My name is Mark Stockbrocks, I am a Triplegic (both legs and one arm paralyzed), hemmoragic, AVM stroke survivor.
I suffered a debilitating brain bleed stroke from a congenital birth defect back in 2011. It happened a short 2 weeks after I completed a firefighter training program with the Metis Nation of British Columbia (MNBC). Chief training officer John Kokotilo informed me I had a position waiting for me to join the team at his hall in Alberta, the next province over from mine in British Columbia. Unfortunately that dream never came to pass. I truly believe it is thanks to the MNBC and its opportunity for me to to train to be machine-fit allowed me to survive the onslaught my brain and body had taken. I thank my stars every day!!
The Accessstickers Project was borne out of a need to fill one of the gaps in Vancouver’s non-profit sector, and the world at large. The world is an entirely different experience in the seated position. We need better access awareness, inclusivity and inclusion in the built environment andbetter access for all abilities!
Although not always a popular or well-received message on the part of the business community as a hard truth for them to accept, this honest and straightforward direct-action game plan has proven results to show that what I’ve been doing since 2014 has made had very impactful influence in many, even somewhat very lofty and perhaps surprising locations
Places I have been able to persuade into getting up to speed with what is currently the acceptable standard of accessibility in modern-day Canadian society are as follows;
· Rick Hansen Foundation headquarters in Richmond BC
· BCIT downtown Vancouver and Richmond campuses
· Kitsilano rink
· London Drugs
· WISE Hall in East Van
· Langley Rugby Club
· ICORD Spinal Cord Research facility at Vancouver General Hospital
· Successfully campaigned to install a second elevator in my apartment building which houses people with permanent disabilities
· Denny’s restaurant in Kitsilano
· Extensive pavement and ashphalt repair in areas frequented by people who use mobility aids
· Countless others which I’ve honestly forgotten because there have been so many to date with countless more to come!!
I’ve managed to accomplish these victories running independently on a shoestring budget. I manage all social media platforms, incessant, repetitive and relentless email communication and speaking with everyone I meet with about promoting wheelchair access to all premises I choose to patronize.
I’ve also given a great deal of public presentations in the effort of recruiting more people to this movement. I continue my efforts because I see them working and that gives me the resolve to continue this quest. I campaign with people on public transit, to the countless clerks, nurses, students and doctors during my routine hospital visits, in pubs and bars, concert and theatre venues, civic buildings…Anywhere I can interact with real people. ‘’Boots on the ground’’ and real face time fosters meaningful connections. I don’t have the wherewithal to print and distribute expensive flashy brochures and order costly TV and radio spots. I do all I can with what I can and it is working really well!
My initial vision was to make this a global revolution in the way people with mobility impairments are seen and accommodated properly for. It has yet to gain the support of the critical mass required to start a wave of true inclusivity and inclusion that cannot be ignored any longer. People suffering and navigating their various disabilities are not always in a position of strength and confidence to fight for what is right. That is precisely where each and every one of us must galvanize in our resolve to make our communities more inclusive and welcoming!
If one person on a very limited budget is able to accomplish these significant upgrades to access in his community then could you just imagine the impactful results if we would approach this as a team, a coalition of people working together as a committee. We would advance this cause exponentially!!
Please direct all inquiries to 6899markus@gmail.comand look up Accessstickers on Facebook, @accessstickers on Instagram. Share share share to keep this thing rollin’!!!
The onus falls on all of us able-bodied or not. We need to start confronting this serious matter as a coalition in our local communities. My final message to all of you who’ve taken the time to read this is thank you very much!! And really campaign, advocate, or better yet, outright demand that push-to-open automatic door openers at entrances/exits, inside and outside of washroom facilities, front entrances and exits in all buildings in your local communities, together we can do it!
An approach I’ve found success with is to explain how much revenue they’re losing out on simply by choosing not to make a capital investment in their businesses. I’m not a businessperson by any means but I’d say this is a no-brainer!! A common example I like to give is that if I go out with a group of 15-20 friends and I cant get in then none of us are going in, and we’re not justcoming in for one beverage. If you are cool with accessibility we will return over and over. The relatively small capital investment they’d be making into their own business will be returned innumerably.
Thank you for your support in improving the lives of people with physical disabilities, impairments and disadvantages, now head on out into your town and spread the word, LET’S DO THIS!!
