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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-08-12, Page 15.0 Entertainment o Feature ®Religion *Family "More SECTION WILLIAM THOMAS "Your role, together with other in- vited dignitaries, would be to under- take a pre -determined task that would highlight physical access to local establishments." Signal -Star reporter:<.Lou-Ann;Hope participated in the Awareness Day for the physically disabled held last Thursday. At left, with her. aide Diane Lebrun, she enters the Goderich Legion while above' she makes her way across North Street (photos by YvetteZandbergen) • Awareness Day for disabled an eye opener BY LOU -ANN HOPE Thursday, August 6. A day I doubt I will forget.. A day I had been looking forward to, albeit with some trepidation, for the past week or so. Thursday was Awareness of Social Agencies Day For The Physically Disabl- ed in Goderich. A day which was set aside to educate the general public on what it was like to have a disability as well as to enlighten everyone concerning the town's • accessibility for the disabled. The event, held at the Goderich Legion, consisted of films and displays set up by local and county agencies which help those persons with disabilities. In an effort to make the public more aware of persons with disabilities and the problems they face daily, local dignitaries were asked to actively participate in the day's events. Included in this list of "dignitaries" was myself, Kathleen Buckley (McKay Centre co-ordinator), Jane Netzke (Goderich recreation director), Dave Overboe (Huron County Social Services), Salim Remtulla (physio -therapist at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital), Joan VanDenBroek (Huron County Heart and Stroke Foundation), Mel and Dorothy Bogie (Goderich Lions and Lioness Clubs), and Carol Wilson (Community Living Cen- tral Huron). Goderich Town Council and Huron County Council failed to send a representative. PROPOSAL A letter inviting a Signal -Star staff member to attend the event was sent to our office about two three weeks ago. The let- ter, sent by Joan Spittal (a member of the committee which organized the day), simply asked us to actively participate in the Awareness Day program. The letter said, `Your role, together with other in- vited dignitaries would be to undertake a pre -determined task, that would highlight physical access to local establishments." That didn't sound too bad. But, of course, no-one in the office made a move to say they would be interested in doing it. Finally, Joan called editor Dave Sykes to see if we would indeed be attending the event. By this time, I had decided it would be interesting to see how accessible the town really was for someone with a disability so I volunteered to be the "active participant". Fellow reporter Yvette Zandbergen would accompany . me to record my participation on film. While no mention was made, during the telephone call, of the kinds of disabilities the participants would be subjected to, I did have an edge on other participants since a similiar day was held in Clinton the previous week. At that event, Clinton News -Record editor Anne Narejko had participated and had been relegated to a wheelchair for her tasks. However, I still didn't know what disability I would be assigned. As the day drew nearer, my fellow col- leagues kept asking me what disability I would be undertaking. While I still had no idea, I did admit to them I had no desire to be blind, even if it was only temporary. ' WIIEELCHAIR-BOUND Fortunately, when I arrived at the Legion, I learned that I was to be confined to a wheelchair. My task, while in the wheelchair, was to "circle the Square." That didn't sound too bad. In fact, it sounded fairly easy. Or so I thought. Since our 'disabilities were being thrust upon us, the organizers decided to have an aide accompany each "dignitary" in case help was needed. My aide was Diane Lebrun, a member of the Goderich Lioness Club. "Choose a wheelchair" was the next thing I heard. Fortunately, they had a chair that was small enough for me. (If the chair is too big for you, you can slip through the back, not have enough sup- port, and find the wheels hard to reach. I had learned this while working in a nurs- ing home as an aide during high school). I sat down in the chair and suddenly found myself being strapped in — around the legs and chest. This, I was told, would keep me from using my legs or upper body strength. In spite of this, I still didn't anticipate any major problems. Finally, we were on our way, Fortunate- ly, the Legion is wheelchair accessible by way of an elevator. Yvette, Diane and I took the elevator from the second floor to the ground floor. Getting out of the elevator was where the problems started. Once you get out of the elevator, you have to puch open a heavy glass door to get outside and then you go down a small in- cline'to the sidewalk. Well, I needed help with the door and then ...whoosh... I was down the incline and almost across the sidewalk and grassy area before I manag- ed to turn and stop my chair. But I