You Count Too!: A Forum for Disability Advocacy
Editor: Shannon M. Smith
Issue 1: October, 1999
For further information, write to:
Shannon Smith
991 King Street West P.O. Box 89093 Hamilton, On L8S 4R5
Editor's Letter
Hello, and thank you for reading this, the first issue of a pamphlet which discusses issues that concern or affect disabled persons today. Inasmuch as this is the first issue, it will not be rife with information. I will rely on you, my readers, to provide me with articles on those issues which you deem noteworthy. Remember that not only is this pamphlet here to serve the disabled public, but it is also a tool to educate those who are deemed "normal" by society. They however have just as much a disability as a visually impaired person or a wheel-chair user; they--or the majority thereof--know little or nothing of how we think, how we feel, and how we wish to be treated. The lack of knowledge on the part of the "normal" majority concerning our welfare is one of the most crippling disabilities: the aforesaid people lose the joy if interacting on the same level with their fellow men and women.
You have doubtless heard the adage: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.". This is one of the most profound truths that we all, in respect for those around us, should abide by. However, multitudinous disabled persons--including myself--have felt extremely frustrated many a time at being treated like lesser beings. Granted, many people feel they must treat us as children because they don't think we are capable of taking care of ourselves. There are those developmentally challenged people and those with severe physical handicaps who have difficulties in doing this, but the entirely superfluous behaviour on the part of the "normal" majority can be very frustrating for one-like myself--who is quite capable of doing anything one sets one's mind to. Therefore, the uppermost reason in my mind for establishing this pamphlet is to educate people that we, notwithstanding our few limitations, can do most anything we choose to do.
I have had many experiences where adults whom I thought to be quite level-headed and beyond issuing childish behaviour--University officials, for example--have treated me like a baby just out of the cradle. One person actually asked me: "Oh, did they just let you out of the institution??". I think I know why this question was asked; only a few decades ago as surprising as it seems, many disabled people their actual abilities notwithstanding were deemed as people not fit to lead productive lives in society. They were consequently put into various intitutions. However, that was then and this is undeniably now! But this person's question not only angered me, it also planted the spark within me to begin writing the document you are now reading.
I mentioned University officials a few lines back, and I suppose before I go on that I ought to give you some background information about myself. I am a visually impaired student currently attending McMaster University as an English major. My medical condition--with which I have been afflicted--if you want to call it an affliction--since my birth--is known as Cepto Optic Dysplasia. In Layman's terms, that means that my optic nerve decayed from lack of oxygen before I was born. I am currently living independently--something I have done for almost three years now--and I am self-employed as a Braille transcriber. Many "normal" members of society are aghast that I could actually live on my own, but I am very independent and I wish to remain so. And yes, for any "normal" readers, I can cook and keep house with relative--if not extreme--ease. (I don't just make microwave TV dinners, either. Would you believe that one who is often deemed a "poor blind person" could actually make fettucine alfredo with home-made alfredo sauce?)
I would like to hear about you now, whether you are disabled or whether you are someone who is interested in assisting disabled persons or in being educated about disabilities. Unfortunately, my perspective is a bit dim as I know little or nothing about hearing impairment and cognitive disabilities. I would greatly appreciate any articles on any and all types of disability, for I am hoping that this pamphlet will be a forum for all disability issues. Please remember, however, that I do no appreciate plagiarism. If you site any passages from journals or magazines, please attach a reference or footnote to your article. You may send any articles and/or personal perspectives on how disability affects or afflicts you to:
Shannon Smith
991 King Street West P.O. Box 89093
Hamilton, On L8S 4R5.
If you wish to correspond, you may do so in type, on cassette or in Grade II braille. Thank you in advance.
Information Swap Shop
This section of the pamphlet--which I hope will become a regular feature--alows for the trading or giving away of information on disabilities or of items which might assist disabled persons. Individual buying and selling of items is not endorsed herein, but if I come to know of a company which dispenses information or technical aids for nominal fees, I will not hesitate to mention it in this section.
I have several books on audio two-track cassette and in ascii text on IBM diskette which I am offering free of charge to anyone who is interested. These include:
- Tips, Tools and Techniques: A Home-Maintenance Manual for Disabled Persons
- Help Yourself: A Guide to Personal Care for the Disabled
- Youth-Link: A Job-Search Manual
- an orientation guide to Royal Bank's audio banking machines
- several brochures on budgeting and banking
- several brochures discussing the various aspects of Human Resources Development Canada, and much more.
If you are interested in any of these, you may write to:
Shannon Smith
991 King Street West P.O. Box 89093
Hamilton, On L8S 4R5.
Please correspond in type, on cassette, or in Grade II Braille. You may also call the following numbers to order these documents and many others for no cost:
- InfoTouch: 1-800-788-8282. This is a self-explanatory, automated menu-driven system which allows you to order documents in multiple formats: grade II braille, large print, audio cassette and computer diskette. You need to use a touch-tone phone to access this sevice.
- Royal Bank and Royal Trust Multiple Format Services:
1-800-Royal97. This is the same type of automated system, but you can order documents concerning services offered at the Royal Bank. (If you have any trouble ordering your desired documents, you can press zero at any time while using the system to speak with an operator).
If you are interested in purchasing technical aids for the visually impaired such as:
- magnifiers and CCTVs
- talking clocks, watches and calculators
- needle-threaders and other household implements, etc., your CNIB district office can help.
To contact the Hamilton Office, call: (905) 528-8555. If you wish to call the Hamilton CNIB's activity line for information on regional events and fund-raising, the number is (905)527-5200.
The Last Word: Overcoming Barriers
"I was born with cerebral palsy and have lived with this disability all of my life. I also live with chronic low back pain. Although I do have some mobility, I have used a wheelchair for the last five years. Throughout my life, I have had to deal with every conceivable barrier from closed minda and misconceptions about disability to physical inaccessiblity and everything in between. The type of disability each of us has may be very different and the barriers we encounter, as a result of our disability may be different. However, we all share the experience of living with a disability. I have learned once your disability changes or increases in severity the barriers you face may very well change. This can be difficult to deal with sometimes, but it's reality. Some of the barriers I face now are very different from the barriers I had to deal with ten years ago."--L. Tara Hooper, Disability Works: A Job Search Manual, Published 1997.
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