The
      Panther
      Prints
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
        
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      March
      26,
      1996
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Information
      From
      the
      Access-Ability
      Committee
     
    
   
   
    
     
      The
      University
      of
      Prince
      Edward
      Island
      is
      committed
      to
      making
      the
      campus
      as
     
     
      accessible
      as
      possible
      to
      persons
      with
      disabilities,
      and
      those
      with
      special
      needs.
      New
     
     
      facilities
      and
      new
      policies
      are
      planned
      with
      the
      special
      needs
      of
      the
      individual
      in
      mind,
     
     
      and
      where
      possible
      the
      Administration
      continues
      to
      re-design
      older
      buildings,
      to
     
     
      improve
      parking
      conditions,
      and
      to
      provide
      academic
      and
      support
      services.
      As
      yet,
     
     
      not
      all
      areas
      of
      the
      campus
      are
      accessible.
      A
      University
      committee
      exists
      to
      explore
     
     
      the
      needs
      of
      persons
      with
      disabilities
      and
      to
      take
      action
      to
      initiate
      change.
      The
      follow-
     
     
      ing
      is
      a
      list
      of
      names
      to
      contact
      for
      assistance:
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Student
      Services
      566-0423
     
     
      Counselling
      566-0488
     
     
      Tutoring
      566-0425
     
     
      Health
      Centre
      566-0616
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Security
      Department
      566-0600
     
     
      Access-Ability
      Committee
      (Student
      Services)
      566-0423
     
     
      PEI
      Council
      of
      the
      Disabled
      892-9149
     
    
   
   
    
     
      The
      PEI
      Council
      of
      the
      Disabled
      provides
      a
      variety
      of
      programs,
      training,
     
     
      information
      and
      resources
      and
      works
      closely
      with
      the
      Access-Ability
      Committee
      on
     
     
      campus.
      Everyone
      must
      realize
      that
      what
      we
      achieve
      in
      life
      is
      not
      limited
      by
      our
      bodies
     
     
      but
      by
      the
      strength
      of
      our
      determination.
      When
      we
      can't
      walk
      or
      can't
      reach
      out
      to
     
     
      touch
      someone
      or
      can't
      speak
      the
      words
      we're
      thinking,
      we
      need
      opportunities
      to
     
     
      realize
      our
      potential,
      to
      experience
      the
      finest
      quality
      of
      life,
      to
      choose
      pride
      and
     
     
      independence.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Did
      you
      know
      that
      on
      Prince
      Edward
      Island
      one
      in
      seven
      people
      (18,450)
      have
      a
     
     
      disability?
      This
      often
      surprises
      the
      general
      public
      as
      they
      indicate
      that
      they
      don't
      "see"
     
     
      that
      many
      people
      with
      disabilities
      in
      their
      community.
      Many
      only
      view
      those
      with
     
     
      highly
      visible,
      physical
      disabilities
      such
      as
      people
      who
      use
      a
      white
      cane,
      a
      wheelchair
     
     
      or
      who
      are
      missing
      a
      limb
      as
      individuals
      with
      disabilities.
      However,
      many
      more
     
     
      people
      have
      hidden
      or
      invisible
      disabilities
      such
      as
      epilepsy,
      heart
      conditions,
      diabetes,
     
     
      arthritis,
      learning
      disabilities,
      etc.
      Remember,
      people
      with
      disabilities
      are
      people
      first,
     
     
      who
      happen
      to
      have
      a
      disability.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      What
      do
      disability
      and
      handicap
      mean?
     
