WHTBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1981, PAGE 3 Task force wants public to be more aware of the needs of disab By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff The 114 recommenda- tions of the Whitby Mayor's Task Force on the Disabled are not only far ranging but far reaching as well. They include every- thing from ensuring that at one parking space per 100 in the town be desig- nated for the disabled to ensuring that there are adequate provisions in future subdivision agreements sign with developers for housing for the handicapped. The recommen- dations are the results of the work of eight committees that dealt with: housing, leisure and recreation, employ- ment, education, special events, services, tran- sporation, and access- ibility and parking. The recommen- dations of the access- ibility and parking committee generally suggest that the town andits building be made accessible. This committee also suggests that the town give ramping priorities to the downtown core, hospitals and clinics, shopping centres, recreational buildings, and parks. The committee, chaired by Ken Thoms, said that the Handi- Transit van be given the privilege of making left hand turns at the corner of Brock and Dundas Streets as well as being allowed to stop in front of the Bank of Montreal to drop-off and pick-up passengers. Bylaw enforcement officers should be more tolerant when they en- counter a vehicle spor- ting the international insignia for the dis- abled, the committee said adding that these officers should not be as quick to hand out tickets to handicapped vehicles. The task force's housing committee wants to see a special section in the 1984 cen- sus form that will help determine the number of handicapped people in Canada. The committee also wants to see a main in- formation centre for Durham Region established to aid the handicapped person to find the kind of help or services he or she will require. Ten per cent of units contructed in low cost housing developments should be set aside for the disabled is another of its recommendations. However, one of the more significant hous- ing recommendations is the suggestion that the Town of Whitby amend the current zoning by- laws . to permit the development of group housing. In the same vein, they recommend that a group similar to Chesire Homes be established in the town. The leisure and recreation committee wants to see the Town of Whitby adopt policies ensuring that all citi- zens have an equai right of access to all services provided by the com- munity. Therefore, the com- mittee said, there should be no discrimina- tion against a citizen due to physical, mental, developmental or sen- sory handicap. The committee wants the parks and recrea- tion department to initiate a co-ordinated effort in the community to provide resources and opportunities for disabled people to get involved in leisure ac- tivities. The members of the employment committee want the Town of Whit- by to promote the em- ployability of handi- capped persons and lob- bv the federal and provincial governments to make grants avail- able for those firms that lose output because of disabled hiring. However, their strongest recommenda- tion is that the town establish an internal committee to assess the cost of "any failure to provide jobs for dis- abled citizens and that the committee be charged with the task of evaluating the differ- ential between self- supporting handicapped persons and those clothed and fed by the taxpayers' dollar." Perhaps the task for- ce's most costly recommendations come from the education committee. Their recommendations were for the most part desig- nated "N.B.C." (non- budgetary commit- ment) but their cost would be assumed by the education property taxpayer. The education com- mittee urges a broader and deeper commit- ment to providing educational opportunity to the disabled. This committee wants all regional school boards to build future schools with the handi- capped in mind, and that one elementary and one secondary school in each panel and district be suitable for their use by the year 1985. The committee, whose advisor was Whitby Durham Region Roman Catholic Separate School Board Trustee Chuck Rocke, wants the various boar- ds to make all courses available to the handi- capped. Handicapped students should be able to take advantage of career counselling and job search training as well as co-operative and work experience pro- grams. The committee also recommends that teachers and other education professionals on the needs of handi- capped students. Like the housing committee, the education group had a total of 27 recommen- dations. The special events committee wants to see local service clubs par- ticipating in and finan- cially contributing to special events of dis- abled groups and related agencies. The committee also wants to see handi- capped people par- ticipate in and be part of the organization of the County Town Carnival Parade. The services commit- 9McALLSTEgS Presents The Affordable Secretary The elegance & beauty of a secretary can often be the per- fect finishing piece to any room. McAllisters is offering this beautiful handcrafted oak secretary at a very affordable price. Handcrafted & Affordable. $1 ,470.00 Secretary $829.0° Base Only McALLISTER Where Discerning People Make An Investment In Beauty 70 ROSSLAND RD W OShAWA 576-6465 Mon.,Tues .Wed 0-6 - Thus, Fn 109- Sal 10.5' Whitb . caistoTor onto. Savings apply to calls to Toronto you dial yourself without operator assistance. The minimum charge for this service is $5.60 per month for residence customers and $13.75 for business customers even if the total charges for these calls are less than that. These charges will be included with your regular monthly rate, which is billed in advance. Call your Bell Canada Business Office, 433 -3391, for full details. Bel *Service available only to people with telephione numibers beginning,.wýith 666 or 668. led people tee would also like to see lobby for improvements an information centre to public telephones, for the disabled esta- meeting places, blished in Whitby, elevators, intersections, perhaps as part of the to meet the needs of the community information handicapped. desk at the Whitby They are also Public Library. demanding that the This committee, disability pension fot be chaired by Rev. Jack affected by the indivi- Roney, the rector of Ail dual's change in status Saints' Anglican Chur- ch, wants the town to CONT'D ON PG. 7 kL '4 m