By Sean Cann-Sheppard [1]
Wheelchair Friendly Solutions president Wade Watts shows off one of the variants of the Big Bell system, which allows local businesses to be compliant with accessibility laws. Watts says the company’s products have generated great interest in the municipality and beyond. Photo by Sean Cann-Sheppard, QNet News.
BELLEVILLE – Local businesses now have an affordable option to make themselves accessible to people with physical disabilities.
Wheelchair Friendly Solutions [2] opened its doors on Monday [3] and is moving forward to produce products which will help local businesses make their stores more accessible.
Company president Wade Watts’ idea to create the company stems from an accident two years ago which left him in a wheelchair. After researching the issue, he found that most small businesses either were unable to afford traditional accessibility options or were unaware of the legal requirements [4].
“You talk to these business owners, and a lot of them don’t even know the laws. What’s happened is they’ve been lied to by contractors, by so many people that want to make a huge profit.” Watts said.
He said that businesses often have to pay up to $50,000 in order to make themselves compliant with accessibility laws.
Jeremy Davis, who is also in a wheelchair, is a member of the company’s board and is offering marketing and advertising advice for the company. He said both he and Watts were looking to tap into a market that Davis says holds great potential.
Marketing and advertisement member Jeremy Davis goes through files in his office at City Hall, where he is also a member of Heritage Belleville and apart of the AccessAbility committee for the city. Jeremy and his brother Josh both say accessibility is a universal right. Photo by Sean Cann-Sheppard, QNet News.
“Everyone has the right to live at their full potential,” Davis said. “We knew we had to do something about it to help it along.”
His brother, Josh Davis is also a board member for marketing and advertising and he said they hope their products can help tackle some of the issues those with physical disabilities face when going into local businesses.
“For example, the curbs are too high or they don’t shovel the snow and you get stuck in the snow,” Josh Davis said.
One of the products that the company has launched is a doorbell-like system called “Big Bell.” Jeremy Davis explained that the system would let the business know that someone with accessibility issues needs help getting into the store.
“You can have the Big Bell installed on a pole outside your business’s door, or you can fasten it to an area that’s desired,” Davis said. “Once you press the button, it is voice automated system that through a speaker inside, tells the business that a customer is requiring assistance,” Davis said.
Watts says the unit is fully customizable to suit both the businesses and customers needs, and has a battery life of over two years.
He also said the company will provide information to make the business compliant with the law by being trained in the use of accessibility equipment.
The company also sells portable ramps, between three feet and six feet in height. The ramps comply with city bylaws which prevent ramps from being built due to snow removal and liability issues, Watts said. Jeremy also said the Big Bell and the ramp compliment one another.
The Big Bell system comes in different varieties, including (from left to right) the Basic, the Ballot Call and the Max model. Each product is priced to encourage businesses to make the move into becoming more accessible. Photo by Sean Cann-Sheppard, QNet News.
“(The business) knows someone needs service, and they can bring out the ramp and you can go in.” Davis said.
The company has also created a foundation that will use the profits from their products to help the less fortunate, Jeremy said.
“We all have the ability to live, love and contribute to our society.” Davis said “We’re just really excited to have this opportunity, the sky’s the limit.” David said.
According to Statistics Canada in 2012, over 1.7 million people in Ontario have some kind of physical disability and struggle with accessibility, and over 1.8 billion globally also face the same challenges.