Community profile: Small wonder takes big steps for accessibility
November 27, 2009
When Kyla-Alexis Bailey travelled to Bermuda nearly two years ago, the ambitious young Winnipegger had no idea the routine family visit would jumpstart a philanthropic research adventure in the name of disability awareness – but that’s exactly what happened.
After watching her two wheelchair-dependent uncles battle with accessibility – particularly in the area of parking – the 11 year old Kyla-Alexis brought her frustrations back to Winnipeg and started thinking of ways she could affect change in her own backyard.
“It was really hard for me to watch people abuse handicapped parking spaces and my uncle had nowhere to park,” says the soft-spoken Grade 6 student. “So I came back here and heard about the science fair and decided to see what I could do.”
With the help of some local businesses and her very supportive mom, Crystal, Kyla-Alexis stationed herself next to a strip mall’s handicapped parking stalls for one week with a sign that indicated she was watching to ensure everyone who used the reserved spaces had proper permits – and proper reason – to do so.
The following week the intrepid youngster took to her post again, this time without her sign and armed solely with a watchful eye.
And the results proved exactly what she thought they would – people were 25 times more likely to respect the parking spaces if they knew someone was monitoring them.
“It feels good that people are listening when they think they’re being watched because I thought most people just didn’t care,” she says. “It’s nice to know there are some people who want to respect (disabled) people and recognize it’s hard for them to get to places.”
Kyla-Alexis took her project to the Manitoba Schools Science Symposium fair, where she got an Honourable Mention and also caught the attention of Manitoba Science Council’s Dr. Heather Robinson.
Robinson referred her to the Youth Encouraging Sustainability Showcase at Oak Hammock Marsh,
With the ecological organization’s help, Kyla-Alexis developed her project further to suggest the environmental effects which could occur if fewer non-disabled Manitobans parked in designated spaces.
“She talked about how more disabled people would go out and there would be less idling of other vehicles waiting to pick them up if they knew parking would be available,” says mom Crystal. “They would be more independent, healthier and essentially reduce healthcare costs also.”
At the showcase, Kyla-Alexis nabbed a Platinum Award – given to students who receive 90 per cent or higher on their project – and is now thinking about ways she may be able to develop it further in the future.
The girl’s family and community say it is encouraging to see such a bright young mind working so hard for something she believes in.
“It’s her passion,” Crystal says. “Just about everything she does, she’s passionate about. It makes me proud she does it regardless of what anyone else thinks, too. She wants to help people and raise awareness. She just runs with her heart.”
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