,

521
00:25:40.235 --> 00:25:42.205
unfortunately you never unsee it

522
00:25:42.425 --> 00:25:43.565
and you'll see it every time.

523
00:25:43.705 --> 00:25:46.445
So I'm sorry to everyone who's gonna be listening

524
00:25:46.445 --> 00:25:47.485
to this, uh, podcast.

525
00:25:47.825 --> 00:25:52.245
But, um, so, um, you know,

526
00:25:52.285 --> 00:25:53.885
I was at a facility yesterday.

527
00:25:55.005 --> 00:25:57.805
Um, you know, a single use washroom is really,

528
00:25:58.545 --> 00:25:59.765
is probably the best.

529
00:25:59.945 --> 00:26:02.205
And it's the safest for everyone.

530
00:26:02.395 --> 00:26:06.205
It's, it's the safest for, um, people who are trans.

531
00:26:06.785 --> 00:26:09.845
Um, it's safe for people who, um, are,

532
00:26:10.185 --> 00:26:11.445
who have disabilities.

533
00:26:11.985 --> 00:26:14.605
Um, as long as, as long as, um,

534
00:26:15.665 --> 00:26:18.045
the facility is accessible.

535
00:26:18.105 --> 00:26:22.525
And when I say accessible, it's from entry to using the,

536
00:26:23.065 --> 00:26:26.725
the facilities to accessing toilet paper, to flushing, to,

537
00:26:26.905 --> 00:26:29.125
to washing your hands, to leaving.

538
00:26:29.825 --> 00:26:33.525
And I mean, I could write a book on inaccessible washrooms.

539
00:26:33.785 --> 00:26:37.685
Um, you know, I was, I, so the facility I was at yesterday,

540
00:26:38.465 --> 00:26:41.925
um, was, uh, there were two single use stalls.

541
00:26:42.585 --> 00:26:43.845
Uh, sorry, not stalls,

542
00:26:43.865 --> 00:26:45.645
but, um, you know, they each had,

543
00:26:45.835 --> 00:26:47.205
each room had their own door.

544
00:26:47.265 --> 00:26:48.965
So there were two separate washrooms.

545
00:26:49.625 --> 00:26:51.685
Um, and I went into one,

546
00:26:51.745 --> 00:26:55.605
and I mean, it nearly took all, all, all I could,

547
00:26:55.865 --> 00:26:59.365
or all I had to be able to pull the door open

548
00:26:59.365 --> 00:27:04.285
because the door closure was so, like, it was so tight

549
00:27:04.315 --> 00:27:06.485
that it made the door so heavy.

550
00:27:06.785 --> 00:27:09.405
And there's no, it doesn't have to be,

551
00:27:09.585 --> 00:27:12.485
it doesn't ha a door does not have to be heavy.

552
00:27:12.625 --> 00:27:14.965
If it closes behind you, then perfect.

553
00:27:15.585 --> 00:27:17.565
Um, locking mechanisms are another one.

554
00:27:17.945 --> 00:27:21.165
Um, the locking mechanisms, um,

555
00:27:21.385 --> 00:27:22.525
you know, should be the push.

556
00:27:22.865 --> 00:27:26.925
So the le it should be a lever style, um, door handle.

557
00:27:27.105 --> 00:27:30.245
And then the locking mechanism should be a push

558
00:27:30.825 --> 00:27:32.445
you push in, uh mm-Hmm.

559
00:27:32.525 --> 00:27:36.685
There was one time where, um, I was in a facility,

560
00:27:37.625 --> 00:27:40.365
um, and it was a turn style.

561
00:27:41.145 --> 00:27:44.565
Uh, you, you just turned the, uh,

562
00:27:45.795 --> 00:27:47.805
like a little latch that hatch.

563
00:27:47.805 --> 00:27:49.365
Yeah. A little latch turn. Yeah.

564
00:27:49.365 --> 00:27:52.245
And, um, um, I was at,

565
00:27:52.365 --> 00:27:54.325
I was actually at a water ski camp in a,

566
00:27:54.325 --> 00:27:55.405
in a place in Florida,

567
00:27:55.465 --> 00:27:57.085
so I'm sure I can probably mention this.

568
00:27:57.405 --> 00:27:59.565
I don't even remember the name of the facility or where,

569
00:27:59.585 --> 00:28:01.725
or sorry, the, the establishment.

570
00:28:01.825 --> 00:28:04.365
But, um, it was a single use washroom.

571
00:28:04.365 --> 00:28:06.965
And there were a few people from Canada with my group.

572
00:28:07.665 --> 00:28:11.685
And, uh, I got, and it was loud, we were sitting outside,

573
00:28:11.705 --> 00:28:13.325
but I went into use the facilities

574
00:28:13.345 --> 00:28:15.925
and it was, um, very loud.

575
00:28:16.165 --> 00:28:17.645
'cause inside was the inside part

576
00:28:17.645 --> 00:28:19.085
of the restaurant, and there was music playing.

577
00:28:19.105 --> 00:28:23.045
It was so, so loud. And I got stuck in the facility.

578
00:28:23.405 --> 00:28:27.765
I could not, um, I, I turned the, the latch

579
00:28:28.545 --> 00:28:30.765
and, um, got locked in.

580
00:28:30.865 --> 00:28:33.525
And then I was unable to 'cause my fine motor skills.

581
00:28:33.605 --> 00:28:37.645
I was unable to, um, to unlock myself.

582
00:28:37.705 --> 00:28:38.925
So I was texting the people.

583
00:28:39.005 --> 00:28:41.245
I, I had my phone with me, I was texting the people.

584
00:28:41.965 --> 00:28:46.245
I called the people. I ended up having a, an anxiety attack

585
00:28:46.245 --> 00:28:47.365
because I couldn't Yeah.

586
00:28:47.365 --> 00:28:48.845
Couldn't get out the bathroom.

