Full Transcript for AccessAbility Week and Toilet Talk with Michelle Mahoney

week. 81 00:04:03.265 --> 00:04:05.485 So I really am very excited to, 82 00:04:05.705 --> 00:04:07.205 to be here and join you today. 83 00:04:08.065 --> 00:04:11.245 Um, so I was born in Spring Hill, Nova Scotia. 84 00:04:11.305 --> 00:04:12.965 I'm the youngest of five kids. 85 00:04:13.905 --> 00:04:18.645 And, um, so yeah, I was, I was the third known case 86 00:04:19.065 --> 00:04:22.325 of, uh, the condition called Arthrogryposis. 87 00:04:22.945 --> 00:04:26.245 And what that is is lack of muscle in various joints, uh, 88 00:04:26.245 --> 00:04:27.605 like, like Emma said earlier. 89 00:04:28.585 --> 00:04:32.725 And, um, my doctor sat my mom down 90 00:04:33.105 --> 00:04:34.565 and said that people 91 00:04:34.565 --> 00:04:36.845 with this condition lead very normal lives. 92 00:04:37.105 --> 00:04:39.925 So treat her like you would a regular kid. 93 00:04:40.585 --> 00:04:42.925 And being the youngest of five kids, 94 00:04:43.105 --> 00:04:44.765 that's exactly how I was raised. 95 00:04:45.305 --> 00:04:47.685 Um, I was never pitied 96 00:04:47.825 --> 00:04:52.765 or, um, you know, I was, I was able to be involved in 97 00:04:53.645 --> 00:04:56.005 anything and everything I wanted to be involved in. 98 00:04:56.265 --> 00:04:59.085 And, uh, yeah, I have a twin brother. 99 00:04:59.345 --> 00:05:02.325 We were wo mates and, um, um, 100 00:05:02.665 --> 00:05:04.365 he does not have a disability. 101 00:05:05.065 --> 00:05:08.365 Um, I always say that he maybe beat me up a little bit, 102 00:05:08.665 --> 00:05:10.325 but in the womb, and that's why. 103 00:05:10.465 --> 00:05:11.885 No, I'm kidding. I'm just kidding 104 00:05:14.355 --> 00:05:15.355 Your brother. 105 00:05:15.565 --> 00:05:17.725 I know, right? We're best 106 00:05:17.725 --> 00:05:19.165 of friends today too, by the way. 107 00:05:19.345 --> 00:05:20.885 Um, but, 108 00:05:21.345 --> 00:05:25.925 but yeah, so I guess, you know, being, being a person 109 00:05:25.955 --> 00:05:27.085 with a disability and, 110 00:05:27.085 --> 00:05:30.125 and growing up in a small town, like my mom advocated 111 00:05:30.665 --> 00:05:32.125 for me for everything. 112 00:05:32.225 --> 00:05:34.845 And, you know, every year she would have to go in 113 00:05:35.265 --> 00:05:38.165 and educate the teachers that they would be having a student 114 00:05:38.515 --> 00:05:40.645 with a disability in their class that year. 115 00:05:41.505 --> 00:05:46.245 And, you know, it just, uh, that, that's kind 116 00:05:46.445 --> 00:05:49.045 of just how we, we went on and, and, you know, 117 00:05:49.145 --> 00:05:52.005 but like I said earlier too, about being involved in, 118 00:05:52.665 --> 00:05:55.165 in many things, um, you know, my mom 119 00:05:55.775 --> 00:05:58.285 would be sitting on the sidelines worried. 120 00:05:58.285 --> 00:06:01.445 Little did I know that she, you know, was worried, 121 00:06:01.625 --> 00:06:04.285 but again, I was just involved in anything 122 00:06:04.305 --> 00:06:05.565 and, and everything. 123 00:06:05.665 --> 00:06:09.365 And so to me, I was a normal kid 124 00:06:09.365 --> 00:06:13.525 because I just did everything that, uh, you know, that, 125 00:06:13.525 --> 00:06:14.725 that everyone else was doing. 126 00:06:15.185 --> 00:06:17.165 And, and, uh, yeah, 127 00:06:19.485 --> 00:06:20.485 I love that. And 128 00:06:20.485 --> 00:06:24.045 like, really, I think what you said there when you 129 00:06:24.755 --> 00:06:28.645 link back to like accessibility and inclusion, isn't it? 130 00:06:28.805 --> 00:06:30.805 I think Emma, you had said right earlier today, 131 00:06:31.035 --> 00:06:33.485 it's about finding, like, coming into alignment 132 00:06:33.635 --> 00:06:37.165 with this sense of normalcy, this sense of, of fit, 133 00:06:37.305 --> 00:06:38.925 you know, um, uh, 134 00:06:38.945 --> 00:06:42.245 or belonging is much better, uh, than the word, uh, fit, 135 00:06:42.245 --> 00:06:45.005 but that sense of belonging, um, in that space. 136 00:06:45.745 --> 00:06:48.045 Is there, you know, anything that stands out to you, like 137 00:06:48.065 --> 00:06:52.645 as far as, you know, your journey has gone so far, uh, that, 138 00:06:52.825 --> 00:06:56.085 you know, somebody who maybe has, you've said your mom, um, 139 00:06:56.085 --> 00:07:00.165 that has really helped you to ensure you're being included. 