Keeping the Network Alive

National Access Awareness Week (NAAW) ’97 takes place from May 26 to June 1. The main focus this year is the Celebration of the Decade of NAAW.

The guiding principle of NAAW is "to challenge all Canadians to raise awareness of the barriers facing people with disabilities, and to create and support equal access which will ensure the full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life in Canada."

NAAW is continuing to use the overall theme of "Access the Future" as it remains relative to the six issue areas: transportation, housing, education, recreation, employment and communication.

The Corporate Partners of NAAW provide financial resources as well as support in kind and business and managerial expertise. They also directly implement the principles of NAAW into the workplace through equity programs for personnel and clients.

All of the Corporate Partners for 1997 have been supporters for the Decade of NAAW. They are: Air Canada; Canadian National; Canada Post; CTV; Royal Bank of Canada; and the Office of Persons with Disabilities, Human Resources Canada.

But due to the diminishing resources available to NAAW in the past few years, funds remain limited. Therefore, the NAAW national infrastructure, as it is known, will cease to operate after NAAW ’97. The Management Committee is seeking opportunities to house some of the significant NAAW programs for the future.

The Government of Canada will continue to proclaim the week nationally, and communities and committees are strongly encouraged to continue implementation of activities and programs to improve the environment for all.

(For further information, comments, questions or materials regarding National Access Awareness Week, contact: Launel J. Scott, NAAW National Coordinator, 357 Third Ave. S., Saskatoon, SK, S7K 1M6; or phone, toll-free: 1-888-808-6229; or fax: (306) 653-7232.)