587
00:28:49.345 --> 00:28:53.885
So, um, um, you know, little things like that can be such a,

588
00:28:54.425 --> 00:28:57.085
you know, an like, the anxiety that went.

589
00:28:57.085 --> 00:29:00.565
Like I, I panicked. I had a panic attack. Yeah.

590
00:29:00.585 --> 00:29:02.645
Um, and so they eventually came.

591
00:29:02.645 --> 00:29:05.845
Unfortunately, it was, they had to use a butter knife

592
00:29:06.025 --> 00:29:07.685
to break in to get me,

593
00:29:07.745 --> 00:29:11.605
but I was, I was in complete panic attack mode,

594
00:29:11.865 --> 00:29:14.325
and I was crying so hard.

595
00:29:14.465 --> 00:29:18.805
It was, it was, but those, those are things that, um,

596
00:29:19.395 --> 00:29:22.965
that, that, you know, everyday people don't even,

597
00:29:23.615 --> 00:29:24.645
don't even think about.

598
00:29:24.905 --> 00:29:27.765
So, um, mm-Hmm. I was telling the story about going

599
00:29:27.785 --> 00:29:28.845
to the washroom yesterday.

600
00:29:28.945 --> 00:29:30.605
I'm sorry I didn't finish that story,

601
00:29:30.785 --> 00:29:34.605
but, um, uh, I went into one of the bathroom

602
00:29:34.605 --> 00:29:36.125
and there was water all over the floor,

603
00:29:36.145 --> 00:29:37.805
and I was nervous about slipping.

604
00:29:37.825 --> 00:29:40.165
So I left that facility, that bathroom.

605
00:29:40.725 --> 00:29:42.165
I went into the other bathroom,

606
00:29:42.945 --> 00:29:45.805
and, um, I pulled toilet paper and it broke,

607
00:29:45.805 --> 00:29:47.285
and I pulled toilet paper and it broke,

608
00:29:47.305 --> 00:29:48.765
and I pulled toilet paper and it broke.

609
00:29:49.465 --> 00:29:52.245
Anyway, um, I was able to get enough toilet paper.

610
00:29:52.785 --> 00:29:56.085
Um, and then the flushing mechanism, um, um,

611
00:29:57.025 --> 00:29:58.205
was on the wrong side,

612
00:29:58.265 --> 00:30:01.205
but, um, I was able to access that, um,

613
00:30:01.345 --> 00:30:04.285
and then wash my hands, but then my hands were wet

614
00:30:04.285 --> 00:30:08.965
because it was a dryer only, it was a, a machine that you

615
00:30:09.545 --> 00:30:13.525
put wave your hands under to, to access the dry, the dryer,

616
00:30:13.865 --> 00:30:16.085
the dryer would automatically come on.

617
00:30:16.405 --> 00:30:18.765
I couldn't reach it, so my hands were wet.

618
00:30:18.765 --> 00:30:21.685
And I'm trying to open the door anyway. It's a disaster.

619
00:30:21.905 --> 00:30:24.085
And, and, uh, when you have to go

620
00:30:24.085 --> 00:30:26.885
to the bathroom in the public, I'm, I'm, it's like, hit

621
00:30:26.885 --> 00:30:28.285
or miss most of the time.

622
00:30:29.065 --> 00:30:32.925
Um, and I, I usually tend to make, make light of it and,

623
00:30:33.065 --> 00:30:35.045
and, and, you know, come back

624
00:30:35.045 --> 00:30:39.445
and share my bathroom story with whoever's with me,

625
00:30:39.445 --> 00:30:42.965
because you can't, I mean, I, I can't make this up.

626
00:30:43.465 --> 00:30:44.525
Um, but mm-hmm.

627
00:30:44.715 --> 00:30:48.525
It's, um, I was at a facility last week and,

628
00:30:48.785 --> 00:30:50.325
and they had different stalls.

629
00:30:50.475 --> 00:30:52.085
They did have an accessible stall,

630
00:30:52.545 --> 00:30:55.845
but every stall I walked by, the toilet seat was down.

631
00:30:56.745 --> 00:30:58.045
And I'm like, oh my gosh.

632
00:30:58.555 --> 00:31:01.325
Like, I, like, I couldn't bend down low enough to,

633
00:31:01.465 --> 00:31:02.805
to lift the toilet seat.

634
00:31:03.505 --> 00:31:05.565
And, and that's the first time I've

635
00:31:05.565 --> 00:31:06.685
ever seen something like that.

636
00:31:06.945 --> 00:31:09.245
And there was a sign on the sink that said,

637
00:31:09.625 --> 00:31:11.725
please leave toilet seat down

638
00:31:11.905 --> 00:31:14.005
to allow the automatic flush to flush.

639
00:31:14.625 --> 00:31:16.245
And Well, there's a lot of toilets like

640
00:31:16.245 --> 00:31:17.485
that now, I think too.

641
00:31:17.485 --> 00:31:20.925
Exactly. Exactly. But, um, you know, and,

642
00:31:21.065 --> 00:31:25.325
and I was talking to, um, to some of my, um, friends

643
00:31:25.325 --> 00:31:26.725
with disabilities the other day,

644
00:31:26.825 --> 00:31:29.845
and I have a friend who has a visual impairment,

645
00:31:30.185 --> 00:31:32.645
and she actually prefers the toilet seat to be down.

646
00:31:32.955 --> 00:31:35.085
Well, I actually prefer the toilet seat to be up,

647
00:31:35.085 --> 00:31:39.165
because I can't access the, I can't reach the toilet

648
00:31:39.755 --> 00:31:42.685
seat cover to lift it up if it's down.

649
00:31:42.925 --> 00:31:46.765
I mean, I, I managed it, it, you know, it, it was difficult.

650
00:31:46.905 --> 00:31:49.805
But those sorts of things, like our Mm-Hmm.