140 00:07:00.945 --> 00:07:03.245 Um, is there anyone else that like, 141 00:07:03.265 --> 00:07:04.605 has really helped you along the way? 142 00:07:04.605 --> 00:07:07.485 Like maybe we can talk about your time at, uh, at St. FX 143 00:07:07.665 --> 00:07:11.925 and, and what accessibility look like there for you 144 00:07:12.345 --> 00:07:14.765 and, you know, from that first day that you started? 145 00:07:15.395 --> 00:07:18.885 Sure. Um, so I looked at St. FX 146 00:07:18.885 --> 00:07:23.245 because, um, it was a small town is a small town 147 00:07:24.035 --> 00:07:25.685 like Spring Hill where I grew up. 148 00:07:25.745 --> 00:07:30.245 And, when I was in high school, in grade 12, 149 00:07:30.385 --> 00:07:32.805 of course, I, you know, wanted to go to university, wanted 150 00:07:32.805 --> 00:07:34.485 to do what everyone else was doing, of course. 151 00:07:34.705 --> 00:07:39.405 And, and, uh, you know, I was, I was, uh, you know, 152 00:07:39.485 --> 00:07:40.925 I wasn't a straight A student, 153 00:07:40.985 --> 00:07:43.485 but I was a typical, uh, you know, teenager 154 00:07:43.625 --> 00:07:45.125 and just wanting to be like everyone else. 155 00:07:45.225 --> 00:07:49.645 And so I was looking at St. Mary's University because St. 156 00:07:49.705 --> 00:07:53.285 Mary's University at that time was known as the university 157 00:07:53.355 --> 00:07:57.725 that, um, that, uh, not, I don't wanna say caters, 158 00:07:57.785 --> 00:08:01.805 but they had, uh, the Student Center for

Excellence. 159 00:08:01.825 --> 00:08:04.365 It was called, um, for people with disabilities. 160 00:08:04.365 --> 00:08:09.245 And it really was the university back in 1991, known, 161 00:08:09.945 --> 00:08:13.925 um, as, as the great university for people, uh, 162 00:08:13.955 --> 00:08:15.645 with disabilities to attend. 163 00:08:16.305 --> 00:08:18.405 And, um, but, uh, 164 00:08:18.925 --> 00:08:22.965 I had spent some time at the rehab center here in Halifax, 165 00:08:23.225 --> 00:08:25.725 uh, working with an occupational therapist to come up 166 00:08:25.725 --> 00:08:29.925 with gadgets and stuff to, to learn to do things for myself. 167 00:08:30.785 --> 00:08:34.005 And, um, during the time that I was here, I really kinda, 168 00:08:34.805 --> 00:08:38.525 I found the city to be so big and really too much for me. 169 00:08:38.585 --> 00:08:41.965 And as an 18-year-old, I just felt really, um, 170 00:08:42.785 --> 00:08:46.245 really overwhelmed by the, by the bigness of the city. 171 00:08:46.385 --> 00:08:50.445 And that's when I looked at another, uh, at, at St. FX 172 00:08:50.445 --> 00:08:53.125 because, um, it was a smaller town. 173 00:08:53.185 --> 00:08:57.325 So we made a few visits to the university, uh, my mom and I, 174 00:08:57.625 --> 00:09:00.885 and, I mean, they literally bent over backwards 175 00:09:00.945 --> 00:09:02.365 to accommodate my needs. 176 00:09:02.665 --> 00:09:06.525 And, they gave me a room with, with my own bathroom. 177 00:09:07.105 --> 00:09:09.085 And I lived, I lived there for four years. 178 00:09:09.865 --> 00:09:12.165 Um, I lived on campus for four years. 179 00:09:12.705 --> 00:09:15.805 actually, uh, kind of a funny story. 180 00:09:15.905 --> 00:09:20.405 My mom, um, talked to my twin brother into going to 181 00:09:20.405 --> 00:09:23.405 St. FX to look out for me for my first year. 182 00:09:24.105 --> 00:09:26.925 and I didn't know that, 183 00:09:27.065 --> 00:09:29.165 so I just knew we were both going to St. FX. 184 00:09:30.145 --> 00:09:35.005 Um, and, uh, you know, little did I know 185 00:09:35.005 --> 00:09:37.565 that, that he did not want to go there. 186 00:09:37.785 --> 00:09:41.165 He wanted to go to UNB, he was accepted to UNB, 187 00:09:41.745 --> 00:09:44.445 I'm pretty sure he wanted to get as far away as possible 188 00:09:44.445 --> 00:09:47.645 because, you know, all of our lives, um, you know, 189 00:09:47.745 --> 00:09:50.525 my mom would bring me to the IWK 190 00:09:50.785 --> 00:09:54.645 and, you know, my mom was always, always that person that, 191 00:09:54.755 --> 00:09:55.965 that took me everywhere. 192 00:09:56.625 --> 00:09:57.845 Um, and my sisters 193 00:09:58.025 --> 00:10:00.405 and my dad would, would stay home with my brother. 