When Spinal Cord Injury BC (SCI BC) teamed with YVR and launched a series of videos designed around accessibility and the airport, the idea was to give passengers with disabilities the confidence to travel by preparing them for the challenges they will face while flying.
This idea was taken a step further recently when SCI BC recently organized a group to experience firsthand the accessibility features YVR has to offer and how a traveller can seamlessly move through the airport in a barrier-free way.
The YVR Wheelchair Experience Tour covered everything from transportation, parking, check-in, clearing security, boarding and baggage pick up. The participants also got to test out the Eagle Lifting Device and a Washington chair which aid in transferring a passenger from their wheelchair in to the aircraft and in to their seat.
Alyss Bourgeau is a student Recreation Therapist and came along to get insight on how some of her clients will face in their day-to-day lives. "Going through this process has taught me a lot about travelling with a disability and inspired me to recommend that my clients learn more about accessible travel."
There will be more YVR Wheelchair Experience Tours in the future, and anybody who wants to learn more about accessibility and travel can check out the new project being created at www.sci-bc.ca.
Thank you to all our partners in the who made the YVR Wheelchair Experience Tour a success including WestJet, SCI BC, CATSA and of course the participants who made it all possible.