589 lines
19 KiB
HolyC
589 lines
19 KiB
HolyC
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.words-l
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Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
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Message-ID: <01GTWG1NEDEE001H7J@camins.Camosun.BC.CA>
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Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 14:59:52 -0800
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Sender: English Language Discussion Group <WORDS-L@uga.cc.uga.edu>
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From: Peter Montgomery <MONTGOMERY@CAMINS.CAMOSUN.BC.CA>
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Subject: Official Canadian Document on Handicap Language: c 560 lines
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Lines: 579
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A
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W A Y
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with
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W O R D S
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GUIDELINES AND APPROPRIATE TERMINOLOGY
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FOR THE PORTRAYAL OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
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Separate Insert Sheet with Terminology List:
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TERMINOLOGY GUIDE
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CONCERNING PERSONS WITH DISABLITIES
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Do not use or say Do use or say
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Aged (The) SENIORS
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elderly (The) Adjectives like frail, senile or feeble
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suggest a negative image of seniors
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and should not be used.
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Birth defect PERSON WITH A DISABILITY SINCE
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congenital defect BIRTH, PERSON WHO HAS A
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deformity CONGENITAL DISABILITY
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Blind (The) PERSON WHO IS BLIND, PERSON
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visually impaired (the) WITH A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
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Confined to a wheelchair PERSON WHO USES A
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wheelchair bound WHEELCHAIR, WHEELCHAIR USER
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For individuals with a mobility
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impairment, a wheelchair is a
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means to get around independently.
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Cripple PERSON WITH A DISABILITY,
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crippled PERSON WITH A MOBILITY
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lame IMPAIRMENT, PERSON WHO
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HAS ARTHRITIS, A SPINAL CORD
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INJURY,ETC.
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Deaf (The) PERSON WHO IS DEAF
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When referring to the entire deaf
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population and their culture it is
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acceptable to use "the deaf".
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Hard of hearing (The) PERSON WHO IS HARD OF
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hearing impaired (the) HEARING
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These individuals are not deaf and
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may compensate for a hearing loss
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with an amplification device or
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system.
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Epileptic (The) PERSON WHO HAS EPILEPSY
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Fit SEIZURE
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Hnadicapped (The) PERSON WITH A DISABILITY
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UNLESS REFERRING TO AN
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ENVIRONMENTAL OR ATTITUDINAL BARRIER
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In such instances "Person who is
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handicapped by" is appropriate.
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Insane PERSONS WITH A MENTAL
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lunatic HEALTH DISABILITY, PERSON WHO
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maniac HAS SCHIZOPHRENIA, PERSON
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mental patient WHO HAS DEPRESSION
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mentally diseased It is important to remember that
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neurotic the development of appropriate
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psycho terminology is still in progress;how-
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psychotic ever, the above terms are currently
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schizophrenic in use. The term "insane" (unsound
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unsound mind mind) should only be used in strictly
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legal sense. Obviously, words such
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as "crazy", "demented", "deviant"
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"loony", "mad" and "nuts" should
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be avoided.
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Invalid PERSON WITH A DISABILITY
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The literal sense of the word
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"invalid" is "not valid".
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Mentally Retarded PERSON WITH AN INTELLECTUAL
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defective DISABILITY, PERSON WHO IS
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feeble minded INTELLECTUALLY IMPAIRED
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idiot One can say, a person with
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imbecile Down's syndrome, only if relevant
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moron to the story.
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retarded
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simple
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mongoloid
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Normal PERSON WHO IS NOT DISABLED
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Normal is only acceptable in refer-
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ence to statistics, e.g., "the norm".
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Patient PERSON WITH A DISABILITY
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Unless the relationship being referred
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to is between a doctor and client.
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Physically challenged PERSON WITH A DISABILITY
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differently able
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Spastic PERSON WHO HAS SPASMS
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Spastic should never be used as
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a noun.
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Suffers from PERSON WITH A DISABILITY,
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afflicted PERSON WHO HAS CEREBRAL
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stricken with PALSY,ETC.
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Having a disability is not synony-
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mous with suffering.
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Victim of cerebral palsy PERSON WHO HAS CEREBRAL
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multiple sclerosis, PALSY, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS,
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arthritis, etc ARTHRITIS, ETC., PERSON
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WITH A DISABILITY, PERSON
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WITH A MOBILITY IMPAIRMENT
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A
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WAY
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WITH
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WORDS
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Guidelines and appropriate
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terminology for the portrayal
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of persons with disabilities
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Produced by
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Status of Disabled Persons Secretariat
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Department of the Secretary of State
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of Canada
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Ottawa, Ontario
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KlA OM5
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(819) 997-2412 (VOICE and TDD)
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This booklet is available in alternate media format.
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Ce guide est egalement disponible en francais.
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c Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1991
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Cat No. S2-216/1991 E
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ISBN 0-662-18713-X
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I N T R O D U C T I 0 N
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Language is a powerful and important tool in
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shaping ideas, perceptions, and ultimately,
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public attitudes.
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Words are a mirror of society's attitudes and
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perceptions. Attitudes can be the most diffi-
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cult barrier persons with disabilities must face
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in gaining full integration, acceptance and
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participation in society.
