Dear friends:
The world as we know it today is definitely not what it was as we knew it yesterday and it will not be the same tomorrow after this horrific pandemic is over.
One thing is for certain however and this is that we need to continue our vigil to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are not forgotten. That they continue to be protected, recognized, and legitimize. In short, that we as a community are not forgotten or left behind.
All levels of government continue to hammer home that Canadians and the world at large need to be overly mindful when it comes to protecting the well being of seniors and the vulnerable. We may choose to classify a person with a disability as one who is vulnerable. So with this in mind, I’d like to offer the following thoughts.
* That social distancing may prove challenging for persons with a disability and as a result certain allowances should be made to accommodate the needs and limitations of persons with a disability.
* That due to several restrictions being placed on how we carry out our daily or weekly shopping tasks, it would be more difficult for persons with a disability to adhere to said restrictions and that all levels of government should consider providing additional assistance.
This could be expanded to ensure that their access to said critical services be facilitated through funding access to devices, training and infrastructure aimed at ensuring their equal and safe access to the things and services they need in order to survive and participate in this changed world.
* In the spirit of equality we must ensure that any and every Federal and Provincial website along with those websites of companies that are federally and provincially regulated are usable and navigable. That all information and content on said websites can be equally accessed by Canadians with disabilities.
* That all apps that are developed federally, provincially, and by companies under the federal and provincial umbrella are fully accessible to persons with a disability.
* That the voices of persons with a disability be heard and acknowledged.
I believe that it is vitally important for us as a community to ensure that our rights are not forgotten and if anything that they are enhanced under certain circumstances.
We must not be left behind and the only way for us to ensure that this does not happen is for us to speak up, speak out, and to be there for each other.
I encourage everyone to stay strong! Be of good courage! If we stick together and work together then success will be ours!
“Nothing about us without us”
Just my two cents for today.