Waseem Kazzah
1. What do you feel is the #1 accessibility issue facing the City of London:
I believe the most significant accessibility issue is the gap between City policies and the everyday experiences of people with disabilities, particularly when it comes to poorly maintained sidewalks, damaged pathways and construction-related barriers. A service or public space may technically meet minimum standards but still be difficult to access in practice.
I have spoken with people who are visually impaired and have raised concerns about City owned trees and overgrown branches obstructing sidewalks and making it difficult to walk safely. I have also heard from wheelchair users who have had to take additional buses because construction made a street or pathway inaccessible. A trip that would take an able-bodied person five minutes can take someone with a disability 30 minutes or longer.
We need to move beyond minimum compliance and make accessibility part of every decision from the beginning, including road construction, sidewalk maintenance and tree trimming. Most importantly, people with disabilities must be directly involved in developing these policies and evaluating whether they are working in practice.
2. How will you commit to improving accessible housing opportunities in our city?
London needs more housing that is both accessible and genuinely affordable. If elected, I will support:
– Consulting people with disabilities when housing policies and projects are designed.
– Including accessibility and universal design in City-supported and affordable housing projects.
– Offering incentives to developers who build accessible units beyond minimum requirements.
– Expanding assistance for homeowners and tenants who need accessibility modifications.
– Identifying how many accessible units currently exist and setting measurable targets for increasing that supply.
– Locating accessible housing near transit, health care, shopping and other essential services.
I will also advocate for accessible units to serve people with different needs, not only wheelchair users, and ensure accessibility commitments are tracked and publicly reported.
3. How will you work to improve accessible transportation, including conventional transit, Paratransit, taxis and ride-sharing?
I will advocate for reliable and adequately funded Specialized Transit with a focus on reducing booking difficulties, long travel windows and trips that cannot be accommodated. I will also support:
– Improving the accessibility of conventional transit stops, shelters, sidewalks and connections.
– Publishing clear performance information on Specialized Transit, including wait times, service reliability and unmet trip requests.
– Making booking and trip information easier to access while maintaining telephone options for those who need them.
– Working with taxi and ride-sharing providers to increase the availability of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
– Strengthening accessibility expectations through municipal licensing and exploring incentives for accessible vehicles.
– Regularly consulting riders and the Accessible Public Transit Service Advisory Committee before making service changes
My background in municipal budgeting has taught me that priorities must be supported with funding, timelines and measurable results. Accessibility should not be treated as an afterthought or an optional expense. It is an essential part of building a city in which everyone can participate.
As a brother to a sister with a hearing disability, I understand the importance of accessibility and the social challenges that people with disabilities face. Accessibility should not be treated as an afterthought; it should be part of how we plan and build London from the beginning.
1. What do you feel is the #1 accessibility issue facing the City of London?
I believe the biggest issue is accessibility being treated as an afterthought rather than being incorporated into planning from the beginning. Whether it is sidewalks, crossings, public buildings, transportation, housing or communication, accessibility needs to be considered at the design stage.
2. How will you commit to improving accessible housing opportunities in our city?
I would support increasing the supply of accessible and adaptable housing and ensuring accessibility is considered when new developments and renovations are approved. The City should work with developers and other levels of government to increase both affordable and accessible housing.
Housing should not only be affordable; people with disabilities should be able to live safely and independently.
3. How will you work to improve accessible transportation, including conventional transit, Paratransit, taxis and ride sharing?
I would support improving the reliability and accessibility of conventional transit and Paratransit, particularly for people who depend on these services to get to work, education, appointments and essential services.
We should also work to improve the availability of accessible taxis and ride-sharing options. Accessibility must also be considered throughout our transportation infrastructure, including sidewalks, crossings, transit stops and pathways.
My approach is simple: accessibility is not a special feature. It is a fundamental part of building a city that works for everyone.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts. I appreciate the work of the Accessible London Coalition and look forward to continuing the conversation with London’s disability community throughout this campaign.
Accessible London Coalition 