The AODA needs you to support it
Apr. 24th, 2012 06:49 pm![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
troubleAs most people who know me already know, Don is a full-time wheelchair user. In addition, he is a regular user of our medical system - he needs to have regular tests to ensure that his heart is still healthy, for example, and he needs to have various levels of things checked regularly in order to ensure that his thyroid replacement drug is working properly and his blood pressure isn't wonky. These are the sorts of tests he needs to keep him alive.
Since moving to Ontario, Don has been referred to two different medical clinics for evaluation of these. He was referred to both of these clinics by doctors who were aware he was a wheelchair user since they physically saw Don in his wheelchair when referring him, and also because they were referring him for things that need to be checked because of his Marfan's Syndrome, which is why he uses said wheelchair.
Don has been to two different medical clinics in Toronto, exactly zero of which have been wheelchair accessible.
A few months ago he needed to get into one clinic for a blood test and urine test. Most people can complete them both in the clinic. Don had to take things home and pee in a cup here because the washroom was completely unsuitable for people with mobility issues or people using wheelchairs, which meant Don had to make two trips - trips that take far more out of him than they would out of a non-disabled person.
The clinic today, which was ultrasound for his aorta, was not only clumsy in dealing with people who have unusual heart conditions (like, say, someone with Marfan's Syndrome), but their washroom was inaccessible to people with mobility-related issues or using wheelchairs, as well as having narrow hallways and doors that made navigating very difficult for someone in an electric chair.
The common response of people who are afraid of the Access for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and similar legislation in the US is that if there's a need, things will be taken care of. Everyone "knows" that people want to be accessible they just lack the knowledge or ability or something that will make this happen. You just need to ask nicely and it will be provided.
Medical clinics serve people with disabilities on a regular basis and they can't even get it together on accessibility. That's why we need these sorts of laws, because frankly it's too long to wait.
Since moving to Ontario, Don has been referred to two different medical clinics for evaluation of these. He was referred to both of these clinics by doctors who were aware he was a wheelchair user since they physically saw Don in his wheelchair when referring him, and also because they were referring him for things that need to be checked because of his Marfan's Syndrome, which is why he uses said wheelchair.
Don has been to two different medical clinics in Toronto, exactly zero of which have been wheelchair accessible.
A few months ago he needed to get into one clinic for a blood test and urine test. Most people can complete them both in the clinic. Don had to take things home and pee in a cup here because the washroom was completely unsuitable for people with mobility issues or people using wheelchairs, which meant Don had to make two trips - trips that take far more out of him than they would out of a non-disabled person.
The clinic today, which was ultrasound for his aorta, was not only clumsy in dealing with people who have unusual heart conditions (like, say, someone with Marfan's Syndrome), but their washroom was inaccessible to people with mobility-related issues or using wheelchairs, as well as having narrow hallways and doors that made navigating very difficult for someone in an electric chair.
The common response of people who are afraid of the Access for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and similar legislation in the US is that if there's a need, things will be taken care of. Everyone "knows" that people want to be accessible they just lack the knowledge or ability or something that will make this happen. You just need to ask nicely and it will be provided.
Medical clinics serve people with disabilities on a regular basis and they can't even get it together on accessibility. That's why we need these sorts of laws, because frankly it's too long to wait.
no subject
Date: 2012-04-25 01:16 am (UTC)My only solution is that you should both move to Perth! I've been looking into some Department of Health jobs (admin stuff) and they are very firm on disability access. And you know, we have those great buses which kneel.
But it would be better if the city you live in, where you are both citizens, would fix things.
no subject
Date: 2012-04-25 02:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-25 05:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-25 06:51 am (UTC)I think it would be an interesting exercise, next time someone pulls that bullshit, to force them to list all the places they're planning on going today going and people they would have to "ask nicely".
For example, off the top of my head today:
+ Bus to get to college + bus driver
+ Classroom one + teacher one
+ Dining hall + lunch lady
+ Classroom two + teacher two
+ Supermarket + staff there
+ Clothes shop one + staff there. Then if I don't find what I need, clothes shop two, clothes shop three...
Also - I just had a teacher go off on me because I hadn't told her I was HoH. I pointed out I couldn't remember who I'd told - we've had half a dozen different teachers, they swap us back and forth - and that it hadn't been relevant, because we were in a stupidly set up classroom anyway and she paced, so I couldn't say "stand where I can see you so I can lipread" or no-one else would be able to see her.
But I was getting along fine - I could follow most of the class, and it wasn't difficult - and I only brought it up because I was asking if the film we had to watch had subtitles (Neither of them did.) Asking about accomodation (not even asking for it) got me a lecture on not having told her, and then when she asked how I coped with the echoes and I explained lipreading, a patronising little speech about how wonderful it is I'd adapted and how I was lucky.
All I wanted was the same access to information as my classmates.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2012-04-25 07:01 am (UTC)-J