Wintertime can be challenging for Islanders with disabilities, advocates say

Kevin Symes' wife likes to take their puppy out for walks, like many other Islanders do, but in the wintertime it becomes "too hazardous" for her to do that.

"My wife has visual impairments, so she doesn't walk outside in the wintertime just because she's afraid of slipping and falling, or tripping on a lump of snow that's left in the middle of the sidewalk," says Symes.

"Oftentimes, the plow goes by and then people shovel their driveway and they inadvertently end up putting snow in the path of the sidewalk."

The challenge of navigating winter conditions on P.E.I. with a disability is one shared by many Islanders. 

As of 2022, 31.8 per cent of Islanders reported having at least one disability, according to Statistics Canada's most recent data. That number is up 5.8 per cent since 2017.

For people living with disabilities in Atlantic Canada, accessibility is a major issue according to a report written on behalf of the Saint John Human Development Council. 

That's why advocates say more consideration should be given to improve the Island's wintertime accessibility.

Symes is the executive director of the Canadian Deafblind Association of New Brunswick. 

"Our staff try to keep our clients involved in community as much as possible," he said.

Sometimes that involves taking clients to malls and indoor tracks to be able to walk in a safe environment, Symes said. 

"You can find ways if you want to do your exercising and walking… but outside is probably not an option," he said. 

"People who have deficits in their vision certainly wouldn't be able to distinguish a lump of snow on the sidewalk." 

Icy and snow-covered sidewalks also make it difficult for people who use mobility devices, said Glen Flood, the executive director of Spinal Cord Injury P.E.I. 

"Some peoples' transportation is their power chair, for example," he said.