HMD 2022 English Version Survey

Hidden Mobility Disabilities Project Survey

This survey is part of the Hidden Mobility Disabilities Project, which explores possible changes to federal accessibility standards needed to address an often overlooked area of disability--hidden mobility disabilities, or the ability to walk independently but no more than a short distance and to stand unsupported but only for a brief time. HMD affects, at a minimum, half a million Canadians. To date, no accessibility standards have addressed distance to be walked or time standing as access barriers.

We need your help to determine the access needs of Canadians with hidden mobility disabilities, and to develop recommendations to improve federal accessibility standards. Your input could help change the landscape of Canada, literally.

Participating in this survey is your chance to say what a more accessible Canada should look like. Your feedback can influence federal accessibility standards, creating a more accessible, and welcoming Canada for all. We thank you for your participation.

1.To help you gauge the distances involved, picture a regular school bus. It is 35 feet long.
How far can you walk comfortably, without pain, on a flat surface without using a cane or other mobility aid before you experience pain or need to pause for rest:(Required.)

35 feet (the length of a school bus), or less

52.5 feet (the length of 1.5 school buses)

70 feet (the length of 2 school buses)

105 feet (the length of 3 school buses)

210 feet (the length of 6 school buses)

315 feet (the length of 9 school buses, or 1 city block), or more

2.How long can you walk comfortably, without pain, on a flat surface without using a cane or other mobility aid and without stopping to rest or catch your breath:(Required.)

3.How long can you stand without support without experiencing pain or discomfort:(Required.)

4.Do you ever have periods of one month or more when you do not feel limited in your daily activities due to any mobility limitations?(Required.)

Yes

5.Is your ability to do your daily activities:(Required.)

getting better

getting worse

staying about the same

you are able to do more activities during some periods but fewer activities during other periods.

6.With which of the following statements do you most agree:(Required.)

Physical spaces and parking placement should always be designed (or renovated) to ensure that no one has to walk more than 50 feet (1.5 school buses) without a place to sit down.

Ensuring that no one has to walk more than 50 feet is ideal but should not be mandatory.

Walking is good for one’s health and so physical spaces and parking placement should be designed to maximize the distance to be walked.

It is up to the individual to choose only physical spaces in which they are comfortable walking.

The only accessibility requirements that should be mandated are those to accommodate the use of wheelchairs or scooters.

7.If you have to walk further than a “comfortable” distance, what are the usual consequences for you (please check all that apply):(Required.)

Increased pain in joints

Increased muscle spasms

Increased difficulty breathing

Walk more and more slowly until I am almost not moving

Begin to stagger or lose my balance

Become immobilized by pain or breathing difficulty

Have trouble walking the next day because of a long recovery time

Other (Please provide details in the next question)

8.If you checked Other in the previous question, please explain here.

9.If you are in severe pain or having trouble breathing and you sit down to rest, how long does it usually take for you to feel that you can comfortably begin walking again:(Required.)

1 or 2 minutes

At least 5 minutes

At least 10 minutes

More than 10 minutes

10.Which types of activities are problematic because of your difficulty with walking and/or standing (please check all that apply):(Required.)

Attending open houses or other events where everyone stands

Going to a federal office for service where you will need to stand in line

Going to a federal building where parking is at least 35 feet (1 school bus) from the entrance

Checking in for use of a federal facility where the check-in counter is over 35 feet from the entrance

Using elevators in federal facilities when there is no seating available while waiting

Using self-service kiosks for federal services

Using public transportation to reach a federal office

Accessing a federal program or service when the wayfinding signs give only the direction or time to destination, not the distance to be walked

Other (Please provide details in the next question)

11.If you checked Other in the previous question, please explain here.

12.If someone with a mobility limitation (and without a wheelchair) wishes to access federal programs or services that require walking more than 50 feet, they should:(Required.)

Make arrangements for someone else to act for them.

Make arrangements to rent a wheelchair and have someone wheel them in.

Accept that they will not have access and will have to do without the benefit.

Lodge a complaint that the program or service is not accessible and request an alternative.

Other (Please provide details in the next question)

13.If you checked Other in the previous question, please explain here.

14.In approaching a building to access federal programs or services if you have a choice between walking up 12 steps or walking up a switchback ramp that is about 70 feet (2 school buses) long, would you:(Required.)

Choose the ramp even though the distance is longer because you have difficulty with stairs

Choose the stairs because the distance is shorter even though you have difficulty with stairs

Choose the stairs because the distance is shorter and you have no difficulty with stairs

Return home without accessing the program or service

15.When you are walking and need to slow down or stop in order to manage pain or breathing difficulties, which of the following reactions have you experienced from other people? (Please tick all that apply)(Required.)

No reaction at all – as though you were invisible

Pitying looks

Irritation or anger that you are blocking their way

Impatient ordering to walk faster

People shoving you off balance as they rush by

Questions about whether or not you need help

None of the above

16.How often do you use a cane:(Required.)

17.If you checked Other in the previous question, please explain here.

18.How often do you use a wheelchair or motorized scooter:(Required.)

Never

Rarely

Only in situations where I would have to walk long distances, such as an airport

Often – more often than walking unaided

Always

Other (Please provide details in the next question)

19.If you checked Other in the previous question, please explain here.

20.How often do you use a walker (with a seat):(Required.)

Never

Rarely

Only in situations where I would have to walk long distances, such as an airport

Only if I will need to sit down to wait

Often – more often than walking unaided

Always

Other (Please provide details in the next question)

21.If you checked Other in the previous question, please explain here.

22.How often do you take common anti-inflammatory medication (e.g., Advil, Ibuprofen) to help manage pain:(Required.)

23.What health condition is primarily responsible for your having difficulty walking more than short distances without using a cane or other mobility aid:(Required.)

24.If you checked Other in the previous question, please explain here.

25.In the most recent federal election, did you vote?(Required.)

Yes

26.If you answered No to Q25:

I did not vote because I would have had to walk too far.

I chose not to vote.

27.If you answered Yes to Q25: (please check all that apply)

Did you have to walk more the 50 feet (1.5 school buses) to get to the voting booth?

Did you have to wait, standing in line for more than 2 minutes?

Was there seating provided while you waited?

Could you sit down in the voting booth to vote?

Did you have to walk more the 50 feet (1.5 school buses) to get from the voting booth to where you returned your ballot and then out to your transportation?

28.How has your perception of distance to be walked or time standing as access barriers changed as a result of participating in this research study:(Required.)

I am more aware of distance to be walked and what would be about 50 feet.

I am more active in requesting seating for myself and others

I am more likely to refuse to walk further than is comfortable for me.

My perceptions have not changed.

31.What is your gender:(Required.)

Male

Female

Other / non-binary

32.In which country is your primary residence?(Required.)

Canada

United States

Other

34.Comments: