Skip to content
Menu
  • English Selected
  • Français

 

Header secondary

  • Sign up for eNews
  • Donate

Header

  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Our Programs
    • Leadership Team
    • Board Members and Committees
    • Supporting SCI Research
    • Donors
    • Annual Reports
    • FAQ
    • Work With Us
    • Contact Us
    Hero
    Passionate about accessibility? We need your help
    Get Involved
  • About Rick
    • About Rick
    • Rick's Story
    • Man In Motion World Tour
      • Man In Motion World Tour
      • The Dream
      • Tour Timeline
      • Tour Gallery
      • Tour Team
      • 35th Anniversary
    • Rick’s Work and Vision
    • A Conversation with Rick
    • Awards & Honours
    Hero
    Passionate about accessibility? We need your help
    Get Involved
  • Get Involved
    • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Legacy Giving
    • Fundraise
    • Help make Canada accessible
    Hero
    Passionate about accessibility? We need your help
    Get Involved
  • Become Accessible
    • Become Accessible
    • Rating & Certification 
      • Rating & Certification 
      • Rating Request Form
      • RHFAC FAQ
      • RHFAC v3.0
    • Professional Training
    • Ontario Complimentary Ratings
      • Ontario Complimentary Ratings
      • Eligibility & Participation Requirements
      • Complimentary Ratings FAQ
    • Accessibility Conference
    • Accessibility Resources
      • Accessibility Resources
    • Accessibility Professional Network
      • Accessibility Professional Network
      • FAQ: Accessibility Professional Network
      • Login
      • RHFAC Professional Directory
    • Post an Accessibility Job
    • BC Accessibility Grants Program
      • BC Accessibility Grants Program
      • BC Accessibility Grants Program FAQ
    • Buildings Without Barriers Challenge
    Hero
    Passionate about accessibility? We need your help
    Get Involved
  • Schools & Communities
    • Schools and Communities
    • School Program
      • School Program
      • K-8 Toolkits
      • 9-12 Toolkits
      • Curriculum Connections
      • Universal Design for Learning
      • Login
      • Our Partners
    • Ambassador Program
      • Ambassador Program
      • Book a Presentation
      • About Our Ambassadors
    • Little Big Lessons
    • Difference Maker Awards
    • Everyone Everywhere
    Hero
    Passionate about accessibility? We need your help
    Get Involved
  • News & Stories
    • News & Stories
    • Blog
    • Media Centre
    • Newsletter
    • Disability Reports
    Hero
    Passionate about accessibility? We need your help
    Get Involved
  • Search

Breadcrumb

  1. Rick Hansen Foundation
  2. News & Stories
  3. Blog
  4. Currently selected Accessibility is what I’ve been fighting for my entire life

Accessibility is what I’ve been fighting for my entire life

Melanie Scott By Melanie Scott On July 12, 2018 Community Spotlight

Laetitia Mfamobani is a professional woman with degrees in mathematics and philosophy. She’s also blind. And as someone with vision loss, Laetitia had to break down many barriers to get to where she is today. Many common physical barriers to accessibility, like elevators, can keep her from getting where she needs to go.

Here’s her story of why it’s so important for everyone to be able to access all the places where we live, work, learn, and play.

***
I've been blind almost my entire life. I started losing my sight as a child growing up in Gabon, on the west coast of central Africa. Because I couldn’t see, I was shunned by my classmates and forced out of elementary school. Eventually I learned braille, and within weeks I returned to the classroom with my parents’ support. I had to work three or four times harder than most students to graduate.

 

Fourteen years ago, I came to Canada on a university scholarship. I earned my degree, but struggled to find a meaningful job. I wanted to stay and make my home here in ​Canada, but many potential employers viewed my blindness as a problem. Not being able to be or feel independent affected how I saw myself. I lost my self-esteem.


Finally, after years of searching, I was excited to find work as an Access Assistant with the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Program. Based on my own experience, I know how important it is to improve accessibility. I was surprised to learn just how urgent this issue is in Canada. Today, almost four million Canadians live with a mobility, vision, or hearing disability. By 2036, less than 20 years from now, that number will rise to up to nine million Canadians. 

As an RHF Access Assistant, I was taught about accessible design. When buildings and sites are planned and designed with a wide range of needs in mind, everyone is included ad can use and enjoy all aspects of a space. In my job, I measured the level of meaningful access in our hotels, restaurants, and community centres.

Laetitia trys out an accessible elevator

Being out in the community, speaking to people about access, made me realize that accessible design has two big advantages.One, it improves the quality of life for people with disabilities. In Canada, we should all have equal access to the places we visit regularly, like malls, parks, and offices. It’s a basic human right. Two, accessibility is great for business.
 

Business owners have told me, “I don’t need to accommodate blind people, because they don’t come into my business.” I say, “If you make your business more accessible, you’ll be surprised who shows up.” If businesses are accessible for everyone, more people will visit. One person with a disability going to a restaurant means at least one or two other people are coming along. This has a huge financial impact, and positive one, on our economy.

