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This week, Worldfocus is airing two Signature stories about handicapped issues in Greece.
Tonight, we look at the challenges of being wheelchair-bound in Athens.
And tomorrow night, we’ll look at a new high-tech device being tested in Greece that helps visually disabled people be more mobile.
Do you think enough is being done to help the disabled?
Tell us what you think in the comments section below. Please be respectful and on-point. Malicious or offensive comments will be deleted, and repeat offenders will be banned.
See more Worldfocus coverage on Greek Technology for the Disabled.
01/12/2010 :: 02:20:31 PM
Les Clark Says:
I found the program to be very informative It stirs up lots of necessary dialog that can lead to change.
I do find your language to be inconsistent when you sometimes refer to “people with disabilities” and then begin referring to the “disabled” population. I know “disabled” is more economical in the use of words, but it is a label and not descriptive.
Labeling is a huge part of the barrier, making accessibility something “special” for all the special people rather than a cultural value system that allows most if not all of our fellow citizens to participate in the activities of our communities.
I have worked with people with disabilities for many years and have acquired a disability which was recently improved with surgery. The more our societies can make themselves accessible, the more independently people with disabilities can live and function, and are far more healthy and need far less expensive services. The economics are huge. This is not just a feel good thing. Investment in accessibility has large paybacks far into the future. And it allows people to work, shop and be active members of their world.
The US still has much work to do in making our communities more accessible. Even our nation’s capital, Washington, DC can be challenging for people with disabilities. Our son-in-law was recently at Walter Reed Hospital for injuries he acquired in Afghanistan. As he recovered, he went out into the city. He wanted to go on more trips but found the difficulty with accessibility to be pretty discouraging. Being able to go out into your community is very therapeutic and healing.
Thank you for taking on this project. With all that is going on in the world today, it is easy to overlook the need to continue pushing for improvements in our world. Peace be with you.