Barrier-Free Design

By Brenda Millar

BEYOND QUESTION

Welcome to an exciting new feature in ABILITIES: "Beyond Question," launched to provide solutions and information on disability-related issues faced by our readers. If you have a question about barrier-free design, law, travel or sexuality that you would like addressed in this section, write to "Beyond Question" at the Canadian Abilities Foundation, Access Place, College Park, 444 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2H4, or send a fax to (416) 977-5098. Please include your full name, address and a daytime phone number (only your initials and city will be published).


BARRIER-FREE DESIGN

BY BRENDA MILLAR

QUESTION: "Our teenage son was recently involved in an automobile accident and, upon his recovery, will be returning home. As he will be using a wheelchair, my husband and I are planning to renovate our family home. What is involved in this undertaking and how should we proceed?"
-- E.W., Willowdale, ON

ANSWER: Home renovation can often be a complicated, confusing and intimidating experience. Careful planning is the best way to avoid the most common frustrations. Gathering as much information as you can before you begin will help you understand the complexities of renovation while confronting the fewest possible unpleasant surprises.

The important first step is to identify your needs and how they are supported by your surroundings. A number of considerations are involved when examining your home in preparation for adaptations.

Your son’s needs should be carefully identified. His direct participation in this process is most important. An occupational therapist or other professional may be of assistance in obtaining vital information on your son’s ability to participate in the home environment. Basic measurements such as customary eye level, forward and vertical reach, ability to grip, wheelchair width and height will have direct impact on design features you choose to bring to your home. For example, location of window sills, door widths, counter and work surface heights, grab bar diameters and mounting heights may be accurately designed to suit the needs of your son once these measurements have been obtained.

Although you will be adapting your home to suit the needs of your son, it is important to consider the needs of the other members of the family. Consider your present daily activities, how they will be affected upon your son’s return, and how they may change over time. If the effort is made to resolve the requirements of everyone, the result will be a comfortable and convenient home for all. For example, you might choose a variety of work surface heights in your kitchen so that no one will be excluded from participating in the preparation of meals.

Once you have analyzed your needs and critical measurements, you are ready to determine the nature of the changes to be made in the design of your home. By examining individual areas, you will be able to select your design priorities. The following is a sample of design requirements to be considered for major areas:
- Site: level, continuous path of slip-resistant materials, protected from the elements, well-lit for day and nighttime use; safe path from your garage into your home; accessible path to outdoor patio, deck or yard with protected rest area
- Doors: adequate width for approaching and manoeuvring through; lever handles, located at a convenient height; lightweight with a lock system useable by all members of the family
- Corridors: width to accommodate the daily traffic of your household; finished with a hard-wearing surface, with wall protectors and corner guards
- Changes of Level: if installing a ramp, ensure an easily negotiated grade with landings at top and bottom large enough to allow for turning space of a wheelchair; the ramp width should accommodate your needs safely with handrails of usable diameter mounted to your son’s specifications; installation of a lift may be appropriate in areas of limited space or a level change greater than 30 inches
- Bathroom: reinforce walls to support grab bars; ensure clear approach to and use of sink with single lever faucet and insulated exposed pipes below sink; must be sufficient room to transfer to toilet, bath and/or change table
- Living Rooms, Family Rooms, Dining Rooms and Bedrooms: floor finish should be level, non-skid and durable -- thick carpet is not recommended; provide views outside by lowering heights of window sills; plan for continuous, easy flow of space
- Safety: provide at least two direct routes to safety in the event of an emergency; consider equipping rooms such as the bathroom, which have a higher incidence of accidents, with emergency call systems

Now that you have identified your needs and how the current design of your home meets these needs, you are prepared to take the next steps in the process of renovating your home. In future editions of this column, you will learn about issues such as hiring a contractor, using the services of an architect or designer, building permits and available funding for renovations.

(Brenda holds a master of architecture and has been a barrier-free design consultant for several years. She is the manager of the Technical Design Department at The Barrier Free Design Centre, which offers a range of services to those involved in the provision of physical access in the built environment, including commercial and residential facility evaluations, plan reviews, standards and guidelines creation and consultation in education and training. BFDC is located in Access Place Canada at 444 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario M5B 2H4; phone: (416) 977-5010; fax: (416) 977-5264.)


TRAVEL

BY LYNN ATKINSON

QUESTION: "Which airlines offer fare discounts for attendants of people with disabilities? What are the various discounts, and what is the procedure for applying for them?"
-- E.B., Vancouver, BC

ANSWER: Both Canadian and Air Canada airlines offer a 50 per cent reduction in air fare to an attendant travelling with a wheelchair user in North America -- the U.S., including Hawaii, and Canada. I could not find reductions for any other airline flying out of Canada -- British Airways, KLM, United, Continental, Quantas, Japan Airlines or Delta -- although U.S.-originating flights may have reductions.

