Tourist Profile: Tara Niekamp
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Opening doors for others
By MacEachen Institute Staff | Dec. 8, 2023
Research participant Tara Niekamp at a reception hosted by the MacEachen Institute | Oct. 18, 2023
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From a young age, advocacy has been at the core of Tara Niekamp鈥檚 identity.听She began to notice a decline in her vision around age ten, and was eventually diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a degenerative eye condition. In her teen years, Tara gradually required more accommodations. But as her vision declined, her activism ramped up.
A responsibility to advocate
鈥淩ight from the beginning, education and awareness was something that I stepped into,鈥� she says. Throughout high school, she would visit elementary schools to discuss her experiences and spread awareness about her condition and the barriers faced by people with low vision. Later, while earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Acadia University, she served on the school鈥檚 disability ad hoc committee and participated in a major accessibility audit and multiple panel events.
Tara believes that as somebody who is comfortable with both self-advocacy and advocating on behalf of others in her position, she has a responsibility to do what she can. 鈥淚鈥檓 in a position of privilege, and I have the skills and am comfortable doing it,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here are lots of people who don鈥檛 have that level of comfort, so I can use my voice in a positive way.鈥�
"A person, not an entity"
As an avid traveller, self-advocacy is critical, especially at the airport. While Tara estimates that she knows the exact location of every gate at Pearson Airport by now, her experience travelling can largely depends on the actions and attitudes of those around her.
First, the presence or absence of travel companions. 鈥淲hen I鈥檓 travelling alone, I鈥檓 a bit more anxious,鈥� Tara says. 鈥淚鈥檓 very confident in my skills, but there鈥檚 less mental energy required when I travel with someone else.鈥� Though it鈥檚 a bit easier travelling with others, she鈥檚 also conscious of her companions鈥� experiences. 鈥淵ou need to be cautious about how much responsibility you put on others. You want them to be able to enjoy the trip, too.鈥�
"People don鈥檛 realize that you have needs outside of basic human needs. It hurts being treated like a piece of luggage."
Next, employees at the airport and of the businesses she frequents while travelling. In addition to interacting with staff who aren鈥檛 trained on the basics of how to accommodate disabled travellers, it鈥檚 the attitude that doing the bare minimum is enough.
For example: offering to show someone where the washrooms are, or ask if they need to be shown where they can get some food before the flight. The kind of things that might go beyond just the basics, but make all the difference. 鈥淧eople don鈥檛 realize that you have needs outside of basic human needs,鈥� says Tara. 鈥淚t hurts when you鈥檙e treated like a piece of luggage being taken to the gate. Once you get from point A to point B, it鈥檚 like you don鈥檛 exist.鈥�
Advocacy at home and abroad
While it can be frustrating and hurtful, it doesn鈥檛 stop Tara from travelling for work, family, or pleasure. She鈥檚 in Toronto regularly for board meetings as the Director of the National Board of the . She鈥檚 also been to Ireland, Italy, Alaska and all over Canada. Wherever she goes, she鈥檚 advocating on behalf of herself and others.
An example of a small act with a larger impact: While on a visit to Tim Hortons, Tara noticed that the yellow paint on the steps leading up to the door of the building had nearly completely faded. Tara made a comment to the staff that this was a hazard for people with low-vision, and since then, the paint on the steps at that Tim Hortons has been properly maintained ever since. 鈥淚t鈥檚 small, but it just makes it so that somebody else doesn鈥檛 have to say something,鈥� says Tara. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the impact that advocacy has. It鈥檚 the little things, too.鈥