Accessibility for Manitobans Act

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• Functionning member of society, yet not part of it in its entity.

  by Ginette Remillard , about 5 years ago
  My husband has Becker's muscular dystrophy. His condition is worsening and he is in a wheelchair. He is a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, computer programmer and a longtime contributing member of society.

  
  

  It is frustrating when many barriers treat him as second class citizen, yet he pays his taxes.

  When we go out, he can't always get in through the front door as there is no proper accessibility into a building or venue. At times, the elevator needs a special key or someone to operate, leaving him waiting behind or having to get the run around of excuses. Also... Continue reading

  My husband has Becker's muscular dystrophy. His condition is worsening and he is in a wheelchair. He is a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, computer programmer and a longtime contributing member of society.

  
  

  It is frustrating when many barriers treat him as second class citizen, yet he pays his taxes.

  When we go out, he can't always get in through the front door as there is no proper accessibility into a building or venue. At times, the elevator needs a special key or someone to operate, leaving him waiting behind or having to get the run around of excuses. Also, we can never sit as a family in the designated accessible area at many sporting venues as only one attendant is permitted to sit with him in this designated area. Therefore, our family outings are never a true family outing. We need to take turns between children in order for them to be able to create memories with their father. How sad and pathetic!

  On another note, snowclearing and accessibility in winter is left to be desired by many businesses. We have had to bail on many things or plans as he couldn't get through the snow or even enter a building. The bathrooms are not always up to code causing the same effect as mentioned before.

  Luckily, our van is wheelchair accessible with a ramp. Yet, many spots are not large enough to accommodate the space needed for him to be able to get out. This causes for us to, again, to have to displace ourselves or always be on the lookout for another way of doing things.

  We noticed that even new buildings or businesses do not have any access for him, whether it being a slopped curb close to it or an automatic door? Why is that? This is a 5 year old build? Where is the inclusion in the building code? I don't even want to get into the lack of retrofitted buildings. That is another big issue.

  We speak of human rights, I guess a disabled person is not considered a human according to many of our experiences. It saddens me. My children may not have their father around for a long time, and I feel like his time with them and me should be barrier and stress free.

  So I ask you, next few times you go out, to look around and really focus on some of these issues, and see how you would fare or feel, if ever you were faced with these challenges.

• Seperate lines for people w/ disabilities

  by Nikki.C, about 5 years ago
  My condition is not visible. I look perfectly healthy on the outside, but I am severely disabled. My entire autonomic nervous system does not function when I stand upright. (Breathing, heart rate, digestion, blood pressure, body temp, sweat, blood circulation, etc) I cannot stand in lines, and cannot walk for long periods of time. It would help if businesses had queues for people with disabilities who cannot stand up for long periods of time, or wait in lines. Covid has made it impossible for me to shop in any grocery store, or any retail store whatsoever. I would faint waiting... Continue reading

  My condition is not visible. I look perfectly healthy on the outside, but I am severely disabled. My entire autonomic nervous system does not function when I stand upright. (Breathing, heart rate, digestion, blood pressure, body temp, sweat, blood circulation, etc) I cannot stand in lines, and cannot walk for long periods of time. It would help if businesses had queues for people with disabilities who cannot stand up for long periods of time, or wait in lines. Covid has made it impossible for me to shop in any grocery store, or any retail store whatsoever. I would faint waiting in the line with my condition and end up in hospital. (It’s called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

• I do things for a reason

  by ElaineS, about 5 years ago

  I have struggled with walking my entire adult life, but I have also fought to maintain my independence. I love to travel, but I have learned that I have to do things a certain way so that I can travel. I always prebook a window seat so that I don’t have to get up and down for people beside me, I am never late for boarding so that I can get on the plane in the preboarding so I can sit down and not have to get up until the plane lands.

  
  

  I was flying to visit my daughter when... Continue reading

  I have struggled with walking my entire adult life, but I have also fought to maintain my independence. I love to travel, but I have learned that I have to do things a certain way so that I can travel. I always prebook a window seat so that I don’t have to get up and down for people beside me, I am never late for boarding so that I can get on the plane in the preboarding so I can sit down and not have to get up until the plane lands.

  
  

  I was flying to visit my daughter when the boarding agent came to tell me that they were moving me to an isle seat to accommodate a group of people. I said immediately that I had prebooked that seat for meadical reasons and that she would have to move me to another widow seat, if not at the front of the plane as my preference is than anywhere would do. She said that the plane was full and I would have to sit on the isle, I again said that I had prebooked and paid to do so because of a disability and that this was not acceptable, my complaints were ignored even though I was sitting there with my walker.

  
  

  During the entire flight the “group” that I had been moved to accommodate were getting up and dow to visit each other as they were seated throughout the plane. I spent more time standing in the isle then I did sitting down, I almost fell down at one point but was lucky enough that another passenger caught me, this same person generously gave me their seat as they saw what I was going through. I spent the first three days of my vacation with my daughter in bed because of the inconsiderate and complete ignorance of the person who was assigning seats at the gate and the flight attendants who should have helped me and the passengers who were making me get up and down continuously throughout the flight seeing what was happening.

