THUNDER BAY -- The city does a good job of providing inclusivity for people with disabilities, but it could be great.
“So from good to great, there is a lot more that can be done in Thunder Bay to increase involvement, inclusivity, awareness and accessibility,” said Bill Adair, CEO of Spinal Cord Injury Ontario.
Adair was the keynote speaker at Hagi Community Service’s annual general meeting Wednesday at the Italian Cultural Centre.
The meeting was held on Dec. 3 to coincide with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which has been recognized by the United Nations since 1992.
There are three areas where the city could improve inclusivity, said Adair.
“The city can provide more affordable housing. The city can provide additional support for attendant services in people’s homes and employment is another area where the city could provide real leadership for the rest of Ontario and the rest of the country in terms of the number of people with disabilities who are employed,” he said.
Thunder Bay is close to being a model of global excellence, added Hagi CEO David Shannon.
“For 39 years, we have been world leaders in providing supports for people with disabilities,” he said, adding the credit goes not only to Hagi, but to the city, province and other community service agencies who have all worked together.
Shannon broke his neck in 1981 in southern Ontario and had nowhere to turn. He was told he would have to live in a nursing home.
“But I had a full apartment offered to me from Hagi here in Thunder Bay. I was able to get back to university and live a full life,” he said.
“Now I have a profession, a family who loves me. I have a full and meaningful life and that’s because Thunder Bay by 1979 was already a global leader. By 1981 when I broke my neck, I had a place to live and it was unavailable in Toronto.”
Shannon agreed with Adair that the city needs more supportive living units like the ones opened in McKellar Place last week and outreach services can also be improved.
“That’s the work we do,” he said.