651
00:31:50.025 --> 00:31:53.205
Our, so I did manage to talk to a manager at,

652
00:31:53.225 --> 00:31:57.005
at this facility, and I'm like, you might wanna, you know,

653
00:31:57.005 --> 00:32:00.405
maybe, maybe even, uh, uh, I thought about it afterwards

654
00:32:00.465 --> 00:32:01.765
and, and I'm gonna get back to them.

655
00:32:02.145 --> 00:32:04.325
You know, maybe you could even take the cover,

656
00:32:04.435 --> 00:32:06.885
take the lids off, and then,

657
00:32:07.665 --> 00:32:12.285
but then see, um, people with mobility, um,

658
00:32:13.305 --> 00:32:15.325
or make people in wheelchairs

659
00:32:15.755 --> 00:32:18.245
that might transfer themselves onto a toilet,

660
00:32:18.835 --> 00:32:20.205
also need a back rest.

661
00:32:20.865 --> 00:32:22.845
Mm-Hmm. So, um, you know,

662
00:32:22.865 --> 00:32:25.085
you might not wanna take the toilet seat covers away

663
00:32:25.625 --> 00:32:27.405
unless they install back rest,

664
00:32:27.605 --> 00:32:29.805
because you don't want to be able to,

665
00:32:30.265 --> 00:32:35.045
or you don't want to be, uh, a person in a wheelchair, um,

666
00:32:35.485 --> 00:32:37.405
transferring yourself onto a toilet

667
00:32:37.625 --> 00:32:42.445
and then touching the, the back of the tank with your skin.

668
00:32:43.145 --> 00:32:48.045
Um, you know, it could be, uh, could be wet, could be, um,

669
00:32:48.385 --> 00:32:51.645
you know, and, and it could cause, uh, somebody to fall.

670
00:32:51.785 --> 00:32:52.925
So that's, anyway,

671
00:32:53.545 --> 00:32:55.525
I'm talking way too much about, about this.

672
00:32:56.915 --> 00:32:59.685
It's interesting though. It's, yeah, no, it's interesting.

673
00:32:59.685 --> 00:33:02.285
Like, I'm just wondering, so then, like you could have that

674
00:33:02.355 --> 00:33:04.965
with the toilet seat in the wheelchair accessible

675
00:33:05.405 --> 00:33:06.565
washroom, the bigger one.

676
00:33:06.565 --> 00:33:10.445
Yeah. And then maybe have one, you know, that is specified

677
00:33:10.475 --> 00:33:12.565
with, we don't have a back on this one, and this is why.

678
00:33:13.175 --> 00:33:15.285
Right. You know, it, but it is tricky

679
00:33:15.345 --> 00:33:16.525
and it does take intention

680
00:33:16.525 --> 00:33:18.925
because it, it is, it's gonna be a little bit more work

681
00:33:18.925 --> 00:33:21.165
for the facility, but if you find you have people moving

682
00:33:21.165 --> 00:33:22.685
through and it's not accessible for them,

683
00:33:22.685 --> 00:33:24.365
then it's not accessible.

684
00:33:25.075 --> 00:33:26.565
Exactly. Mm-Hmm.

685
00:33:28.115 --> 00:33:30.805
Yeah. Well, and it brings to mind this, this piece that,

686
00:33:30.805 --> 00:33:33.525
that does come up a lot where you have inclusion,

687
00:33:34.055 --> 00:33:35.205
let's say intentions,

688
00:33:35.825 --> 00:33:39.045
but no real life experience driving them or improving them.

689
00:33:39.745 --> 00:33:43.685
And so you get, uh, these solutions

690
00:33:43.685 --> 00:33:45.645
that are not actually solutions.

691
00:33:46.665 --> 00:33:49.125
Um, and it can be, can be really frustrating.

692
00:33:49.705 --> 00:33:54.535
Um, and it, it also, I was curious,

693
00:33:55.035 --> 00:33:58.935
um, I know that when we're talking about everyone bathrooms,

694
00:33:59.045 --> 00:34:02.655
like basically any bathroom that is, you know, doesn't have

695
00:34:03.255 --> 00:34:06.335
a list of people who are allowed to come inside it, um,

696
00:34:06.485 --> 00:34:08.135
signage is often our biggest problem.

697
00:34:08.165 --> 00:34:11.255
Like, they're around, but no one knows where, uh,

698
00:34:11.255 --> 00:34:13.255
because most bathroom signs just point you

699
00:34:13.255 --> 00:34:16.015
to the nearest bathroom, not the nearest bathroom

700
00:34:16.035 --> 00:34:17.135
of any particular type.

701
00:34:17.355 --> 00:34:19.655
So do you run into that?

702
00:34:19.715 --> 00:34:22.375
Is that something that exists in your world and mine,

703
00:34:22.375 --> 00:34:23.655
or not so much? Well,

704
00:34:23.795 --> 00:34:25.335
Um, it's funny.

705
00:34:25.575 --> 00:34:28.095
I don't, uh, I haven't really, I

706
00:34:28.725 --> 00:34:31.445
haven't really noticed that Mm-Hmm.

707
00:34:31.665 --> 00:34:36.245
Um, other than, because I really try to go to, uh,

708
00:34:36.245 --> 00:34:37.525
single use washrooms.

709
00:34:37.885 --> 00:34:41.965
I, I try to do that, um, so that, uh, I know

710
00:34:41.965 --> 00:34:44.325
that I have the entire place

711
00:34:44.345 --> 00:34:45.765
to myself, you know what I mean?

712
00:34:46.305 --> 00:34:51.085
Um, but, um, you know, here, here at King's we have,

713
00:34:51.225 --> 00:34:52.925
uh, gender neutral washrooms.

714
00:34:53.425 --> 00:34:57.965
Um, all of the washrooms all over campus are gender neutral.

715
00:34:58.265 --> 00:34:59.805
Um, and there's two stalls in them.