  I wish this was a rare occurrence but I have been knocked down by people who were in a hurry, I have had people complain that I don’t walk fast enough, I have actually had someone complain to my manager that it was unpleasant to see me working when I was in pain, “can’t they just get rid of me”?

• hearing technology

  by grayrlsc, about 5 years ago

  With more people using the phone to place orders due to the virus we need to make sure that both ends of the call understand each other and that the business makes sure what they are selling is what the customer wants with regards to quality, size, & price.

  With more people using the phone to place orders due to the virus we need to make sure that both ends of the call understand each other and that the business makes sure what they are selling is what the customer wants with regards to quality, size, & price.

• Pandemic Life Every Day

  by Centurion, about 5 years ago
  My son is severely disabled with many medical conditions. We have taken care of him on our own for 30 years now. Suffice to say people in general do not care a lick for families like ours. Individuals do -yes but laws are not going to change the terrible attitudes of society in general. The government needs to play a much larger role, setting the example. Instead they continue to encourage disabled people to hide in nursing homes where, of course, they will die and no longer be a problem to have to face, Help us get out in the... Continue reading

  My son is severely disabled with many medical conditions. We have taken care of him on our own for 30 years now. Suffice to say people in general do not care a lick for families like ours. Individuals do -yes but laws are not going to change the terrible attitudes of society in general. The government needs to play a much larger role, setting the example. Instead they continue to encourage disabled people to hide in nursing homes where, of course, they will die and no longer be a problem to have to face, Help us get out in the world where people will accept that we are part of this community and the businesses will follow by welcoming us.

• Communication Accessibility

  by Ntuck, about 5 years ago
  I am a CODA- Child of Deaf Adults; meaning a hearing child of Deaf parents (who use ASL).

  I have interpreted all of my life for my parents and those who do not know ASL. Interpreting is not only for the Deaf people it is for the hearing people who do not know ASL -it goes both ways.

  Airlines, hospitals, medical clinics, gov't agencies, stores, restaurants etc.. All assume everyone is hearing and speaking in their approach to providing services.

  Change of mindset, some people require other forms of communication so provide all avenues: auditory and visual and tactile (I... Continue reading

  I am a CODA- Child of Deaf Adults; meaning a hearing child of Deaf parents (who use ASL).

  I have interpreted all of my life for my parents and those who do not know ASL. Interpreting is not only for the Deaf people it is for the hearing people who do not know ASL -it goes both ways.

  Airlines, hospitals, medical clinics, gov't agencies, stores, restaurants etc.. All assume everyone is hearing and speaking in their approach to providing services.

  Change of mindset, some people require other forms of communication so provide all avenues: auditory and visual and tactile (I cannot elaborate on tactile as I am not well informed in this area)

  ex. change rules of phone calls only for making doctor appointments to allowing texts and emails or online chat systems etc

  -do not just call out/yell names in the waiting area- use a sign- digital or write it on a whiteboard or text

  -have paper and pen or whiteboard handy at ALL TIMES in all environments

  -do not only provide announcements in PA system- provide same info in written form- digital display or text

  -do not offer a sign that says "sign language" avail when you only have a staff who learned their ABCs and believe fingerspelling important info like COVID vaccination info is appropriate and equal information access

  -when someone provides a person with a written note or text on phone, respond back utilizing same approach do not start talking loudly or over enunciate your speech. Follow the person's lead.

  -change audio alerting devices to include vibration and or lights for emergency or other relevant situations

  -learn about how to hire an ASL interpreter and book one :)

  
  

• Crying in a parking lot

  by HLaw, about 5 years ago

  Our son has a very rare disorder and has global delays; he uses a wheelchair for mobility. He loves to eat at restaurants. We have tried to go to a local place three times - twice we ate in but not without having to ask for a manager to assist - the manager didn’t come talk to us nor did it make the visit any more welcoming on their behalf, but twice we actually got a table. The place has had a couple of incarnations since a chain moved out. There is a ramp to get in - the main... Continue reading

  Our son has a very rare disorder and has global delays; he uses a wheelchair for mobility. He loves to eat at restaurants. We have tried to go to a local place three times - twice we ate in but not without having to ask for a manager to assist - the manager didn’t come talk to us nor did it make the visit any more welcoming on their behalf, but twice we actually got a table. The place has had a couple of incarnations since a chain moved out. There is a ramp to get in - the main dining area is high top bar height tables - not accessible for a wheelchair nor safe for our son to sit at. There is a standard table height area in the back that is often empty and roped off for groups, which often only take up part of that area. The times we have been seated there (there is nowhere else for us to sit with our son) it was an ordeal, we were turned away while empty tables were in sight, and then begrudgingly seated. Second awful experience - cashier at a large chain store trying to get my son to respond to her - I explained that he has cognitive delays and is non-verbal - she continued to try to get him to respond to her the way a “normal” child would - and when he didn’t she called him rude. I explained again, fighting back tears, that he is not rude, he cannot speak and has delays that make it so he can’t respond to you like an average person would. She KEPT TRYING ANYWAYS AND CALLED HIM RUDE AGAIN. I made it about three blocks before I had to pull into a parking lot to sob. I called that store and told the manager what happened, saying I think she needs more training. He apologized profusely and said he’d have her pulled from her till to explain to her what she’d done.