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Innisfil, ON – The Town of Innisfil and the Innisfil Accessibility Advisory Committee are excited to relaunch the Committee’s signature Breaking Down Barriers Awareness Program in local elementary schools for the 2023/24 school year. After a three-year pause, the initiative will return to in-person learning to help students better understand the disabilities and barriers that people of all ages face in their daily lives.

“We are so thrilled to see the Breaking Down Barriers program return to our schools,” says Mayor Lynn Dollin. “A day focused on breaking down barriers reminds us to examine our community and identify whether there are obstacles that prevent people from being able to fully appreciate all Innisfil has to offer. This important dialogue helps us to shape the future we want to see.”

Geared towards Grade 5 students, the Breaking Down Barriers Awareness Program provides youth with a simulated experience of the barriers that may prevent someone from fully participating in society. Through interactive activities and demonstrations, participants get to see, hear, and feel what everyday life is like for people with different abilities. The program encourages youth to build empathy for others while reinforcing the importance of universal access and inclusion for everyone.

Breaking Down Barriers Awareness Days are free and delivered by members of the Innisfil Accessibility Advisory Committee together with teachers and senior student volunteers. Activities include wheelchair demonstrations, vision simulations, hearing tests, and education on mental health, autism spectrum disorder and DeafBlind Ontario Services.

The Committee has also announced a partnership with SUPERIOR Home Health Care to obtain six youth wheelchairs for use during the program. With 29 years of industry experience, the Ontario home medical supply provider will spearhead the initiative to acquire donated wheelchairs and provide any required maintenance on equipment to ensure it is safe for use.

Councillor Robert Saunders, who is Chair of the Innisfil Accessibility Advisory Committee, says, “We are grateful to SUPERIOR Home Health Care for their generous support of our Breaking Down Barriers Awareness Program. Their experience and expertise will be invaluable to our efforts to grow the program even bigger. ­­­The Committee is excited to work with them to achieve this goal for 2023.”

Owners John Tom and Suzi Jennings add, “Innisfil’s Breaking Down Barriers Awareness Day Program is a fantastic educational experience for children. It is very important to raise our youth to respect the physical mobility challenges that so many people face, and to teach them empathy and understanding for others. Our company is absolutely thrilled to be the wheelchair equipment/technical partner in this program.”

To donate a used manual wheelchair, please contact Jeff Crosby at SUPERIOR Home Health Care’s Barrie location by May 12, 2023 via barrie@superiorhomehealthcare.ca or 705-722-3376.

More information on the Breaking Down Barriers Awareness Program is available at innisfil.ca/BreakingDownBarriers.