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Days of waiting for rides over No better birthday gift than drivers licence ByANIPEDERJAN Hera Id Staff Writer Boa McKnlght got bis drivers licence on his birthday last year April Hes wanted licence ever since he was ten be said Mr dream took a long time coming true Born with cerebral palsy his legs arent of any use to him when it comes to driving In 1965 be underwent surgery to fuse his knee joints The operation allows him without leg braces to put some weight on his legs enough walk short di stances with crutches but not enough for pushing the standard gas or brake pedal HowdoesMrKcKnlght drive without the use of Ms legs He uses hand controls Instead For an Mr McKnights Mercury Zephyr was adapted by a supplier to meet his speci al needs With his left hand Mr McKnlght can operate the gas and brake pedals high and low beam lights signal lights and born The operations are all on a rod that extends from the steering wheel column By pushing the rod down towards his knee Mr McKnlght puts mi the gas By pushing the rod straight back he puts on the foot brake DOWN PAT It was difficult at first getting used to the ted of the controls but now Ive Sot them down pat Mr said with a smile He got his licence on his first try he said proudly There is also a special control on his steering wheel which allows him to steer with one band The onehand wheel spinner knob Is unlawful except for the physically handi capped It makes mo a lot more independent Mr McKnlght said It was a nice birthday present to have my drivers licence Before that he got around thanks to friends relatives and taxi cabs Actively Involved in the Rotary Club minor hockey baseball and other organizations Mr McKnlght used to hove to wait for somebody to come pick him up and drop him off before EXPENSIVE Ive been using taxis for 30 plus years I can remember taking a taxi to school every day he said In those days It was cents to go any where in town Now Its right off the top and ten cents a kilometre When you add it up it gets expensive Employed as dispatch er at the towns works offices on Trafalgar Road Mr McKnlght drives to and from work every day parking his car In the spot specially designated for the handi capped There are a lot of people too lazy to walk any great distance who pull into handicapped parking spaces Mr McKnlght said Hopeful ly Ihts problem will be solved with time Along with the new car stickers this year were Issued special licence plate stickers for the handicapped which Mr McKnlght hopes will help solve the parking making it easier to spot offending vehicles parked In spots for the handicapped MORE MOBILE I would strongly re commend anybody with a physical disability who wants to be more mobile should at least Inquire Handicapped make careful drivers SECTION A THE HERALD Wednesday March It 1183 about taking driving instructions with a quali fied vehicle and instruct or and check It out with their family physician Mr said I know its the best thing Ive over done The majority of handi capped depend on others cabs or for gett ing around he said Ha called ActlVan a God send for people with no other means of transpor tation available to them Having your own drivers licence means youre no longer limited to the hours ActlVan runs or having to book outings In advance Mr McKnlght noted Personally I like to do as much as 1 can for myself I dont tike impo sing on people ho said Soon It will be Mr McKnights first anniver sary as a driver some thing hes sure to spots for the handicapped are marked la many and municipal lots However a lot of people too lasy to walk pnll Into these and block tbem up from use by the handicapped Ron right said The new licence plate stickers designating a car driven by or carrying a handicapped person should make It easier for police control of parking abuses Jack Beer says awareness of the needs of the handicapped Is Improving the situation Herald photo Herald Writer It takes driving instruc tor Jack Beer all of eight minutes to convert nil fourdoor Plymouth sedan Into a car a handicapped person can operate safety The 49year old man has been a driving instructor for eight years starting up with print lessons until he set up his own driving school Basic Technology Systems DTS on Georgetowns Street Besides teaching high school students in Georgetown and Acton Mr Beer has recently become interested In putt ing the handicapped behind the steering wheel Investing in special equipment that makes his car by some one with paralysed legs or paralysis on one side of the body Mr Beer has taught four handicapped people to drive The handicapped generally make excellent drivers Mr Beer said They have to work very hard harder than the average person to get their licence He said It takes them a little more time to learn to drive with the biggest difficulties being parking and backing up In general these maneuvers are more difficult because the handicapped cant turn In the usual way Mr Beer said In some cases extra mirr ors have to be fitted Handicapped drivers not only have to work harder to get their licence but also to keep heir licenceto keep from traffic violations and cause they have a lot more to lose If they lose their licence Mr Beerssld Theres no doubt about it that the freedom Workshop stresses communication Sexuality more than the physical By CHRIS AAOAARD Herald Staff Writer Weve lost touch with what sexuality should mean and thats having an adverse effect on the way we deal with people especially those closest to us That theme was woven Into a special daylong workshop at the Glen Williams town hall Satur day Sponsored by the North Social Planning Council the workshop fo cused on Sexuality in the Later Years But In doing so sex therapist Larry and addic tion counsellornurse Linda Longman chose a broader more enlighten ed view of sexuality