I suffered a debilitating brain bleed stroke from a congenital birth defect back in 2011. It happened a short 2 weeks after I completed a firefighter training program with the Metis Nation of British Columbia (MNBC). Chief training officer John Kokotilo informed me I had a position waiting for me to join the team at his hall in Alberta, the next province over from mine in British Columbia. Unfortunately that dream never came to pass. I truly believe it is thanks to the MNBC and its opportunity for me to to train to be machine-fit allowed me to survive the onslaught my brain and body had taken. I thank my stars every day!!
The Accessstickers Project was borne out of a need to fill one of the gaps in Vancouver’s non-profit sector, and the world at large. The world is an entirely different experience in the seated position. We need better access awareness, inclusivity and inclusion in the built environment andbetter access for all abilities!
Although not always a popular or well-received message on the part of the business community as a hard truth for them to accept, this honest and straightforward direct-action game plan has proven results to show that what I’ve been doing since 2014 has made had very impactful influence in many, even somewhat very lofty and perhaps surprising locations
Places I have been able to persuade into getting up to speed with what is currently the acceptable standard of accessibility in modern-day Canadian society are as follows;
· Rick Hansen Foundation headquarters in Richmond BC
· BCIT downtown Vancouver and Richmond campuses
· Kitsilano rink
· London Drugs
· WISE Hall in East Van
· Langley Rugby Club
· ICORD Spinal Cord Research facility at Vancouver General Hospital
· Successfully campaigned to install a second elevator in my apartment building which houses people with permanent disabilities
· Denny’s restaurant in Kitsilano
· Extensive pavement and ashphalt repair in areas frequented by people who use mobility aids
· Countless others which I’ve honestly forgotten because there have been so many to date with countless more to come!!
I’ve managed to accomplish these victories running independently on a shoestring budget. I manage all social media platforms, incessant, repetitive and relentless email communication and speaking with everyone I meet with about promoting wheelchair access to all premises I choose to patronize.
I’ve also given a great deal of public presentations in the effort of recruiting more people to this movement. I continue my efforts because I see them working and that gives me the resolve to continue this quest. I campaign with people on public transit, to the countless clerks, nurses, students and doctors during my routine hospital visits, in pubs and bars, concert and theatre venues, civic buildings…Anywhere I can interact with real people. ‘’Boots on the ground’’ and real face time fosters meaningful connections. I don’t have the wherewithal to print and distribute expensive flashy brochures and order costly TV and radio spots. I do all I can with what I can and it is working really well!
My initial vision was to make this a global revolution in the way people with mobility impairments are seen and accommodated properly for. It has yet to gain the support of the critical mass required to start a wave of true inclusivity and inclusion that cannot be ignored any longer. People suffering and navigating their various disabilities are not always in a position of strength and confidence to fight for what is right. That is precisely where each and every one of us must galvanize in our resolve to make our communities more inclusive and welcoming!
If one person on a very limited budget is able to accomplish these significant upgrades to access in his community then could you just imagine the impactful results if we would approach this as a team, a coalition of people working together as a committee. We would advance this cause exponentially!!
Please direct all inquiries to 6899markus@gmail.comand look up Accessstickers on Facebook, @accessstickers on Instagram. Share share share to keep this thing rollin’!!!
The onus falls on all of us able-bodied or not. We need to start confronting this serious matter as a coalition in our local communities. My final message to all of you who’ve taken the time to read this is thank you very much!! And really campaign, advocate, or better yet, outright demand that push-to-open automatic door openers at entrances/exits, inside and outside of washroom facilities, front entrances and exits in all buildings in your local communities, together we can do it!
An approach I’ve found success with is to explain how much revenue they’re losing out on simply by choosing not to make a capital investment in their businesses. I’m not a businessperson by any means but I’d say this is a no-brainer!! A common example I like to give is that if I go out with a group of 15-20 friends and I cant get in then none of us are going in, and we’re not justcoming in for one beverage. If you are cool with accessibility we will return over and over. The relatively small capital investment they’d be making into their own business will be returned innumerably.
Thank you for your support in improving the lives of people with physical disabilities, impairments and disadvantages, now head on out into your town and spread the word, LET’S DO THIS!!
LINKS TO MARKS EFFORTS:
YOUTUBE VIDEOS --- t.ly/uBu1
FACEBOOK --- t.ly/Q6J-
INSTAGRAM --- t.ly/DOnZ
VANCOUVER IS AWESOME --- t.ly/HVCd
CITR RADIO --- t.ly/iuXL