did get stopped, much to the relief of Diane and Yvette. Almost immediately, I was faced with crossing a street. And, wouldn't you know it, there was a car waiting for me and a few other people to cross. Crossing Thames Street wasn't a problem, thanks to the low curbs on either side. I was off. The Square was getting closer. But what was that vibration finder my chair? The sidewalk, which is cobbled, was making my wheelchair vibrate. This annoyance increased as my trip around the Square progressed 4 SLANTED SIDEWALKS I've made it. I'm now at the corner of the Square and Kingston Street and I'm ready to tackle my task. As we cross the street and proceed down the block, I notice the wheelchair seems to be heading for the parked cars. "Is it me?", I asked Diane. She thought it might just be that particular are but as the wheelchair kept heading for the parked cars, we decided the sidewalks must be sloped in that direction. If you were walking, you probably wouldn't notice that small inconvenience. But, put yourself in a wheelchair and sud- denly you find you have to fight that slope. Surprisingly, it takes a lot of strength to combat the slope and keep the wheelchair going straight. Once I figured out how to push the wheelchair to keep from crashing into a car (I found putting more pushing weight on the side closest to the cars made up for the slope), we were off and wheeling again. None of the curbs posed any problem, except for the curb at North Street near Anstett's jewellery store. It was a little rough getting up that one, but I made it "'without any help. As we made our way around the Square, I noticed, as did Diane (Yvette was always walking in front of us trying to steal a pic- ture), that people weren't looking at me. It didn't matter if I looked at them first and smiled, they still looked away. And if look- ing away wasn't enough, one lady went so far as to keep turning around and stare. Others just kept moving as far away from the chair as they could. It seemed as if they thought a wheechair needed the en- tire sidewalk to travel on. (Having pic- tures taken of you while wheeling down main street in a wheelchair would make anyone wonder what was going on.) Of course, there were two people who did smile. One was an older gentleman. The other was a little boy who appeared fascinated by the wheelchair; that is until his mother pulled him away. People who look away or move away need to realize that wheelchair-bound persons are human too and like to be smiled at or spoken to. A simple smile or hello brightens anyone's day. While making our way around the Square, my aide and I took notice of the entrances -exits to the stores, in an effort to see which seemed to be accessible. While, we noticed many stores which were accessible (including Garb and Gear, The Fashion Shoppe, Schaeffer's, Sears, and the Bank of Nova Scotia), we also saw a large number which were not easily ac- cessible for wheelchair-botd persons (such as the Bank of Montrea4, the movie theatre, 'Foodland, and Lee's Shopping Centre). I will admit, wheelchairs could get into the stores if there were willing and able-bodied persons around who could give the person a lift up and down again. We also: noted stores which are accessible had heavy doors, making them hard to open for anyone in a wheelchair, using a walker or on crutches. However, at least accessibili- ty was possible. . From my seat, I noticed some window displays were almost impossible to see; namely the front window displays at Anstett's and Ormandy's jewellery stores. However, I do realize the majority of jewellery stores do have small display windows. ALMOST HOME By this time, we were rounding the cor- ner of Kingston Street, within sight of the Legion. At this point, I looked down and noticed the sleeves of my sweater were black from rubbing on the tires. I could also feel my back sweating from the cons- tant rubbing on the vinyl chair. Again I crossed Thames Street and made my way to the Legion's side door. Again, I couldn't open the door so Diane held it open for me. But I still had pro- blems getting in the door. I kept getting' stuck on the door frame. I ended up going back and forth until I had enough momen- tum built up to get me over the frame. From there on it was easy. Back into the elevator and up to the second floor. Since we had arrived back fairly early (only one or two other participants had ar- rived), I decided to' see if the Legion washrooms were accessible. Well, I won't say it is impossible but I will say I wouldn't even consider trying it again. The door is too heavy to open, then once inside there is a corner which was just wide enough for my wheelchair to fit through. However, no washroom stall was big enough to fit a wheelchair into. While sitting in the wheelchair, Iouldn't see myself in the mirror nor cold I effectively reach the sink taps. I could, however, reach the towel dispenser with no problem. Thankfully, my time in the wheelchair was short and I was able to cast off my disability one hour after I sat down. Awareness Day certainly did reach its goal with me and the