World Association of Persons With (dis)ABILITIES [WAPD]
A Non-Profit, Non-Political-Association
The Beacon of Knowledge & Refuge for the World's Largest Minority
| Week of: January 17, 2000 | BOOKMARK: http://www.wapd.org |
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| "Let us be among those who renew this world and bring prosperity & solace to creation" _Zarathushtra, about 1738 B.C._ |
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| Welcome to 4Healthylife.com Take Control of Your Health Life Member of WAPD |
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That Which We Could Never Achieve Alone! IN THIS ISSUE:
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| IF IT'S GONNA BE...IT'S UP TO ME/YOU! |
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Dear Editor, I am currently working with a mall developer to plan a strip mall in my neighborhood in State College, PA. I am attempting to address handicapped accessibility issues (curb-cuts, automatic door openers, blue parking spaces, unisex bathrooms, etc). I have tried to access such information via the internet but my efforts have resulted in less than what I need to convince this developer to BUILD IT RIGHT. Any information you could send me in regard to exemplary malls which I can use as examples would be most appreciated. I am also interested in learning which movie-theater chain (Carmike, General Cinema, Regal, United Artists, etc.) provides the BEST accessibility for wheelchair patrons, hearing-impaired, visually impaired. I found an internet website that described WGBH's Motion Picture Access Project (built in Sherman Oaks, CA) that utilizes Digital Theater Systems which delivers closed captions and descriptive narration to make the movies accessible to all. Does your organization know anything about how communities can apply to be included in such a state-of-the-art theater? Thanks for your help.
Dear Editor, I am exec. director of l.o.-combat violence against women, in Israel. Established & operate 3 shelters for women & children, hotlines, seminars, lectures. We are currently planning a shelter for women with disabilities owing to unsuitable facilities in present shelters. Do you have any information of a similar venture or are current shelters in your country built as facilities which can take in women with disabilities? Thanks for your answer. Ruth Rasnic
Dear Editor, Dear Sir, My sister is a physically disabled person. She is about 25 years old and suffers from Achondroplasic dwarfism. In order to make her life meaningful and also to make an endeavour to help out our physically disabled brothers and sisters I would like to work for setting up of a centre for the disabled or set up a helpline for them in the state of West Bengal in India. Could you please let me if you could help me out in my endeavour. Regards. TIRTHANKAR BANDYOPADHYAY
Dear Editor, The below, copied from ADAPT-CA digest, is a very shining example of reasons why the "civil-rights" fights for all must continue. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. vocalized in the famous "I have a dream" & "Let Freedom Ring"... This must continue to be our priority. WAPD ADAPT-CA digest Number 202 <excerpt> As many of you may be aware, I have been in litigation with 7/11 Stores for over 2 years. This all came about in September 1998 when I stopped by a 7/11 in Modesto, CA just two blocks from DRAIL to pick up a 6-pack of beer. The clerk behind the counter told me he was unable to sell to me because I am "handicapped". He even went on to say that this was Company Policy to do so and having a beer was not good for me. Well last week I finally had my day in court. After all the evidence was presented and the clerk virtually admitted to not selling to me because of my disability or in his words, "He was not a regular person". The jury unfortunately sided with 7/11 Stores. They felt that 7/11 Stores had a "legitimate business interest" in not selling to me because of my disability. This ruling means that people with disabilities can be denied services everywhere. That WE are the exception to the law that says all people are to be treated equally. I was told by a juror that when my jury deliberated for a whole 5 minutes, that they didn't even want to say the word disability let alone speak about us. This is sad indeed. We must move forward for the equal rights of people with disabilities so that we are not the exception to the law. John Kirby
Dear Editor, My 35 year old son has been in a wheelchair since he was 17 and got his neck broke on the job. He is a quadrapaligic. I live in the small town of Luther Oklahoma and City Hall has told him that they are exempt from having to have a wheelchair accessible court room. There are steps that lead into the court room and it is hard for him and others in this town to go to court. I was under the impression that all public buildings were supposed to be aquipped for the handicaped. I would appreciate it if you would let me know what can be done about this matter. There is a town meeting at 7:00 pm this evening and we plan on being there. Thank you,
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| IF IT'S GONNA BE...IT'S UP TO ME/YOU |
