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Disability Awareness
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Switch
(
Student Wellness Initiative Toward
Community Health
)
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What I want
you to know
and feel !
What it’s like
to be
DISABLED…
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EVERY DAY A PERSON WITH
DISABILITIES
FACES
MANY
CHALLENGES!
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I WANT YOU
TO UNDERSTAND
 The realities of what its like to be disabled.
 When or how to offer help to a person
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People with disabilities
must deal with discriminatory and
prejudicial attitudes, unfair
practices,
and
structural barriers,
DAILY.
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PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
WANT
Empathy….
NO PITY PLEASE!
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LET’S WORK TOGETHER
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A disability is the consequence
of a disease, injury or condition
that impairs one or more
facets of a person’s ability to
perform the daily functions of
life.
TAKEN FROM:
Disability and the duty to accomodate in the Canadian workplace by Michael Lynk
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Able…ism is a form of discrimination
based
on the classic human assumption that
non-disabled individuals
are the standard of
“normal living”.
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All people are generally
kind !
 But we may have deeply
hidden
predudices….
 From our upbringing
 Our life experiences
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 THERE WERE 4.4 MILLION CANADIANS WITH
DISABILITIES in 2006 *
~
10%
OF SASK. UNEMPLOYED ARE DISABLED
~
25%
OF THOSE DISABLED
FELT THAT THIER
DISABILITY
AFFECTED THEIR EMPLOYABILITY *
*http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/disability-statisticcanada.php
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Hi!
My name is
LEN BOSER
At age 46 ~ 12 YEARS AGO
I AWOKE
TO A PARALYZED STATE
THERE WAS NO
WARNING……. NO PAIN!
I WAS A
STROKE
SURVIVOR
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I WAS TAKEN AWAY
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AT THE
HOSPITAL
I WAS…
In a coma 2 ½ weeks
AWOKE ….UNABLE TO TALK
OR
MOVE MUCH OF MY BODY
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FROM MY BED…
I WAS
LIFTED
TO A
“BUTT BUCKET”
OCCASIONALLY I WAS PUSHED TO
AND LEFT
IN FRONT
OF THE
NURSES STATION
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I WAS IGNORED…
I WAS TALKED ABOUT
“F L Y
ON
THE
W A L L”
BUT SELDOM TO!
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NO ONE
LIKES
BEING
IGNORED!
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FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS
MY LIFE
WAS DEDICATED
TO REHABILITATION
& RECEIVING MEDICAL SUPERVISION
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I STARTED WITH LYING ON A MAT
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I
WAS
STRETCHED
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IT WAS TOUGH
STAYING MOTIVATED!
WHY BOTHER WITH THERAPY!
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I
BEGAN
A
“NEW LIFE”
AT AGE 46
AS A
DISABLED
PERSON
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MAN ABOUT TOWN
SPEAKER
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I’ve been busy!
 I’m proud to initiate some changes
(with a little help from my friends)
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…. AND ON SNOW CLEARING
and other issues!
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SO HERE I AM!
I AWAKE
(if I’m lucky)
TO my post-stroke reality…
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MY RIGHT SIDE IS PARALYZED
I CAN THINK ALL I WANT
BUT I’M UNABLE TO
RAISE MY RIGHT ARM OVER MY HEAD
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THAT CAN BE
WHAT IT’S LIKE
TO BE
DISABLED!
YOUR MIND THINKS
I’LL RAISE MY ARM
BUT YOUR BODY
DOES NOT RESPOND
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MY RIGHT SIDE
PARALYSIS…
IT’S LIKE
FEELING
THAT I
HAVE ONE
FUNCTIONAL
ARM AND HAVE A
EXTRA WEIGHT
STAPPED TO MY
LEG!
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LETS LOOK AT ANOTHER
“TYPE”
OF
DISABILITY
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A LITTLE EXERCISE!
CLOSE YOUR EYES
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IF THE POWER
GOES OUT
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COULD YOU FIND YOUR
WAY AROUND
YOUR
?
A
SIGHT
DISABILITY
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IMAGINE
USING
A WASHROOM
THAT WAS NEW TO YOU!
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LAZIEST DOG I’VE EVER HAD
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THIS HELPS
IF
A PERSON WITH
DISABILITIES
CANNOT PUSH A BUTTON!
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GETTING IN OR OUT
CAN BE
CHALLENGING!
BUT NOT WITH
THESE
SWITCHES
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CAN WE CHANGE
THE WAY WE PERCIEVE
PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY !
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COMMUNICATION WITH A DISABLED
PERSON IS NO DIFFERENT THAN
COMMUNICATING
WITH A NON-DISABLED PERSON
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GREET
ALL PEOPLE
THE SAME WAY!
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“ASK”
IF THE PERSON
DECLINES YOUR
HELP…
CAN I ASSIST
IN ANY WAY?
RESPECT THEIR
DECISION!
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IF NO ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM
IS PROVIDED
ARE
YO U O R YO U R
S TA F F
AWA R E O F O N E
NEARBY ?
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DO YOU ASSUME
ALL PEOPLE
WITH A DISABILITY
ARE EITHER …
A DISABILITY CAN INCLUDE:
Obesity
Height
Alcoholism
Hypertension
Colour Blindness
Panic Attacks
HIV and AIDS
Depression
Drug Dependence
Speech Impediment
Dyslexia
Stress
Heart attack/heart
condition
Hysterectomy
Broken Foot
Tobacco addiction
Crohns
Knee Pain
Fear of flying
among many others.
