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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-07-05, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018. Choose your words wisely By Julie Sawchuk As Citizen Editor Shawn Loughlin reported in the June 21 issue, I made a presentation to Huron County Council requesting a pedestrian crossover be installed across Queen Street in Blyth. I used some pretty morbid statistics about pedestrian deaths from Ontario's Chief Coroner and I showed pictures of how hard it is to cross the street in our busy little town. The response was quite positive — in fact, many councillors assumed that there was a crosswalk in Blyth already, and they unanimously approved staff producing a report about costs and locations. Hopefully, we'll see it sooner than later. As a part of my presentation, I also dropped the "no one knows better than me what it feels like to be hit by a car" to drive my point home. This was interpreted as "being confined to a wheelchair after being hit by a car..." Never, not once in the past two years and eleven months have I ever said that I was "confined to a wheelchair". Let's think about this for a minute — where do we, as a society, confine people? In prison! We sentence people, who commit crimes, to prison and confine them to a cell — and even then they are allowed out of their cell to eat, exercise and have visitors (Note: Not having ever been to/in prison I am making assumptions). No one, not one person, who uses a wheelchair, is confined to it. I drive a car, ride a bicycle, sleep in a bed, swim, watch TV on the couch and sit on the toilet like everyone else! If I sound angry it's because I am. Shawn and I have had loads of talks since my accident about my recovery, all the different types of activities I have tried and The Citizen has even published pictures of me in a kayak #outofmychair. Going back to the article from June 21, Shawn also describes how Mikayla "a child with low vision", "senior citizens" and "those differently abled" would benefit from the safety that a pedestrian crossover would provide. All perfectly acceptable ways of describing people — what is called person -first language. So that's the rub, I can't really be angry with Shawn because I know it was just a slip. I know Shawn, he never would mean to offend, and the next time I see him at the coffee shop he'll be crying into his coffee. Many people in the past three years have stumbled over words or said things that are just plain offensive. Usually, I don't say anything to correct or point out the offence — unless it's someone I know really well. These things are usually said not out of malice, just plain ignorance. So let's stop being ignorant. If you don't know what to say — ask! Saying the first thing that comes to mind and out of your mouth... well, in most situations, doesn't do any of us good. Like just last week while I was rolling through a parking lot to my car a man said to me "do you have a licence to go that fast?" In my head: [do you have a licence for your legs?] Or the many occasions someone has said: "it's so good to see you out!" In my head: [did I miss the memo — was today a stay-at-home day?]. People with disabilities are the largest minority group in the world — and it's a group that you can become a part of at any time. Think about how you would (will) like people to refer to you? Surely I am hypersensitive, but I know that words like "confined to a wheelchair" "handicapped" and "invalid" are words from the past. Let's keep them there. I am a woman, a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a teacher, a friend and, oh, by the way, I happen to use a wheelchair. It's not about political correctness, it's about being polite. We are all people first. Julie Sawchuk is a teacher and accessibility professional. She lives just outside of Byth. To be in touch with Julie send her an email j ulie @ juliesawchuk.ca Up and out Blyth -area resident Julie Sawchuk is seen here working with March Pittock of Glassier's Physiotherapy to strengthen her core and improve her balance. Pittock helps by stabilizing Sawchuk's knees and providing stability. In the years since her accident, Sawchuk has also spent time using a handbike and kayaking, among other activities. (Photo submitted) An unreliable Internet connection is like being up a creek without a paddle. FASTER INTERNET • OUR LOWEST PRICES! $4999 up to 5 Mbps2 125 GB $6999 For year 1 up to 10 Mbps2 200 GB Get our FASTEST $7999 moLt 25 Mbps2 speed For year 1 Includes 400 GB FREE IN2STALLATIONrequired S ear term Save up to $290 in your first year! • $0 Activation fee • All Xplornet equipment included!' CaII 1-877-739-0684 to go faster for Tess! 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