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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-04-08, Page 5eeeeeseeeeeeeeieeeeleeeeeeeekeleiel i Best Interest Gaiser-Kneale Insurance Agency Inc. Subject to change W Exeter Grand Bend III Office Office 235-2420 238-8484 We represent many Trust Companies. We are often able to arrange for the highest interest being offered on Guaranteed Investment Certificates. • mizrArnigerzocivirownwersd FOR Plus Deposit exeter frozen foods Radishes lb 35' PRODUCE Tomatoes Celery 2 lbs. 9 4 Mexican Vineripe FROZEN FOODS old South Frozen 12 02. McCain 2 lbs. Orange Juice 2/89' Mixed Vegetables 894 GROCERIES • FRESH PRODUCE FRESH E. CURtO MEATS a • .*Auxd.,,kor • cAn 235.0400 14 4 l i r 4 A.) WATCH FOR MANY MORE IN STORE SPECIALS MunefilARKET BE A BUNNY—GIVE YOUR HONEY ONE OF THESE We have an excellent selection of beautiful gifts Elizabeth Arden Memoire Cherie Cachet Spray Cologne 1.9 oz. '6.50 Cool ray Polaroid Sun Glasses 0c90 OFF Reg. Price BLACK MAGIC DAIRY BOX 1 lb. 8, 1 1/2 lbs. TURTLES qfSaW:WARIOIMENLISIAMIL%, by LEIGH ROBINSON It was like a shot in the arm a couple of weeks ago when I got a phone call from Elaine Townshend. Elaine, as many of you already know from reading the T-A, is a little gal from Goderich who writes a column for this paper. Unty thing is, she types it with her toes. She does this, not to be consciously cute or unique, two qualities which she already possesses be the way, but because she was born without arms. Anyway, it was kind of ironic that she called. You see I've been laid up for the last several weeks after experien- cing an operation which left one of my arms somewhat im- mobile, at least temporarily. I must admit that I had gotten to the point where I was indulging myself a little in that very heavy emotion known as self-pity. But all that came to something of an impasse with Elaine's call. How can one indulge in self-pity when they are talking to someone so positive and energetic? She was calling to enlist my help in a cause. The cause is ALPHA, the Action League of Physically Handicapped Adults, an organization designed to bring down physical and social barriers which prevent physically disabled people from taking their rightful position in society, Actually she caught me up in two different directions, each going an opposite way from the locality of self-pity. First her strong and positive personality which I have already noted, and second her mentioning of ALPHA. You see, I used to work for ALPHA in London, I was one of those who was not physically disabled. One of the major lessons that I thought I had learned from that experience is that a physical disability is only as disabling as a person wants to let it become. While working with ALPHA I met scores of "disabled" people who seemed to be functioning a lot better than most of "undisabled" folks despite the fact that society has erected some pretty strange obstacles for them to get around. Thinking of the way I had been feeling about my own minor condition, I began to realize just how foolish and self- destructive I was becoming. Thanks for calling Elaine. ALPHA is needed An organization like ALPHA is needed, That is an unfor- tunate but true fact. Physically disabled people are by-and- large ignored by the rest of society. They aren't very visible, you see. The reasons why they are not very visible are numerous. I know some of them. One of the more basic reasons is that many of them don't go out of the house very much. They know that once out there they are going to have a difficult if not impossible time getting around in a hostile man-made environment that includes many unnecessary steps, curbs, grades, and small spaces that provide physical barriers to someone in a wheelchair, someone with a walking problem, someone with a severe heart or lung condition, and even some blind per- sons, especially the elderly ones. Then there is the matter of ignorance. The pointers, the gigglers, the name callers, and the starers, who do not have enough sense to realize that the person in front of them is just another human flower arranged in a slightly different bouquet. What all this human ignorance does is generate dis- trust and alienation on the part of the less strong-willed dis- abled who then are too afraid or too embarrassed to be seen in public. And there are the people who should know better. These are the ones who turn down a disabled person for a job even though he or she may be the most qualified. They are the ones who mistake a palsy victim for a drunk and promptly kick him out of the restaurant, There are our government leaders who keep talking about a more just and humanistic society while continuing to dole out disability pensions which are more punitive than helpful. Imagine having no other means of support, being 22 years old, a victim of muscular dystrophy, and trying to live on $200 a month. I know people in that position, thanks to our wonderful governments that never seem to put anything up but their mouths. Now I'm not trying to say that all disabled people are in a bad way. Some of them manage to overcome all the obstacles and live fulfilling lives. What I am trying to say is - that these folks are the exceptions to the rule, and its not