Awareness Day an eye opener for students

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Awareness Day an eye opener for students


By Debbie Pell

Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 07:00

Local News - Northern College students got an opportunity to better understand the needs of people with physical disabilities.

The college celebrated its 14th Annual Awareness Day at the Porcupine campus on Wednesday.

While focus was placed on assistive devices - including specialized computers, voice technology and mobility aids to enhance learning experiences of people with disabilities - the ever-popular wheelchair rally garnered some 40 teams.

Each team was comprised of four members, who made their way through two routes with 11 stations, each presenting a unique challenge.

They ranged from opening a locker's combination lock with oven mitts, identifying a Braille drawing while blindfolded, distinguishing food in the cafeteria while blindfolded and wearing gloves and proceeding down a ramp in a wheelchair to the gym to dribble and shoot a basketball.

Students gained an awareness and appreciation of the challenges faced by people with a disability.

Joey Raymond, a police foundations student, hadn't realized how difficult it was to steer a wheelchair. He was surprised at the challenges both a cane and wheelchair presented.

He, like other participants, was required to make his way blindfolded, through pylons, to a wheelchair to begin his route.

"I didn't realize how hard it was to drive one of those things," he said. "Even using the cane was pretty strange."

It wasn't just students who participated, there being a significant representation from various organizations in the community taking part.

For Julie St. Pierre, an occupational therapist with Community Care Access Centre, using a wheelchair was an eye-opening experience, despite the fact she interacts regularly with people who use wheelchairs.

"I work directly with them, but to be in their place, especially on the ramp when you're going down, you really get a feel for it," she said.

Mayor Jamie Lim, who helped kick-off the event, said having ramps in the building wasn't enough, but the spirit of acceptance that pervaded the building was the crucial element.

"The college is not only accessible, it's welcoming as well," she said.

Of all students registered Northern College campuses, 18 per cent are enrolled in 'The Centre for Students with disABILITIES', said Fred Gibbons, registrar.

The name of the centre is meant to lend focus to the abilities of students with special needs as opposed to their disabilities, said Carole Belanger, communications officer.

Jim Chalmers, special needs and student life adviser, said students with special needs have been successful at Northern.

"Our retention level with persons with a disability has been very good basically because we provide a lot of accommodations for them," he said.

He was pleased to see the level of participation by both college students and organizations within the community.

"We have a lot of fun but there is a message and that is to try to understand what people with disabilities go through on a daily basis," he said.

"If we succeed in that then we've accomplished our goal for the day."

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