Another example of an accessibility barrier for the blind is something that most people wouldn't think twice about: elevators. Most people have no problem using elevators. They get on, push a button, and get to their destination. In my case, elevators can make me lose my way. Most elevator buttons don't have braille or raised letters. Some elevators don't have an audible voice to tell me what floor I'm on. When I don't know where I am, it's easy to get lost and feel frustrated. And that feeling can stay with me the whole day. But when I'm able to do something for myself, even something as small as finding the right floor in a building, I feel confident and capable.

A business I assessed used one of my cost effective recommendations to make its elevator more accessible. I was so happy to see that. Now anyone with a disability can use the elevator on their own. They have more independence, and the business gains new customers. What I did is going to end up helping at least one person - and I feel different knowing I've made a difference.

Removing barriers to accessibility and liberating the potential of the people with disabilities means my own potential is being liberated. My hopes, my dreams, can be fulfilled. I can hope for a better future for all.

***

Be part of the solution! Remove barriers and ensure a better future for all Canadians with your special gift - one barrier, one elevator, at a time. Donate today!

Laetitia walks through a lobby.

 

Related articles

Knitting a Community Together with Handmade Bunnies
Memories from the Sidelines
Accessibility is a Universal Right
Looking Back & Looking Ahead

Back to top

Next Story

Disability and Diversity: Creating a Culture of Inclusion
Rebecca Saloustros By Rebecca Saloustros
Read More

Stay in Touch

Receive Foundation emails to stay up-to-date on our impact and programs.

Contact Us

1-800-213-2131
info@rickhansen.com

Rick Hansen Foundation
300-3820 Cessna Drive
Richmond, BC
Canada V7B 0A2

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Imagine Canada

The Standards Program Trustmark is a mark of Imagine Canada used under license by the Rick Hansen Foundation.

About Us - EN

  • About Us
  • Our Programs
  • Leadership Team
  • Board Members and Committees
  • Supporting SCI Research
  • Donors
  • Annual Reports
  • FAQ
  • Work With Us
  • Contact Us

About Rick - EN

  • About Rick
  • Rick's Story
  • Man In Motion World Tour
    • Man In Motion World Tour
    • The Dream
    • Tour Timeline
    • Tour Gallery
    • Tour Team
    • 35th Anniversary
  • Rick’s Work and Vision
  • A Conversation with Rick
  • Awards & Honours

Get Involved - EN

  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Legacy Giving
  • Fundraise
  • Help make Canada accessible

Become Accessible - EN

  • Become Accessible
  • Rating & Certification 
    • Rating & Certification 
    • Rating Request Form
    • RHFAC FAQ
    • RHFAC v3.0
  • Professional Training
  • Ontario Complimentary Ratings
    • Ontario Complimentary Ratings
    • Eligibility & Participation Requirements
    • Complimentary Ratings FAQ
  • Accessibility Conference
  • Accessibility Resources
    • Accessibility Resources
  • Accessibility Professional Network
    • Accessibility Professional Network
    • FAQ: Accessibility Professional Network
    • Login
    • RHFAC Professional Directory
  • Post an Accessibility Job
  • BC Accessibility Grants Program
    • BC Accessibility Grants Program
    • BC Accessibility Grants Program FAQ
  • Buildings Without Barriers Challenge

Schools & Communities - EN

  • Schools and Communities
  • School Program
    • School Program
    • K-8 Toolkits
    • 9-12 Toolkits
    • Curriculum Connections
    • Universal Design for Learning
    • Login
    • Our Partners
  • Ambassador Program
    • Ambassador Program
    • Book a Presentation
    • About Our Ambassadors
  • Little Big Lessons
  • Difference Maker Awards
  • Everyone Everywhere

News & Stories - EN

  • News & Stories
  • Blog
  • Media Centre
  • Newsletter
  • Disability Reports

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ethical Reporting Policy
  • Complaints Policy
  • Imagine Canada Certification
  • Accessibility Commitment
  • Diversity and Inclusion
Imagine Canada

The Standards Program Trustmark is a mark of Imagine Canada used under license by the Rick Hansen Foundation.

Charitable Registration Number: 10765 9427 RR 0001 © 2021 Rick Hansen Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

Back to Top
Hero

Our programs and initiatives work to create an accessible and inclusive world where people with disabilities can live to their full potential. 

Learn more
Hero

When Rick set out to wheel around the world in 1985, he had two missions: to raise awareness about the potential of people with disabilities, and to raise funds for Spinal Cord Injury research.

Read more
Hero

Receive updates from RHF on the impact we’re making for people with disabilities across Canada.

Subscribe
Hero

Have your site rated and certified for meaningful access for people with physical disabilities. Make your community more welcoming and inclusive for all!

Get Started
Hero

Receive free educational resources that teach youth about the importance of access and inclusion.  

Learn more
Hero

Browse the latest stories about access and inclusion from Rick and our team of bloggers. 

Read our Blog