PROJECT 1981 F W10 Board Directors accepted the proposal of Mrs. Arnold Wilson Board Director for Subdivision 2 as a project for the Year of the Disabled. Shocking as this statistic may seem, it should breed an element of concern. No one is immune from becom- ing handicapped. Some are born with defects while many of us grow through stages of disability, from unstable youth to inï¬rm old age. The WOMEN‘S INSTITUTE ARE ALWAYS UP FRONT IN THEIR CARING ATTITUDE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASIC NEEDS AND RIGHTS OF CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY. The serious problem of “accessibility†to the community by the disabled is being overlooked, Many physically disabled people are unable to make full use of public facilities due to physical barriers, Flights of stairs, high curbs, narrow doors, high reaching telephones all pro- hibit the disabled from using facilities to which, as a citizen they are entitled. DEFINITION OF A COMMUNITY These are just a few of the many barriers that isolate the disabled from their community. A community is deï¬ned as a “uniï¬ed body of persons living in the same locality under the same laws." As long as the disabled are isolated and segregated, no city or town can be classed as a community. CONDUCT SURVEY If the WI. Branches in each district of the areas would take the big step of conducting a survey to investigate the services available and the employment opportunities in each community we could reach across Ontario in [981, the International Year of Disabled Persons. l2 ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS This is a speciï¬c area the general pnbli: rive “me thought to making mobility easier. A few gu those who would be willing to work with the ‘ Handicapped for a better life. They hope thai mlumm will add their shoulders to the thrust that will w Limalely bring architectural barriers tumbling dowz. like inc walls of Jericho. This would probably Cit more m increase the social, economic. intellectual ar-r .piriiual horizons of the physically handicapped than ,,_\i gum major area of reform. Lay the groundwor for the removal of architectural barriers so that ti. lisabled can share the amenities of our society. If you need a Cll: r vision of the need, you ml' occupy a wheelchair for a -. . try [0 mount the curb at - market place, try wheeling .r chair to the home of a id, try mounting the steps .1 city bus. These trari ‘tation problems have also -de so cializing a luxury. I ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 1 INFORMATION BOOKLET For The Physically Handicapped Community Information Centre Metropolitan Toronto, 34 King St. E. 3rd Floor. Toronto, MSC IE5 Guide to Transportation for the Physically Disabled This is available to municipalities. The proc.‘ res for obtaining ï¬nancial assistance are also detailed. ‘nlï¬ar Mr. Roy McEwen Transit Ofï¬ce, ‘ Ministry of Transportation and Commur. “095' 1201 Wilson Ave., 3rd Floor, West Tower Downsview, Ont. M3M 118 Information about criteria for funding for rai. do†widenings, Etc. contact: Ministry of Culture and Recreation. 77 Bloor St. W., Toronto, M7A 2R9 FILMâ€"“City Limits" Available through cost rental from Resource 05mâ€- 9th floor, through the Ministry of Culture and Recrea- tion.