TAKEN FROM:
Disability and the duty to accomodate in the Canadian workplace by Michael Lynk
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We recommend…
Speak directly to the person
with the disability rather than
their companion or interpreter.
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Should I shake hands?
MAYBE…
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BE CAREFUL – SOME PEOPLE DO
NOT SHAKE HANDS
THE SPREAD OF GERMS
CONCERNS PEOPLE
.
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FRANKLY A HANDSHAKE
IS NO LONGER
A
NORM
IN OUR SOCIETY
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If the person has limited hand use
or has an artificial limb, it is ok to
shake what is offered to you.
It is equally acceptable to politely
touch them on the shoulder/arm or
offer a smile/nod to reciprocate a
warm greeting.
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When talking with a person in a
wheelchair for more than a few minutes,
“squat down” or use a chair
Place yourself
at the person’s eye level
when talking.
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Do not talk down to the person…
Or make inappropriate gestures such as
patting the person on the head.
OK
FOR THE DOG!
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LISTENING IS KEY
YOU CAN
SAY…SOMETHING LIKE
AS I UNDERSTAND
YOU….YOU WANT______?
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•USE
COMPANY
LOGO OR
MESSAGE AS
A SCREEN
SAVER
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UPON GOING OUT
A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY
ENCOUNTERS…
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ENVIRONMENTAL
BARRIERS
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A disabled person
encounters design flaws
in our environment
all the time.
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SOME MAY BE…
SIDEWALKS
…
UN – SHOVELED
UNACCESSIBLE BUS SHELTERS
NO STAIRWAY HANDRAILS
UNCROSSABLE STREETS
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Will I be able to get into the building
OR
are there “disabled” friendly bathrooms?
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AND I SEE
A VAN PARKED IN A
DISABLED PARKING SPOT
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MY FIRST REACTION
MAY BE TO THINK…
THEY DON’T LOOK
DISABLED !
BUT I MUST
REMEMBER…
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A NON-VISIBLE
DISABILITY
MAY BE
A PERSON’S
BREATHING, A HEART CONDITION
WALKING DIFFICULTIES
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SOME VISIBLE EXAMPLES
A white cane may indicate signs of
vision impairment OR low vision.
A wheelchair may indicate
difficulties with mobility such as
walking, strength or balance.
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A DISABILITY
DOES NOT
HAVE TO
STOP YOU FROM
PERSUING YOUR DREAMS
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TO DANCE AGAIN!
… and LOCALLY
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I HAVE A FRIEND
WITH A DISABILITY
THAT IS
PERMANENTLY
IN A WHEELCHAIR
A damaged spinal cord (impairment)
brings loss of movement of lower limbs
(disability), leading to the impossibility
of entering a building with stairs (barrier).
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HE IS
EMPLOYED
AS A
TEACHERS AIDE
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MY DISABILITY
HAS NOT STOPPED ME FROM…
WRITING BOOKS
VOLUNTEERING
GETTING
MARRIED
S TA RT I N G
A BUSINESS
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THIS
WORLD RENOWNED PERSON
DID NOT LET HIS DISABILITIES STOP
HIM
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Stephen Hawking is considered among the
great minds of the 20th century.
A disease left him with no mobility.
His voice comes through on a computer
and his wheel chair is blink-controlled.
AN
ASTROPHYSITIST
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REMEMBER
We all A G E !
SO LET’S
GET
PREPARED
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WE CALL HIM
“TIRED WOODS”
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HALF OF ALL PEOPLE
AFTER REACHING THE AGE OF
50
WILL BE DISABLED
IN SOME WAY
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Even your Eyeglasses
CORRECT a vision
disability!
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We want a safe
environment
for all!
Everyone should be
proactive in identifying
barriers to the disabled .
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Complain if you see…
Store aisles so cluttered
they couldn’t accommodate
scooters, wheelchairs, strollers
or walkers.
Aisles are not there for storage or
huge promotional boxes
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When people say
that the squeaky wheel gets the grease…
they mean that the people
who complain or protest the loudest
attract
attention and service.
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WHO CAN HELP?
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GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE
ORGANIZATIONS
MAY ASSIST IN WORKPLACE
ACCOMMODATION COSTS
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WEB SITE
ON DISABILITY
www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/disability_issues/index.shtml
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http://www.socialservices.gov.sk.ca/office-disability
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www.neilsquire.ca
Is one of many non-profit organizations in
Canada that uses technology, knowledge
and passion to empower Canadians with
physical disabilities.
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Is a community based organization that
has offered programs and services to
children and adults since 1970.
Radius
Community Centre for Education and
Employment Training…. FOR
EVERYONE!
#6 Bateman Crescent
Saskatoon, SK S7H 3C2
Tel: 306.665.0362
Fax: 306.665.5579
Email:
info@radiuscentre.com
www.radiuscentre.com
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http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/disability_issues/disability_savin
gs/index.shtml
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IN REVIEW…
THINK ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE
TREATED IF YOU WERE
SUDDENLY DISABLED!
OFFER ASSISTANCE
WHEN APPROPRIATE
NO ONE WANTS TO BE PITIED!
EMPATHIZE
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STINKIN THINKING! …
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I HAVE VOLUNTEERED
FOR
VARIOUS GROUPS
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FOR MANY YEARS I ADJUSTED
PROPERTY CLAIMS
NOW, I ADJUST
ATTITUDES
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