Rolling with Sarah

Took a trip to Bayshore Shopping Centre, an indoor mall in Ottawa. There were some highs and lows when it came to accessibility. One of the good things is they have accessible parking on every level. The bad thing is every second level you need to take an elevator to reach a floor that actually gets you into the mall. To get to these elevators, you must go through a door. Surprise, surprise, no actuator. There is no way I could open it and get through independently. And the elevators weren’t so nice inside either. They could definitely use a good cleaning. Not the best first impression.

Malls in general are pretty accessible. There are no curbs to get over and most stores are level with the mall’s floor so no worries about thresholds there. They also don’t have doors to worry about opening and getting through in the way that stand-alone stores do. One thing that is disappointing in Bayshore is the lack of elevators. Yes, they have two, right beside each other. But they are both at one end of the mall. If I want to go to a store on the second level, and I am on the third level right above it, I have to travel the whole length of the mall, get in the elevator down, then go back the entire length of the mall again. I can literally see the store from where I am but I can’t easily get there. The worst part is that the end of the mall with no elevators is the new end that was recently added. They put in escalators, but no elevators. A huge missed opportunity. Very unfortunate, as this is a problem that could have easily been avoided. No matter where they are located, two elevators is just too few for the size of the mall. There are too many seemingly able bodied people who choose to use them rather than the stairs or escalators. Yes, there are invisible disabilities, but there are far too many people for everyone to really have a reason for needing an elevator. And many don’t respect the signage that says to give priority to the disabled or strollers.

One good thing is the tables at the food court. There are designated accessible tables. These are located at the edge of the court where a wheelchair can more easily maneuver. I know what you are thinking: how can a table be more accessible than others? The table itself has no special features, other than the fact it has removable chairs and a free end, but it is more about the designation itself. It is a reserved spot on the edge where it is easier to access. This comes in handy in a very busy food court where getting any table is a challenge. Most people seem to respect the designation and leave it for those who really need it, which is nice.

On my way out, I made a stop at Build-A-Bear Workshop. I purchased a wheelchair for the teddy bear a close friend and I built a while ago (we share custody lol). I wanted it to represent me. I think it is awesome that this choice is readily available. Very inclusive. What was not inclusive was their checkout option. The debit machine was fixed so I couldn’t tap my own card or reach to enter the pin. Luckily, I had a trusted caregiver who could do it for me, but had I been alone I wouldn’t have been able to make the purchase. So there is some work to be done there.

All in all, I would give Bayshore Shopping Centre a mixed review. While it is more accessible than some stores, there are still things they need to improve upon. Nothing will ever be 100% perfect for 100% of the population, as people with disabilities are all unique with their own needs, but places can always make changes to improve. If I were in charge I would start with adding more elevators and work from there.