Chapter 9: Preparing Yourself to Become an Advocate (Awareness and Advocacy)

IX. Preparing Yourself to Become an Advocate (Awareness and Advocacy)

Understanding your role as an advocate and the part you must play in helping to create a good society that respects and protects the rights of its citizens should be the duty of all of its people. Unfortunately, achieving this end is not an easy task. Without question, recognizing the need for ongoing awareness and advocacy must remain a top priority in our country. In this chapter, you will learn about aspects of human rights and privileges that must not go unnoticed in order to preserve human dignity and worth. While you read the 9 passages in this section, you need to pay careful attention to the accommodation needs, existing challenges and clarion calls of Bahamians with disabilities. When you answer the questions, consider how you can make a difference in the lives of such persons who can make their capable contributions to our Bahamian society once afforded the same opportunities as their able-bodied counterparts.

Chapter 9

The White Cane: A Mobility Device of Dignity Open matching workbook questions

Don't disrespect my mobility device,

When you call it a stick that's not very nice.

With its long white arm and red marshmallow tip,

Independent travel becomes easy at the flick of a wrist.

With its ergonomically designed firm black rubber handle and adjustable rubber band,

Holding it is comfortable,

And folding it after use for storage is done quite easily with the hands.

Whenever I use it,

I feel free to travel with independence and to tap along with dignity.

When you see me out walking with my white cane,

Please respect the device.

Don't ever grab it from my hand;

That's not the right way to help me.

I hope you understand.

If I appear lost or unsure of where I am,

Always ask first before trying to help,

And let me be the one to tell you

If, when or how you can.

Whenever I use it,

I feel free to travel with confidence and to tap along with dignity.

My white cane protects me,

More than you'd ever know.

It keeps me from bumping into harmful objects everywhere I go.

It's like a friend who never tires,

No matter how often called upon to guide the way.

Even when I toss it aside in frustration,

I can always pick it up to save the day.

Whenever I use it,

I feel free to travel with courage and to tap along with dignity.

The Service Animal Open matching workbook questions

I am the service animal.

I am not just your ordinary pet.

I am trained to be the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf and the willing helper of the mobility impaired.

I am the adorable four-legged creature,

Who takes on all challenges,

For every individual job or assignment,

I am always prepared.

That is why my life-changing contributions,

No doubt, will always be truly admired and revered.

I am the service animal equipped to provide quality service and to do it well.

I require no payment but my master's love and affection to keep me satisfied as you can tell.

You should never try to call, pet or feed me.

Pretend if I'm not there.

When I'm on duty,

My master's safety must always be handled with the utmost attention and care.

I am the service animal chosen from the most intelligent breeds.

You should know that the German Shepherds, Golden and Labrador retrievers are the only service dogs you'd ever need.

Not only are we beautiful but our temperaments are mild.

Learning comes naturally,

And we're as docile as a child.

Some of us learn to guide with pride.

While others learn to push and pull wheelchairs,

and open or close doors.

Some of us even learn to fetch and retrieve objects from the tabletops, refrigerator and floors.

I am the service animal focused and duty bound.

Society needs to respect and appreciate the value of having me around.

Each of us is specially trained to provide the service for every disability type,

So persons with disabilities can experience the self-worth, dignities and freedoms that a service animal can bring to their lives.

The Repeat Offender Open matching workbook questions

I told you not to park there,

Yet everyday you still do.

Do you ever stop to think how your insensitivity affects the lives of others,

Especially those persons requiring accessible parking

And are always denied it because of you?

I told you not to park there.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with you.

Why do you insist on repeating the parking violations?

Are you not embarrassed or ashamed of being known as a repeat offender,

Because of the illegal things you do?

For just a single moment,

Think of your relatives, love ones or friends,

If their rights to accessible parking are always violated,

Wouldn't you want the injustice to end?

I told you not to park there.

Are you aware that the Persons with Disabilities Equal Opportunities

Act has been passed?

You need to be fined for your numerous infractions

And on all counts taken to task.

When someone who has a genuine disability is unable to gain access to

a public building,

All because able-bodied persons park in the designated parking zones.

Their vehicles should be towed and impounded,

Leaving them to walk or to catch a bus,

Feeling defeated and dethroned.

I told you not to park there,

But you can’t seem to understand.

You continue to place persons with disabilities at a disadvantage,

Rather than offer them a helping hand.

No matter how many times you're told not to do it,

You repeat the offense intentionally,

Over and over again.

You'd better start paying attention to the warnings,

Before your luck runs out my friend.

Inaccessible Transportation: a Roadblock to Functional Independence Open matching workbook questions

Many are able to drive independently where they need to go.

They don't have to depend on a paid transportation service to get them to and fro.

For too long,

This big elephant remains a problem with a ballooning cost that's too high.

We need to find an immediate solution,

This I'm sure you won't deny.

How can we be expected to live with dignity and to function adequately in an independent way?

When the fact of the matter is,

Many persons with disabilities,

Living in our society,

barely earn enough to live from day-to-day.

How can we be expected to educate ourselves, find employment and participate fully in our social sphere?

When the fact of the matter is,

Their is neither an accessible nor affordable transport system in place for persons with disabilities to get from here nor there.

