The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1999-05-05, Page 29Wednesday, May 12, 1999 Exeter T 39 Community Wheelchair accessibility possible at majority of Grand Bend businesses By Kate Monk TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF GRAND BEND -- Con- sideration and com- promise may be the mag- ic words in making Grand Bend businesses wheelchair accessible and barrier free. Nancy Skinner and Richard Yake, who live in London and have a cottage in Grand Bend, have completed a de- tailed survey of Main Street business and have identified some options for making the buildings barrier -free. Last Wednesday morn- ing, they took the T -A on a tour of Main St. and pointed out ways busi- nesses could be made ac- cessible. Skinner took her last steps in Grand Bend in 1947 when she con- tracted polio and relies on a wheelchair for transportation. She stresses her campaign ,juwill benefit everyone, not st people. with wheel- chairs. She has continued to return to Grand Bend and believes businesses could benefit from mak- ing their shops more ac- cessible. She said when she sees a business that considers people in wheelchairs, she feels welcome and is more likely to patronize the store. People in wheelchairs seldom travel alone, Richard Yake and Nancy Skinner would like Grand Bend businesses become wheelchair ibie. Skinner said, and the companions are also likely to spend their money as well. Compromise will be needed on the part of en- trepreneurs and custom- ers to make some places accessible, Skinner said. Portable ramps are an example. The wooden ramps can be stored in- side or outside the store and placed at the steps or doorway as needed. While portable ramps aren't the preferred solu- tion, Skinner said it may be the only answer for shop keepers who don't have room fora perma- nent ramp. • Mick Rapaport of Cocos said he has been con- sidering making his busi- ness " accessible but wasn't sure of the best route to take. A 20 - minute impromptu con - to see access- versation with Skinner gave him some advice on options and a realistic plan of action. "It's all about working out compromises," Skin- ner said. Yake and Skinner agreed they'd be happy to speak with anyone in- terested in making their businesses accessible. She stressed she's 'not speaking for everyone in wheelchairs and said others may be more mil- itant than she is about what's acceptable. To Skinner, "something is better than nothing." She's optimistic several establishments could be- come accessible without spending a large amount of cash or changing their operations. The Main St. survey Skinner and Yake com- pleted on Thanksgiving weekend shows less than one-half of the busi- nesses are easily ac- cessed. Twenty Main St. busi- nesses are already total- ly accessible. Fifteen Main St. businesses need a slight fill-in at the en- trance to' overcome an up to three-inch ledge or have room for a ramp parallel to the storefront. Nine businesses have more than one step and could be permanently ac- cessible while only four businesses are not "re- alistically feasible," ac- cording to the Skinner- Yake survey. With the topography of Main St. sloping from Hwy. 21 to Lake Huron, many ramps could work with the decline rather than against it. In the late 1960s and early '70s, wheelchair technology took a big ad- vancement allowing more people to be mo- bile. Before that, people who were unable to walk weren't out in the com- munity so access wasn't considered when build- ings were built, Skinner said. One downside to the advancements is that the powered wheelchairs are much heavier, weighing several hundred pounds, making it impossible for traveling companions to carry wheelchairs up steps. The building code has evolved over the years and dictates accessibility standards for some parts of the building such as washrooms. Skinner said a business may have ac- cessible washrooms but wheelchairs may not be able to gain entrance to the building. As well, some es- tablishments have wheelchair parking spac- es but no access. Many sidewalk curbs have been cut to improve wheelchair access but still need improvements. Skinner and Yake would like the projects to be part of preparations for the 2001 Canada Summer Games. Mick Rapaport of Cocos and Nancy Skinner discuss ways to make the restaurant accessible to wheelchairs. CALL THE EXPERTS FOR ALL. YOUR BUILDING NEEDS MASONRY ENTRAL `N i N •BRICKS •BLOCK •STONE • POURED FOUNDATIONS •POINTING • PARGNG Here to service your area. For all your masonry needs Aoki Vander H den Cal 225-2645 STEEL & LUMBER New and Used STEEL Fluorescent Lights Fibre : lass Coated PI ood Martin's Steel PAINTING M&M PAINTING Residential Commercial Industrial, Ceramic tiling, wallpapering, floor standing Free estimates 235-1701 Evenings ST 1 1. Brander Steel Ltd. Main ft S. grow 235-1462 es 141008110114180 All typos of stool products. Sharing & Bending Service Max. 1/2- capacity •••4:— I1(.\II I\(, m Arm. R.J.B. PLUMBING ill& HEATING Reeidentlat Commercial • Gas and Propane Mooed RON BRAND 52 Gidley St. E. Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S • P1IN'TINTG McKAY PAINTING & DECORATING • Residential • Commercial • Industrial - Painting - Papering - Swirled Ceilings - Drywall 29-=+•0 1'1 . \11;1\(; ►l \►►\(. KING Plumbing & Heating Dashwood Sales & Service • Furnaces • Boilers Licenced in Nat. & Propane Gas EUGENE KING 237-3240 Mil DRI[LI\G W.D. HOPPER & SONS NEIL Seafotth DURL Stratford 519422-1737 $I$-522-1737 mil five 519-271-7560 555-271-7560 m l free • MOO • URlDoeUAL • NOMINAL • COTTAGU woes • e 111001 01 MAU DOM SAM It SUM • MINCED MLI TICl/icums `, j MATER DUARAI ID • taw a/TIMATU WOK MI *WHOM HMO ooas THE WATER Plows" I\COIETAX Jinx & Company INCOME TAX SPECIALISTS * Jane lolly * Beverly Wells 476 Main St. S. Exeter ON NOM ISI. (519) 235-3595 1-888-817-6059 Personal Professional Service PL\IPS & SOFTENERS NN PUMP SALED& SERVICE LIMITED R.R. #2 Denfleld, Ont. NOM IPO WATER PUMP SPECIALIST * submersible j'et & piston • sump & sewage WATER TREATMENT SPEC(AUSTS • Novatek water softeners, iron filters and drinking water systems • dry pellet chlorinators, U.V. lights Top quality products with knowledgeable service 225-2234 1-800-328-0392 WINDOWS & DOORS Wi w&DO((CFNTRE calec S•vvw r hxtallal one EXE -1 ER 235-3502ma • & Delivery • W1 Repla"emerk 'Tetrads DOOM • Decks Doors 'Shutters • New Construction • Stn T±ocros Windows • AAxminunt Storm Doss • SW& Insollftd Doors • Insulatedn Replacement DOOM • Patio Doo Visit Ow Showroom at 360 Main SL S. ANIL