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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1981-01-15, Page 4Page 4 ., ,r •.s .. •c k:.ra411111 411lllo . /F4Wit 1U.411o.L...: o- r r..« • . r..111e4rAe.1l.•ba IMIR* Otizens News January 15, 1981 _ 11f1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111i11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111I1111111111111111111111111111- _.-=-: ViewpointZ.C.N. r11111111111111111111111111111111111111/1111111110111111111NIIN11111111111111NN1111111111NIIIIII111111111111111111111111111II11111111111111111111111111NII111111111111111111U111111111111111111111118 Biggest handicap is society's Society must learn to consider the needs of the disabled and handicapped when planning buildings, housing developments, or hiring employees, accor- ding to an article in the January issue of "The United Church Observer". An estimated one in every ten Canadians today has a mental or physical disability. Because of the disibility, many of them have never been able to enter a polling booth tovote;many can make phone calls only from their homes, because the coin slots on pay phones are too high to reach from a wheelchair; special transportation to and from work may cost $10 a day; 90 percent of the country's 45,000 parplegics are unemployed although at least a third are employable; as children, they are often denied the education that is supposed to be the right of every Canadian child. The magazine's managing editor, James Taylor, writes that there is a growing militancy among the disabled. They resent being portrayed as helpless by charitable institutions raising funds. Yet they are at least partly dependent' on those agencies for support. They want to be indepen- dent, but they know they can't do everything that other people can: "Wheelchairs can't go up stairs. The blind can't see; the deaf can't hear. Many disabled are finding that their biggest handicap is society's thoughtlessness. When buildings have doors that are unnecessarily heavy, when parks are designed with steps in the walkways, the disabled are forced to ask for help in- stead of being able to look after themselves. Taylor concludes: "Learning to consider the needs of the disabled in planning buildings and programs may be inconvenient. Or even expensive. "But we need to learn, because none of us is more than temporarily able-bodied. At any time, an acci- dent or illness could cause disability. Inevitably, old age will do the same." Miscellaneous Rumblings Me an editor? The Rumblings has it on good authority that there are two new editors working on the ZCN. Therefore, this week's column will be used by them to introduce themselves to you. Have typewriter, will travel. My name is Mark Hough and that is .pretty much the way that I came to Exeter. I was in my final year at Conestoga College in the journalism program. We were to spend the last four months of our studies on a work term. Some peo- ple in the course didnot want to go too far from the ci- ty, but it did not make any difference to me where I went, so here I am. My home is near Sauble Beach so the snow in this area is no big surprise. I went to highschool in Owen Sound and spent one year at Niagara College in Welland in the Radio -Television Broadcasting course. I did not like radio (or I couldn't cut it) so I left and started my journalism career. The last two and a half years I have spent at Conestoga and now I am on the last leg of my scholastic career. Working on the ZCN is part of an in- ternship program at the college. We are evaluated on our performance and then they tell us if we have made it as journalists (if I don't make it, I'm in big trouble). Just in case anyone is interested, I'm 21, single and known to be a lot of fun at a party. Rob's own rumblings... ' As I write this column, I'm exactly where I don't want to be - in the office. Myself and a good friend, Mark Hough, have been given a job, and more yet, an opportunity. The oppor- tunity is to become editors of a small weekly newspaper. This is however, to be expected. It is what we have trained ourselves for more than two years to do. Train- ing and schooling are not always like the `real' world though. College was pretty much a closed environment. We quickly got to know the few people we had to know, and the few things we needed to know. The trick now is to apply these things to a real job where cashiering is the equivalent of a bad report card. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this oppor- tunity is pretty much what we make of it. I know what to do, and how to do it, all that is left is to do it. I think the best way for me to meet my own goals and exploit this opportunity to the fullest, is to get out into the community. It's not the closed system the college was, and it's more than a little frightening. But with your help, and an inhuman supply of luck, I think I can make it. And by the way, I'm 24, not married, but not single either, (In that strange limbo where I've been home to meet Mother, but I haven't been to meet a jeweler.) and have been known to hoist a few, and afterwards been fun at parties. What to do if Jack Frost visits , In a winter like this, you don't have to be out skiing or snowmobiling to risk frostbite. If it is cold enough it may nip you while you are doing your errands or shovelling the snow. St. John Ambulance first aid experts say frost- bite 'is easily recognizable ps the skin becomes waxy white and numb. Warm the area gradually by body heat. If your face or ear is affected, cover the frozen area with a gloved hand until normal color and feeling return. For frozen fingers or toes, remove tight boots or gloves. A good way to thawyourhand is to place it inside your clothing under your armpit. Feet may be wrapped in a warm blanket or snuggled under a companion's jacket. Don't rub with snow and don't rub. Where blisters occur, they should be covered lightly with a sterile dressing and bandaged carefully. Under no cir- cumstances should the blister be broken. If frostbite is severe, see a doctor immediately. RBST WITN IOCAI NEWS Published Each Wednesday By J.W. Eedy Publication Member: Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association Ontario Weekly r The editors Mark Hough and Rob Chester td. Newspapers Association Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385 Subscription Rates: $8.50 per year in advance in Canada $19.50 per year outside Canada Single copies 25c • Join the majority Be a rwn•smoker National Non -Smoking Week Jan. 18-24,1981