After experiencing less-than-ideal circumstances while travelling with Air Canada, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Chief Accessibility Officer Stephanie Cadieux doesnB次元官网网址檛 want the focus to remain on her experience, but rather, on the issue of accessible air travel.

Cadieux, who has used a wheelchair since she was 18, tweeted that Air Canada had left her wheelchair in Toronto rather than load it onto her flight to Vancouver last Friday, Oct. 20.

B次元官网网址淲ell. @AirCanada left my chair in Toronto. IB次元官网网址檓 now without my essential equipment. Independence taken away. IB次元官网网址檓 furious. Unacceptable. #RightsOnFlights,B次元官网网址� the former Surrey South MLA, who still lives in South Surrey, posted.

Well. left my chair in Toronto. IB次元官网网址檓 now without my essential equipment. Independence taken away. IB次元官网网址檓 furious. Unacceptable.

B次元官网网址� Stephanie Cadieux (@Stephanie4BC)

Cadieux posted a statement on LinkedIn about her experience, saying she received an overwhelming response B次元官网网址� many sharing similar stories without such quick resolution B次元官网网址� noting that Air Canada responded to her on X, formerly known as Twitter, and that her wheelchair has since been returned.

B次元官网网址淲hile IB次元官网网址檓 glad IB次元官网网址檝e been able to draw attention to this issue, I donB次元官网网址檛 want the continued focus to be on my experience,B次元官网网址� she said in the statement.

B次元官网网址淢y job title as Chief Accessibility Officer should not influence the experience I have when I fly. Every person with a disability who entrusts their wheelchair to an airline should expect, and be granted the same service. We are all customers,B次元官网网址� she said.

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B次元官网网址淚 want everyone to understand that when a personB次元官网网址檚 wheelchair is lost, so is their independence, safety, mobility, and dignity,B次元官网网址� she continued.

Airlines do not treat these pieces of medical equipment as the essential extensions of individualB次元官网网址檚 bodies that they are, Cadieux said.

B次元官网网址淭he appropriate care and attention is not given and the result is situations like the one that happened to me on Friday. As it stands, the consequences for this neglect by the airlines are only felt by the person with the disability, who must fight to hold the airline accountable, often with little or no success. Airlines have to take responsibility and they have to do better.B次元官网网址�

Air Canada apologized to Cadieux on X, noting B次元官网网址淎ccessibility is a priority,B次元官网网址� for the airline and commiting to B次元官网网址渄o better.B次元官网网址�

Cadieux has been speaking about the topic of accessible air travel a lot lately, she noted.

Later this week, sheB次元官网网址檚 heading to Chicago to attend an International Air Transport Association conference, and will be delivering a keynote address on the subject.

B次元官网网址淭his is an important topic and it bears a lot more discussion, but urgent corrective action is also needed,B次元官网网址� she wrote in her statement.

B次元官网网址淚 travel a lot for my work and while my wheelchair has been damaged a number of times over the past year alone, this is the first time it didnB次元官网网址檛 arrive at all. Rightfully, people expressed their dismay and outrage. Unfortunately, for people with disabilities this wasnB次元官网网址檛 a big surprise.B次元官网网址�

Calling the recent experience a B次元官网网址渧isceral reminder of why I do the work I do,B次元官网网址� Cadieux noted that this is why so many advocates are always working so hard for change, and why it matters so much.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l continue to have conversations with the airlines and the air travel sector and I will continue to push for accessible air travel solutions for everyone,B次元官网网址� she said in her statement.

B次元官网网址淚t needs to change now.B次元官网网址