HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2016-09-28, Page 22 News Record • Wednesday, September 28, 2016
One woman's reflections on accessibility in Clinton
Justine Alkema
Clinton News Record
After experiencing a seri-
ous stroke four years ago
and living with a disability
ever since, Pam Stevenson
has a new outlook on her
surroundings. In learning
to adjust to a new way of
life, she has become keenly
aware of something she
had previously taken for
granted - accessibility.
After her stroke, Steven-
son started walking with a
cane. However she was too
unsteady, so she eventually
switched to a walker.
"It was difficult with a cane,
but it's nothing compared to
what it's been like for me
now;' she commented.
Of all the surrounding
towns, Stevenson said she
finds a number of places in
Clinton to be particularly
The Clinton library and town hall.
inaccessible. Some of that
is due to old infrastructure,
which she commented is in
many ways a huge asset to
Justine Alkema Clinton News Record
the town. But there are
downfalls.
Things that may seem
insignificant to some are
huge obstacles for her to
live day-to-day life.
"And I have no intention
of staying home," she
laughed.
Stevenson recently
attended a Central Huron
council meeting, and she
asked council when the ele-
vator would be fixed in
town hall. It has been bro-
ken for quite sometime,
and it's those kinds of
things that make mobility
difficult for her.
One huge difficultly for
Stevenson is heavy doors.
She said there are a num-
ber of those around. Some-
times she can knock on
doors, but it's a pain to do
all the time, especially if the
clerks are busy with cus-
tomers. She said some
doors have push buttons,
but often times they don't
work.
"I couldn't believe this,
but I could not get into Ser-
vice Ontario in Clinton. My
husband dropped me off to
go do something else, and I
could not open that door,"
she said. "I'm pretty inde-
pendent, but I'm also a
senior citizen. I'm only 66.
What it must be like for my
neighbours who are over 80
years old."
"I think we have a respon-
sibility as a community for
people to get in and out of
stores, though I cannot
expect every small business
to have a good door. But
surely [public buildings]
should be accessible to
anyone."
Stevenson made sure to
say that she was not mad.
She said she loves to shop
in Clinton and to support
the small businesses here.
Although she lives just
outside of Bayfield, she
comes to Clinton often, to
see her doctor and her
grandchildren who live
here in town.
In her words, her inten-
tion is to give people a
reminder. A reminder that
not everyone is fully
capable.
"There's a sizable num-
ber of us. I wasn't aware
until I was in the boat, but I
was astounded at the num-
ber of people who couldn't
open doors."
She is also interested in
hearing other people's
experiences with this issue,
and if there is a committee
or group she can get
involved with that is pro-
moting accessibility.
Her number is 519 482
7812 if anyone wishes to
contact her about the issue.
Toaster fire causes downtown building to be evacuated
Justine Alkema Clinton News Record
This building on Albert Street was evacuated on September 19 due to a fire that started in a toaster.
Justine Alkema
Clinton News Record
All 18 apartments at the
building on 177 Albert Street
in Clinton were evacuated
on the morning of Monday,
September 19 due to a fire
started by a toaster.
The Central Huron Fire
Department posted on their
Facebook page that morn-
ing, "Central Huron fire
department is on scene of
reports of a fire in an apart-
ment on Albert St. They have
blocked the road so please
keep your distance."
Some people were unsure
if this was in the same build-
ing as or connected to the
more serious fire that hap-
pened around three weeks
ago also in apartment build-
ings on Albert Street.
However the two are not
connected.
"It was nothing serious,
though it could have been,"
said Fire Chief Dave Renner.
"Everyone got out safely."
There was some fire and
smoke damage to cup-
boards by the toaster, but
the only apartment affected
was the one where the fire
started.
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