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Careful presentation of information about per-
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sons with disabilities can help overcome neg-
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ative attitudes and shape positive ones. The
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Standing Committee on the Status of Disabled
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Persons found in its report No News is Bad
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News that vocabulary con create perception.
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Demeaning, belittling or negative words are
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a barrier to greater understanding and can
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trivialize genuine support given by a commu-
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nity to persons with disabilities.
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Language use is changing as persons with
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disabilities claim their individual and collec-
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tive right to participate fully in society.
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Dated and disparaging words are being
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replaced with precise, descriptive terms
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which have specific meanings that are not
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interchangeable.
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1
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Persons with disabilities are asking, just as
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women and minority groups are asking, that
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the media use respectful terms in writing
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about them or issues that affect their lives.
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Individuals with disabilities are working to
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achieve equality, independence and full par-
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ticipation in our society. The ways in which
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issues are reported and the use of proper ter-
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minology can help persons with disabilities
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reach these goals.
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P U R P O S E :
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This booklet suggests current and appropriate
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terminology to reflect the increased participa-
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tion by Canadians with disabilities in our
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society. This booklet is intended to encour-
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age and promote fair and accurate portrayal
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of persons with disabilities. It is primarily
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designed for print and broadcast media pro-
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fessionals writing and reporting about issues
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of concern to persons with disabilities.
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C O N T E N T:
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This booklet has two sections and a remov-
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able insert. GENERAL GUIDELINES has infor-
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mation on terminology and portrayal of
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persons with disabilities.
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2
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MEDIA COVERAGE OF PERSONS WITH
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DISABILITIES deals with reporting on issues of
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concern to persons with disabilities. The
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removable insert suggests appropriate termi-
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nology.
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G E N E R A L G U I D E L I N E S:
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1. It is important to remember that each
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word in today's terminology has a pre-
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cise meaning and that the words are not
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interchangeable.
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2 "Disabled" and "handicapped" are not
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the same thing. A disability is a function-
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al limitation or restriction of an individu-
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al's ability to perform an activity. A
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"handicap" is an environmental or attitu-
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dinal barrier that limits the opportunity for
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a person to participate fully. Negative
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attitudes or inaccessible entrances to
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buildings are examples of handicaps.
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3 The word "disabled" is an adjective, not
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a noun. People are not conditions. Do
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not use "the disabled"; use "persons with
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disabilities".
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4 Focus on the issue rather than the disability.
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If the disability is not relevant to the story,
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it is not necessary to report it.
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3
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5 Try to avoid categorizing persons with
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disabilities as either super-achievers or
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tragic figures. Choose words that are
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non-judgemental, non-emotional and are
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accurate descriptions. Avoid using
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"brave", "courageous", "inspirational" or
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other similar words that are routinely used
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to describe a person with a disability.
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Remember that the majority of persons
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with disabilities are average and typical
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of the rest of the population.
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Similarly, references which cause discom-
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fort, quilt, pity or insult, should be avoided.
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Words like "suffers from stricken with",
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"afflicted by", "patient", "disease" or
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"sick" suggest constant pain and a sense
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of hopelessness. While this may be the
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case for some individuals, a disability is a
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condition that does not necessarily cause
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pain or require medical attention.
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6 Avoid the use of words such as "burden
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"incompetent", "defective", "special",
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etc. which suggest that persons with
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disabilities should be treated differently or
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be excluded from activities generally
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available in the community.
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4
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7 Be particularly careful with terminology
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used in headlines. Remember that head-
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lines make the first impression.
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8 Refer to technical aids in factual, non-
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emotional terms. Avoid prolonged focus
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on support equipment.
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9 Persons with disabilities are comfortable
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with the terminology used to describe
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daily living activities. Persons who use
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wheelchairs go for "walks". people with
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visual impairments "see" what you mean,
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etc. A disability may just mean that some
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things are done in a different manner;
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however, that does not mean the words
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used to describe the activity must be
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different.
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10 Remember that although some disabilities
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are not visible, it does not mean they are
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less real. Individuals with invisible dis-
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abilities such as epilepsy, haemophilia,
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mental health, learning, or developmental
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disabilities also encounter negative
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attitudes and barriers.
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5
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M E D I A C O V E R A G E
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O F P E R S O N S W I T H
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D I S A B I L I T I E S
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Researching, Writing and Reporting
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1 Too often, when a person with a disability
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is featured in a story that has several pos-
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sible angles, the human interest story line
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dominates, e.g., how the individual has
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overcome great odds.
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2 There are few examples of in-depth cover-
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age of issues of particular importance to
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persons with disabilities (e.g., lack of
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physical access to facilities, employment,
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poverty, etc.).
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3 Persons with disabilities are seldom asked
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for their views on stories dealing with
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transportation, the environment, child
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care, etc.
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The media can help create and reinforce
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positive attitudes towards persons with
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disabilities. Progress has been made in
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recent years and media professionals are
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asking advice on how to report on,
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discuss, and write about disability.
