SUDBURY -- It was an inspiring early morning for people at Sudbury's Holiday Inn on Tuesday as part of the 11th annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities breakfast.
Organized by Independent Living Sudbury-Manitoulin, funds raised are going to the programs and services it offers.
Participants at the event say they’ve made big strides towards inclusivity, but there’s still more work to be done.
Lance Crydeman, an accessibility advisor at Laurentian University and former Paralympian who lives with cerebral palsy, was the guest speaker at this year's event.
"I don’t think everybody necessarily understands how wide spread disability really is, and how broad the definition really has become. It’s not just about those with physical disabilities in wheelchairs, it’s about individuals with so-called invisible disabilities as well," said Crydeman.
Angela Gray is the direct funding coordinator for Independent Living Sudbury-Manitoulin. She says companies can increase business by eliminating barriers for customers with various disabilities.
"There are still some issues we need to deal with, as far as accessibility. We want to be more inclusive, people with disabilities in chairs and walkers, they’re consumers too, so if your business doesn’t have accessibility for people with disabilities, you really need to get on that because you’re missing out on consumer purchases," said Gray.
According to the group's figures, over 20,000 people in the City of Greater Sudbury are living with a disability.
CTV Northern Ontario's Ian Campbell will have the full story later on air and online.
