After experiencing less-than-ideal circumstances while travelling with Air Canada, Canada91裸聊视频檚 Chief Accessibility Officer Stephanie Cadieux doesn91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淲ell. @AirCanada left my chair in Toronto. I91裸聊视频檓 now without my essential equipment. Independence taken away. I91裸聊视频檓 furious. Unacceptable. #RightsOnFlights,91裸聊视频� the former Surrey South MLA, who still lives in South Surrey, posted.

Well. left my chair in Toronto. I91裸聊视频檓 now without my essential equipment. Independence taken away. I91裸聊视频檓 furious. Unacceptable.

91裸聊视频� Stephanie Cadieux (@Stephanie4BC)

Cadieux posted a statement on LinkedIn about her experience, saying she received an overwhelming response 91裸聊视频� many sharing similar stories without such quick resolution 91裸聊视频� noting that Air Canada responded to her on X, formerly known as Twitter, and that her wheelchair has since been returned.

91裸聊视频淲hile I91裸聊视频檓 glad I91裸聊视频檝e been able to draw attention to this issue, I don91裸聊视频檛 want the continued focus to be on my experience,91裸聊视频� she said in the statement.

91裸聊视频淢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,91裸聊视频� she said.

READ ALSO:

91裸聊视频淚 want everyone to understand that when a person91裸聊视频檚 wheelchair is lost, so is their independence, safety, mobility, and dignity,91裸聊视频� she continued.

Airlines do not treat these pieces of medical equipment as the essential extensions of individual91裸聊视频檚 bodies that they are, Cadieux said.

91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�

Air Canada apologized to Cadieux on X, noting 91裸聊视频淎ccessibility is a priority,91裸聊视频� for the airline and commiting to 91裸聊视频渄o better.91裸聊视频�

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

Later this week, she91裸聊视频檚 heading to Chicago to attend an International Air Transport Association conference, and will be delivering a keynote address on the subject.

91裸聊视频淭his is an important topic and it bears a lot more discussion, but urgent corrective action is also needed,91裸聊视频� she wrote in her statement.

91裸聊视频淚 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 didn91裸聊视频檛 arrive at all. Rightfully, people expressed their dismay and outrage. Unfortunately, for people with disabilities this wasn91裸聊视频檛 a big surprise.91裸聊视频�

Calling the recent experience a 91裸聊视频渧isceral reminder of why I do the work I do,91裸聊视频� Cadieux noted that this is why so many advocates are always working so hard for change, and why it matters so much.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檒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,91裸聊视频� she said in her statement.

91裸聊视频淚t needs to change now.91裸聊视频