There will be free admission after all this year at the Ex for people with disabilities.

After critics called out the Canadian National Exhibition for a decision to eliminate free passes for people with disabilities, the fair has opted to keep its original policy, at least for this year.

“Over the last couple of days, CNE customers and members of the broader community have shown considerable interest in, and provided valuable feedback regarding the proposed changes to the admissions policy,” a statement reads on the CNE website.

“To ensure that all interested voices in the community have an opportunity to help shape the policy going forward, this fall the CNE will be hosting public consultations about the admissions policy for persons with disabilities.”

Advocates had blasted the original decision.

Mobility advocate Luke Anderson described the proposed change as “unfortunate.”

“There is a high percentage of people with disabilities that are unemployed with very few resources. Whatever systems or support we can provide is a good thing,” said Anderson, founder of StopGap, which provides ramps for buildings and stores which otherwise wouldn’t be accessible.

“There’s also a lot of issues with our society in general that stops people with disabilities from being fully engaged in their communities.”

The CNE handed out flyers to fair-goers last year, warning them that the admission policy would be changing in time for this year’s fair, which runs from Aug. 19 to Sept. 5.

“The CNE welcomes this discussion,” CNE general manager Virginia Ludy says in the statement published on CNE’s website. “For 18 days a year, our fair brings together more than 1.6 million people, celebrating everything that is Toronto – diversity and inclusivity. We look forward to engaging with the community.”

With files from Ebyan Abdigir