because the rest of the disabled are lazy or stupid, its because of the kind of society that you and I have helped to create or at least accepted as the way things ought to be. Give Them The power to help themselves The most unique thing about the ALPITA concept is that rather than let a lot of well-meaning and some ill-meaning bureaucrats and social workers, who are not disabled, run the show, the physically disabled, themselves, run it. They decide what needs are to be met and what changes in society and the physical environment are required to bring about greater individual freedom and happiness. After all, who should know better, anyway? Another thing that makes it kind of unique is that it is an organization specifically designed for adults, Most organizations for the disabled concentrate on the cute little kids, i.e. the March of Dimes "Timmy". That's all well and fine except that the cute little kids grow up into aduIts i lit seems that once one is an adult, one is on his own. Frankly, I believe that most physically disabled adults would enjoy being on their own if society would only cooperate by becoming a little less rigid and harsh, not only structurally but mentally and ernotiOnally, ALPHA worksn ALPHA has already proven that things can be ac- complished if A group of determined persons get together and decide to do something, During its five year existanca hi London, ALPHA has S.M. gymnastics .meet of Stratford Central, 2nd. All participants should be congratulated on an excellent showing. Also the convener Mrs. Carry Unich, Mrs. Pat Rowe and the officials should be congratulated on a job well done, At South Huron, Monday, was le Huron Perth Gymnastics meet. Competitors from Strat- ford Central, Stratford Nor- thwestern, Central Huron, F.E. Madill, St. Marys and South Huron were present. The girls .performed on the beam, the uneven bars, the vaulting horse and the floor. All the gymnasts did quite well. During the morning the girls showed their grace and skill pounding on the bars and balancing and tumbling on the beam. The afternoon was spent doing vaulting and floor routines. South Huron came first overall, with St. Marys placing second, Stratford Central placing third, Stratford Northwestern placing fourth, F.E. Madill, placing fifth and Central Huron placing sixth. The individual champions for the junior division were as follows: Helen Muller of South Huron 1st, Lori Cubberly of St. Marys, 2nd and Laura. Lockrey of Stratford Northwestern, 3rd. The individual champions for the intermedieate division were as follows: Lisa West con of South Huron 1st Linda Bryce of P.E. Niacin!, 2nd, and Lucy Van Esbroeck of South Huron, 3rd. The individual champions for the senior division were as follows: Janet Gielen of South Huron 1st, Gayle Ecker of South Huron end and Nancy Park of Stratford Northwestern. 3rd. The individual champions for the elite divisions were as follows: Kim Postill of South Huron, first, and Kim Colquhoun Support year book staff To whom it may concern Do we have no privacy in this world today Can nothing be done without evei'yones say? II seems everyone knows about everyone's life Who cares about Susie, or Mr. Brown's wife! What I'm trying to get at as you might see— Why can't we start living more independently? It happens on Monday — this is really getting bad— When a stranger tells you about the weekend you had! Doesn't some people have anything better to do— Then finding out when & why & where & who! Someone finds out something from a little bird And the next thing we know the whole town has heard! I feel that what we do is our very own And shouldn't be the con- versation on someone elses phone. By L. HILLMAN Every school has its major organizations that keep it on its feet and the student body happy. One such organization in our school is that one surrounding the producing of our Yearbook. The Yearbook staff is especially important in our school because it records the happenings of each year and presents those happenings in a book. Face yearbook we own, represents one year of our life. Glancing through them, we are able to remember the fun times we had each school year. It is difficult, when looking at the neat finished product, to realize how much actual work goes into producing a yearbook, Many long hours are spent planning and preparing before the manual work begins. Yearbook photographers work hard getting good pictures of events that go on during school hours, laying out each page becomes a difficult and long process. Yet the end product becomes well worth the effort . Recently the graduation pictures were given out to the students. Much grumbling went on in the student body because the door to the yearbook room was not open at all times for the students to pick up their pictures. The Year book staff was also blamed for faulty pictures. The Yearbook staff and especially its editors must work hard to print a good Yearbook and keep up with their school work. It is very angering to hear these people put down. They are fine people and are printing a yearbook we can be proud of. GERALD LE GAULT, PHYSIOTHERAPIST at South Huron Hospital, chats with Mrs. Huntley and Mrs. Knowles of the Women's Auxiliary Buying Committee in front of the Edwards Myo-thex Therapy