The Athabasca Regional Multiplex has applied for a grant worth $100,000 from the federal government through the Community Accessibility stream, and the money is intended to improve accessibility for the disabled at the Alice B. Donahue Library and Archives, as well as the Nancy Appleby Theatre.
It is our hope that it is approved, because those upgrades are really needed at each of those locations, in particular at the archives, since they only have stairs to get into the doors to this facility. There is no ramp whatsoever, so how does somebody get in with either a wheelchair or a walker? Could be a challenge, that's for sure.
The library itself does have a flat surface in which to walk to, as well as a double-door, but the last time we checked, they did not have wheelchair buttons on them, so unless somebody is with them, a person in a wheelchair or walker would have a tough time simply opening the door. And in the library's two bathrooms, they are both pretty small, with no space for a wheelchair to get in. While a walker could in theory fit into the washroom, it likely would not be convenient, as it does not leave much room for a person with one to move around. So that also needs to change.
So, we at the Advocate would very much support making these locations more accessible for the disabled and the mobility challenged, as the librarian put it. The library is, and always has been, a hub for the Athabasca area's citizens to gain access to knowledge, as well as practice their right to free speech. But by shutting out those with mobility issues due to accessibility, how can we honestly continue to promote either one? Frankly, we would look like hypocrites.
We want the grant in order to get the ball rolling in making the upgrades, and we also want to encourage people to take the library up on its call for letters of support. We hope the public does send in the letters to the library before the July 1 deadline is up, because if they don't, we all lose out. Not just the disabled.
As it says in the story, each letter can be sent to [email protected]. As Larry the Cable Guy would say, let's Git-R-Done!