716
00:34:59.995 --> 00:35:04.445
I've been in a stall when, um, uh,

717
00:35:04.955 --> 00:35:07.605
male has come into the facil, like,

718
00:35:07.865 --> 00:35:10.405
and we, I mean, we're both just using the toilet.

719
00:35:10.455 --> 00:35:15.045
Right. And, and, uh, I mean, you know, I guess that's,

720
00:35:15.105 --> 00:35:17.365
that's, uh, but I haven't, I haven't, uh,

721
00:35:18.645 --> 00:35:20.685
I haven't noticed that.

722
00:35:20.945 --> 00:35:24.965
No. Um, other than single use washrooms being,

723
00:35:26.105 --> 00:35:30.325
um, you know, they, they have the symbol of a,

724
00:35:31.205 --> 00:35:33.325
a man figure and a, a woman figure.

725
00:35:33.625 --> 00:35:35.885
Mm-Hmm. So if they, if they were, if they were

726
00:35:35.885 --> 00:35:37.125
to say gender neutral

727
00:35:37.385 --> 00:35:41.445
or, um, you know, washroom facility, uh, I think that

728
00:35:41.445 --> 00:35:45.365
that would be, you know, so more inclusive. Yeah.

729
00:35:45.875 --> 00:35:49.485
There's this thing, and I'm, it's sort of a new thought.

730
00:35:49.585 --> 00:35:51.005
I'm, I'm kind of working with it now,

731
00:35:51.025 --> 00:35:52.845
but this idea of that you can have a place

732
00:35:52.845 --> 00:35:55.565
that's accessible, but not necessarily inclusive

733
00:35:56.425 --> 00:35:57.645
if people don't know about it.

734
00:35:57.985 --> 00:36:00.125
Um, and a lot of the time there is this idea

735
00:36:00.125 --> 00:36:01.445
of like, yeah, we have that.

736
00:36:01.585 --> 00:36:03.325
Or I'll, I'll be talking to a client

737
00:36:03.425 --> 00:36:05.845
or at a workshop, um, one of the participants,

738
00:36:05.905 --> 00:36:08.085
and it's like, oh, yeah, we have all of these things.

739
00:36:08.145 --> 00:36:09.845
And it's like, great. Does anyone know?

740
00:36:11.225 --> 00:36:15.325
And, and, um, yeah,

741
00:36:15.325 --> 00:36:17.245
that difference maybe between accessibility

742
00:36:17.305 --> 00:36:20.245
and access, uh, can, can be a bit tricky.

743
00:36:20.985 --> 00:36:23.765
Um, and, uh,

744
00:36:23.825 --> 00:36:26.125
but I, I'm curious, uh,

745
00:36:26.125 --> 00:36:28.405
earlier you mentioned invisible visibilities,

746
00:36:28.705 --> 00:36:30.645
and I mean, I've, I've heard the term before

747
00:36:30.645 --> 00:36:33.645
and I know a little about it, but maybe you could talk about

748
00:36:34.115 --> 00:36:36.125
what, um, what that might mean.

749
00:36:37.425 --> 00:36:40.885
So an invisible disability could be, um, you know,

750
00:36:41.245 --> 00:36:44.925
somebody has, uh, dyslexia

751
00:36:45.185 --> 00:36:49.965
or somebody has a DHD or somebody has a learning disability.

752
00:36:51.065 --> 00:36:54.925
Um, could be, uh, a number of things.

753
00:36:55.265 --> 00:36:59.885
Um, uh, you know, could be PTSD.

754
00:37:00.745 --> 00:37:02.965
Um, and I mean, I'm, you know, there's,

755
00:37:03.235 --> 00:37:05.245
there's many, um, mm-Hmm.

756
00:37:05.825 --> 00:37:10.165
But I think that, um, you know, I think that

757
00:37:11.625 --> 00:37:15.285
people might have a, a difficult time.

758
00:37:16.245 --> 00:37:19.565
I know people have a difficult time when it comes to, um,

759
00:37:21.175 --> 00:37:22.565
advocating for themselves

760
00:37:22.945 --> 00:37:26.285
or, you know, advocating for, uh,

761
00:37:26.905 --> 00:37:28.045
for accommodations.

762
00:37:28.545 --> 00:37:33.085
If, if, if they might not, you know, look,

763
00:37:33.795 --> 00:37:36.365
look the part or Mm-Hmm.

764
00:37:36.555 --> 00:37:38.125
This is terrible. I'm sorry.

765
00:37:38.785 --> 00:37:40.845
No, it's, it's a, it's a fair thing.

766
00:37:40.845 --> 00:37:43.525
We had, um, a friend of mine actually was telling a story,

767
00:37:43.865 --> 00:37:48.045
um, where they were looking for an accommodation

768
00:37:48.105 --> 00:37:49.645
and not getting it, and not getting it.

769
00:37:49.645 --> 00:37:51.125
And finally they just got frustrated

770
00:37:51.385 --> 00:37:55.125
and, uh, said, I'm too pretty to be autistic.

771
00:37:55.765 --> 00:37:57.885
And it was because they, they,

772
00:37:58.625 --> 00:38:01.725
we have this image from social media, from, from,

773
00:38:01.795 --> 00:38:03.925
from media in general, but what that looks like,

774
00:38:04.665 --> 00:38:07.525
and it's not accurate, and it's not diverse.

775
00:38:07.625 --> 00:38:10.925
And it's, it's usually one very specific image.

776
00:38:10.925 --> 00:38:13.245
And if you don't fit into that, people don't,

777
00:38:13.635 --> 00:38:14.635
Well exactly. Think

778
00:38:14.635 --> 00:38:15.845
of accommodation,

779
00:38:15.915 --> 00:38:19.405
because we're still in this mindset of, I'm gonna wait

780
00:38:19.405 --> 00:38:22.365
until there's a problem and then I'm gonna accommodate it,

781
00:38:22.395 --> 00:38:25.045
instead of I'm just gonna accommodate everybody,

782
00:38:25.225 --> 00:38:27.125
and then I don't have to grill every

783
00:38:27.125 --> 00:38:28.285
person on what they need.

