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THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE: WORKING TOWARD “BARRIER FREE COMMUNITIES FOR DISABLED PERSONS ACROSS ONTARIO“ AWARENESS We in the W.I. are surely conscious of the significance of the “torchbearer”. From the days of the ancient Greeks the flaming torch has been home across land and sea to herald the onset of athletic competition by the youth of the world. The “Torchbearer is understood to be one who lights the wa ' . 3M: have a challenge in this year l98l. it is the year ofthe disabled person ! a 12-month in depth probe of methods to improve their lot and sharpen public awareness of their existence. Key issues will be employment, transportation. access to buildings and intergration of the disabled into society's mainstream. An analogy of the torch can be drawn here. The voices of our pioneers always forging ahead and caring for people. challenging us to carry the struggle against apathy and lack of recognition. to find ways to "better light the way." We are accepting a challenge to carefully examine and record what has been accomplished these past months and to plan for the continuance ofthe task until we have accom- plished the goal. OXFORD NORTH DISTRICT Some of the WI members are most familiar with Muscu- lar Dystrophy and Celebral Palsy, because members oftheir families are affected. It is more than fitting that great plans are taking shape during this lYDP. Woodingford Lodge. Woodstock has a therapeutic pool, four feet deep which allows patients who can walk or out-patients with u Doctor's certificate to use the pool. However. wheel chair patients haven‘t a chance. unless they have friends who can lift them in and out of the pool. The Auxiliary have investigated the possibility of pur- chasing an automatic lift with an extra arm. Not only will the patient be lifted in and out of the pool, but also will be moved around while in the water. The total project will cost approximately $7,580. Wl's are interested and contributions are starting to come in. The Women‘s Institutes will receive recognition in the form ofa plaque on the equipment. SUDBIVISION 12 Wellington Districts have come up with the theme "The Year of the Disabled From Barriers to Byways". The roll call “Look beyond the handicap and see the person". A special day is planned for the Fall for the disabled. Halton County have as their theme “Consider the Dis- abled" with a roll call. “Help them to help themselves“. An ActiVan has been purchased through the efforts of a local group. The Council agreed to sanction an ActiVan Advisory Committee to make the service elegible for pro- vincial funding. The $21000 needed to purchase and pro- vide operating costs has been met by donations and grants. however. another 318.000 is still required to keep the pro; ject going for another year. The public and organizations are being urged to assist. 16 Bea big wheel Try your hand at getting around in a wheelchair, up ramps. through doors, around an obsta- cle course. It’s the International Year of the Disabled, so now’s your chance to find out just how much strength and skill many people must use every day. ;I WHO IS REALLY DISABLED? The Board Directors viewed a 22 minute film call ‘A Different Approach" , which looks at an imaginary r nt- ment drive for hiring the handicapped. A startling conclusion is reached, everyone is hart ipa ped in one way or another. Some wear glasses, sou tire bald. some are paralyzed from the waist down 7 ind everyone hangs suSpended just one accident away t l .1 very serious handicap. It could happen tomorrow. it lid never happen, Every day, we all take our chances. It pr0vokes us to ironically question who's really . rd- icapped â€" the physically disabled or those around “III who treat them that way. WE‘RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER “In 1981 we hope that all citizens of Ontarir Ill come to better appreciate that disabled people have [ht '19 needs as everyone else and recognize that disabled c: '1are equally capable of making important contributit m socrety“. Sponsored by the United Nations, the goal for l‘ D “Full Participation and Equality" for more than 450 n In disabled people around the world. In Ontario. 3P1 "' mately 10 percent of the total population â€" morr on 800.000 people are disabled. CHESTERVILLE WI, DUNDAS DISTRICT l a guest speaker. Miss Claudette Pilon of the Family C0“ *i' ling Centre, Cornwall, talk about the handicappfid- ‘he made it clear that a handicapped person rejects pi!) "'d wants to be accepted into society wholeheartedly. A variety of programs acceptable to all handicui gw‘d Persons have been planned for the three United Countitu Carolyn McLatchie, a handicapped person‘ gaVC “ my moving and interesting account of her life. how she curb- and feels she has become an integral part of societY-