After experiencing less-than-ideal circumstances while travelling with Air Canada, Canada含羞草研究社檚 Chief Accessibility Officer Stephanie Cadieux doesn含羞草研究社檛 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.

含羞草研究社淲ell. @AirCanada left my chair in Toronto. I含羞草研究社檓 now without my essential equipment. Independence taken away. I含羞草研究社檓 furious. Unacceptable. #RightsOnFlights,含羞草研究社� the former Surrey South MLA, who still lives in South Surrey, posted.

Well. left my chair in Toronto. I含羞草研究社檓 now without my essential equipment. Independence taken away. I含羞草研究社檓 furious. Unacceptable.

含羞草研究社� Stephanie Cadieux (@Stephanie4BC)

Cadieux posted a statement on LinkedIn about her experience, saying she received an overwhelming response 含羞草研究社� many sharing similar stories without such quick resolution 含羞草研究社� noting that Air Canada responded to her on X, formerly known as Twitter, and that her wheelchair has since been returned.

含羞草研究社淲hile I含羞草研究社檓 glad I含羞草研究社檝e been able to draw attention to this issue, I don含羞草研究社檛 want the continued focus to be on my experience,含羞草研究社� she said in the statement.

含羞草研究社淢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,含羞草研究社� she said.

READ ALSO:

含羞草研究社淚 want everyone to understand that when a person含羞草研究社檚 wheelchair is lost, so is their independence, safety, mobility, and dignity,含羞草研究社� she continued.

Airlines do not treat these pieces of medical equipment as the essential extensions of individual含羞草研究社檚 bodies that they are, Cadieux said.

含羞草研究社淭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.含羞草研究社�

Air Canada apologized to Cadieux on X, noting 含羞草研究社淎ccessibility is a priority,含羞草研究社� for the airline and commiting to 含羞草研究社渄o better.含羞草研究社�

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

Later this week, she含羞草研究社檚 heading to Chicago to attend an International Air Transport Association conference, and will be delivering a keynote address on the subject.

含羞草研究社淭his is an important topic and it bears a lot more discussion, but urgent corrective action is also needed,含羞草研究社� she wrote in her statement.

含羞草研究社淚 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 didn含羞草研究社檛 arrive at all. Rightfully, people expressed their dismay and outrage. Unfortunately, for people with disabilities this wasn含羞草研究社檛 a big surprise.含羞草研究社�

Calling the recent experience a 含羞草研究社渧isceral reminder of why I do the work I do,含羞草研究社� Cadieux noted that this is why so many advocates are always working so hard for change, and why it matters so much.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檒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,含羞草研究社� she said in her statement.

含羞草研究社淚t needs to change now.含羞草研究社