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Hope For The Future (‘o-Operationza willing effort on both sides! Leadership~leaders andfollowers share the same goals and needsl The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed [981 as the Interna- tional Year oj'the Disabled. ACWW, the International organization. plays an important role as an N.G.O. at the United Nations. Our local communities can be a starting place toward thefulfillment of the U N proclaintation. The Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario Board Directors have agreed to co-operate, and proposed the theme, THE WOMEN'S INSTI- TUTE WORKING TOWARD "BARRIER-FREE COMMUNITIES” FOR DISABLED PERSONS ACROSS ONTARIO. All Branches have received this challenge and hopefully every Branch will appoint a Committee to assess their own communities for needed change. The Women’s Institutes have proved their worth over the last eight decades through their responsible attitudes toward community betterment. Life has been enhanced in rural Ontario communities through the unrelenting drive for higher stattdardsfor the family. The W. I. now have a rare opportunity to prove their leadership abilities to become a strong force by encouraging the citizens to work together as a group to help those "special people" become an integral part ofcontmunity life. If we accept this project. it will help the Women's institute come to grips with related community needs. Working together, participating in meetings and through decision making, members will be contributing their talents toward a most rewarding effort This is a chance jor the W. l. to continue to show their concernfor the needs in the community that have gone unnoticed for so long. This can prove a new motivation for the membersâ€"strong leadership demands ctr-operation rather than demanding obedience. The attitude the W. l. wield can make the difference. This is a mammoth size project, don't throw up your hands and say "it's too big a job". the first step is the most important! The essential task will be to arrangeâ€"to organi:eito devise methodsi to contact key peopleâ€"so that together, the citizens can achieve their own goals best. by directing their own efforts toward organizational objectives. in some cases the W. I. will take a hold and actually carry a project through. but in many instances a joint eflort will be essential. Teamwork will become a 'must'. The role ofthe W. l.. just might be in developing this teamwork, remembering the main objective should be people participation. Use the expertise of not only the membership but those in the community who might have some special knowledge or talents. This project will take hard work and lots ofpatience and dedication, with the ability to see priorities. Through this kind ofan effort the Women‘s institute members can be bridge-buildersiencouraging everyone to have respect for all individu~ alsialerting all to the diflerences. The key factor will be, everyone in the community working toward the best interests ofthe "whole" community. During the next few months it will become your job to increase publir awareness, identijt'ing problems or concerns. Your local newspaper Editor can be a real help, aim for a feature story. It will be essential to develop a rapport with the handicapped them- selves, opening up lines of communication, between the W. l. and the residents, As long as people are seen as being treated unequally. the tendency to see them as unequal will continue. Let's make a start in Will in extending a helping hand toward Barrier-Free Communities For Disabled Persons Across Ontario‘. (A Lu