An Ottawa woman is speaking out after she watched Adrian Burns, the chair of the National Arts Centre's board of trustees, park in an accessible parking spot for more than a week.

Vanessa Desjardins works downtown and parks in the National Arts Centre's large parking garage during the week.

Adrian Burns, chair of the NAC's board of directors, was seen parking in a disabled parking spot for more than a week, says a woman whose husband is paraplegic. (CBC News) The garage has several sets of accessible parking spots, some of which can be used by everyone during daytime hours and some of which are always for disabled people.

Desjardins said that earlier in May, she saw a car without a disabled permit park in an accessible parking spot for a week. She said it upset her because her husband is paraplegic and that she eventually decided to confront the driver.

The driver turned out to be Burns, chair of the NAC's board of trustees.

'Extremely disappointed,' woman says

"It was every day and it was her taking out her high heels and marching into the NAC with no problem at all, so finally I had to say something," Desjardins said.

When Desjardins confronted her, Burns told her she was chair of the board of trustees and had the right to park there, Desjardins said.

Vanessa Desjardins's husband, Joey Desjardins, is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair. 'I had to say something,' she says. (Photo courtesy of Vanessa Desjardins) "I was extremely disappointed to hear that and I explained ... why parking spots like this are made available. My husband is in a wheelchair and I understand why he needs these spots and why so many other people need these disabled parking spots for the ease of their own commute and mobility," Desjardins said.

On Friday, CBC News found Burns's car parked in the NAC garage in a different accessible spot, one which is open to everyone during daytime hours.

Confusion resolved, NAC says

An NAC spokesperson said by phone Friday that on the day Desjardins confronted her, Burns was coming into the building for a quick meeting.

There was confusion about the designation of the accessible parking spot, the spokesperson said, adding that it has been sorted out and won't happen again.

Desjardins said she isn't satisfied with that response.

She emailed the National Arts Centre's CEO to register an official complaint and make the point that the NAC's leadership should set a good example, she said.

The NAC refused CBC's request for an interview with Burns.