This Greater Sudbury mom is advocating for accessibility after life-changing diagnosis

Laura McKenzie, a 34-year-old mother of two in Greater Sudbury, never imagined her life would drastically change. But now, she's using her experience to advocate for others.

In January 2023, a sudden paralysis that started in her legs left her unable to move from the chest down. Doctors diagnosed her with transverse myelitis, a rare inflammation of the spine. Now living with permanent paralysis, McKenzie has become a passionate advocate for accessibility.

"Transverse myelitis is a spectrum," McKenzie said. "A third of people completely recover, a third a little bit and a third not at all. Unfortunately, I am on the latter."

Navigating life in Sudbury with a wheelchair has been a challenge, revealing significant gaps in accessibility. McKenzie said many buildings and public spaces present barriers, even in newer developments. 

"A lot of buildings are not accessible because of the stairs or even just curbs, even a lot of the newer buildings… They'll have like a four-inch curb, which isn't much to someone walking, but to someone in a wheelchair that's a challenge," she said.

Attending her children's activities or everyday events is often disheartening. 

"I've gone to birthday parties before where parents haven't thought about a parent being in a wheelchair because you wouldn't like that wouldn't be your first thought. So they've gone ahead and planned a birthday party for their child. I've shown up with mine and the party room is upstairs so I can't attend," she said. 

Parks are also largely inaccessible, with gravel or sand pathways, says McKenzie.

"There's no sled hockey, no recumbent handcycle bikes…it's this annoying cycle of people that are disabled are not seen within the community. So there's no need for that to change," she said.

McKenzie has tackled these obstacles with determination, often travelling to other cities for services no longer available in Sudbury. Obtaining a driver's licence with hand controls, for example, required multiple trips to Barrie for assessments and training, all while juggling the responsibilities of raising two children, caring for two dogs and accommodating her partner's work schedule.

Through these experiences, McKenzie has embraced advocacy, raising awareness of the barriers faced by people with disabilities. 

"Once you're introduced to the world of accessibility, you'll start to look at the world differently," she said.

But McKenzie said advocacy also means challenging perceptions about disability. 

"The amount of times that I am offered throughout the day if I need help, you're essentially just validating my subconscious insecurities," she said.

As she continues to advocate for change, McKenzie says she hopes to make Sudbury a more inclusive place for everyone.