Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!34!Gary.Bewell
From: Gary.Bewell@f34.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Bewell)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: GOVERNMENT
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Date: 4 Jun 90 19:08:32 GMT
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 JE> No wonder we are having such a hard 
 JE> time getting the government to make changes to make the 
 JE> lives of the disabled easier.

My understanding is that things are getting better although they
still take time.

When John Fraser became the Speaker of the House of Commons, he
forced government departments and ministers to implement the
recommendations of 1981 report of the Special Committee for the
Disabled.  He made the politicians and bureaucrats accountable to
him.  He also changed the status of the Special committee to one of
a standing committee.

Part of the problem is the difference in needs for different types
of disability.  Curb cuts are a good example.  When they first came
out, they were smooth.  A friend who is blind found himself out in
traffic quite often because he had no idea where the edge of the
curb was.  Now they roughen them up and he has no problems telling
where he is.  But now I have some problems  when my MS is acting
up.  I often stumble over the cobbles.  I'm just trying to point
out that there is no easy solution to our problems.  When we look
for change, we look for it to address our own problems without
thinking how it affects people with other disabilities.

I think my major concern is for accessible housing.  In Calgary,
most builders are into making big bucks.  They have gone over to
in-fill lots.  These are often two or three multi-story houses on
what used to be a single lot.  Neither the builders or the buyers
are thinking about the long range problems.  In 20 to 30 years most
of the owners won't be able to live in these houses because they
won't be able to get up the steep sets of stairs.  It will
definitely be interesting.

   Gary

 # Origin: T.P.V. - Calgary, Alberta, Canada (NETWORK 8:7500/198)

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