Stairbombing — Central Secondary School

A photo of Central Secondary School, complete with caution tape blocking off the stairs.
School's...out...for...construction! (click to zoom)

As a person with a disability, Jeff has always had a contentious relationship with stairs. While taken for granted by most, to Jeff, a flight of stairs is a sign that boldly states “Not Welcome.” We are quick to make up excuses as to why we can’t make buildings accessible, like they’re too old or it’s too expensive, but rarely do we sit down and think about the reality that a flight of stairs means excluding a group of people participating in our society and to ask them to wait “just a little longer,” especially for something like an accessible school, is absolutely horrendous.

A close-up of the sign hung on the yellow caution tape.
Stairs out of order? YOU'RE out of order! This whole damn TOWN is out of order!

It is for this reason that we decided to turn the tables on the walkies and begin “shutting down” stairways around the city to give them a chance to see what it’s like to not be allowed entry. To see what it’s like to be so close but not be able to enter.

We call this “Stairbombing,” and with a little bit of yellow caution tape (you can get it for $1 at the Dollar Store) and a small sign (ours says “Sorry, no access. Stairs Out of Order. Inconvenient, eh? Just imagine what it must be like in a wheelchair…”), you too can help show people why accessibility is so important.