784
00:38:29.435 --> 00:38:31.725
Exactly. And that's, that's a really good point too.

785
00:38:32.065 --> 00:38:36.165
Um, you know, as, as you're telling this story, it's, um,

786
00:38:36.785 --> 00:38:38.245
you know, I, I do have a lot

787
00:38:38.245 --> 00:38:40.005
of friends in the disability community,

788
00:38:40.265 --> 00:38:43.765
and I have a, a friend who, uh, um,

789
00:38:44.585 --> 00:38:46.165
who has a visual impairment.

790
00:38:46.345 --> 00:38:50.405
And, um, that friend is doing

791
00:38:51.045 --> 00:38:53.445
neuroscience at university.

792
00:38:54.305 --> 00:38:58.925
And, you know, if, if things are just, um, um,

793
00:39:00.025 --> 00:39:03.165
you know, if things are, are accommodated for,

794
00:39:03.385 --> 00:39:07.525
for this person, um, you know, it's, that, that's all,

795
00:39:07.525 --> 00:39:08.925
that's all that they need, right?

796
00:39:09.305 --> 00:39:12.165
Mm-Hmm. This, this individual is gonna go places.

797
00:39:12.945 --> 00:39:15.685
And for example, too, I'll tell you a really quick story.

798
00:39:15.985 --> 00:39:20.005
Um, we ski together, we downhill ski together, okay.

799
00:39:20.305 --> 00:39:21.645
And this person is blind.

800
00:39:22.665 --> 00:39:26.205
Um, and the very first day that we met,

801
00:39:27.045 --> 00:39:31.565
I told them that, um, I ski, when I ski,

802
00:39:31.885 --> 00:39:33.045
I sit ski.

803
00:39:33.745 --> 00:39:38.405
So I sit in a sled and I'm like, tethered from behind.

804
00:39:39.305 --> 00:39:43.845
Um, and 'cause I said, I don't have the strength in my arms

805
00:39:43.905 --> 00:39:45.605
and my legs to downhill ski.

806
00:39:46.265 --> 00:39:50.445
Um, and, um, they,

807
00:39:50.715 --> 00:39:52.685
this person stands to ski,

808
00:39:53.025 --> 00:39:56.525
and, um, they wear a, a penny

809
00:39:56.625 --> 00:39:59.805
or whatever that says, uh, you know, blind skier.

810
00:40:00.425 --> 00:40:04.805
Um, and, um, they always have somebody with them, um,

811
00:40:05.065 --> 00:40:08.045
who skis backwards in front of them

812
00:40:08.105 --> 00:40:09.205
and tells them what to do.

813
00:40:10.025 --> 00:40:14.885
Um, and I mean, this, this person was, was being scouted for

814
00:40:15.555 --> 00:40:19.565
like, like the, you know, professional skiing or,

815
00:40:19.705 --> 00:40:20.725
or, anyway.

816
00:40:20.725 --> 00:40:24.205
Mm-Hmm. Um, but when we fir, when we met the very first day,

817
00:40:24.425 --> 00:40:28.525
and I was telling her how, now that I've identified, um,

818
00:40:29.345 --> 00:40:33.725
um, when I, when I, when we, when we met, um,

819
00:40:33.985 --> 00:40:38.405
and I described my disability to them, um, I,

820
00:40:39.505 --> 00:40:41.285
we, uh, we were talking over lunch

821
00:40:41.585 --> 00:40:45.805
and I, I was explaining how my arms are, are turned, and,

822
00:40:46.065 --> 00:40:48.085
and they said, can I, can I see your arms?

823
00:40:48.225 --> 00:40:50.965
And I said, yeah. And they felt my arms,

824
00:40:51.025 --> 00:40:52.805
and they kind of had a smirk on their face.

825
00:40:53.025 --> 00:40:57.445
And, and, um, they processed what I told them.

826
00:40:57.745 --> 00:41:00.485
And then they, they, they looked

827
00:41:00.745 --> 00:41:04.565
and they said, wow, life for you must be really hard.

828
00:41:06.425 --> 00:41:11.085
And I looked around to see, like, did anybody just hear,

829
00:41:11.755 --> 00:41:15.005
like, the look on my face was like, are you kidding me?

830
00:41:15.475 --> 00:41:19.165
Life for me must be hard. Life for you must be hard, right?

831
00:41:19.805 --> 00:41:23.645
I didn't say that to this person, but I thought it,

832
00:41:24.105 --> 00:41:26.685
but that was their perception of me,

833
00:41:27.075 --> 00:41:30.325
because they see that I have, um,

834
00:41:31.485 --> 00:41:32.725
a physical disability

835
00:41:32.825 --> 00:41:35.565
and wow, life for me must be very hard.

836
00:41:36.155 --> 00:41:39.125
Well, like, life for you must be hard,

837
00:41:39.825 --> 00:41:42.525
but you know what, like, we were both doing something

838
00:41:42.525 --> 00:41:44.365
that day that we both really enjoyed.

839
00:41:44.375 --> 00:41:46.525
We're skiing, guess what? We're doing it differently.

840
00:41:46.935 --> 00:41:48.005
We're do, we're we're doing

841
00:41:48.005 --> 00:41:49.885
what everybody else is doing on the hill.

842
00:41:50.335 --> 00:41:53.645
We're enjoying our time, but we're doing it differently.

843
00:41:53.695 --> 00:41:55.645
We're doing the exact same thing as everyone else.

844
00:41:55.735 --> 00:41:56.965
We're just doing it differently.

845
00:41:59.005 --> 00:42:00.745
And so I just wanted to share that story

846
00:42:00.745 --> 00:42:04.665
because I just, you know, um, it's perception.

847
00:42:04.695 --> 00:42:06.185
It's about a perception and,

848
00:42:06.185 --> 00:42:10.545
and people's perceptions of, of persons with disabilities.

