Latest news with #disabilityadvocacy
CBC
5 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Kitchener senior with mobility issues faces months without accessible parking
Renate Euteneier is facing the threat of losing her parking spot, and with it, her independence. Euteneier, who turns 87 this fall, requires an accessible parking permit. While the parking garage in her Kitchener apartment building undergoes renovations, she's been told she has to park elsewhere. "I'm having nightmares," she told CBC News. Euteneier said she's worried losing her spot means she'll be housebound for fear of having to park too far away. But she admits, "I have to get out sometime." From accessible to inaccessible overnight When Euteneier moved into the building nearly 10 years ago, she didn't have accessibility requirements. Since then, her mobility has deteriorated, but luckily, the parking space included in her lease has always worked for her needs. However, with renovations slated from June to October, building managers M. Schiketanz Real Estate say she'll have to use a temporary lot half of a kilometre downhill from her building — a distance Euteneier says she simply can't manage anymore. "I'm not walking as fast as I used to," she said, adding that she now uses a walking stick for mobility. When she got a notice saying she would be losing her spot for a time, she reached out to management to let them know about her situation, saying she was hopeful they would accommodate her disability. A patio is blocking accessible parking in Belmont Village. Advocates say that's not fair So when several visitor parking spaces opened up close to the building, she asked if she could use one of them. Euteneier said their response was "no." She said that despite speaking to managers on the phone and attending an in-person meeting, they've offered "no solutions." In an emailed statement, M. Schiketanz president Mark Machel said Euteneier is not on the company's "ambulatory list," which helps determine priority for accessible parking. He acknowledged the situation is challenging, but said the company is "doing our best considering the situation." The statement said that visitor spots at the building would be first-come-first-serve. Machel said some spots had been converted to accessible spaces, but they would also be unassigned. "Providing a reserved space for tenants creates a problem that everyone else wants one too," he said. "We do understand tenant needs and are trying to accommodate everyone, but it is difficult." A lack of reasonable alternatives Street parking has also been suggested, but the stretch of road outside Euteneier's building is shared with two nearby schools, meaning there's a lot of congestion and limited availability during the day. She said she's worried there's no guarantee she'll be able to park near her home. She said if management "would give us some room somewhere, some consideration somewhere," it would help. And Euteneier's not alone. She worries about what this means for other residents with mobility issues, too. "It's not only us few who have a handicapped sticker, it's a lot of other old people who don't have it." What does the law say? In Ontario, landlords are required to accommodate tenants with disabilities under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). "It's not just a matter of, 'shucks, there's nothing we can do,'" said David Lepofsky, chair of the AODA Alliance. "They have to show it would be impossible to do anything more for this individual without undue hardship," he said. Lepofsky said that includes a duty for the landlords to investigate reasonable alternatives. In Euteneier's case, Lepofsky believes the building managers will have a hard time making the case that it's impossible to accommodate her. Her story resonates with others in Waterloo region, too. CJ Janzen, vice-chair of Cambridge's Accessibility Advisory Committee, said they went through a similar situation last year when their parking spot was under renovation. Janzen, who uses a wheelchair, said they had to "fight to have special cones placed in the one spot so that I could park my van and have the ramps come out at curb level." "At least I didn't have to go half a mile." A broader issue Advocates say Euteneier's situation is just one example of a broader issue. "We have an accessible housing crisis in Canada, not just a shortage — a crisis," said Lepofsky. Edward Faruzel, executive director of Kitchener-Waterloo AccessAbility, said the region isn't exempt from these issues. He said the supply of housing that meets accessibility needs is far too low. "Especially for somebody that needs wheelchair access," he said. Faruzel said the waiting list for accessible housing in Waterloo region "is up to 10 years." Euteneier said she feels stuck. She's unable to rely on accessible parking, but she also can't afford to leave. In addition, Faruzel said it's unlikely she'd find a suitable apartment in just five months, anyway. But that doesn't mean she isn't considering it. "I've been too independent," she said. "So now I've learned to not be so independent." "Maybe I'll go into a nursing home for a few months," she said. She's also considering moving into her son's Georgetown, Ont., home, "just to get out." 'Oh my god, I have sleepless nights' With the countdown on before the parking garage shuts down, Euteneier is running out of options. "Oh my god, I have sleepless nights," she said.
