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The historical perspective of accessibility in Canada from a personal narrative

Writing an article on accessibility and disability related legislation is different. It is much more like writing a high school essay or a technical road map of what is out there. What was missing at first was the lack of personal narratives on the subject.

So thinking it over, I decided to share my stories as I have witnessed accessibility legislation in my environment. This means citizen of (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada). In order to understand legislation, I must discuss with my readers the concept of jurisdiction. There are many laws that fall under different jurisdictions (Municipal, Provincial, Country). You need to understand that combination in order to understand the applicable legislation.

Think of this, Ottawa is Municipal, Ontario is my provincial jurisdiction, and Canada is Federal jurisdiction. Ottawa has a special status because it is the center of Canada's central government (federal jurisdiction). In contrast, in the United States residents in capital of their central government reside in a special District created for housing their central government. This means that people working and living in the capital do not have the similar equivalent of a provincial identity.

This means that living in Ottawa, I have had the opportunity of working under Federal legislation for Public Servants with Disabilities but living with a Provincial jurisdiction.

I will be speaking about the following observations of Accessibility legislation along with a control example of non-governmental accessibility initiative. 

1. Accessibility for Ontarions with Disabilities Act

In several work placements in the professional field and many volunteer experiences. 

Since the 2000's there is now a requirement for any staff or volunteer for an event that deals with the public to have training on accessibility for their clients.

I did not receive this type of training when I was a youth in volunteer or part time work positions. 

This represents a very major change in general education for the society of Ontario. In the past, people just didn't have the knowledge that is now the minimum standard for many employees and volunteers. 

2.  Paracor Canada 

In university at Carleton, I witnessed one of my friends build the Paracor Intiative as a means to advance accessibility for people with disabilities. It was not mandated by any legislation. It simply grew up into what it is today, through hard work. 

I am not authorized to share any personal narratives, but I can share a link to Paracor's historical development. The way back machine makes an archive of webpages. On it you can see the evolution of the Paracor Initiative's website. 

https://web.archive.org/web/*/www.paracor.org

3. Nova Scotia's Accessibility Act 

Nova Scotia is the third province to have passed legislation to help people with disabilities. Manitoba was second after Ontario. My personal narrative with Nova Scotia's introduction of their legislation is associated with the start up of The Access Ability Program in Ontario. 

Then there was the strategic excitement of finding Nova Scotia a ripe new market with their new legislation being passed this year (2017). 

This was followed by the heart warming knowledge that a unique, The Access Ability Program, exists in Nova Scotia to help fund accessibility projects. Meanwhile, The Access Ability Program in Ontario is a registered sole proprietorship. 

But lastly there was an insightful moment in the business when I was talking with a business owner in Manitoba. I explained that there are disabled persons who would like to buy sports equipment or fishing equipment. 

That was when the really good cause became a very viable business market 

Virtual Reality and Disabilities

Can you imagine what it is like to see yourself from someone else's perspective. Like being a mirror looking back at yourself.

Virtual reality (VR) can enable you to share the human experience from their eye's, not yours. Everyone in your social network can share the moment through virtual simulations.

So when you find yourself in a period of tough times working out human troubles. Try recording and sharing experiences virtually. 

It continues with the ability to transcend locations and physical experiences. The only things that change are the maps and you. 

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A simple way to break a bad habit

It explains how to use mindfulness to break addiction

1. notice the craving
2. become curious of the feeling
3. enjoy letting the experience go

University and Symptoms of Attention Deficit

Dear Readers, University was the hardest of places because of my symptoms of attention deficit. One item in particular, is the hyperactive attention deficit.

This translates into continually identifying new and interesting sources of upwards variation within university opportunities. However, it limited the depth of any particular venture.

I compensated for this, by pursuing studies and knowledge in depth. I had a golden rule, demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt an advanced knowledge of the course.

This would mean having a complex conversation or two with a professor that marked out a unique space for my own thoughts on an issue.

The existence of enough "advanced conversation", resulted in the training needed to ace written questions.

If there was enough time left during an exam, drawing out a fictional example is a really good idea because it is fun for the marker to read.

Poem on Psychoanlyses and Social Norms

Psychoanalysis and Social Norms

You can guide the masses,

But you can’t trick a person who notices your work.

