Category: the Rant Board
hi all,
A recent topic about disability in different countries prompted this. It is still a very rough draft, but I am going to contact a journalist or two I know and see if it can be published in our local paper. I thought someone here might at least find it interesting to see how many problems some smaller countries such as my own still have.
A plea on behalf of a beleaguered community
Just recently, I had a long discussion with someone I have known for many years on the subject of disability in Bermuda and specifically the committee for senior citizens and those with severe sight loss, among which I count myself. Let me point out from the beginning that I am no radical. I do not insist on accessibility in every aspect of my daily life and I accept that I will face a few more difficulties than your average Bermudian, English person or American when traveling, working and shopping. This is almost inevitable and I will not wine about it. I will, however, stand up for the cause of disability and state unequivocally that our government has done less than nothing to assist us in this uphill battle.
Every day, more and more Bermudians are losing their vision. The public attitude towards disability is positively draconian and I would like to recount a short story, showing just how archaic this island can sometimes reveal itself to be. Two years ago, our local press ran an article about a woman whose son had been diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition. The tone of the article was nothing less than that of abject despair for this unfortunate child, whose situation was likened to that of a mentally handicapped person, forever incapable of becoming a true citizen. I first arranged for a journalist to interview me in response to the article. From her first question, it was clear that she was searching for nothing more than a sob story – a portrait of victory over adversity that serves to titillate, but not to inform. I am not a sob story, nor am I a marvel of any kind; I was just lucky and had the help of good people at the right time. I made this more than clear to her and when the resulting story was published, I can safely say that it was accurate, if a little patronizing. In addition, I contacted the mother and arranged several discussions with her, as well as putting her in contact with many of the individuals who helped me growing up. She had no idea what resources there were for young blind people, nor how technology and the modern world has enabled us to live on par with our sighted counterparts. Even so, there was one problem even I could not deny – the solutions her son would eventually need would cost money, which is the one thing our government will not provide.
There is a committee designed to lobby our government on the topic of accessibility, be that for the blind, the deaf or the physically disabled. At present, I cannot walk the streets of our main city alone, as there are no audible crossings and no clear tactile indications to separate sidewalk from open road. I cannot travel the island independently, as our bus roots are inadequate and our taxis prohibitively expensive. If I had attended a government school, I would have received no extra funds for accessible materials, I would have no computer, no screen access software and worse still, no clue that such things even existed. There are now about 30 students who are in the Bermudian educational system and they have no support. I have contacted the committee several times, offering my knowledge of assistive technology and offering to train people free of charge to use it. These invitations have been ignored. As a student who grew up having to invent my own ways of doing things, I am all too aware that it was pure luck that the people who surrounded me were as innovative and persistent as they were, willing to work and invent ways for me to get access to what I needed. I have just completed my degree and graduated with honors from a British university. As such, I think it is entirely appropriate for me to reflect on the subject of accessibility at this time. there is still so much to do on this island to insure that our young visually impaired students are given a chance to succeed, to insure that our blind colleagues can get jobs and do them well and to make certain that our senior citizens are not left to depend on the kindness of family for such simple acts as reading a newspaper or a good book. It can be done and it need not cost a fortun to do it. It only requires that the current lethargy be lifted and replaced with a forward-thinking group of dedicated individuals who know what they are doing.
How is Bermuda in terms of government, how much does it still belong to the UK and how much is it indepndent? I figure it is the same as Canada, partof the commonwealth but independent.
Reason I am thinking about this is whether the government has made any indirect commitment to the United Nations Resolution on Human Rights (or Equal Rights for People with Disabilities rather).
If you Google UN Equal Rights People Disabilities, you should find the whole declaration.
I think a good focus point on a campaign for better opportunities and basic service for people with disabilities may be to get the government to sign this treaty, which ensures all those basic rights, accessibility, education, transportation etc.
It could become a cause that all disability focus groups in Bermuda could get together and fight for as one.
It'll take lobbying, protests, article writing and all sorts of public exercises to get these basic rights, but it is a cause worth fighting for definitely.
Good luck.
-B
I think you have the right aditude. keep up the good work!
to post 2: afraid not. We're still part of the UK, living under the crown. Most Bermudians however are quite content for that situation not to change. As for how is our government, well, corruption is a big thing, time wasting is another, but I'm doing some campagning and am going to keep at that if I can.
MJ
Hey
If you are part of the British crown, don't the UK discrimination act apply to Bermuda as well?
I can dig up the exact name and link to the page, it's something like the non-discrimination act or something to that effect, the RNIB has a lotof information on it.
I don't think it does. We're something like an overseas terrotory or what not...in either case, i'm damned sure our government didn't sign that act. Not every act passed in a british parliament becomes law here.