Merivale High School accessible parking spots filled with snow

Yolanda Aqui has been circling the parking lot at Merivale High School for a spot to park during her night classes after snow was piled high in the only two accessible parking spots.

She walks with a cane due to her fibromyalgia and severe arthritis.

"I find it frustrating that it’s been neglected and nobody has claimed responsibility to remove the snow," she told CBC News.

"People who are in worse condition than me, who use wheelchairs, they need to have the accessibility too."

The parking lot at the school on Merivale Road and Viewmount Drive is plowed but the snow cleared is piled up in the only two accessible parking spots.

After Aqui reported the snow-filled parking spots to the night school principal on Monday, she said the blame was shifted to the snow-removal contractors.

On Tuesday, she said she approached the day school principal, who promised her a staff parking spot until the snow was cleared.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board promised to have the snow removed by the end of Tuesday and said the maintenance department is now contacting all the board's schools to make sure no other accessible parking spots are obstructed.

"It should never have been an issue in the first place," Aqui said. "I'm here for my education. I don't need to be frustrated for half an hour, build up my anxiety, build up my frustrations, when I need to be studying."

Accessibility advocate Catherine Gardner said snow piles in what are supposed to be accessible parking spots happen too often.

"It's not a rare situation. I find it quite common," she said. "Unfortunately, it's the person with the disability that has to go and actually ask for help to get it rectified, which shouldn't be the way."