849
00:42:10.545 --> 00:42:12.585
And, you know, I, we could be,

850
00:42:12.665 --> 00:42:13.985
I could be anything that I want.

851
00:42:14.125 --> 00:42:16.465
And that's, you know, having that attitude,

852
00:42:16.625 --> 00:42:20.065
I guess growing up, um, you know, there were,

853
00:42:20.065 --> 00:42:23.625
there were times where my mom was my date on a Friday night.

854
00:42:23.745 --> 00:42:25.465
I mean, and when I say that, you know, my mom

855
00:42:26.125 --> 00:42:27.185
was my right arm

856
00:42:27.245 --> 00:42:30.745
and my mom, you know, was my mom was everything to me.

857
00:42:30.755 --> 00:42:32.825
Again, she was my date on a Friday night.

858
00:42:32.845 --> 00:42:37.065
We, she would, she would, uh, uh, take, you know,

859
00:42:37.065 --> 00:42:39.665
take me out or, you know, take me, take me to a movie

860
00:42:39.765 --> 00:42:41.265
or take me shopping or something.

861
00:42:41.285 --> 00:42:45.905
And, um, you know, my mom now has, uh, she, um,

862
00:42:46.645 --> 00:42:49.905
has, uh, uh, lost some of her vision.

863
00:42:50.245 --> 00:42:54.425
So, um, um, so now, uh,

864
00:42:54.495 --> 00:42:55.905
talk about role reversal

865
00:42:55.905 --> 00:43:00.465
because I'm the one that's now encouraging her and,

866
00:43:00.805 --> 00:43:03.505
and, uh, you know, take driving her everywhere.

867
00:43:03.645 --> 00:43:06.385
So it's kind of, it's, it's really, really neat

868
00:43:06.725 --> 00:43:07.785
how things come around

869
00:43:07.785 --> 00:43:12.065
because, uh, now her advocate, a advocate,

870
00:43:12.065 --> 00:43:13.065
and I'm her support.

871
00:43:13.365 --> 00:43:14.365
So

872
00:43:17.135 --> 00:43:18.135
It's inspiring.

873
00:43:18.405 --> 00:43:20.745
And I am, I love when you,

874
00:43:20.765 --> 00:43:22.265
you shared your motto with us earlier.

875
00:43:22.505 --> 00:43:25.145
I don't know if you wanna share, share that.

876
00:43:25.405 --> 00:43:27.745
Oh, that I'm unstoppable. Yeah.

877
00:43:28.045 --> 00:43:31.505
And that, um, I'm unstoppable and,

878
00:43:31.845 --> 00:43:35.785
or, um, I can do anything in this world.

879
00:43:36.525 --> 00:43:37.785
Um, you know,

880
00:43:38.365 --> 00:43:40.385
it just may might take me a little longer, right.

881
00:43:40.385 --> 00:43:42.945
With things in place, might just take a little longer

882
00:43:43.085 --> 00:43:44.345
and I'm unstoppable.

883
00:43:44.365 --> 00:43:47.065
Of course. Um, yeah.

884
00:43:47.885 --> 00:43:49.545
How many years have you been married, Michelle?

885
00:43:50.245 --> 00:43:54.705
Um, 13 years this year. Wow.

886
00:43:55.055 --> 00:43:57.385
Yeah. I, I met my husband Chris.

887
00:43:57.645 --> 00:44:00.265
Uh, we both worked at Dalhousie

888
00:44:00.565 --> 00:44:04.145
and, uh, so we live, we built an accessible home.

889
00:44:04.175 --> 00:44:08.585
Well, we didn't build it, um, um, but it was built for us.

890
00:44:08.965 --> 00:44:12.665
And I have a few things there.

891
00:44:13.085 --> 00:44:16.745
Um, I have a ramp out front and I have a ramp in my garage.

892
00:44:17.645 --> 00:44:20.625
And, um, I have a walk-in shower,

893
00:44:21.565 --> 00:44:23.705
and I have, uh, a place for everything

894
00:44:23.725 --> 00:44:24.905
and everything in its place.

895
00:44:25.045 --> 00:44:27.425
And it's, it's a nice, cute little home.

896
00:44:27.445 --> 00:44:29.585
And we have a little dog named Gus

897
00:44:30.835 --> 00:44:32.195
a Nova Scotia Duck Toller.

898
00:44:33.625 --> 00:44:34.795
Very nice. Very nice.

899
00:44:34.855 --> 00:44:36.955
And does your mom live close by to you? Yeah.

900
00:44:37.025 --> 00:44:38.835
Yeah. My mom lives about eight minute

901
00:44:38.835 --> 00:44:40.115
drive from where I live.

902
00:44:40.295 --> 00:44:43.155
And, and, uh, you know, uh, it's really great

903
00:44:43.175 --> 00:44:45.275
to have her, in the city.

904
00:44:45.655 --> 00:44:48.675
And, um, yeah, I, you know, I see her often and,

905
00:44:48.815 --> 00:44:50.475
and, uh, yeah.

906
00:44:50.615 --> 00:44:51.615
So

907
00:44:53.045 --> 00:44:55.155
Where do you see yourself going from here now?

908
00:44:55.255 --> 00:44:57.715
So you've, uh, we've worked with Dalhousie,

909
00:44:57.715 --> 00:45:00.395
you're the accessibility officer for King's College,

910
00:45:00.455 --> 00:45:02.715
but you also do some, uh, you do advocacy

911
00:45:02.715 --> 00:45:04.235
and consulting on the side.

912
00:45:05.015 --> 00:45:08.195
Um, yeah. Where do you, where, where do you hope

913
00:45:08.195 --> 00:45:09.395
to, where do you hope to go?

914
00:45:09.395 --> 00:45:11.475
Like what do, what do you see yourself for down the road?

