Meeting Update for
January 16th, 2006
This newsletter/update is to keep members of CAN, or interested
parties, up to date on our monthly meeting, what we discussed, what our
plans are for the upcoming month, and any other pertinent information
covered during the meeting. We understand that not everyone is able to
attend a monthly meeting and hope that this will keep those interested
in CAN in the loop. Please let us know if you have any questions or
comments concerning our meetings and/or this update by e-mailing us at
[email protected], or by phoning (604) 466-8771.
Thank you for you
interest. Your ideas, suggestions, and input will help to create
positive change in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Together we CAN!
CAN held their first meeting of 2006 on Monday, January 16th. We had
a lot to discuss and the members were eager to tackle the topics.
Each month we choose a different business within Maple Ridge or Pitt
Meadows to spotlight on our web site. This is called “Spotlight on
Accessibility” and it highlights how various businesses have made their
establishments universally accessible. It has been suggested that we
should create certificates to give to each business that we spotlight
so that we are acknowledging their efforts in a physical way. This
certificate would be presented to the business in a frame to show our
appreciation. If the business wanted to put it up it would, hopefully,
get people thinking about accessibility, and would encourage them to
visit our web site. We do keep a database of all previous spotlights
on the web site. The certificates will be created within the next
week and they will be handed out to the businesses who were previously
spotlighted. If you know of any accessible business please let us know
and we will spotlight them.
The second topic was CAN�s partnership with getmenus.ca. We now have
a group of volunteers ready to take on the job of assessing the
accessibility of willing restaurants listed on the getmenus.ca site.
We have some able-bodied volunteers who will assess any restaurants
that the volunteers in wheelchairs are unable to access. We want to
make sure that the review is complete and that it considers all
disabilities. We have a four page list of accessibility guidelines
which the volunteers will use. If you are interested in seeing the
checklist please e-mail us at [email protected].
We will begin this project this month. getmenus.ca is rapidly
expanding, and we look forward to working with them. Once an
assessment has been done we will write a review that will be posted on
getmenus.ca. The manager, or owner, of each restaurant will receive a
copy of our checklist and review. We hope that by giving a completed
checklist to the owners/managers we help them to better understand what
accessibility is, and how they already create, or how to improve upon
creating, a more inclusive dining experience.
Another issue that we have been working on is the parking situation at
the Ridge Meadows Hospital. Some members have been told that parking,
for those with the SPARC approved handicap sign is free, no matter
where on-site one parks. Others have been told that the parking is
free for those with the designated signs only in the designated parking
stalls. We have attempted, in previous months, to get a straight
answer about this question but the policy does not seem to be in
writing. We do have a photocopy of a sign located in the Rehab section
of the hospital. This sign was printed by the administration office in
June 2004. It reads:
“Persons with disabilities coming to Ridge Meadows Hospital may park
anywhere on-site, in any parking stall free of charge. Your approved
identification placard must be clearly visible in your vehicle to avoid
ticketing.”
We are continuing to wade through the voice mails trying to find the
right person, and the right department, to have our question answered.
We hope to have signs, such as the one from the Rehab department,
posted at the ticket machines so that if someone is parked, with the
designated handicap SPARC sign, they know where the parking is free.
This is an excellent example of how communication is a key to
accessibility. Different members are being told different policies and
confusion has been created. We will continue to work to get a policy
that will be posted in the hospital (in more than one location) so that
the confusion can be alleviated. We hope to have this issue resolved
by our February 20th meeting.
Translink is offering a guide called “Getting Around Greater Vancouver
on Accessible Transit”. If you are interested in receiving a copy
phone (604) 453-4500.
Upon inspection of this guide, however, it is not as promising as it
sounds. We were disappointed to realize that there is no mention of
how to properly board a bus, the skytrain, or the West Coast Express
with a walker or a guide dog. There is also no mention about properly
boarding a shuttle bus. The shuttles buses are in use within our two
communities, and many customers are unsure as to how they are supposed
to board. Those with strollers or walkers see the steps at the front
of the bus and turn away, assuming that they are not able to board the
bus. Those with walkers and strollers are allowed to use the lift at
the back of the bus to board. This information is not communicated to
the rider unless the rider contacts Translink or directly asks the bus
driver. We feel that this information needs to be communicated in a
clear way to all passengers. People with guide dogs are unable to have
their dogs sit at their feet in the handicap seating section of the
shuttle bus as the aisle is narrow and the guide dog would block the
aisle, which is clearly not safe. We have yet to get an answer as to
where, on the shuttle buses, those with guide dogs are supposed to sit.
We had hoped that the guide Translink offered would answer this
question but the only mention of people with guide dogs is that they
must have the proper identification card for the guide dog. There is a
number to call concerning the “Pets on Transit policy” but this policy
is for caged birds, cats, and small dogs. There is no mention about
guide dogs.
There have been members of the community who upon boarding a bus with
their walker were told to fold the walker up. If these individuals
were capable of folding a walker and holding it in one hand while
boarding a bus with no support they would not require the walker.
