At the age of 14, Jeff Carlson broke his legs in a motorcycle accident and was told he might never walk again. Though he ended up recovering rapidly, the experience left a profound impression on the way he perceives the built environment.
“For me personally I was in a wheelchair for three-and-a-half months,” he said. “As a result I'm more conscious of stairways and curves and things that make life difficult.”
Carlson is behind a new 33-unit rental apartment at the south end of Innisfail set to open later this year. In these residences the hallways and doors are wider. The washrooms are bigger and include hand supports.
He said the teenage mishap is part of the reason he's glad to include four main-floor units that are geared towards handicapped residents.
Life can be a challenge at times for people with disabilities, and increasingly businesses and community facilities have begun to cater to this population.
The need to make sure Innisfail and the surrounding area are accessible to all is significant, Carlson said, noting there is a business case to be made by adopting an inclusive mindset.
“The benefit is you can rent to a larger population,” he said.
Adding accessibility to older buildings is not always easy.
The Innisfail Seniors Drop-In Centre recently completed renovations to improve the quality of its space for users. While the facility is currently wheelchair accessible from the back door, the recent upgrade did not improve bathrooms, which seniors say need to be made more accessible when further renovations are done in the future.
Another hurdle facing many residents in the area is getting from one place to another.
Theo Klooster noticed this when he began helping a relative who recently purchased a building in Red Deer with disabled residents.
“They're not able to get where they want to go,” he said. “We need to think about how easy it is to get around.”
Last month Klooster started a transportation business called Access Mobility Services, which is geared towards customers who are have difficulty getting where they want to go.
As part of his services he will take customers to the mall, on country drives, or to various activities and stay with them to return them home afterwards.
“There aren't a lot of businesses that are doing this,” he said. “It makes them very happy. It breaks up their day.”
For now he has a single SUV that is not wheelchair accessible, but he says he has plans to expand his fleet to include such a vehicle.
“Being mobile is the best thing for people,” he said. “It restores the mind and gives them vitality.”
Klooster also says he will do odd jobs such as taking out the garbage, changing a faucet or hanging pictures.
Singing along to the radio is also allowed, he says with a smile.
“They are a lot happier when we're in the car,” he said. “There is a camaraderie you get.”
