By: Taylor Bauer
When I started working on accessible parking advocacy in 2023, I was surprised to learn that Alberta was the only province in Canada where people who are blind or have low vision were specifically excluded from getting an accessible parking placard.
As someone who is blind, I know firsthand how important it is to be able to travel safely and independently. It’s not simply about getting from one place to another, it’s about having equitable access to our communities.
Accessible parking is often associated with physical disabilities, but its purpose is to improve access to buildings and services. For people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision, parking lots can be one of the most challenging environments to navigate. They are busy, unpredictable spaces where pedestrians and vehicles share the same area, often without clear or accessible routes to an entrance. While vision loss doesn't affect a person's ability to walk, it can significantly affect a person's ability to navigate these spaces safely and independently.
Over the past few years, I had the privilege of working alongside Albertans with sight loss, government representatives, and community partners to advocate for change. We met with elected officials and ministry staff, shared research from across Canada, participated in government consultations, and elevated the lived experiences of Albertans who explained why the existing policy created barriers.
I'm incredibly proud that those efforts resulted in the Government of Alberta expanding eligibility for the parking lacards for persons with disabilities to include individuals with vision loss that substantially limits safe and independent mobility while navigating parking areas.
This change is about more than parking. It recognizes that accessibility looks different for different people and brings Alberta in line with every other province in Canada.
Advocacy takes persistence, collaboration, and people willing to share their lived experiences. I'm grateful to everyone who helped make this change possible, and I'm excited to see the positive impact it will have on our community for years to come.
For more information on the Alberta parking placard program and how to apply, please visit the Government of Alberta’s parking placard program webpage.