Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-12-06, Page 6} Page 6 December 6, 2006 • The Huron Expositor Town needs more awareness of accessibility challenges says Seaforth man, blind from glaucoma Susan Hundertmark While he lost his eyesight to glau- coma five years ago, Joe Boyd, 51, of Seaforth, doesn't let his blindness stop him. He still cooks, cleans and vacu- ums around the house and he plants his garden. But, when it comes to getting around town, Boyd is getting frus- trated by cars parking on town side- walks and a general lack of aware- ness of the challenges he faces. "I should have the same accessi- bility as anyone," he says. "(My blindness) has neverstopped me, as long as I know where things are." Boyd .says he's been complaining to the municipality of Huron East since 2002 and has been told to put his "complaint u the form of a writ- ` ten letter, describing the make, model, colour and licence plate of the vehicles blocking his path - something his blindness makes dif- ficult if not impossible. And, while his wife could help, Boyd says the town should be tak- ing his verbal complaints seriously since the vehicles in question are violating town bylaws. "I'd like to see them read a letter in Braille - that what I have to read," he says. Boyd says there are vehicles park- ing on the sidewalks on his street, George Street, and in other loca- tions in town where the street and sidewalk are level without a curb. When he's out walking with his white cane, Boyd says his cane goes under the front of the car, some- times sending him sprawling on the hood of the car before he knows it's there. "I've hit a few cars and smacked up my kneecaps. It shakes you up," he says. And, while he hasn't seriously hurt himself, he doesn't want to at Rona's SUPPORT THE FOODBANK DAY! A percentage of all sales will be donated to the Seaforth & Area Foodbank. 198 Main St. S. Seaforth (519) 527-0770 We are proud to be a part of this community! Joe Boyd walks down George Street. repeat the broken ankle he got once by falling down the stairs when he first went blind. Along with parked cars on town sidewalks, Boyd also has troubles getting around the signs and racks merchants place on the sidewalk downtown, branches hanging down at eye -level over sidewalks and snow that's not removed from side- walks in the winter. "Winter's the worst. I can't go anywhere," he says, adding that ruts and snowdrifts often force him out into the street, a frightening place without sight. Because Boyd finds his way along the sidewalk using his cane to guide him either along the grass or along the buildings, he ends up walking down the centre of the sidewalk. But, when he finds an obstruction in the middle of the sidewalk - like a sandwich board sign on Main Street - it's tough to find his way around it and he's always afraid of ending up in traffic. "You just get lost if someone puts something in the middle of the side- walk. I hit three or four signs com- ing down the street yesterday," he says, adding that if signs were positioned next to the wall or next to the street, he would have an easier time. Even if he gets a seeing eye dog - as he hopes to soon - Boyd says obstacles in the centre of side- walks are difficult to get around. While walk- ing with his wife helps him navi- gate the obstacles, Boyd says . he wants the inde- pendence of get- ting around solo. "I'dliketodo my own Christmas shop- ping. It's not much of a sur- prise for her if my wife is standing beside me," he says. "I'm not a guy to sit back and let the world go by. I want to get out," says Boyd. Huron East Clerk Administrator Jack McLachlan says he first learned of Boyd's troubles at a recent Huron County accessibility committee meeting when recently - acclaimed Seaforth Coun. Bob Fisher raised the issue. "We are investigating it now. This is going to be a difficult one to solve," he says. Because there are a number of streets in Seaforth where the road is level with the sidewalk, McLachlan says it's going to be hard to prevent drivers from park- ing on sidewalks. "How many are you going to tick- et?" he asks. McLachlan says the issue will be raised at council in the new year., In the meantime, Boyd says he'll continue to complain to council and the Huron OPP about the troubles 'he's having with accessibility. "The town has two bylaw officers and all I want the town to do is their job. A couple of tickets on vehicles might smarten them up," he says.