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Effective methods that can make life easier for people with disabilities

Published

8 months ago

January 19, 2024

People with disabilities face many challenges in their daily lives. From difficulty accessing certain services and places to mobility issues, living with a disability can make everyday tasks more complex. Disabilities come in all sizes and shapes, and in Canada, more than 6.2 million people live with a disability, which totals around 22% of the population. That is a huge number of people who must endure varying degrees of hardship and find new methods to make their lives easier. Fortunately, businesses, individuals and governments are trying to create new ways so that the person with disabilities will benefit from more inclusive options.

Here are some effective methods that will create accessible environments to meet the needs of all the members of society.

People with disabilities face unique problems in their lives, so it is important to offer them access to proper support, as it can make a huge difference in their well-being. The person with disabilities must have access to resources that will make them learn the best ways to live an independent and productive life. This support can come in numerous forms, including specialized healthcare, physical accommodations, or educational opportunities.

Also, the support can represent recommendations regarding funding for specialized health, employment and education opportunities and home modifications. Regarding the last, Summit Stairlifts could be a good option, as the brand supplies stairlifts that will allow people with disabilities to move freely around the house, thus increasing their comfort.

Improve access everywhere

Accessibility is an important issue nowadays, as people with disabilities still face challenges both inside and outside their houses. One way to make life easier for people with disabilities would be to improve access to public places and transportation. Assistive devices can achieve this by building and installing ramps, as well as offering accessible entrances and bathrooms. Moreover, signage must be written in braille and text so that everyone, including those with visual impairments, will find out the information.

Public transportation is often a major challenge for those with disabilities, as they face difficulty in moving around the town or in other places. To create an inclusive environment, public transport systems should have accessible entry and exit points that must be easily identifiable. Furthermore, trains and buses need to be modified to have other features, such as handrails and wheelchair lifts, to assist those with limited mobility.

Adjustments should also be made at home, as those with impaired mobility need to feel secure in moving around without having someone near them 24/7. One of the best changes could be made with the help of stairlifts. Installing one in a house will offer better mobility and increase independence, as disabled people want to do things independently and hate feeling like a burden. There are many considerations to take into account when choosing one, and stairlift prices and safety standards are just a few of them.

Create job opportunities

Offering more job opportunities for those with disabilities is an excellent way to improve their life. By providing meaningful employment, they will enjoy the pride and independence that comes when you contribute to a community. A job will also offer them a purpose, a means to support themselves and a routine that can be beneficial also for their mental health.

Businesses need to expand access to inclusive workplaces that will help those with disabilities. This can be done by removing the obstacles and barriers in a workplace, such as restrictive doorways and making further accommodations for those with hearing and vision impairment. Also, it is very important to promote anti-discrimination policies that will protect workers with disabilities from potential prejudice and bias.

This also applies to the recruitment process, when employers must ensure that the interviews are inclusive and accessible to anyone. Employers can contribute to creating more job opportunities by recruiting a diverse pool of candidates and offering job descriptions that are concise and clear so that people with disabilities will enjoy an equal chance at applying.

Raise awareness

Raising awareness is also vital in making the lives of those with disabilities easier. A deeper understanding of the public can increase the likelihood that individuals with disabilities will find more support, acceptance and resources. A wider awareness will also break down negative perceptions or any stigma that might be associated with disability. This will create a more inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

A great way to raise awareness is to understand the specific needs of people with disabilities and create campaigns that spread this knowledge. These campaigns should focus on stories from those with disabilities, highlighting their struggles, triumphs and unique experiences. In Canada, 22% of the population lives with a disability, so it is important to create these campaigns and make everyone understand the importance of having a more inclusive environment.

Summing up

Living with a disability is more difficult, but numerous steps will make life easier for those with an impairment. It is very important to provide an accessible and inclusive space where everyone will feel accepted and safe. From providing accommodation in the workplace to ensuring buildings are wheelchair-friendly, businesses and individuals can adopt many changes that will make life more enjoyable and simpler.

By considering how our actions can impact the ones with disabilities negatively or positively and understanding their unique needs, we can contribute towards making the world a better place for anyone. Those with disabilities will always want to feel like the rest of us, and they don’t want to be a burden. So, giving them access to all the resources we benefit from will be a great way to make them feel good and an integral part of society.

We hope this article offered some helpful information that gave you ideas on how you can create a more disabled-friendly environment.

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Langford, Heim lead Rangers to wild 13-8 win over Blue Jays

Published

1 hour ago

September 17, 2024

Anne Joseph

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rookie Wyatt Langford homered, doubled twice and became the first Texas player this season to reach base five times, struggling Jonah Heim delivered a two-run single to break a sixth-inning tie and the Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 13-8 on Tuesday night.

Leody Taveras also had a homer among his three hits for the Rangers.