In 1994, the National Transportation Agency (NTA) is proposing that attendants be charged only 25 per cent of the full air fare within Canada (a reduction of 75 per cent). Submissions and comments on the proposed amendment can be sent to the Accessible Transportation Directorate (address below). The NTA has also decided to regulate the training of transportation personnel to the needs of people with disabilities while travelling. This applies to personnel on rail, marine and air carriers, with the exception of small air carriers.

To get the air fare reduction for an attendant for Canadian Airlines, obtain a medical form (T43A) from the airline’s medical desk and have your doctor fill it out and return it to the Medical Services Canadian Airlines office in your city. Their medical department will assess your fitness to travel. Basically, you must be unable to fly without the assistance of somebody else (for washroom, meals, etc.). For people who travel regularly and who, in the opinion of the airline, have a stable condition, Canadian has a Frequent Passenger Medical Card (FREMEC). This card is valid for two years and saves you the hassle of verifying, every time you fly, that you require an attendant.

For Air Canada, all that is needed is for your doctor to phone the airline’s medical desk after the reservation has been made, and request a fare reduction for your attendant.

On intercontinental flights, fare reductions are currently not available. As was explained to me by Chris Hyland and Barbara Kaiser, Special Services Representatives with Canadian Airlines in Vancouver, since international destinations are under the jurisdiction of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Montreal, air fare reductions that are negotiated with national carriers do not apply.

I encourage travellers who would like to see this changed for flights originating in Canada (on a 10- to 12-hour flight, that’s when you really need a helper!) to write to the National Transportation Agency to the attention of Joan Crossman, Accessible Transportation Directorate, Ottawa, ON K1A 0N9; phone: (819) 953-9705 (collect calls will be accepted); fax: (819) 953-6029. Also contact the Minister of Transport, Doug Young, at the Transport Canada Building, Ottawa, ON K1A 0N5. I hope we can get a letter-writing campaign going and change this ruling.

You can contact Canadian Airlines’ Customer Relations Department at 615-18th St. S.E., Calgary, AB T2E 6J5 (phone toll-free 1-800-661-3311). For Air Canada, write to Customer Relations, P.O. Box 14000, St. Laurent, PQ H4Y 1H4 (call toll-free: 1-800-813-9237).

(Lynn Atkinson has a BA in English and is a graduate of a two-year diploma course in Journalism. She has been a writer/editor for 20 years. Since multiple sclerosis necessitated travel by wheelchair, Lynn has been dedicated to addressing the need for information on accessible accommodation and destinations in her newsletter, We’re Accessible -- News for Disabled and Elderly Travellers. Published quarterly, it is available for $15 (individuals) or $35 (organizations and business), payable to Lynn Atkinson at 32-1675 Cypress St., Vancouver, BC V6J 3L4 (phone/fax: (604) 731-2197).)


LAW

BY CINNIE NOBLE

QUESTION: "If my guide dog is refused admittance into a restaurant or cab, who can I contact to register a complaint and ensure that this does not happen again?"
-- L.K., Toronto, ON

ANSWER: The Blind Persons’ Rights Act, an Ontario statute, has a provision essentially stating that no persons shall be denied accommodation, services or facilities to which the public is customarily admitted, for the reason that he or she is blind and led by a guide dog. This legislation contains a term which penalizes people who are in contravention of this section. Accordingly, he or she is guilty of an offence and on conviction, is liable to a fine (not exceeding $5,000).

The person whose guide dog is denied admittance to a restaurant or cab could also file a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission. This is on the basis that "every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities, without discrimination because of ... handicap." According to the Human Rights Code, the word "handicap" includes a person who is "physically reliant on a guide dog."

In the usual course, the Human Rights Commission investigates the complaint and if it is considered to be within their purview, the Commission tries to resolve the matter. A settlement may include a fine and other remedies to redress the code breach. If the complaint cannot be settled, it may proceed to a Board of Inquiry. If a Board of Inquiry finds that there has been an infringement under the Human Rights Code, the person who infringed the right of the person who is blind is guilty of an offence and may be fined up to $25,000. There may be additional remedies ordered as well.

In both cases, the person who is blind can make a claim or complaint, respectively, against the person who denied him or her admittance, as well as against the employer, company, union or association of the person who denied the admittance.

Not everyone is aware of the Blind Persons’ Rights Act or the Human Rights Code. As a consequence, at the time a person’s guide dog is refused admittance, he or she is urged to inform whomever is refusing that there is a law allowing guide dogs to enter places to which the public is admitted. Even if the person does comply when so advised, it is still recommended that the person who is blind notify the manager of the service or facility and any other pertinent officer, agent, trade union or association, to inform them of what has transpired. It is necessary that all concerned ensure that their personnel are properly trained in this regard, and do not continue to violate the rights of people who rely on guide dogs.