    

    
     
      A
      Disability
      is
      a
      functional
      limitation
      or
      restriction
      of
      an
      individual's
      ability
      to
     
     
      perform
      an
      activity.
      :
     
    

    
     
      A
      Handicap
      is
      an
      environmental
      or
      attitudinal
      barrier
      that
      limits
      full
      participa-
     
     
      tion
      by
      people
      with
      disabilities.
      Here
      are
      a
      few
      examples.
      A
      flight
      of
      stairs
      is
      a
     
     
      handicap
      to
      a
      person
      who
      uses
      a
      wheelchair,
      or
      negative
      attitudes
      about
      disabilities
      are
     
     
      the
      biggest
      handicap.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Accessibility
      is
      not
      simply
      a
      question
      of
      getting
      through
      the
      door
      or
      reaching
      a
     
     
      telephone.
      Real
      accessibility
      means
      equality.
      Do
      you
      see
      me
      as
      your
      equal?
      Can]
      get
     
     
      information
      or
      services
      or
      enjoy
      the
      same
      opportunities
      as
      you?
      Your
      time
      and
      under-
     
     
      standing
      can
      bring
      about
      changes
      which
      mean
      real
      equality
      --
      real
      accessibility.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Becoming
      Aware
     
    

    
     
      Becoming
      aware
      can
      take
      many
      forms.
      Always
      remember
      that
      you
      must
      focus
     
     
      on
      people's
      abilities,
      not
      their
      disabilities!
      Remember
      to
      Treat
      all
      people
      as
      you
     
     
      yourself
      like
      to
      be
      treated.
      You
      know
      that
      people
      with
      disabilities
      are
      not
      all
      alike;
      they.
     
     
      have
      the
      same
      wide
      variety
      of
      skills
      and
      personalities
      that
      other
      people
      have.
      Treat
      all
     
     
      people
      who
      have
      disabilities
      as
      individuals.
      One
      must
      also
      note
      that
      there
      are
      ranges
      of
     
     
      abilities
      and
      not
      everyone
      requires
      or
      wants
      your
      help.
      Don't
      insist
      on
      providing
      help
     
     
      or
      be
      offended
      if
      your
      offer
      to
      assist
      is
      not
      accepted.
      One
      key
      ingredient
      to
      becoming
     
     
      aware
      is
      remembering
      not
      to
      make
      assumptions
      or
      generalizations.
      For
      instance,
      do
     
     
      not
      assume
      that
      persons
      with
      disabilities
      are
      sick,
      unintelligent,
      poor,
      dependent,
     
     
      unemployed
      or
      helpless.
      Finally
      you
      can
      relax
      and
      accept
      that
      the
      person
      with
      a
     
     
      disability
      is
      exactly
      that,
      a
      person
      who
      happens
      to
      have
      a
      disability.
      Do
      not
      let
      any
     
    
   
   
    
     
      negative
      stereotyping,
      superstitious
      myths
      and
      preconceived
      notions
      about
      disabilities
      °
      .
      \
     
    
   
   
    
     
      cloud
      this
      fact.
      And
      please,
      ask,
      listen,
      and
      don't
      assume.
      These
      are
      the
      three
      most
     
     
      important
      tips
      to
      remember.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      When
      you
      meet
      a
      person
      who
      has
      a
      disability
      there
      are
      a
      few
      things
      that
      you
      can
     
    
   
   
    
     
      -
      do.
      You
      may
      offer
      assistance
      if
      asked
      or
      if
      the
      need
      seems
      obvious,
      but
      don't
      overdo
      it
     
    
   
   
    
     
      or
      insist
      on
      it.
      Respect
      the
      person's
      right
      to
      indicate
      the
      kind
      of
      help
      needed.
      Also,
      be
     
     
      considerate
      of
      the
      extra
      time
      it
      might
      take
      for
      a
      person
      with
      a
      disability
      to
      get
      things
     
     
      said
      or
      done.
      Let
      the
      person
      set
      the
      pace
      in
      walking
      or
      talking.
      Another
      part
      of
     
     
      meeting
      a
      person
      with
      a
      disability
      is
      conversation.
      Please
      remember
      that
      when
      speak-
     
     
      ing
      to
      the
      person
      speak
      directly
      to
      a
      person
      who
      has
      a
      disability.
      Do
      not
      consider
      a
     
     
      companion
      to
      be
      a
      conversational
      go-between.
      If
      at
      some
      point
      you
      decide
      they
      need
     
     
      help
      remember
      to
      never
      start
      to
      push
      a
      wheelchair
      without
      first
      asking
      the
      occupant
      if
     
     
      you
      may
      do
      so
      and
      do
      not
      lean
      on
      a
      person's
      wheelchair
      when
      talking.
     
