I recently began working for a small
non-profit organization that works with people with
disabilities, the Independent Living Resource Centre
(ILRC).
This organization has taken the lead in
organizing Sudbury's first Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion event.
When my contract began in March, preparations were already well
underway for the June 13th event. I was brought onto the
Advisory Committee as the media co-ordinator and began taking
on responsibilities almost immediately. There was so much to
do.
As the Rick Hansen name implies, the event is
designed to raise awareness, and money, for spinal cord injury.
When I came on board the committee, I was familiar with Rick
Hansen, and was aware he had a spinal cord injury, but I
couldn't relate.
My life had never been affected by spinal
cord injury. In fact, I'd had few experiences in even working
with people with disabilities. Nonetheless, I thought it was a
good cause and was determined to help the event be a
success.
The chair of the Advisory Committee is Earl
Black. He also Chairs the Board of Directors for the ILRC and
is the director of the Special Needs Office for Laurentian
University. Black also has a spinal cord injury. I've had many
opportunities to work with Earl and it has been quite an
enlightening experience. He is very intelligent and has a great
sense of humour; he has always made me feel at ease, though I'm
sure at times it was painfully obvious that I have had little
experience working with people with disabilities.
Earl, and other members of the ILRC, have
also inadvertently taught me a lot about how difficult life can
be for those with spinal cord injuries. For example, we were
planning a night where members, staff, and board members would
get together for dinner. But when choosing a restaurant, a lot
of my suggestions were immediately rejected because the
restaurants had stairs to the entrance. On the night we went
out, the dinner had broken up early and one member who is
wheelchair bound remained nearly an hour after the majority of
the others had left because she needed to wait for the
Handi-Transit.
As I said, it has been very
enlightening.
Half of the proceeds from the Sudbury's
Wheels In Motion event will be allotted for use for a local
spinal cord injury project. The other half goes to the Rick
Hansen Foundation who direct it towards their research
initiatives.
When discussing the project proposal with
Earl Black, he began to describe how he planned to use the
funds for an education campaign aimed at local
public organizations. In order to help me see
the need for such a project, he described a number of horrible
experiences he has had, personally and those of others, with
various organizations mandated to assist the disabled.
I was outraged. I could not believe the
disregard with which these citizens were treated. Needless to
say, the experience solidified my resolve to make
the event a success.
So this is my call to the citizens of Sudbury
- pick up a pledge form, call in a donation, or just come out
and show your support on Sunday June 13. It is a very
worthwhile cause that will benefit our community
tremendously.Help to keep Rick Hansen's dream alive and phone
today, 675-2121.
Dana Bates
,
media co-ordinator
Independent Living Resource Centre in Sudbury