194 00:10:00.505 --> 00:10:03.565 And then, you know, my, my brother when we were younger, 195 00:10:03.675 --> 00:10:04.925 even took my mom aside 196 00:10:04.945 --> 00:10:07.685 and told my mom he wished he had a disability 197 00:10:07.685 --> 00:10:12.165 because, you know, my mom's always taking me, taking me 198 00:10:12.165 --> 00:10:15.005 to Halifax and, you know, for doctor's appointments 199 00:10:15.005 --> 00:10:16.125 and stuff, but, mm-hmm. 200 00:10:16.145 --> 00:10:18.485 You know, mind you, my time wasn't rosy. 201 00:10:18.495 --> 00:10:21.485 These were not rosy fun times for me. 202 00:10:22.265 --> 00:10:25.245 So, um, you know, we graduate from high school and, 203 00:10:25.425 --> 00:10:28.285 and of course he's off to St. FX with me in the fall. 204 00:10:28.425 --> 00:10:31.805 And, and, you know, he came with me and, 205 00:10:32.305 --> 00:10:36.285 and, um, it really was such a, a very, 206 00:10:37.305 --> 00:10:41.325 um, amazingly scary, uh, time for me 207 00:10:41.325 --> 00:10:45.125 because, you know, I realized how much I took my mom 208 00:10:45.225 --> 00:10:46.765 for granted, my mom helped me 209 00:10:46.795 --> 00:10:50.605 with everything from getting dressed to doing my hair. 210 00:10:51.185 --> 00:10:52.405 We had such routine. 211 00:10:52.665 --> 00:10:56.285 And then, um, you know, I, I, uh, 212 00:10:57.445 --> 00:11:00.605 I got my period the first time at, at university 213 00:11:00.605 --> 00:11:01.925 and I thought like, okay, 214 00:11:01.995 --> 00:11:04.605 like I can't have somebody assist me. 215 00:11:05.185 --> 00:11:07.805 Oh, I forgot to mention I had an attendant who would come in 216 00:11:07.805 --> 00:11:09.645 and help me every day, or maybe I did mention. 217 00:11:10.545 --> 00:11:13.925 Um, and so, but it just wasn't the same 218 00:11:13.925 --> 00:11:16.405 because we had such such routine. 219 00:11:16.585 --> 00:11:18.725 And so when it came time for me, 220 00:11:18.755 --> 00:11:20.565 when I had my period the first time I 221 00:11:20.565 --> 00:11:22.485 thought, I gotta figure this out. 222 00:11:22.645 --> 00:11:26.325 I gotta, you know, it's such an intimate, private, um, 223 00:11:27.275 --> 00:11:28.965 dignified, uh, process. 224 00:11:29.425 --> 00:11:31.885 And I just, you know, I, I said, I've, 225 00:11:31.885 --> 00:11:33.285 I've gotta figure things out. 226 00:11:33.385 --> 00:11:36.765 And, and I did, I figured it out. 227 00:11:36.885 --> 00:11:41.205 I came up with a, with a way to, to, um, 228 00:11:41.625 --> 00:11:42.685 be able to take care 229 00:11:42.685 --> 00:11:45.125 of myself every time I would have my period. 230 00:11:45.325 --> 00:11:49.165 I, I was able to completely independently take care of that. 231 00:11:49.265 --> 00:11:52.805 And that was such, such a big, uh, 232 00:11:53.765 --> 00:11:54.845 a big obstacle. 233 00:11:54.985 --> 00:11:57.485 And the day that I did that for the very first time, 234 00:11:57.685 --> 00:11:59.725 I called my mother on the phone collect 235 00:11:59.785 --> 00:12:02.525 and said, I can do anything in this world. 236 00:12:02.885 -->

00:12:05.845 I can conquer the world because I can do that for myself. 237 00:12:06.065 --> 00:12:08.245 And to me, that was everything I could, you know, 238 00:12:08.535 --> 00:12:11.125 bring on the world because I can, I can handle it. 239 00:12:11.785 --> 00:12:13.365 And so that's why I tell people 240 00:12:13.365 --> 00:12:17.165 that I graduated in May, 1995 with what I like to refer to 241 00:12:17.665 --> 00:12:20.045 as a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Independence 242 00:12:20.045 --> 00:12:23.925 because, um, you know, I have an X ring and, and, 243 00:12:24.185 --> 00:12:25.445 and I earned that X ring. 244 00:12:25.465 --> 00:12:26.885 And I, I earned my degree. 245 00:12:27.585 --> 00:12:28.685 My marks are horrible, 246 00:12:28.785 --> 00:12:31.365 but the life lessons I learned were invaluable. 247 00:12:32.075 --> 00:12:34.325 Well, that's it. So many people go off for life skills, 248 00:12:34.545 --> 00:12:37.565 but you know, for yourself that looked completely different 249 00:12:37.585 --> 00:12:39.885 and it must have been even that much more scary. 250 00:12:39.985 --> 00:12:41.765 You know, it just must have been in 251 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.