Wheelchair Friendly Solutions launches in the Quinte region at a celebration at Dinkels Restaurant in Belleville Monday February 8, 2016.
Front L-R: Jeremy Davis, board member; Wade Watts, Wheelchair Friendly Solutions president; Larry Van Norman, board member and Joshua Watts, board member.
Back row L-R: Hastings Lennox and Addington MP Mike Bossio; Arlene Tinunas, board member; Tabby Maracle Ramsay; Darlene Davis, board member and Gord Davis, board member. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber/Quinte News)
A Quinte West man is his using his experiences to help others in an effort to make businesses more accessible.
Almost two years ago, Wheelchair Friendly Solutions president Wade Watts said he was working in the Philippines when he had an accident and will now spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
It is through his everyday struggles trying to do simple things like shop with his wife that the former construction supervisor realized there needs to be a better solution to help consumers get in and out of businesses.
With his board members by his side Monday night Watts gave the public a viewing of his product BigBell to help make businesses accessible to everyone at an affordable price.
With a push of a button his product Big Bell tells owners someone needs assistance entering their business.
Watts said for than less than $400 they can put the 89% non-accessible businesses across Ontario in compliance with the the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act with no construction required.
He said he has been in discussions with the City and the accessibility committee about his product as businesses were required to have a plan in place by 2015 to address accessibility.
For more details on how the Big Bell works click here.