I can be contacted directly for inquiries about legislation protecting the rights of people in other provinces who are blind and use guide dogs.

(Cinnie Noble, C.M., B.S.W., LL.B., practises law in Toronto and is currently developing her practice to address equality and human rights issues, with a primary focus on people with disabilities. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Cinnie created Handi-Tours, the first travel agency in Canada specializing in tours for persons with disabilities. She is the author of two resource books for travellers with disabilities. In 1990, she was appointed a member of the Order of Canada. Cinnie can be reached in Toronto at (416) 323-9126 or (416) 363-8680.)


SEXUALITY

BY LINDA CRABTREE

QUESTION: "I’m 23, female, have muscular dystrophy and use a wheelchair. I’m lonely for someone to share things with and to love. I have my family, but I spend my days reading romance novels and watching TV. My high school friends work or go to school and are in relationships. I missed out on my final year of high school because I was sick. How can I plan any kind of future -- especially a romantic one?"
-- D.S., Montreal, PQ

ANSWER: What we need here is a reality check. Romance novels and TV are not what a woman of 23 should be into. Loneliness and lack of intimacy are the most common topics in the hundreds of letters I receive from people with disabilities all over the world. What I say to you and any other person with a disability is, if you want a love life with someone other than yourself, you have to work for it like everyone else. It isn’t easy because you already face the stereotype that people who have disabilities are not interested in sex. You also have a disability that has to be understood and accepted before someone else can get to know the real you.

Your whole life is ahead of you and you should be planning it like anyone else. You can control your life and what happens to you to a great extent, whether or not you have a disability. You have to learn as much as possible about your disability, and you have to learn to accept and enjoy your body to the fullest. Here are a few things which I think might help you on your way:

- Take a good long look at yourself in a full-length mirror, wheelchair and all. This takes guts and may hurt. Ask a friend who dresses the way you’d like to -- or, better yet, if you have a few dollars, ask a fashion consultant -- for a real appraisal, because first impressions do count. Ask about your clothes, face, hair and body. No matter what your disability, there is always something you can improve on. If you can exercise and tone some parts of your body, do it. If you can improve how you and your chair look as a whole, do it.

- Search out colleges and universities that are accessible and have offices geared to students with disabilities. Get in touch with NEADS, the National Education Association of Disabled Students, Room 513, Unicentre Bldg., Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6. Don’t have grade 12? You are old enough to apply as a mature student if you meet the school qualifications. Find out what courses they offer and what funding is available. It doesn’t matter what anyone says. What happens to you largely depends on you.

- Remember that you can educate yourself by reading. Your library has thousands of volumes on every subject imaginable. The more you know, the more interesting you are, and the more attractive you are to other interesting people with whom you can share.

- Know what turns you on mentally. The brain is the most important sex organ we have. Your imagination is the best thing to work with, but steamy novels or movies work for some. If you don’t have a person to make love with, learn to enjoy yourself. Really get to know your body. What can it do? What works? If, for instance, two fingers on your left hand work really well, practise stroking yourself so it feels good. Think about what you can do for someone else and what you would use to do it.

Some of us, both male and female, who have muscular dystrophy may not be able to reach an orgasm through manual stimulation of our sex organs, but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy being touched or touching ourselves. It also doesn’t mean you can’t delight in the rest of your body.

- There are all kinds of sex toys out there that can help you find out what you enjoy. Send away for a catalogue, order a few books and toys and figure out how you can use them. Learn to open a condom package using your fingers or even your teeth (carefully) and play with lubricant. You can put a condom on a male partner using your lips and tongue if neither of you has fingers that work. Learn how if it doesn’t turn you off. If your parents or attendants have trouble with your keeping sex toys and books, ask that a drawer be equipped with a lock to which only you have the key.

Figure out how to transfer from your chair onto a range of heights, if you can. Learn to take off your clothes or at least open them; learn to do your own hygiene if you possibly can. Both personal and shared intimacy demand privacy, so the less intervention you need from attendants, the better. Learn to look after yourself so you can teach someone who cares to share your body.

(Linda Crabtree, C.M., O.Ont., O.M.C., L.L.D., A.R.W. has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a progressive neuromuscular disability about which she writes a newsletter. She is also the editor/publisher of It’s Okay!, an international, consumer-written quarterly magazine on sexuality, sex, self-esteem and disability that includes first-person stories, self-help ideas and personal ads. To subscribe to It’s Okay!, send a cheque for $23.95, payable to Phoenix Counsel Inc., to: 1 Springbank Dr., St. Catharines, ON L2S 2K1. A sample copy of It’s Okay! is $2.)