2022 Access Award winners announced

There are Lisa MacLaren (Grahams Pharmacy), Linda Thomas (Wolfe Island Community Medical Clinic), and Dr. Jacqueline Sproule (Frontenac Doctors) after receiving the award from Frontenac County Deputy Warden Frances Smith and the Warden's End-of-Year Reception, December 21.

The teams at Frontenac Doctors and Wolfe Island Community Medical Clinic deliver drive-through vaccination clinics and in-home visits that make it extremely easy for people with disabilities, seniors, and families to get their COVID and influenza vaccines.

This team’s willingness to bring the program to Wolfe Island, and right into a home if necessary, has ensured high levels of barrier-free and extremely accessible immunization.

The Wolfe Island Community Medical Clinic saves time for anyone seeking a vaccination and provides a barrier-free service that is less onerous for persons with disabilities and the people who support them. The convenience of these clinics has led to a very high uptake of all vaccines offered.

More than 2,700 COVID vaccines and 600 influenza vaccines were administered on Wolfe Island in 2021-2022 through this barrier-free program. By comparison, a vaccination off-island for a mobility impaired person requires ferry queuing, access to a disabled parking space in Kingston, and time to transfer to and from a vehicle.

For persons who are neurodivergent, the ability to remain in the familiar confines of the family car and the considerable reduction in travel and wait time considerably lessens stress.

The Fargo’s and Graham’s teams have implemented a free prescription delivery service for residents of Wolfe Island. Prescriptions are delivered twice weekly from Graham’s Pharmacy in Kingston to Fargo’s, where they can be easily picked up by the patient or their caregiver.

Their willingness to work together to provide this service has simplified life for disabled islanders, seniors, and their caregivers. This service can save an islander more than half a day of time spent sitting in a vehicle, something that can be physically distressing and harmful for people managing disabilities. It also eliminates the need to negotiate downtown Kingston, where accessible parking is limited.

For persons with medical insurance that only allows one month of medication to be dispensed at a time, this service saves disabled people and seniors at least 50 hours of waiting time per year, a very precious gift for which the store team receives no monetary compensation.

This simple solution is a wonderful example of how businesses can find creative solutions to reduce barriers in our communities.

Learn more about the Frontenac 2022 International Day of Persons with Disabilities Access Awards here -> https://bit.ly/3cLEM45

Learn about accessibility in Frontenac here -> https://bit.ly/3rOPNZI

Nominate someone for next year’s Access Award here -> https://bit.ly/3QcBTgi

Learn about the 2022 Frontenac Multi-year Accessibility Plan review here -> https://bit.ly/3IocIp5

Visit Wolfe Island Community Medical Clinic here -> https://bit.ly/3jKqW9x

Learn about Frontenac Doctors here -> https://bit.ly/3Z4toI5