CBC
7 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Ontario won't claw back federal disability benefit
Amid growing concern from Ontarians with disabilities and their advocates, the province has announced it will not claw back the incoming Canada Disability Benefit (CDB). The CDB was passed in 2023, and the government committed $6.1 billion to it in the 2024 federal budget. Beginning in July, eligible recipients can receive up to $2,400 per year, or a maximum of $200 per month. In a news release on Tuesday, the province announced it will be exempting the federal benefit as income. That means recipients won't have money deducted from their provincial social assistance payments or entitlements such as the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). Since the CDB's passage, advocates have feared the provinces and territories may claw back the benefit. As of this March, at least seven have promised not to do that, but Alberta has announced it will claw back the benefit under certain circumstances. "It was a huge concern that this was not going to make it to the people who deserve to see this benefit," said Ron Anicich, co-chair of the ODSP Action Coalition. Advocates relieved, but wary Rabia Khedr, national director of advocacy group Disability Without Poverty (DWP), said the news from Alberta stoked fear and disappointment within the disability community. But Khedr said the Ontario government has previously taken "steps in the right direction," including its decision to increase the ODSP exemption from $200 to $1,000, giving her hope that the province would do the right thing. "I always felt strongly that, because they had committed to an earnings exemption, that there is no way they could justify clawing back a $200 federal benefit," she said. "So I'm glad that they have confirmed that today." Advocates say they still have other concerns about the benefit program, however. In order to be eligible for the CDB, recipients must be approved for the disability tax credit, and for that they must receive certification from a medical practitioner. "What we're seeing now is people scrambling to sign up for the disability tax credit," said Anicich. "Which is fine when people have family doctors, but there are two million people in this province that do not have family doctors who are just unable to access this benefit." To Khedr, the answer is to "simply cut red tape." "The folks that are in the provincial system who have already filled out medical forms and have already attested to their disability shouldn't have to complete that kind of scrutinizing process again," she said. Instead, many disability advocates have been calling for the federal government to make recipients of provincial programs such as ODSP automatically eligible for the CDB. In an email to CBC on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services said it's also calling on the federal government to change the Income Tax Act to align those eligibility requirements. "We believe people who already access the Ontario Disability Support Program and meet the other eligibility criteria should automatically qualify for the CDB, rather than be required to pay $200 under the program as it is presented," the spokesperson wrote. Concerns over amount Despite the good news on clawbacks, Khedr and Anicich still regard the CDB's maximum monthly payment of $200 as inadequate and are calling for an increase. "Ontarians with disabilities on ODSP and who qualify for the candidate disability benefits still will be well below the poverty line," Khedr noted. "And living with a disability costs at least 30 per cent above the poverty line." Khedr said recipients desperately need the financial help and will use it to improve their lives. "It means that maybe they can buy healthier food or supplements, maybe they can buy over-the-counter painkillers to manage their day so that they can even consider searching for work and improving their quality of life," she said. "It is money that will be spent on necessities of daily living." Khedr and Anicich are also calling for better collaboration among people with disabilities and their advocates, and demanded a say when decisions affecting their lives are made.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
This blind darts league is a bullseye for some in Windsor's blind community
A new blind darts league in Windsor, Ont., is bringing blind and partially-sighted people together — offering both a sense of inclusion and joy. "It gives all of us an opportunity to feel like we just belong," said organizer Peter Best, a longtime disability advocate who is blind. It started with a suggestion at the local Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 months ago as they brainstormed possible activities for the local blind community, given that there aren't many available to them, Best explained. "I said, 'Why don't we play darts?' And they said, 'Well wait a minute. You've got blind, visually-impaired people throwing sharp objects around a crowded room?'" Best chuckled. "I said, 'It sounds perfect.'" 'We do it very safely' Best and fellow organizer Sharron Jarvis got the green light from the legion, which offered them complimentary use of the space, and started up the league back in February. While there is a blind darts team in the United Kingdom, Best says that to his knowledge, the Windsor league is the only blind dart group in Canada. The Windsor league has about nine players, and volunteer score keepers and guides who support the process. A volunteer will line up players who need guidance at the regular line eight feet away from the dart board, make sure they're centred, facing the right direction, hand them the darts, and then make sure the area is clear before anyone throws the darts. "We do it very safely... Nobody's been injured and everybody keeps coming back," Best said. Best's cousin Gary Best has been volunteering as a guide since the league began. "I'll tell you, they have improved since the beginning and they're getting better," he said, also pointing out that they're using real darts, not plastic ones. "They're starting to hit the board really good now." Fills a need in the community They also compete in different categories based on how much vision different players have: B1 for individuals who are totally blind, B2 for those with light perception and some shadows, and B3 for those with partial sight. Carole Beaulieu, one of the players who is blind and plays in the B1 category, says the league is all about "having fun." "I had never played darts before and I just thought that it would be a really nice social thing to do," she said. Beaulieu says she enjoys connecting with other individuals who have the same type of life skills and experiences that she has — and that the league has really filled a need since the pandemic because there hasn't been much available in terms of community activities for blind and partially-sighted people. "We still have something to offer and we're enjoying it and the legion has been so welcoming, so we just feel as if we belong," she said. It's exactly that feeling of "camaraderie" that motivated Sharron Jarvis to work with Peter Best to help organize the league. Jarvis is legally blind with partial sight, but can't see detailed objects. "It's been a wonderful learning experience because we all have our coping mechanisms, and I've learned a lot through other people that have disabilities the same as I do, how to cope," she said. "And so that's been great." Best says it's all about inclusion. "It also demonstrates that when you have a disability, you know, you can find a way to get things done," he said. The group wrapped up its season last week, but plans to start back up in the fall.