Again, we hoped that the answer of how to properly board a bus would be
addressed in the Translink guide.
The Translink guide was put together with the “valuable insights and
consultations with ComPACT volunteers and other advocates for people
with disabilities”. ComPACT stands for Committee to Promote Accessible
Conventional Transit. This guide was created and made just one month
ago. We have contacted Translink to try to get the written policies
concerning safely boarding with a walker, a guide dog, and on shuttle
buses, but have so far been given the run around. We will continue to
leave messages on voice mails, and be shuffled from one department to
another, in the hopes that we can get a copy of Translink�s written
policy concerning all mobility aids, and all types of buses.
Again, this is a problem with communication. Translink is working to
create an accessible bus system but is not communicating with their
customers about how the services are accessible. While this guide is
useful, it neglects to help certain customers. The shuttle bus service
is increasingly being used in suburban areas and yet Translink is not
informing their customers on the proper use. We hope to work with
Translink to improve their communication with their customers.
CAN was contacted by a reporter, Dave Dormer, at the Maple Ridge-Pitt
Meadows Times. Dave is hoping to do a series of articles with CAN to
educate those in MR/PM about accessibility issues. As CAN works
towards improving accessibility Dave has asked to know about our
issues, our progress, and our successes. He wrote an article about the
handicap decals on bus stop signs for Tuesday, January 17th�s paper.
CAN is hoping to work with Translink to improve the visibility of the
handicap decal, or to create a new way of letting customers know which
bus stops are accessible and which are not. Dave wrote about this in
his article.
Dave also mentioned, in the article, that CAN is looking for
volunteers to measure the bus stops to find out if bus stops which are
not marked as accessible are within the perimeter of Translink�s
measurements for accessible bus stops. We hope that some bus stops,
not currently marked as accessible, will be proven to be accessible.
CAN has already received a phone call from a couple who are interested
in volunteering their services, and who are eager to start this
weekend. Once CAN�s volunteers have measured the bus stops we will
create a report for Translink that will address the accessibility of
the bus stops and the visual identification used for making accessible
bus stops. One suggestion for Translink will be to paint a neon band
around the bus stop poles to indicate accessible bus stops. This would
be visual, larger than the current decal, and not likely to be
obstructed by overhanging trees.
Dave is excited about a continuing relationship with CAN as he is
eager to inform people about accessibility issues. We at CAN thank
Dave for his enthusiasm and look forward to working with The Times to
educate, promote, and encourage accessibility within our two
communities.
The new year has brought about membership dues. There are costs
associated with running CAN and we hope that by getting our members to
pay a once a year membership due of $20 we can continue to work to
resolve the issues without worrying about costs.
CAN is hoping to make their presence known throughout the community,
and to find new members, and we need to raise money for this. There is
a membership form attached to this newsletter. If you are truly unable
to afford $20 please let us know and we will adjust the fee. If you
are able to sponsor a member who is unable to pay please mark the
appropriate line on the membership form. If you are unable to pay $20
at this time please send the member information about yourself and let
us know when you will be able to pay. Cheques should be made out to
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods. Thank you.
We have a new member who is enthusiastic and eager to work towards creating more barrier-free environments. Catherine was the subject of December’s “Abilities” column. She is a teenager with a lot of ideas, energy, and enthusiasm. She was a guest speaker at our meeting on Monday night. Catherine spoke of the accessibility difficulties she is experiencing as she gets used to using both a manual and power wheelchair.
Since Catherine is new to a wheelchair she is just learning about the barriers that occur daily. Catherine is eager to work towards improving the accessibility in her community. She is excited to help with CAN’s projects, and is enthusiastic about CAN as an organization that works towards improving the barriers that she never thought about until recently. We are glad to have her as a new member.
After Catherine spoke we closed the meeting by asking members to
consider ideas for fundraising, and for encouraging more people to join
CAN. We are considering a daytime meeting for those unable to attend
at night. We need to first raise some money for the cost of the rental
for a room. There are several seniors interested in attending a day
time meeting and we hope to make this a reality within the next three
months. For those who attend school, or work, during the day, we will
continue to hold our meeting at 6:30 PM on the third Monday of the
month.
If you know of anyone interested in joining CAN, volunteering, or
receiving the newsletter please let them know about our web site
www.canbc.org, and pass on our contact information: e-mail
[email protected], phone number (604) 466-8771.
We look forward to progressing forward with our goals. If you have
any feedback please let us know by phoning (604) 466-8771 or e-mailing
[email protected].
I thank those who attended our meeting, and those who were unable to
attend but offered their support and ideas by phone or e-mail. CAN is
considering starting a daytime meeting in the new year for members who
are unable to attend meetings at night. If you are interested please
let us know.
A newsletter, such as this, will follow each meeting to keep you up to
date. If you are interested in receiving a copy of this newsletter by
e-mail or through regular post please contact us.
I hope to see you February 20th at the Fraser Room in the Maple Ridge
Library from 6:30 – 8:30 PM, or hear from you by e-mail or telephone
prior to our meeting.
Remember together we CAN!