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6
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Bridging the Communicutions Gap
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Here are some suggestions to improve com-
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munications with persons with disabilities.
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1 When talking with a person with a disability
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speak directly to him/her rather than
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through a companion who may be there.
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2 Avoid putting persons with disabilities on
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a pedestal and using patronizing terms.
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Interview a person with a disability as
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you would any other person.
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3 Do not unnecessarily emphasize differences.
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Having a "one of them" versus a "one of us"
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attitude only serves to reinforce barriers.
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4 In visual treatments (e.g., television,
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photographs), do not dwell on technical
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aids or adaptive devices unless, of
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course, the purpose is to introduce or
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discuss a particular aid or device.
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Following an interview, ask yourself:
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1 Am I writing this piece because it involves
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a person with a disability or because the
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issue and related circumstances are rele-
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vant to the general population? If it did
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not involve a person with a disability,
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would I still want to write it?
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7
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2 Is a reference to a disability necessary to
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the story? If it is, am I using the correct
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terminology (e.g., "uses a wheelchair",
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and not "confined to a wheelchair")?
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3 Is this piece accurate and unbiased?
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Have I avoided sensationalism?
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C O N C L U S I O N
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Journalists can contribute to a more positive
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and accurate image of persons with disabili-
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ties. The information provided to the general
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public, and the ways in which this informa-
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tion is presented, often create a framework
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for the attitudes people have and the ways in
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which they interact with individuals with dis-
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abilities. If the coverage of disability-related
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issues is done in a non-emotional, factual and
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integrative manner, the public will no doubt
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begin to question the prejudices and stereo-
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types that still exist.
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8
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R E F E R E N C E S :
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Editing Canadian English. Prepared for the
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Freelance Editors Association of Canada.
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Guidelines for Reporting ond Writing About
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People with Disabilities. Archalert, Volume 4,
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No. 7.
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No News is Bad News. Standing Committee
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on the Status of Disabled Persons, House of
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Commons.
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Portraying People with Disabilities. National
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Easter Seal Society (Chicago, Illinois).
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"Watch Your Longuoge. Words Shape
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Attitudes". Frances Strong (appeared in the
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Rehabilitation Digest, winter, 1989).
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Word Choices. A lexicon of preferred terms
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for disability issues. Office for Disabled
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Persons, Government of Ontario.
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Words with Dignity. Ontario March of
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Dimes.
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Worthless or Wonderful: The Social
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Stereotyping of Persons with Disobilities.
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Status of Disabled Persons Secretariat,
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Department of the Secretary of State of
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Canada.
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9
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O R G A N I Z A T I 0 N S
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C O N S U L T E D
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Canadian Association for Community Living
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(CACL)
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4700 Keele Street, Kinsmen Building
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Toronto, Ontario
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M3J 1P3
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(416) 661-9611
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Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD)
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2435 Holly Lane, Suite 205
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Ottawa, Ontario
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KlV 7P2
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(613) 526-4785
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Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB)
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396 Cooper Street
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Ottawa, Ontario
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K2P 2H7
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(613) 567-0311
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Canadian Hard of Hearing Association
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(CHHA)
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2435 Holly Lane, Suite 205
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Ottawa, Ontario
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KIV 7P2
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VOICE (613) 526-1584,
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TDD (613) 526-2692
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10
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Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
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2160 Yonge Street
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Toronto, Ontario
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M4S 2Z3
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(416) 484-7750
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Canadian National Institute for the Blind
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(CNIB)
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1931 Bayview Avenue
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Toronto, Ontario
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M4G 4C8
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(416) 486-2500
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Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA)
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520 Sutherland Drive
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Toronto, Ontario
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M4G 3V9
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(416) 391-0203
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Coalition of Provincial Organizations
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of the Handicapped (COPOH)
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624-294 Portage Avenue
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Winnipeg, Manitoba
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R3C OB9
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(204) 947-0303
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Learning Disabilities Association
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of Canada (LDAC)
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323 Chapel Street
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Ottawa, Ontario
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KlN 7Z2
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(613) 238-5721
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11
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National People First
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4700 Keele Street, Kinsmen Building
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Toronto, Ontario
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M3J 1P3
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(416) 661-9611
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Canadian Deaf and Hard of
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Hearing Forum (CDHHF)
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2435 Holly Lane, Suite 205
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Ottawa, Ontario
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KIV 7P2
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VOICE (613) 526-4867,
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TDD (613) 526-2492
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National Educational Association
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of Disabled Students (NEADS)
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4th Level Unicentre
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Carleton University
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Ottawa, Ontario
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K1S 5B6
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(613) 233-5963
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One Voice Seniors Network
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350 Sparks Street, Suite 901
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Ottawa, Ontario
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K1R 7S8
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(613) 238-7624
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12
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The Society for Depression and Manic-
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Depression of Manitoba
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4-1 000 Notre-Dame Avenue
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Winnipeg, Manitoba
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R3F 0N3
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(204) 786-0987
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Canadian Friends of Schizophrenics
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95 Barber Greene Road, Suite 309
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Don Mills, Ontario
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M3C 3F9
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(416) 445-820A
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13
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