Latest news with #OntarioDisabilityCoalition
CBC
19-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Toronto Island author publishes historical fiction about child with disability
A Toronto Island author is celebrating the release of her new book. Let's Go, Darby! is based on a true story about a boy in the 1800s who was disabled and made a harrowing journey to The Hospital for Sick Children, now known as SickKids Hospital, for a surgery. Linda Rosenbaum says her aim is to advocate for the inclusion of children with illnesses and disabilities in literature. "I think a lot of kids who are ill or have disabilities will relate to it, but what I'm finding is that adults are really enjoying it too because there's so much Toronto history in it," said Rosenbaum, who is the mother of a child with a disability. The middle grade book tells the story of Georgie Titus, who is 10 years old and has clubfoot. He's unable to walk and gets bullied by kids at school. Georgie hears about a new children's hospital in Toronto where they "perform miracles." He is determined to go and makes a 65-kilometre journey from Uxbridge by dogsled to the hospital's front doors. During his months-long stay at the hospital and its summer home on Toronto Island, miracles do happen, mostly unexpected. With the help of his beloved nurse and first-ever friends, Georgie gains the courage and confidence he needs to take the next big steps in his life. "It's historical fiction and you've got to get everything right of the period that you're writing about," Rosenbaum said. "So I spent virtually six months at the archives at SickKids trying to get all the background." Sherry Caldwell, director of the Ontario Disability Coalition, says books like Lets Go, Darby! help kids with disabilities feel represented. "It's really important, especially now, that people are thinking about our children and that they're seeing themselves in the world and can visualize themselves in all sorts of roles and feel included," she said. This month, SickKids Hospital marked 150 years. The hospital started as an 11-room house with just six iron cots, rented by a group of women. Rosenbaum says the book is also intended to recognize the hospital's contributions to health care.
CBC
17-02-2025
- General
- CBC
Barrie woman says GO Train spots reserved for people with disabilities are misused daily
Disability advocates say accessible GO Train spots are misused daily 4 minutes ago Duration 3:30 Social Sharing Heather Morgan says she's missed trains and almost had her wheelchair ramp swiped by vehicles multiple times at the Allandale Waterfront GO Station in Barrie, Ont., because people without permits are constantly parking in the accessible spots. "What people do is they come and drop off their fully able-bodied passengers using the accessible spots." Morgan said, adding there's been many times when all six spots are occupied and she's left with nowhere to go. "I've sat on my horn for five minutes straight and not had any response." It's an issue she says has been ongoing for the last couple of years, and one she's tried to bring to the attention of Metrolinx. Metrolinx says there are multiple measures in place to ensure the spaces are not misused and encourages customers to contact support. But Morgan says she has contacted the transit agency multiple times and hasn't seen anything change. Morgan uses a wheelchair and her van deploys a ramp on the passenger side. She says she needs enough space to deploy the ramp and exit the vehicle safely. But another issue that arises is people who don't have permits aren't expecting to see the ramp and have come within inches of hitting it — and her. "I'm just waiting for the horrible day when somebody takes my ramp off," she said. "I would say 80 per cent of the people seem to know that they're not supposed to be there, and that doesn't bother them." Morgan would like to see better enforcement to discourage this, including clear signage indicating the accessible spots are not a drop off zone, more fines being handed out and more options for places to tap on and off at the drop off and pick up zone. Sherry Caldwell, director of the Ontario Disability Coalition, says she wants to see more enforcement, but she also wants drivers to understand how their actions impact others. "I think they probably don't understand that someone that is using a wheelchair van doesn't have the luxury of just choosing another spot, literally they have to cancel their trip and go home," said Caldwell. She says her organization hears about this issue at public places across the province. Metrolinx response In a statement, Metrolinx said customers looking to drop off or pick up passengers must use the designated areas available to them. "Clear signage indicates how to access the appropriate pick-up and drop-off areas to ensure pedestrians can safely get in and out of their vehicles during busy times at the station," the statement says. The transit agency said customers will be fined $300 if they park, stand or stop in an accessible parking spot, including the access aisle, without a valid accessible parking permit. CBC News asked Metrolinx how many fines have been given out in the last year in the GTA, but the transit agency didn't respond. Metrolinx said it encourages customers to report incidents. Morgan says she feels that approach hasn't been working for her, but she hopes speaking out about the issue provokes change. In her experience, Morgan says, GO Transit is otherwise one of the most accessible public transit options in Ontario, but not being able to park changes the entire experience and the course of her day.
