From: HACC [hacc@mds.ideal.net.au]
Sent:
Tuesday, 23 May 2000 13:47
To: HREOC
Subject: Transport for
People with Disabilities,
Dear HREOC,
I am furioius. I do not believe the
information I have recently read regarding the exemption being sought by Kendell Airlines regarding the transport of
people with disabilities.
I thought we may have progressed from the dark
ages when people with disabilities were denied freedom to move around and
participate in the world around them. We no longer use leeches in
medicine, torture people or lock up anyone who may be a bit different from the
majority - or maybe we do - people with disabilities will not be able to get out
and about the same as everyone else, so I guess they are being locked up in a
way.
How has Kendell Airlines transported people with disabilities
in the past????? Why is an exemption being sought now?????? Does
Kendell realise that there are a lot of abled bodies people who will not use
their Airline now - I am one and I will be advising anyone I speak to not to use
the company either.
I most strongly encourage you NOT to grant this
exemption.
As for trying to utilise accessible transport from all over
the State to cater to the demand for accessible transport at Olympic time,
I cannot believe that when we have been planning for this event for,it seems
like years, something as basic as accessible transport has not been
considered. I am glad in a way that the disaster has now hit the fan as
maybe the powers that be will realise that we should be upgrading all our public
transport to ensure it is accessible. Other States can do it - why can't
we??? Maybe its because the people sitting around tables don't ever have to use
public transport, don't know anyone with a disability or and elderly
person.
Come on, we thought we had come so far with the Disability
Standards, The Disability Discrimination Act, The Accessible Transport Standards
and a heap of other reports, reviews, standards etc etc - what do these
documents mean - has anyone read them or do they just gather dust on a shelf in
a perfect world called Camelot.
I have worked in the Aged and Disability Sector for 11 years
and it is so disappointing to realise that issues concerning all members of our
community are not considered when planning something as terrific as the
Olympics.
Yours sadly,
Linda Margrie
Macarthur HACC Development
Worker