Therefore, they need to be indoctrinated.

So they can decided if they want to choose that life or hold their peace.

Perhaps it was more ADHD, and Less of an Out of Date Syndrome

How could a person learn the meaning of social cues, emotional responses, or body language if they can’t focus enough to notice them in early childhood?

I would like to propose that symptoms that identify Autism are the side effect of ADHD, by those who can’t respond to the challenges of the condition or developed the condition at an early stage in life, prior to natural development of social skills.

I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, which is an out of date term that described high functioning autism. It was not a nice term as it had social consequences when related to others because of the way it sounded.

However, I recently reflected on myself and realized that two of my symptoms can be better described as ADHD. There are two types of ADHD, and some people are lucky enough to have both. Go figure, I was lucky enough to have both. Both inattentive and impulsive.

So how does ADHD relate to autism. Think about the following perspective.

Hypothetically, imagine if you suddenly lost the ability to focus to such a severe extent that;

• You could not notice in real time facial expressions, emotional responses, or other social cues.
• You could no longer follow conversations either one on one or in group conversations.
• You could not easily or naturally participate in group activities.
• Your ability to remember the things that you see or hear is severely reduced.

How long could you survive in that environment before developing mental health issues?

This is the situation of a persons with severe ADHD. Those with such a sever condition from a very early age, do not have the opportunity to grow up and develop like everyone else. For them, such drastic limitations set the lenses for their development from birth to adulthood or treatment with medication. However, it may be hard for those without the condition to understand the experience and the tools that can be used to overcome these challenges.

Thus, I suspect that autistic traits develop from one’s ability to cope with the challenges of having severe ADHD.

Examples

• Repetitive Behaviour: If one can’t focus enough to express their ideas (verbally or in writing), they lack a venue for advancing it to completion, leading to repetitively thinking about the idea.
• Anti-Social Behaviour: If one can’t focus enough to participate in social interactions, it would be natural to develop anti social behaviours from repeated social failure.

Therefore, helping people with ADHD to cope with their challenges and preventing situations that could negatively impact their ability to cope, could help reduce the occurrence of autism.

I have developed this point of view as a person diagnosed with Autism. In 2010, I began learning social skills while at University. However, without the ability to focus it was difficult to apply the knowledge practically.

Challenges include;

1. A lag between observing a social cue, understanding what it meant, and responding. Often this lag was socially inappropriate.
2. A disconnect between understanding the social context and the subconscious response. This is the difference between laughing at a joke and knowing a joke is funny while keeping a blank face. This results in people not being able to identify if their message was construed properly and or misreading the person in general.

It wasn’t until 2014, when I started treatment for ADHD, that I made the connection with my autism. In 2015, I realized that writing down the things that where recurring in my mind reduced the repetitive thought process. In 2017, I came to my conclusion on why some persons with ADHD have autistic tendencies.

I do not have the intention to pursue a career in medicine. Therefore, I hope this work will help guide research on the issue in a positive direction. I am available to answer further questions.

Best Regards,
Steven Hanssen

Robot Mind and Machine Decision Making Device

A computer can simulate the functions required to operate a system. Does the device either human brain or computer matter, if it works like expected?

I propose building a computer program sophisticated enough to replicate the role of each function in a person’s brain.

• The program can be connected to sensors connected to the person and the data around their life.
• The program can be connected to output devices allowing it discharge different types of functions.
• The program can be connected to algorithms for problem solving.
• The program can have a list of critical functions needed for a person to function, budgeting, organizing data, scheduling, etc.

To demonstrate how this would work in a severe case, imagine a person with amnesia. They might not be able to remember anything before a current point or not be able to remember new information.

What if,

• A computer connected to audio, visual, and internet connected devices around this person.
• It was also connected to this person’s diaries, photos, and personal information.
• It could also take new photos, remember conversations, solve day to day problems.
• It could recall important information in conversation with others.

Would it be possible for such a computer set up to provide continuous assistance to a person with Amnesia?

• The computer might be a better fit than an assistant because,
• The computer doesn’t need to go home.
• The computer can process more information than a person.
• The computer can track more issues than a person.

I can only share the possibilities. I hope someone can one day build such a computer program.