The Disability Network

By Susan Grant

Saturday, March 31st at 12:30 p.m., for the first time in North America, a television show focussing on issues of disability was produced, hosted and aired by people with disabilities.

The Disability Network, a fast-paced news-driven magazine style program hosted by Suzanne Pettit and Joe Coughlin provides an up-to-date source of information for people with disabilities, their families and employers.

“I feel sure that many people will be surprised by what they learn from this show,” says Executive Producer Peter Reynolds. “For instance, people with disabilities have a stake in such issues as day care, Meech Lake and free trade. The program is provocative and controversial as well as entertaining. We are developing a close relationship with CBC News so that we can keep viewers up to date on the latest news and opinions in the area of disability. We will also develop a working relationship with other networks and television stations across the country and around the world to exchange material and examine how disability issues are handled elsewhere.”

On the first program, viewers heard from Tony Proszowski, a man with paraplegia who rides a motorcycle. And in another item, Edmonton Northern Lights star guard Pat Griffen, one of the top wheelchair basketball players in the world, was profiled. Pat Griffen is hoping to lead his team to another national championship and Canada to a gold medal at the World Championships.

Because unemployment is the single greatest problem faced by Canadians with disabilities, many of the stories and interviews on THE DISABILITY NETWORK will deal with employment issues. A regular feature of the program will be to help match up disabled job seekers with prospective employers. In the first program Suzanne spoke with Maxwell Yalden, Head of the Human Rights Commission of Canada, regarding employment equity.

Each show will include a summary of topical issues dealing with disability, as well as interviews with people involved in the issues. There will be a regular feature on inappropriate language relating to persons with disabilities as spotted in the media. “There are many words which we use every day that aren’t at all appropriate,” says co-host Joe Coughlin. “Wheelchair bound is one such expression.”

There will also be a commentary where varying points of view will be expressed on such issues as lack of accessibility for people with disabilities.

THE DISABILITY NETWORK is a co-production of CBC Toronto and Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) Inc. Funding for the show originates from the “Media Connection’ which is part of Access Connections, a project of Access Connections, a project developed, managed and partially funded by Metro Toronto. Metro Toronto administers over $2 million in funding for the project provided by Employment and Immigration Canada under its Innovations Program, as well as other funds raised from private corporations.

THE DISABILITY NETWORK will be seen on CBC Television in Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor and London Saturday afternoons at 12:30 on…the National CBC newsworld network Saturdays at 2:30.