Randy Dickinson and Premier Graham of New Brunswick at UNB
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday December 4th, 2007 .
When Randy Dickinson went to the University of New Brunswick last week to speak to kinesiology students about disabilities, the classroom and its stage weren’t wheelchair accessible.
The executive director of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Disabled Persons uses a motorized wheelchair
He said Monday that’s a perfect example of why the province needs a tougher building code.
“When I arrived at the classroom theatre to speak, I discovered that the promised renovations to make the classroom and stage accessible had not been completed as promised since my last presentation the year before,” he said.
“It’s hard not to become angry and frustrated when you come to speak to a group of upcoming university professionals about disability awareness and the venue for the discussion is held in a location that is not suitable for persons with disabilities,” said Dickinson.
The council released its disability strategy Monday entitled The Path to Self Sufficiency and Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities in New Brunswick.
“This report will serve as a blueprint for positive changes in programs and services offered to persons with a disability in New Brunswick,” said council chairwoman Laura Peters.
The disability rate for the New Brunswick population is 14.4 per cent, compared to 12.4 per cent for Canada, said the report.
The report contained 100 recommendations, including adopting the Nova Scotia building-code model for accessibility.
It also calls for adopting the most recent version of the national building code.
New Brunswick uses the 1995 version, but there were updates in 2000 and 2005.
Dickinson said New Brunswick’s building code does little more than ensure that someone in a wheelchair can get in the door.
The Nova Scotia building code has more requirements such as designated parking for people with disabilities, visual alarms for the deaf if there is a fire alarm and signage with pictographs for people who are cognitively impaired, he said.
The report also calls for a chief building inspector in the Department of Environment with the power to act on complaints and apply punitive measures when the building code is violated.
“Citizens with disabilities, their families and caregivers as well as the other people who try to help them reach their potential are frustrated and are losing patience with the slow pace of reforms,” said Dickinson.
There’s been some progress over the years, but it’s not been available in all parts of the province, he said.
Premier Shawn Graham said at a media conference that his government asked the council for a new disability action plan soon after being elected.
Dickinson said it’s the first time in 25 years that a new premier called the council before the council called him.
“The system must have the capacity to be flexible enough to deal with people as individuals while still striving towards equity in outcomes,” said Graham.
“I will be directing all departments to take these recommendations under consideration and to move forward as quickly as possible to integrate these ideas into their operational plans,” he said. “This report is a blueprint for transformational change.”
The premier said the report’s building code recommendations are under consideration. But he also warned that some of the recommendations have cost implications and will have to go to the budget process.
Ann Passmore, 65, of Fredericton has two adult children who are mentally and physically disabled. She said the plan and the premier’s comment gave her a measure of hope.
“Over the years, I have heard many reports, many promises and nothing has been done,” she said. “They were just dreams. Now I do see the possibility of change. I hope it’s in time for me.”
She said she is looking for a place for her adult son to live.
“I cannot cope much longer physically with him,” said Passmore. “So my back is against the wall.”
She said she doesn’t want her 38-year-old son placed in a nursing home, which isn’t suitable for his social needs.
Joseph Trevors, executor director of the New Brunswick Special Olympics, said the report and Graham’s reaction was a big step forward.
“We look for any opportunity for people to live a better life through health and wellness,” he said.
The report calls for all recreational facilities to be accessible to the disabled.
Trevors said his organization still sees accessibility problems in some recreational facilities in New Brunswick.
“I wouldn’t say there are a lot,” he said. “We certainly run into a situation occasionally where a gymnasium or a recreational facility … has not been made wheelchair accessible.”
He said it’s usually in a smaller community.
The entire report can be read at council’s website at www.gnb.ca/0048.
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