On a day that both celebrated persons with disabilities and challenged society to improve accessibility and inclusiveness, the Richmond Centre for Disability opened its doors Wednesday to educate Richmond residents.
The 2014 United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities raised awareness of how technology can improve the lives of the disabled. Experts gathered in New York to discuss three main themes: disability-inclusive sustainable development goals, disaster risk reduction, and creating enabling work environments.
These are issues Dave Thomson, the centre’s education coordinator, knows a lot about. Thomson helps people get back to work by setting up ergonomically-friendly workplaces, connecting the disabled with computer technology (such as e-books), and improving accessibility at the workplace (such as installing ramps).
The UN notes disabled people hold a wealth of employable talents that are often wasted in societies due to prejudice.
“There are a lot of people who aren’t working because they aren’t able to make that bridge back. They don’t think their employers will do it, or they don’t know if the workplace will take them back because they need this or that,” said Thomson, whose centre facilitates subsidies for back-to-work programs.
According to the UN, disabled people are two to four times more vulnerable in an emergency.
“A lot of it, from my standpoint, is just medication …you can only have a certain amount at a time, so they won’t give much out. In an emergency, they say people should have this amount of cash and so on. But those with disabilities, how do they get past that (medications)?” asked Thomson, who requires medication himself for fibromyalgia.
Regarding accessibility, Thomson noted work is being done in Richmond and throughout Metro Vancouver to ensure buildings are accessible and include features such as wide doorways and bathroom handles.
The UN notes sustainable development means inclusiveness on social, environmental and economic fronts as well.
One of Thomson’s education points for the public, is what he calls the “invisible disabled.” These are people who may not necessarily appear disabled. Thomson himself is one such case. Although one may not know it, he needs medication to remain still throughout a conversation.
On Wednesday the provincial government announced that starting in January it would be lifting red tape for those on disability assistance. It will allow people to earn their 12-month maximum allowance of income during any period of time, instead of capping allowable income month by month. This will benefit those who can only work seasonally or for short amounts of time.
