“I feel like my experiences as a person with a disability have value to others in making positive change in understanding the importance of accessibility and inclusion.”
A motor vehicle accident in 1987 left Alison a T6-7 paraplegic.
“It affects every aspect of daily life,” she explains. “Tasks take longer to accomplish, I fatigue more easily and pain is constant. I have to prioritize my activities to find a balance between doing too much vs. not doing enough.”
Alison has been a volunteer peer coordinator with Spinal Cord Injury BC (SCI BC) since 2010. She also enjoys curling, having played as a national-level wheelchair curler.
Alison came across an employment opportunity with the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association (CCCTA) as a Tourism Accessibility Coordinator. The position sounded right up her alley.
Hearing about her interest, SCI BC referred Alison to Neil Squire’s Working Together program.
“My main goal was to obtain employment with CCCTA and share my personal experiences as a person with a disability to educate others and improve accessibility and inclusion in the region where I live,” she says.
With the help of a wage subsidy through Working Together, Alison soon landed the job. She has been working from home.
In her role, Alison advances accessible and inclusive tourism throughout the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region. She supports tourism business development and marketing activities, and also conducts accessibility consultations of tourism businesses and experiences.
In addition, she works with a variety of industry stakeholders, serving as a community liaison and generating awareness and participation for CCCTA and SCI BC programs.
“I have more confidence in myself and my abilities,” says Alison, who is enjoying her role. “I feel like my experiences as a person with a disability have value to others in making positive change in understanding the importance of accessibility and inclusion.”