    

    
     
      When
      meeting
      a
      person
      who
      is
      blind
      or
      visually
      impaired,
      identify
      yourself
      and
     
     
      let
      the
      person
      know
      you
      are
      addressing
      them
      by
      using
      their
      name
      or
      touching
      their
     
     
      shoulder
      or
      arm.
      Be
      sure
      to
      tell
      them
      when
      you
      are
      leaving.
      While
      you
      are
      in
      their
     
     
      presence
      give
      whole,
      unhurried
      attention
      to
      the
      person
      who
      has
      difficulty
      speaking.
     
     
      Ask
      questions
      that
      require
      short
      answers
      or
      a
      nod
      or
      shake
      of
      the
      head
      and
      speak
     
     
      clearly
      and
      distinctly
      to
      a
      person
      with
      a
      hearing
      impairment
      or
      who
      has
      other
      difficulty
     
     
      understanding.
      When
      full
      understanding
      is
      doubtful,
      rephrase
      or
      write
      notes.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      How
      Can
      Faculty/Staff
      Help?
     
    

    
     
      Accommodating
      people
      with
      disabilities
      does
      not
      always
      involve
      major
      renova-
     
     
      tions
      or
      considerable
      effort
      on
      your
      part.
      The
      following
      are
      some
      painless
      suggestions
     
     
      which
      are
      easy
      to
      implement.
     
    

    
     
      1)
      Allowing
      extra
      time
      for
      exams
      and
      assignments.
      2)
      providing
      alternative
     
     
      forms
      of
      testing
      (i.e.
      oral
      exams)
      3)
      finding
      accessible
      and/or
      more
      appropriate
      loca-
     
     
      tions
      4)
      providing
      appropriate
      seating
      within
      the
      classroom
      5)
      asking
      the
      student
      what
     
     
      works
      for
      them.
      6)
      accessing
      reading
      and
      book
      lists
      in
      advance
      7)
      providing
      separate
     
     
      rooms
      to
      write
      exams.
      8)
      making
      photocopied
      materia!
      clear
      and
      legible.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Watch
      Your
      Language
     
     
      (Words
      Shape
      Attitudes)
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Language
      is
      a
      powerful
      tool
      in
      the
      shaping
      of
      ideas,
      perceptions
      and
      attitudes.
     
     
      The
      language
      you
      use
      can
      assist
      in
      promoting
      positive
      attitudes.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Please
      use:
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Instead
      of:
     
    

    
     
      Disabled
      Person
      with
      a
      disability
     
     
      Handicapped
      Person
      with
      a
      disability
     
     
      Crippled
      by
      Person
      who
      has
      a_
      disability
     
     
      Afflicted
      with
      Person
      with
      a
      disability
     
    

    
     
      Normal
      Non-disabled
     
    

    
     
      Victim/Suffer
      _
      Persons
      with
      a
      disability
     
     
      Retarded
      Persons
      with
      a
      mental
      handicap
     
     
      Deformed
      Born
      with
     
    

    
     
      Confined
      toa
      wheelchair
      Wheelchair
      user
     
    

    
     
      Deaf
      and
      Dumb
      Person
      with
      a
      hearing
      impairment
     
     
      Brain
      damage
      Head
      injury
     
    

    
     
      Wheelchair
      architect
      Architect
      who
      uses
      a
      wheelchair
     
     
      Blind
      Lawyer
      Lawyer
      who
      is
      blind
     
    
   
   
    
     
      The
      Access-Ability
      committee
      is
      looking
      for
      a
      student
      representative
      for
      next
     
     
      year.
      If
      you
      are
      interested
      in
      being
      a
      part
      of
      this
      committee,
      then
      please
      contact
      Mary
     
     
      Johnston-Hunter
      at
      the
      Department
      of
      Student
      Services.
      Finally,
      always
      be
      aware
      that
     
     
      through
      careful
      consultation
      with
      students
      who
      have
      disabilities,
      an
      accessible
      learning
     
     
      environment
      can
      be
      attained.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      \