Rayna,
The disability community tried to block his appointment and has held
numerous protests.
He's been on NPR interviews, usually with a disabilty advocate to contest
his positions. More I suppose since I do not follow closely.
Being a Philadelphian with solid family connections I've been contemplating
asking to make arrangements where to send him. LOL
Not to worry. Likely won't be AU.
Steve.
>From: Rayna Lamb <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Today
>Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2001 23:32:14 +0800
>
>Steve
>
>You lucky things!! Do you guys want to keep him? We don't want him back!!!
>
>Rayna
>
>On Sun, Mar 04, 2001 at 02:40:09PM -0000, I. S. M. wrote:
> Rayna,
>
> We've got Singer @ Princeton, NJ for a stay. To think Einstein lived
>there.
>
> Guess everything's relative. G
>
> Good to read you.
>
> Steve
>
>
>
> >From: Rayna Lamb <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Re: Today
> >Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2001 21:19:15 +0800
> >
> >Well, Mag, I have finally got around to answering your question. I
> >really should be studying, but it is 35 degrees celcius at 7pm here
> >and I just can't be bothered!!
> >
> >I can only speak for Western Australia as far as access goes, I
> >haven't been to any of the other states since I moved to Australia.
> >Accessibility of footpaths vary depending on the suburb. In the
>newer
> >suburbs on the outskirts of Perth everything is all brick paved,
> >smooth and wonderful to drive on, there are curb cuts everywhere.
>But
> >in the older inner suburbs of the city, where I live, the footpaths
> >are shocking, the paving slabs in a lot of areas are broken, or move
> >with time, and it makes life very bumpy, hell on my back, and I lost
> >an entire set of ball bearings out of the front left wheel of my
> >scooter last year, due to the shocking state of the footpaths where I
> >live. There are also a lot less curb cuts, and the ones there are
>are
> >steep, and often stop half an inch from the road.
> >Shopping centres are all mostly accessible (if you don't mind crowds
>-
> >and I do!), but a lot of shops and businesses are still inaccessible,
> >it is an ongoing battle to convince them of the benefits of being
> >accessible to everyone. Most public buildings are accessible, I have
> >yet to come across an inaccessible library (yahoo!!), and the
>majority
> >of govt. departments are accessible. A lot of primary and secondary
> >schools are NOT accessible, and things don't look like improving.
>The
> >universities are better.
> >The newer train lines are all accessible, with platforms that are
> >level with the train floors, but the older train lines, like the one
> >I'm on, have still got a way to go, I have to book a passenger
>service
> >attentant with portable ramps for the train an hour before I go
> >anywhere on the train. They are gradually phasing in accessible
> >buses, but it is taking a long time, and because the bus system has
> >been privatised, it is very difficult to find out which buses routes
> >are accessible. There are some shuttlebus routes that are accessible
> >24/7 though. We have an accessible taxi system using Maxi taxis, but
> >there are not enough, and you have to book several hours ahead to get
> >one at the time you want. But eligible people get taxi subsidies of
> >up to 75% off their taxi fares. They have this in all states.
> >There used to be a scheme that would help PWD in purchasing cars, but
> >it was cancelled a year or so ago. There are disability parking bays
> >in most areas, but some able-bodied people are clearly illiterate
> >(poor darlings!!!) and park in them as well.
> >Each state has something called a Home and Community Care system,
> >subsidised by the government, which provides various assistance to
> >disabled and aged in their homes, it is a user pays system on a
> >sliding scale of fees (used to be free under the previous government,
> >but then then the Liberals got in, and they are NOT at all liberal
> >with the cash and support to PWD). I get by on two hours of home
>help
> >a fortnight plus meals on wheels. I should probably have more help
> >just to take the strain off slightly, but I think I'm very lucky to
>be
> >so physically independent. It is very difficult for people with high
> >support needs to get the help they need (unless they are
>independently
> >wealthy!) and too many are reduced to living in government run
>nursing
> >homes and hostels, too many of which are in an APPALLING condition.
> >Funding for the disability sector is always the first to go when the
> >govt. is making cutbacks.
> >Finding work is difficult (tried for 6 years and only ended up with
> >two nervous breakdowns, suicide attempts and hospital stays), even
>for
> >people with mild to moderate disabilities such as myself. And it is
> >getting worse.
> >There is the Disability Support Pension, which is just enough to get
> >by on, and a few other goverment funded assistance schemes, but they
> >are always being cut back on.
> >And the Disability Discrimination Act is a toothless tiger. More
> >loopholes than a circus act.
> >Australia's human rights record as far as PWD are concerned is awful.
> >Criminals get treated better.
> >The general attitude to PWD is the same as in the UK and US. Cure
> >them, kill them (sorry - euthanase them!), prevent them from being
> >born or keep them out of sight! After all the infamous `ethicist'
> >Peter Singer is Australian. So our lives and basic rights are always
> >at risk.
> >But the weather here is fabulous!!!
> >
> >Rayna
> >
> >On Wed, Feb 21, 2001 at 12:11:17AM -0500, Magenta Raine wrote:
> > Rayna,
> > tell us how things are over there for people with disabilities.
>Are
> >the
> > streets accessible for chairs, etc.?
> >
> > do you have personal care assistants?
> >
> > Mag
>
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