915
00:45:13.255 --> 00:45:15.075
Wow, that's a, that's a great question.

916
00:45:15.455 --> 00:45:19.755
Um, you know, I think that I'll keep on,

917
00:45:20.575 --> 00:45:22.955
uh, doing the work here at Kings.

918
00:45:23.095 --> 00:45:26.435
Um, I've only been at Kings for a year and a half,

919
00:45:27.255 --> 00:45:28.715
and it was a brand new job.

920
00:45:28.815 --> 00:45:31.435
So I'm creating this job, which has been really, uh,

921
00:45:31.905 --> 00:45:35.035
rewarding and challenging and all at all at once.

922
00:45:35.415 --> 00:45:39.115
And, um, um, you know, I think that, uh,

923
00:45:39.175 --> 00:45:40.595
my work here is not done yet,

924
00:45:40.735 --> 00:45:42.995
but, um, I could s

925
00:45:43.905 --> 00:45:46.755
I've landed my dream job here at King's.

926
00:45:47.335 --> 00:45:50.395
Um, you know, I continue to, um,

927
00:45:51.305 --> 00:45:53.275
educate the world every time I go out

928
00:45:53.495 --> 00:45:55.915
and use a public bathroom.

929
00:45:57.255 --> 00:46:01.555
Um, but, um, yeah, no, I think, um, you know,

930
00:46:01.625 --> 00:46:02.875
just live my life and,

931
00:46:03.295 --> 00:46:05.755
and, uh, um, just, just doing

932
00:46:05.755 --> 00:46:07.195
what everyone else is doing really.

933
00:46:07.375 --> 00:46:10.555
And, and, uh, um, getting, uh,

934
00:46:11.045 --> 00:46:15.235
maybe a little bit better at assisting students more here at

935
00:46:15.405 --> 00:46:17.395
Kings to, uh, uh,

936
00:46:17.575 --> 00:46:19.995
and also, uh, you know, I'd really love

937
00:46:19.995 --> 00:46:24.235
to put Kings on a map to be a, a choice for people

938
00:46:24.235 --> 00:46:26.675
with disabilities to, to come to, you know, I,

939
00:46:27.235 --> 00:46:31.155
I can confidently say that we could, um, house a student,

940
00:46:31.575 --> 00:46:32.835
um, with a disability

941
00:46:33.095 --> 00:46:35.795
and they can, um, um,

942
00:46:37.015 --> 00:46:40.115
go on an accessible route to the meal hall, to classes,

943
00:46:40.535 --> 00:46:43.795
to the library, and to my office of course.

944
00:46:44.295 --> 00:46:45.715
And, um, yeah.

945
00:46:45.895 --> 00:46:50.075
So, uh, I think that my work here is still yet to,

946
00:46:50.175 --> 00:46:51.195
uh, to come.

947
00:46:52.025 --> 00:46:53.075
Well, it sounds like it.

948
00:46:53.175 --> 00:46:55.795
And I have a, a special place in my heart for Kings.

949
00:46:55.875 --> 00:46:58.475
'cause I graduated from the journalism school there in, uh,

950
00:46:58.475 --> 00:46:59.635
2012, actually.

951
00:46:59.915 --> 00:47:02.635
I know the building well and the campus Well, and, uh,

952
00:47:03.415 --> 00:47:06.395
and I know where to find you downstairs in your beautiful

953
00:47:06.395 --> 00:47:07.595
sunny office as well.

954
00:47:07.775 --> 00:47:09.355
So we'll have to get together again,

955
00:47:09.355 --> 00:47:10.555
the three of us and Yes.

956
00:47:10.975 --> 00:47:12.955
And, uh, and talk toilets

957
00:47:12.975 --> 00:47:16.115
and other wonders of the world. I really

958
00:47:16.115 --> 00:47:17.475
Love talking about toilets.

959
00:47:18.455 --> 00:47:21.795
So do I Well, you know, there's a lot to be learned.

960
00:47:21.995 --> 00:47:23.435
I mean, I, the first thing I think,

961
00:47:23.435 --> 00:47:24.595
and I don't think you touched on it, was

962
00:47:24.595 --> 00:47:28.035
that those toilet rolls that they have, the, like,

963
00:47:28.035 --> 00:47:30.125
say the silver topper over half of them,

964
00:47:30.385 --> 00:47:31.845
and you kind of lift up the flap.

965
00:47:31.845 --> 00:47:34.125
Yes. And I thought, oh, well, maybe that has to do

966
00:47:34.125 --> 00:47:36.205
with germs or maybe that, but you said like they're not

967
00:47:36.255 --> 00:47:37.445
accessible for you at all.

968
00:47:37.555 --> 00:47:39.845
Like, and Yeah, so,

969
00:47:40.425 --> 00:47:43.125
And it's funny, we, we bought a couple of, uh,

970
00:47:43.505 --> 00:47:45.205
toilet paper dispensers here just

971
00:47:45.205 --> 00:47:48.325
to try them out open roll toilet paper dispensers.

972
00:47:48.325 --> 00:47:51.805
And we put one in one of the, one of the bathrooms here at,

973
00:47:51.805 --> 00:47:52.965
well, in two of the bathrooms.

974
00:47:52.985 --> 00:47:55.885
But I had asked different staff, I said, like,

975
00:47:56.425 --> 00:47:57.885
so did you notice any change?

976
00:47:57.945 --> 00:48:00.765
Oh, yeah, I noticed that there's a couple of, um,

977
00:48:00.985 --> 00:48:02.205
the grab bars are different

978
00:48:02.385 --> 00:48:04.725
and the toilet paper roll holder is different.

979
00:48:04.905 --> 00:48:08.285
And I said, and you know, is, is it easy to use?

980
00:48:08.425 --> 00:48:10.485
And they said, well, actually,

981
00:48:11.085 --> 00:48:13.125
I can access the toilet paper a lot easier.

982
00:48:13.345 --> 00:48:16.285
And I'm like, okay, my work here is done.