We need to face this crisis head on much like an open wound that's very real.

But we Can't continue to cover it with band-aids of lip service and expect it to heal.

If we as a society are to be seen as making meaningful progress,

Then we as a people must resolve to make accessible and affordable transportation an integral part of our daily mission for inclusiveness.

If we as a society is to be seen as one with a compassionate heart,

Then we as a people need to take the initiative and begin to make those necessary provisions for persons with disabilities that should have been made from the start.

If we as a society are to set good examples right here at home,

Then we as a people must first lead by taking care of our very own.

Make Provisions to Preserve Your Vision Open matching workbook questions

Blindness is a challenge that could be overcome,

But it is truly a blessing to have sight.

Pay attention to the exhortations,

And the daylight of your precious vision

Won't ever fade into the permanent darkness of night!

You should have your eyes tested regularly,

At least once a year.

You should eat a diet rich in nutrition,

And manage those eye conditions that could be treated,

With the utmost attention and care.

Do you know that glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and macular

Degeneration are among those eye diseases that should not be ignored?

Do you know if they’re left undetected or untreated in their early stages,

They could result in the loss of vision that could never be restored?

You should take good care of your eyes,

Like you would a little child.

God gave them to you to see the world,

And the breath-taking beauty in every glowing smile.

When at play, you should avoid throwing objects, like bottles, rocks and toys.

If you’re hit in the eyes with any of these items,

Your eyes could be badly damaged or destroyed.

You should never point sticks, pens or pencils

In another’s eyes or face,

For the result could be tragic,

And your vision could be lost,

Never to be replaced.

When performing a job or task that’s very dangerous,

You should remember to wear protective gear,

Always take precautions to shield your eyes,

At all times, everywhere!

Make provisions to preserve your vision;

Take every step to protect your eyes.

Make provisions to preserve your vision;

Heed the warnings and be wise.

Make provisions to preserve your vision;

You need healthy eyes to see.

Make provisions to preserve your vision;

Take your eye care seriously.

Equality and Equity: The Difference Open matching workbook questions

Many people often confuse equality with equity, but they are not the same. Simply put, equality is treating all human beings the same, but equity means to meat their individual needs with fairness by affording them opportunities to prepare and equip them to become full participants in society. When you have a disability, people need to understand that your physical limitations can present you with greater challenges than your able-bodied peers. With this understanding, when exercising the full range of equity, it requires special considerations and treatments that promote dignity and respect in an environment that provides training, encourages independence and supports human growth. Persons with disabilities do not want pity. We desire equitable treatment that affords us dignity and respect to empower us to become independent, contributing citizens to the building of the communities where our navel strings (umbilical cords) were cut and buried.

Resilient: Anthem for Disability Rights Open matching workbook questions

I am strong;

I am beautiful.

All I want is to be treated equally.

Take my hand;

Let’s walk proud and free.

The whole world will see,

You’re not ashamed of me.

I am human first,

With rights that uphold.

All I want is a fair chance to play my role.

Take my hand;

Let me show you the way,

Unto a brighter day,

Where justice will stay.

When I speak,

Will someone listen to me?

All I want is the same opportunities.

Take my hand

And work along with me,

To make our society

Inclusive and free.

We pray the day when all will care.

We pray the day when all will learn to live, love and share.

We pray the day when injustice will be no more,

That’s when you’ll see what we’ve been fighting for.

We’re resilient;

We are conquerors.

We must work to achieve equality.

We’re resilient;

We are conquerors.

Respect my worth and disability;

Respect me.

A Warrior’s Anthem: A Tribute to the Late William E. Lightbourne, B. E. M. Open matching workbook questions

You charted your course to victory.

You hung in the race to the end.

You were a great man,

Who held your stance.

As we walked,

You held our hand.

You championed the rights of your people.

You gave us nothing less but your best.

You're a warrior at heart.

You carried a spark.

And it burned,

Brightly burned.

You believed in the worth of your people.

You treated us all with respect.

Your knowledge you shared.

You taught and prepared us to face those battles ahead.

You spent your whole life breaking barriers.

The weight of our burdens you bear.

For justice you cried,

Though sometimes denied;

Yet, you tried.

Oh, how you tried.

You were a candle for your people,

A light to light the way.

Although you are gone,

We will stand strong.

Your legacy it will live on.

Part 5: Being You

X. Using Your Imagination (Laughter and Poetry)

One of the easiest roles in life to play is yourself. As a matter of fact, no one can play the role of who you are as well as you can. By doing this, you are given the opportunity to be you, yourself and no one else but who you are. In this chapter, you will be given the chance to be you. Also, you will find lots of fun, poetry and laughter. If you look hard enough, you might even find yourself in many of the characters presented in the collection of 19 poems and short stories presented in this section. Much thought and creativity have been put into the development of this chapter to capture a true essence of our Bahamian culture and to provide something culturally humorous for you, the reader, to smile about. When you answer the questions, it is important that you use your imagination, think outside the box and have fun while doing it. Bahamians like to have fun and to enjoy themselves. Be that as it may, there is no better way to do so than through the hilarious final installment to the last chapter of this book. Enjoy!