Breaking down barriers

By Suelan Toye

“My wish is that students don’t think it’s weird that the classmate sitting next to them has a guide dog.” This is a thought that enters Michelle Woolfrey’s mind regularly when she sits in lectures during university.

The Arts and Contemporary Studies student, who was born blind in her right eye, has been navigating her world with the assistance of her guide dog since she lost the remainder of her vision just before her 18^th birthday due to a rare brain condition.

Thanks to the unwavering support of Woolfrey’s parents, close friends and support systems, Woolfrey is a fierce advocate, drawing attention to systemic barriers for folks with disabilities and advocating for their removal, particularly in the area of barriers to post-secondary education. Her support systems include both on- and off-campus organizations such as Ryerson’s Centre for Student Development and Counselling, the university’s Tri-Mentoring Program, Balance for Blind Adults and the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides.

After taking political science and psychology at York University, Woolfrey decided to come to Ryerson to study human rights and law, with the goal of becoming a lawyer working in disability advocacy. Woolfrey, who is in her final year of her undergraduate degree, is now on a mission to teach others about accessibility and disability as well as the barriers present in society that prevent full inclusion of the disabled community. Her presentations focus heavily around attitudinal barriers and how a shift in perspective and policy can bring that change towards inclusion.

To this end, Woolfrey launched Blind Girl Inc (external link, opens in new window) . in 2017 and has been sharing her story and educating youth, education staff, community support workers and professional associations across Canada.