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(January 17, 2000) Approximately 12:00 p.m. cst. Monday afternoon will mark the opening of the "WAPD Forum" and "Bunny's Hutch" (youth chat). Two, "state-of-the-art" chat-rooms have been installed at the WAPD website to replace one popular heavily visited site that has regular visitors from the USA, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Holland, Germany, England, Lithuania, Argentina, Ireland, Greece, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Scotland. The Director of WAPD Chat Ambassadors, Irene (Snarler) from Scotland, is inviting everyone to join the large family of chatters and have fun meeting and greeting the people that just drop in from time to time. LilbitJoyce, our favorite soccer player, will be around to greet the youth that will be visiting/hanging out at "Bunny's Hutch". WAPD will announce several new speakers and moderated group sessions in the future weeks. http://www.wapd.org/chat/ |
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| KEEP ON KEEPING ON! |
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| EFFECTIVE RESOURCES
Allsup, Inc. Steady Products http://www.steadyproducts.com World Wide Wheelchairs & Used Equipment http://www.usedwheelchairs.com |
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| SUCCESS IS A JOURNEY NOT A DESTINATION |
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I am doing some marketing research to determine if there is a need in the disabled community for computer software that combines a search engine with both literary and educational books that change written text into audible language. This software would not only change written text into voice, it would have the ability to search text and recall in voice format to a specific page and paragraph or to a specific word or phrase like most info base programs. Thank you for your time. JIM HATCH
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*EXIT Technologies* Member of WAPD |
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The abuse of guardianship in Michigan needs to be exposed. No fault insurance, special funds for closed head injury have created so called rehab centers where people with disabilities are drugged, imprisoned for the rest of their life. A network of people are involved in this scam, judges, attorneys, FIA workers, doctors. A man from Battle Creek Michigan living in his own apartment for two years was ordered into court monthly by order of FIA worker who insisted he was in need of a guardian. Guardian Inc. whose office just happens to be right next door to FIA was appointed. Rather then wait to be taken to a hell hole rehab center that would receive 21 thousand dollars a month to drug and imprison him he ran with the help of friends. He had been told that Kansas is a safe haven for people with disabilities trying to get away from corrupt guardians, so he went to Kansas. Guardian Inc. would not release his SSD, Medicare, Medicaid, nor allow him to stay. The long arm of the corrupt Michigan guardianship laws allowed that he be brought back and imprisoned in Battle Creek Nuro. Appeals to every organization that state they assist the disabled have been to no avail. Attorneys will not help, citizens in Michigan are uninformed or don't care that they fund this inhumane abuse. Without the profit the people guilty of abusing guardianship for their own gain would move on. We the people who have first hand experience to the abuse, the suffering caused by for profit guardians and corrupt judges are powerless to do anything to change this system, are powerless to help our friends now imprisoned. Restraining orders are written against all of us who care, the people are moved out of state, denied mail, phone use, given powerful drugs that make them appear incompetent. The abusers of the guardianship laws in Michigan not only write the law, they enforce it. Once dragged into the guardianship circle there is no escape. We need loud powerful voices to force changes in this corrupt law that is causing so much suffering. Those under guardianship in Michigan have no voice, it has been removed for profit by a group of people who were suppose to protect people with disabilities not profit from them.
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| Be Proud Of Who You Are! You are Unique as an Individual |
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The WAPD BEACON for dis ABILITY is a newsletter providing highlights about WAPD's programs & disability issues. More information is available via our Web site. Addresses are NOT sold, traded, or loaned. If you choose to unsubscribe to this electronic update, send: mailto:TheHub@wapd.org in the body of the E-mail, type "Unsubscribe News". PLEASE include ALL E-mail addresses that you might receive this from... To subscribe (in case this issue has been forwarded to you by someone who subscribes already), send E-mail to: mailto:TheHub@wapd.org and in the body of the E-mail, type "Subscribe News". CONTACT WAPD... Have a need, ideas, stories, questions or information for the world disabilities community?.. You can Contact WAPD: mailto:Info@wapd.org and in the Subject area put: BEACON |
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