Time to talk about accessibility
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008As it is a privilege to cheap las vegas flights and hotels given this opportunity to blog for CBC, I have extended the opportunity to others who might not otherwise have the chance. The following when to refinance issues brought forward by fellow members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Accessibility. I asked if there were any issues they wanted brought to others??? attention during this election.
Here are two responses…
Dear Kelly,
I have a few issues that I include below which I would appreciate if you would include in your blog:
1. Access to information
2. Rehabilitation services.
As a person who is partially sighted, one of the greatest barriers I face in everyday living is gaining access to information. As a person who cannot read regular print living in a sighted world, gaining access to information is a huge barrier. As you are aware, newspapers, books, flyers etc. are all distributed in print which a person who is blind, deaf blind or partially sighted has no access to.
Also to broaden the access to information issue, traffic lights that are visual only prevent persons who are blind from gaining needed information to safely cross streets and therefore remain independent. In downtown Saskatoon, there are two audible pedestrian signals that voice when the walk light is on as well as voicing the street name. As a person who cannot see traffic signals or read street names, it is important for all citizens to have this information.
I realize that access to information is a huge issue and cannot be addressed totally by a provincial government but there are some improvements that can be provided to help disabled persons remain independent and contributing members of society.
To assist a person with vision impairment to gain access to information, computers with adaptive software are very useful. A sighted person who purchases a computer just takes it home connects it and proceeds to use it. A person who is blind, deaf blind or partially sighted must spend thousands of extra dollars to purchase adaptive equipment such as a screen reader or a braille display to give them access to the computer.
In Saskatchewan the SAIL program does provide some adaptive equipment to certain disabled groups but very little of consequence for the blind.
If persons who are blind, deaf blind or partially sighted could access government assistance to purchase adaptive screen reading programs for computers as well as braille displays, it would assist in providing access to information and therefore prevent isolation which is very common among disabled individuals.
On my second point of rehabilitation, if I had a heart attack, a stroke or an accident, broke my back or neck, my rehabilitation is covered under the health care system. But if I lose my eyesight free bad credit debt consolidation to illness or accident, I am referred to a charity for my rehabilitation services.
In this day and age it is no longer acceptable that persons who become disabled by sight loss should be sent to a charity for their rehabilitation services and have to rely on that charity’s ability to raise charity dollars before services are provided.
Something I would like to ask the politicians in this election is: would they expand the SAIL program to include adaptive equipment for the blind, deaf blind and partially sighted.
Will they investigate changing the delivery model for rehabilitation services for the blind from a charitable model to a community based model?
Thanks,
Judy Prociuk
First and foremost…
The right to vote in secret and independently. Currently we have a template that will have braille beside each hole. However, there is no accompanying braille documentation. I must rely on a sighted buddy or an election officer to assist. I refuse as my vote should be cast as every one else casts their vote.
Example: imagine going to the poll and all you are given is a blank piece of paper with ten circles going down the right side of the page. Each circle is numbered. The first is 1, the second is 2, etc. Now you are told by the returning officer the list of persons you can vote for. Try to remember and do not change your mind as you may have to ask three or four times. Ohhh, and you mark the ballot in invisible ink so there is no way you can verify that you marked the number 2, or the number 7. But fold it up and consider that your vote has been cast.
The blind and partially sighted are asking for electronic voting with paper backup. This is the best option. The second best is using a template with holes in it and they are numbered in large print and in braille. The ballot goes inside the template and we can vote. However, we are asking for accompanying documentation in large print and in braille so we can review the candidates in secret and independently. The reason this is the second best option is that we can not verify what we marked. It is like using invisible ink.
This is my only issue. If I cannot vote how can I affect change on any of my other accessible issues?
Robin East
Rosemary (Rosmarius officianlis CT 1,8 Cineole) is in the mint family of botanical plants. It is one of the earliest plants to be used for food, medicine and magic. To the ancient Greeks and Romans the plant was sacred, symbolic of loyalty, death and remembrance as well as scholarly learning. At weddings and important occasions, garlands and headdresses of rosemary were worn as an emblem of trust and constancy. Roman students used to study with garlands of this plant around their heads in order to help them remember. The Egyptians burned it as incense and put sprigs in the tombs of the pharaohs to help them recall their former life. At funerals, rosemary was burnt as an incense in respect and memory of the dead. The plant was also thought to bring good luck and to impart protection against magic and witchcraft. The oil of rosemary was firsts distilled in the 13th century. It was one of the oils in the Four Thieves Vinegar used by the grave-robbing bandits to protect themselves during the 15th century plague. We obtain the essential oil through steam distillation of the green leaves of the plant.
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