Sexuality Is another dimension of the human being Mr Larry told The Herald stressing that Its not simply a way of ourselves COMPROMISE Its a way of commu nicating with two people the way we compromise In a relationship to find things that give us both pleasure By it we tend to weed out what is not necessary In a relation ship Sexuality is not some thing we gain as we grow older Ms Longman added It starts from infancy and we take it right on through life as we learn values which will affect our relationships By the time a baby is two years old Mr Larry commented sexual Im printing from how others deal with the child boy or a girl is so strong that the childs as a total male or a total female is already laid down Imprinting from others plus the environment In which we live builds our sexuality and our driving your own car Is more Important for the handicapped than for the person who can walk to the bus stop The handicapped have to be assessed as to the nature of their difficulties and a suitable vehicle selected and adaptive controls Installed he said Student Ron McKnlght 33 paralysed In his legs got his licence after three months of driving lessons with Mr Beer He drives a Mercury Zephyr with special hand controls for the gas and brake pedals This car gives me lots of room to get in and out Mr said Theres no way I can get into compact cars like a Volkswagen With legs stiff at the knees due to fusion surge ry at an early age Mr McKnlght maneuvers himself Into the drivers seat and swings legs in under the steering column Ho throws his crutches In beside him until its time to get out Mr McKnlght was the first handicapped student Mr Beer taught and both learned from each other Jack is a very patient man It a new expe rience for me and for Jura We both learned Mr said If it wasnt for Jack Beer I Just wouldnt have my drivers licence today Currently in there are no special qualifications required of driving Instructors work ing with the handicapped Mr Beer thinks there should be A person who Isnt sensitive to the needs of the handicapped Is going to demolish the student and lose them expecting them to behave in the usual way which they cant Mr Beer said For the first time a seminar Is being organis ed on driver training for the handicapped he said Its to take place this summer There Isnt any great danger in having determines such things as how we speak to a girl or boy a man or a woman Our sexuality lets us know when we are attrac ted to other people A pictogrom given to work shop participants detailed how a relationship forms and where Its most likely to fall apart CONFLICT First theres a period of insecurity and conflict as we weigh our sexual values with those of our new friend The period of conflict fades into communicati on but the way we communicate whether we choose to be broad and longevity of relation ship Broad disclosure leads to game playing which leads to one or both partners ending up hurt and distressed For partners may turn to drugs or alcohol before the relationship crumbles completely with a physic al or emotional Deep disclosure is a more honest route In which a couple puts all of its cards on the table The relationship while not necessarily free of pro blems Is sustained by Its frankness and honesty and a crisis can be over come through compro mise TOUCH One way weve let our sexuality lapse Is In our use of touch as commu nication All too often Mr Larry pointed out we touch only when we want sex not as a matter of general affectionate communication We dont use touch because we are afraid of passing on the wrong messages We put distance between ourselv es and our children and they In turn pass on these distorted values to their children During the afternoon workshop session parti cipants watched film Continued on page All Linda Longman and Jaye Larry THE OLD GLEN MILL IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS Wild party An 18year old man called for police help when a party hed thrown at his parents Mary Street home got out of hand and there was damage to the bouse interior 1 am Saturday Windows were smashed and carpets soiled throughout the house regional police said Nine officers arrived on the scene and disbanded the 150 people gathered at the home An 18year old man was arrested for assaulting police and for underage drinking Hell In Milton provincial court April 11 Police said an impaired driving charge was 1 also laid against another partygoer Police said the parents were away and the party had started at fl Friday night I capped people on the road Mr Beer said They wouldnt be there if they werent able to control their vehicle safely through traffic There are many licenced drivers who provide a greater menace on the road because tbey dont wear their glasses or havent had their eyes reexamin ed since they got their licence he said With all due respect for people with handi caps usually their other senses are more finely tuned like a deaf person would have better vision so that handicap is compensated for by belter use of his avail able senses Mr Beer said CoaUnned on page At Driving la privilege Ron McKsdght take lightly licenced last April the XSjear old driver has April the XSjear wanted to drive since he was ten Born with cerebral palsy he has no use of his legs and had bis car Installed with special hand controls for be gas and brake pedals Mr McKnlght got bis licence on his first try thanks to patient training by Jack Beer Herald photo Vogue Patterns MARCH BUY ONE GET ONE FREE At equal or lower cost SPRING FABRIC 20 GEORGETOWN FABRICS 8772477 Georgetown Marketplace a different MOTORCYCLE LEATHERS A complete selection of quality jackets pants chaps vests gloves and boots Styles to fit the taste and budget of every rider MOW Jack 129 Summer Hours Sun Wed Also visit Reflections Art Gallery HOW OPEN Featuring Local Artists Eastern Ave ACTON 5198531031