983
00:48:16.585 --> 00:48:20.525
And, you know, and, and to hear that just really kinda, um,

984
00:48:21.295 --> 00:48:24.325
again, makes, makes me feel like my work here is done

985
00:48:24.325 --> 00:48:26.885
because I don't, you know, I don't, yes,

986
00:48:27.045 --> 00:48:28.885
I go into the world every day

987
00:48:28.885 --> 00:48:33.605
and I, I, I'm constantly seeing, um, you know,

988
00:48:33.865 --> 00:48:37.085
uh, the, the inaccessible world.

989
00:48:37.265 --> 00:48:40.085
But, um, you know, I'm not angry

990
00:48:40.475 --> 00:48:43.005
because what, what's that gonna do?

991
00:48:43.005 --> 00:48:44.285
Nothing. Um,

992
00:48:44.465 --> 00:48:48.205
but also, um, I take it as a, as an opportunity

993
00:48:48.785 --> 00:48:52.645
to educate and, you know, like, like we have a ramp here

994
00:48:52.645 --> 00:48:53.725
to get into our library.

995
00:48:54.395 --> 00:48:57.565
Well, guess what? It's a steep ramp, but it's a ramp.

996
00:48:58.305 --> 00:49:01.485
But guess so it, it's great that we have a ramp.

997
00:49:02.025 --> 00:49:05.365
Yes, it was built to code in 1990 when it was built,

998
00:49:05.945 --> 00:49:07.725
but you know what, it's not, it's not

999
00:49:07.725 --> 00:49:09.525
to code anymore, but we have a ramp.

1000
00:49:10.025 --> 00:49:11.805
So things like that, we need to celebrate.

1001
00:49:11.825 --> 00:49:14.525
We need to celebrate the small achievements that we do.

1002
00:49:15.185 --> 00:49:17.885
Um, you know, we've made a lot of changes around kings with,

1003
00:49:18.545 --> 00:49:19.885
um, door handles.

1004
00:49:20.055 --> 00:49:22.605
We've changed doorknob handles to lever style

1005
00:49:22.785 --> 00:49:24.885
and everybody benefits from that.

1006
00:49:25.545 --> 00:49:28.165
Um, there are a number of washrooms here

1007
00:49:28.165 --> 00:49:29.405
that have accessible doors

1008
00:49:30.065 --> 00:49:32.845
and anybody can benefit from an accessible door.

1009
00:49:33.585 --> 00:49:34.885
Um, yeah.

1010
00:49:35.025 --> 00:49:36.165
So, you know, those are some

1011
00:49:36.165 --> 00:49:37.205
of the things that we've done here.

1012
00:49:39.055 --> 00:49:42.265
Yeah. And it really is those, those small actions

1013
00:49:43.135 --> 00:49:46.025
that don't seem like much when people are,

1014
00:49:46.165 --> 00:49:48.425
are building plans, but when you actually are

1015
00:49:48.485 --> 00:49:50.625
living day to day, they're huge. They

1016
00:49:50.625 --> 00:49:51.625
Are. Yeah.

1017
00:49:51.625 --> 00:49:53.465
Thank you.

1018
00:49:54.565 --> 00:49:58.465
All right. Well, um, for those following on social media,

1019
00:49:58.925 --> 00:50:01.665
if you'd like to follow the link in the show notes, uh,

1020
00:50:01.725 --> 00:50:03.865
we do have a bathroom sticker, um,

1021
00:50:04.255 --> 00:50:06.345
that you can put on any bathroom,

1022
00:50:06.405 --> 00:50:09.345
and it'll just give people directions to the nearest, uh,

1023
00:50:09.345 --> 00:50:10.385
accessible washroom

1024
00:50:10.485 --> 00:50:13.025
or the nearest, uh, gender neutral washroom.

1025
00:50:13.245 --> 00:50:14.665
Uh, we'd love to hear who

1026
00:50:14.725 --> 00:50:16.545
and how you're celebrating this week.

1027
00:50:16.885 --> 00:50:19.305
Uh, so please tag us at simply good form

1028
00:50:19.805 --> 00:50:21.385
and stories like this are possible

1029
00:50:21.385 --> 00:50:23.185
with support from the TD Bank group,

1030
00:50:23.205 --> 00:50:24.585
and we'd like to give them a thank you.

1031
00:50:27.655 --> 00:50:29.905
Yeah, thank you so much, Michelle, for joining us.

1032
00:50:30.085 --> 00:50:31.945
And I will have to track down something.

1033
00:50:32.015 --> 00:50:35.345
This is my red that I had, I put it on today, my scarf.

1034
00:50:35.385 --> 00:50:38.185
I need to find a shirt. But, uh, I did see, I put a,

1035
00:50:38.185 --> 00:50:40.185
I'll put a link in about the red shirt day

1036
00:50:40.325 --> 00:50:43.545
and on the website, red shirt day.org,

1037
00:50:43.725 --> 00:50:46.665
you can make a pledge, you can get a T-shirt.

1038
00:50:46.665 --> 00:50:47.745
There's a lot of different ways

1039
00:50:47.745 --> 00:50:49.065
that you can get involved in the day,

1040
00:50:49.085 --> 00:50:51.185
so we can share that link there too. Perfect.

1041
00:50:51.375 --> 00:50:53.345
Perfect. Thank you so much for having me.

1042
00:50:54.575 --> 00:50:57.025
This was super fun. And, uh, we'll have

1043
00:50:57.025 --> 00:50:59.145
to plan a plan a coffee in the upcoming weeks.

1044
00:50:59.145 --> 00:51:00.225
But you have a great week,

1045
00:51:00.285 --> 00:51:01.945
and thanks for joining us. You guys have

1046
00:51:01.985 --> 00:51:02.985
A great week too. Thank you.

1047
00:51:02.985 --> 00:51:05.225
Happy. Thanks so much for coming in.