Langford, who also walked twice, has 12 homers and 25 doubles this season. He is hitting .345 in September.

“I think it’s really important to finish on a strong note,” Langford said. “I’m just going to keep trying to do that.”

Heim was 1-for-34 in September before he lined a single to right field off Tommy Nance (0-2) to score Adolis García and Nathaniel Lowe, giving Texas a 9-7 lead. Heim went to the plate hitting .212 with 53 RBIs after being voted an All-Star starter last season with a career-best 95 RBIs. He added a double in the eighth ahead of Taveras’ homer during a three-run inning.

Texas had 13 hits and left 13 men on. It was the Rangers’ highest-scoring game since a 15-8 win at Oakland on May 7.

Matt Festa (5-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win, giving him a 5-0 record in 13 appearances with the Rangers after being granted free agency by the New York Mets on July 7.

Nathan Eovaldi, a star of Texas’ 2023 run to the franchise’s first World Series championship, had his worst start of the year in what could have been his final home start with the Rangers. Eovaldi, who will be a free agent next season, allowed 11 hits (the most of his two seasons with Texas) and seven runs (tied for the most).

“I felt like early in the game they just had a few hits that found the holes, a few first-pitch base hits,” said Eovaldi, who is vested for a $20 million player option with Texas for 2025. “I think at the end of the day I just need to do a better job of executing my pitches.”

Eovaldi took a 7-3 lead into the fifth inning after the Rangers scored five unearned runs in the fourth. The Jays then scored four runs to knock out Eovaldi after 4 2/3 innings.

Six of the seven runs scored against Toronto starter Chris Bassitt in 3 2/3 innings were unearned. Bassitt had a throwing error during Texas’ two-run third inning.

“We didn’t help ourselves defensively, taking care of the ball to secure some outs,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.

The Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a double and two singles, his most hits in a game since having four on Sept. 3. Guerrero is hitting .384 since the All-Star break.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette (calf) was activated and played for the first time since July 19, going 2 for 5 with an RBI. … OF Daulton Varsho (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list and will have rotator cuff surgery … INF Will Wagner (knee inflammation) was placed on the 60-day list.

UP NEXT

Rangers: LHP Chad Bradford (5-3, 3.97 ERA) will pitch Wednesday night’s game on extended five days’ rest after allowing career highs in hits (nine), runs (eight) and home runs (three) in 3 2/3 innings losing at Arizona on Sept. 14.

Blue Jays: RHP Bowden Francis (8-4, 3.50) has had two no-hitters get away in the ninth inning this season, including in his previous start against the New York Mets on Sept. 11. Francis is the first major-leaguer to have that happen since Rangers Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan in 1989.

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AP MLB:

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Billie Jean King set to earn another honor with the Congressional Gold Medal

Published

3 hours ago

September 17, 2024

Anne Joseph

WASHINGTON (AP) — Billie Jean King will become the first individual female athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey announced Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had passed the House of Representatives and would be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.

The bill to honor King, the tennis Hall of Famer and activist, had already passed unanimously in the Senate.

Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a statement that King’s “lifetime of advocacy and hard work changed the landscape for women and girls on the court, in the classroom, and the workplace.”

The bill was introduced last September on the 50th anniversary of King’s victory over Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes,” still the most-watched tennis match of all-time. The medal, awarded by Congress for distinguished achievements and contributions to society, has previously been given to athletes including baseball players Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente, and golfers Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.

King had already been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, says she has “broken barriers, led uncharted paths, and inspired countless people to stand proudly with courage and conviction in the fight for what is right.”

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Account tweaks for young Instagram users ‘minimum’ expected by B.C., David Eby says

Published

3 hours ago

September 17, 2024

Anne Joseph

SURREY, B.C. – Premier David Eby says new account control measures for young Instagram users introduced Tuesday by social media giant Meta are the “minimum” expected of tech companies to keep kids safe online.

The parent company of Instagram says users in Canada and elsewhere under 18 will have their accounts set to private by default starting Tuesday, restricting who can send messages, among other parental controls and settings.

Speaking at an unrelated event Tuesday, Eby says the province began talks with social media companies after threatening legislation that would put big tech companies on the hook for “significant potential damages” if they were found negligent in failing to keep kids safe from online predators.

Eby says the case of Carson Cleland, a 12-year-old from Prince George, B.C., who took his own life last year after being targeted by a predator on Snapchat, was “horrific and totally preventable.”

He says social media apps are “nothing special,” and should be held to the same child safety standards as anyone who operates a place that invites young people, whether it’s an amusement park, a playground or an online platform.

In a progress report released Tuesday about the province’s engagement with big tech companies including Google, Meta, TikTok, Spapchat and X, formerly known as Twitter, the provincial government says the companies are implementing changes, including a “trusted flagger” option to quickly remove intimate images.

— With files from The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024

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