Unit, which was purchased by the Auxiliary. The $1,800 machine was called the best investment ever made by the Aux- iliary by Hospital Administrator Elmer Taylor. He said it is constantly in use, photo by Youngs. e'• eieeeeeeeeeeeeCneeeeneeeneeeefeeeeereeeeeeeIeei.eeeeeeee~eeeeeeeee. Dear Sir or Madam: This letter pertains to the school buses & especially to the conduct of some students. The rules, set out by the school bus operators include one which says no smoking on the bus. I wish to inform you of the infraction of this rule on many of our buses. Boys, and girls tend to cluster at the back, in order to smoke. This group is usually loud and obnoxious. They destroy what little peace a bus ride may hold. But far worse than the noise is the pollution of the air. There is precious little enough air on a crowded bus, but to have it poisoned with smoke is an in- fraction of our rights. Why should we suffer so that some people may support their filthy habit? Surely they can ride on public transporatation for a half of an hour without smoking. What about the younger people on our bus, those attending various public schools? When they see the older kids smoking, they will get the idea that smoking is a smart thing to do and that it would be okay for them to do it too. That is really setting a fine example. Why can't something be done?? Sincerely, Brenda 3. Pepper :ROISZO Vi The Tool Retrospect I feel just like a tool, Utilized for work And when the job has been fulfilled I'm discorded into blackness, The days will pass without a word Until once again I'm needed And then again I'm used Shoved aside for another. My Turn Too late to have the fun we had before Too late to explain the girl next door! Too late to come back to me Too late for us even to be! Too late for me to see your way — Too late to ask for me to stay. Too late to want to explain about "her" Too late to remind me how things were Too late to ask what to do — Too late to think what I went through. To late to want to come around Too late! Now a new love I have found. Funny contacted some 2500 disabled persons and counts a good number of those on its active list. This has facilitated numerous friendships and interpersonal exchanges which probably would never have occurred if ALPHA had not begun to hold public meetings to determine what political and social goals and objectives should be concentrated upon, Thanks to ALPHA, the city of London now has public buildings, stores, malls and city streets that can be entered and travelled upon by persons confined to wheelchairs, without assistance from others. In affiliation with the Canadian March of Dimes, ALPHA is active in providing recreational programs to the disabled, as well as some transportation about the city; although that particular service must be greatly expanded before it will sufficiently handle all of the physically disabl- ed now living in London. It's not just for them ALPHA isn't just for them out there, the disabled ones, It's for you and me as well, I don't know about you, but as far as I'm concerned, liv- ing in a society that refuses to bend and meet the needs of some of its most beautiful citizens is a little like living in the dark ages. I don't and I will not accept the way things stand now. And don't forget, there's always the chance that you may someday become "physically disabled". Take me for example, I certainly didn't plan to have an operation or be confined to a bed for weeks. I didn't plan to have a stiff arm either. It just happened that way, and it can happen to you. My stiff arm is gradually unstiffening, thanks to the help of physiotherapy. But there was always the chance that it wouldn't. Perhaps with you, it will be your legs, crushed in an ' automobile accident. And perhaps there well be nothing that physiotherapy can do. All of us either die young or grow old before dying. Its funny about old age, but it gradually catches up with us. And when it does, it usually brings some form of physical dis- ability along for the ride. We're all fragile, some just find out later than others. Try to remember that when ALPHA comes to town and maybe you will give the organization some support, even if you are not currently disabled. I'm interested in your opinion or reaction to this par- ticular column, I invite your letters. Mee erleterreereNeeeeeee e'eeleeeNeeeeieelePeeleeeeAeeeeeeeSee By SCOTT PEACOCK Funny, How my life has gone ,so quickly Just lately, All the days have been so lonely Its funny, How I've had to be so grown up But its sadly, Sadly how the world will make me Funny, The way I'm supposed to be so normal leut honey, I'm the type I think I should be Real funny, That ya can't accept the real. me Well lady, I'm the guy I think I should be Its funny How I really want to love you So baby, Take me how I am, don't change me It's funny The way I think of us together So honey, I really hope you'll think it over Somehow Funny. Really Funny. /Maple Leaf 1 112 lbs. Canned Ham Maple Leaf Canned i 1/2 tbs. • Picnic Pork 1.49 Nestles Quik 2 lb. tin Delmonte Slices or Halves McCormick Chocolate Chip 4 4,011 $1.7'9 Cookies 1 lbs. I .417 $2.16 128 oz. $1.79 5 lbs. Peaches 19 oz Dream Whip Lewis White Bread 3P1.09 4 oz. 55' Tide 69' Fleecy COCA COLA 26 oz. Bottles ;