other participants. Although I never was insensitive to disabl- ed persons and their needs, at least now I am more aware of what those needs and problems are. While my disability was on- ly temporary, those persons with disabilities must face their needs and pro- blems daily. I admit, I heartily agree with a state- ment made by Clinton News -Record editor Anne Narejko after her Awareness Day experience: "For those of you who face these difficulties and more, each day of your lives, you've got more spunk, deter- mination and guts than I'll ever have." Chasing the Almighty Loonie buck It is referred to in the Government of Canada brochure as "solid currency" which when viewed against the record of this federal government's finances is a classic contradiction in terms. History will no doubt re -define Canadian "solid currency" as that which results from be- ing related to a Conservative cabinet minister or having gone to school with Brian Mulroney' himself. "The One Dollar Coin" states the brochure is "practical and legal tender ... will facilitate our daily cash transac- tions, ....replace the one dollar hill," •Sure. And it will probably stimulate other new and great ideas like pulling carts with horses and taking your laun- dry down to the river's edge and beating it clean with rocks. • °Like all federal government policies the one dollar coin is hendecagonal (11 -sided) and not what it appears or is advertised to be. Only a government which embodies all the best characteristics of a bad vaudeville act could foist a one dollar coin upon its populace that looks 'likegold, is referred to as gold, and is actually made of elec- troplated nickel. • Doug Henning as prime minister would have been so much more professional. If you should come across a businessnian with a huge contract to sell lawn mower motors to Air Canada or G.I. Joe guns to the military — call a cop. I am bothered by the fact that the new gold coin has no gold in it and that it's giving facial twitches to cashiers all across this country. However the real danger here is not the coin but the name: "The Loonie." The .coin will always be called "The Loonie" after the serene etching of the lake loon on the flip side of the coin. I sup- pose it's a shade better than "The Lizzie" after Elizabeth II who appears equally (, serene, opposite the loon. Had the people at the Royal Canadian Mint stumbled on- to that thought it's quite likely they'd have made the coin out ofrecycled beer cans and called it "The Tin Lizzie." What will "The Loonie" do for Canada? Well; most certainly it will erase or at least confuse some of the best sayings the dollar ever stood for. Fggr instance "Bet your bottom Looflie" or "I'll bet you Loonies to donuts" just doest't carry the same monetary threat as the dollar did. I'm not saying we ought to do away with the dollar expressions entirely but certainly when you give the fiscalrlecture on frugality to the children you will have to further explain the rule "Save your pennies and the Loonies will take care of themselves." On • the other hand it could save us money internationally. When Joe Clark offers eight -million Loonies to some South American country whose economy has collapsed the reply will come back: "Already have that many loonies in this country. That's why the economy col- lapsed. Thanks anyway - Raoul." Using Loonies in a free trade deal with the United States could prove disasterous. Imagine Simon Reisman, in a gesture of good faith shipping a tandem truck load of Loonies across the border only to receive back from Peter Murphy a box car full of people all of whom look like TV's Larry, Darryl and his other brother Darryl. My biggest fear is that some crazed television producer caught up in the 'hunt for Canadian content will drag Buffalo's Chuck Healey kicking and screaming across the Peace Bridge and create a daily half-hour show entitled "Bowling For Loonies." I see Chuck pushing a half -ton bowling ball down the lane toward 10 people standing shoulder - to -shoulder who have recently been con- victed of committing strange and un- natural acts in public. "Oh — too bad Chuck T that's the very difficult two -10 Loonie split!" I wonder how the new non -gold coin will effect our tourist industry —"Thank your for shopping at K -mart. Will that be Amercian dollars or Loonies?" Im- pressive, eh? Even as you read this, there's a mad- cap entrepeneur in St. Catharines named Wayne Hughes who's aim is to replace every piggy bank in this country with his own creation — "The Loonie Bin." "It's shaped like a fruitcake and made of nutshells and accepts only Mulroney Loonies," says Hughes. "The Loonie" lends new credibility to the phrase "mad money". It ought to carry the warning: "Do not fold, bend or feed." No this thing could get out of hand. Already I suspect a prankster in the Royal Mint. I don't know about your Loonie but on the one I bought, if yoti just take your thumbnail and scrape away { the down feathers near the rear -end of the loon, underneath there's a smiling photograph of our prime minister. — Honest. Feature .... p.2 Sports .... p.7