Comments on: Ontario’s Accessibility Act

By: Friendly, agreeing comment to Estée « No Stereotypes Here

Friendly, agreeing comment to Estée « No Stereotypes Here — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:09:55 +0000

[...] Her entry can be found here as “Ontario’s Accessibility Act” [...]

By: Corina Becker

Corina Becker — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:54:04 +0000

Hi. I’m looking forward to this. I am one of those that had a hard time accepting accommodations in school settings. I saw it as singling me out for bullying, as well as “cheating”, since I didn’t understand that accommodations are to help “level the playing field” so that it’s fair and so that I have the tools to be able to show that I did learn what was being taught in class.

Accommodations outside of the classroom allow people to communicate in a manner that better suits them, be able to access the same services as others, and be able to interact in society. That’s what accommodations are.

For a more visible disability, it is widely accepted to accommodate for them. I’m talking about ramps and lowered sinks for wheelchair users, allowing blind dogs into restaurants, malls and other settings, hearing aids and communication devices for people with impaired hearing (please note, I do not know the preferred terms that these people would rather I use, so please excuse my ignorance and maybe, could you educate me?).
For less obvious disabilities, such as Learning Disabilities, parts of autism and others, accommodations should be just as acceptable. However, we have a habit of being made invisible because we don’t look very disabled. But we are. For example, it is a lot easier for me to type this than it is for me to say it, even though I am considered a verbal autistic. So this computer and keyboard that I’m using is an accommodation. Accommodations aren’t to be used as excuses to not try, but rather, to build on strengths to overcome weaknesses that otherwise impair ability.

So. I am looking forward to this, and hope that this will help to make changes in society to be more accepting and understanding for people with disabilities.

By: Anemone

Anemone — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:08:33 +0000

Huh. When I think of “accommodating disabled persons” I think of being allowed to use email instead of the phone when contacting organizations, and not having to wait two weeks for an answer (as I did recently with my phone company, though they cleared up the problem right away when they did get to me). I can’t even use email at all to contact most government services here in BC. And that one is so basic, you would think. This one is going to take a while to work its way through.

By: farmwifetwo

farmwifetwo — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:20:24 +0000

We sit on both sides of the “accommodations” legislation argument. Personal, business and political. I do think you can push “accommodation” too far, all people cannot be all to everyone. Those that require the accommodations should also meet “society” half way, they shouldn’t expect to be catered to. If there is a constant fear of being sued for doing your best, then what’s the point in owning a business??

We have a new VP next year and last year was our best year ever, but it took me 2 years of fighting that VP (this will be #3) to put in basic accommodations… actually it boiled down to they would do it or I’d request a Behavioural Assessment of that classroom… They didn’t want that b/c they have a behavioural problem in that school and it’s not my kids.

I’ve been lucky. Little boy has a computer and his Writing with Symbols. Eldest had his own last year and this year they are talking about getting him http://www.keyboardinstructor.com Only because do to a lot of complaining, some going over heads and some “lets twist the truth” I got him OT support a year ago.

I am currently deciding how demanding I wish to be. I am thinking of calling the school at the end of the month and demanding a meeting. I haven’t had an IPRC one in years…. maybe it’s time I flashed that card around.