'We need to level up': Man in wheelchair making Edmonton accessible one bar at a time

Brad Bartko says he looks up about 30 bars on the internet before he finds one that just might work for date night with his wife.

Brad Bartko says he looks up about 30 bars on the internet before he finds one that just might work for date night with his wife.

“I'm not even exaggerating,” says the 28-year-old Edmontonian who has cerebral palsy and has been using a wheelchair his whole life.

“You have to make sure someone in a wheelchair can get up to the establishment.”

Bartko says he can't even get through the doorway at some bars and restaurants.

“Some places I can't go to the bathroom. I can't sit at a table with my friends. The (bar) has to (create a) makeshift table for me from the storage closet, but I'm separated from my group.”

Bartko says Edmonton establishments are not nearly as accessible as they could be.

“We need to level it up ... because the only difference between me and able-bodied people is I've got four wheels strapped to my butt.”