ABC News
23-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
FULL SHOW: claims of "white genocide", herpes stigma + Postecoglou's big win
Donald Trump has had another clash with a world leader in the Oval Office, this time over claims of a "farmer genocide" in South Africa. So what went down? And genital herpes is way more common than you think. So why is the stigma still so intense? Also we hear how Ange Postecoglou became the first Aussie coach to win a major football trophy, after Tottenham Hotspur's win in the Europa League. Plus, beauty creator and disability advocate Molly Burke on what blindness can be. Listen Now: 01:27 - Ambush at the White House 06:41 - Molly Burke on disability advocacy in the beauty industry 17:02 - Dealing with herpes stigma 24:45 - Ange Postecoglou's Europa League win Guests: Molly Burke, beauty creator and disability advocate Molly Burke, beauty creator and disability advocate Jake Buckley, football content creator and commentator Get the whole story from Hack:
CBC
18-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
It's not just the fever that plagues me when I'm sick, it's the loneliness
Social Sharing This First Person article is the experience of Alex Lytwyn, who lives with cerebral palsy and is a disability advocate, writer and small business owner of Willpower Media. For more info rmation about CBC's First Person stories, please see this FAQ. With the opening of my eyes, today feels different. I am used to the normal aches and pains that come with cerebral palsy. But this feeling is intense and is taking over my entire being. I have the flu. The fact that I was thirsty during the night but was unable to have a drink means my lips and throat were dry and sore, and this morning, I am still so thirsty. With the combination of me coughing, sneezing and sweating all night, my sheets are disgusting. My stomach is also in knots and my head's spinning. But there's nothing much I can do, except to try to move on with the day. One aspect that makes me feel really sheepish is that my helper also has to deal with me and everything that comes with this situation — not an easy thing to do. To their credit, they say nothing and do their best to put me at ease. This starts with something as simple as a warming smile. All I want to do is go to bed. This is not an option. - Alex Lytwyn Then, in order for me to get situated properly, I have to be put into a lift. This is done by rolling me into a sling, then hooking up straps. Feeling like a bag of mud, the last thing I want to be doing is getting rolled back and forth. Next step is to be lifted up and transferred. As I rise up, my head starts to pound with pressure. After what feels like a very long time, I am placed into my power chair. As the day progresses, my helper is with me. Throughout the helper's time with me, they assist me with everything that comes with being sick. That means all the everyday tasks, such as using the washroom, making tea, blowing my nose, etc. But when it's time for my staff to leave and their shift is over, I'm now alone. I need a drink, but the straw falls out of my glass and onto the floor. I go to put a cough candy into my mouth and I drop it. I sneeze — what a mess. My fever spikes, and I am unable to take any medications. Adding to everything is, because I had a cup of warm water right before my helper left, now I have to use the washroom and nobody's here. All I want to do is go to bed. This is not an option. When nobody's here to assist me, I have no other choice but to sit in my power chair and wait for the help to return. 'Need helping hands to thrive' After what feels like one of the longest days ever, bedtime has arrived. I am helped into bed, wondering, thinking, coughing and trying to breathe. My helper asks me if there's anything else I need before they leave. I say, "No, I'm good, thank you." As soon as my front door closes, my mind starts to race. For the next 10 hours, I am alone, with no way to take care of myself. The darkness of the night is heavy and I can only hope that morning — and my helper — both come quickly. Having to be alone is something that has been a big part of my life. And ever since my beloved service dog Fanta passed away and then I broke both of my legs, having to be alone has really increased my anxiety. After about a week of anguish, my flu starts to dissipate. Just as life starts to go back to normal, I'm hit with another gut punch. The flu that took me over has enveloped all my staff. Everything has come full circle. Now that they all have called in sick, I am once again alone. Throughout my years, I used to think that the only way that a person could get tired was in a physical manner. Nothing can be further from the truth. When the soul is in a constant state of worry and concern, energy can be difficult to find. And being sick drains my energy levels even quicker than normal. It must be recognized that disabled people can be alone, but need helping hands to thrive.
