An Open Letter addressing Halifaxgate, written by Terry Kelly

Filed under: Themes, Blind Visionaries, Irked Audio

A few weeks ago, IrkedMagazine.com published a series of features about Metro Transit’s decision to stop offering free bus passes to Nova Scotians who are blind or have minimum sight. To be deliberately cheeky and hyperbolic (but also to express our bona fide outrage) we dubbed the debacle “Halifaxgate.”

After reading our coverage, Canadian icon Terry Kelly has agreed to weigh in. For those of you who don’t know Terry, please allow us to introduce just a few of his many accomplishments:

Terry had a lot to say about the Halifaxgate imbroglio. His essay and his perspective are at once unique and very, very powerful. It is with honour and pride that we present his passionate words:

“There are many people in several segments of our society who have difficulty finding the money to pay for public transit, including some seniors, single parents, children of single parents, and others living in poverty, not to mention those persons who live with vision loss. I believe that assistance by way of a fare reduction should be given to any individual who has a compromised income but not solely because he or she lives with vision loss.

In my opinion, Metro Transit should only expect a regular fare from people with vision loss if the individual is above the poverty line, and when it provides equal service such as Go times that are independently accessible, a web site that can be navigated by a person who is blind or has minimum sight, a rider/user guide that is in large print and Braille, and audible announcements before each stop as is done in Toronto. In consideration of the fact that the technology is available and in the long term and big picture very affordable, and until these changes are implemented, there should be absolutely no charge to people with sight loss by Metro Transit.

Although this discussion is around those of us with sight loss, I would like to further my position regarding the service issue by pointing out that wheelchair users and others who have mobility challenges should only pay when they are above the poverty line and when they can board a Metro Transit vehicle with dignity and ease.

In summary, I believe that I and others who live with vision loss, as well as those who have mobility challenges making a good living, should pay a transit fare along with all the other hard-working citizens. This, of course, applies only if equal service is provided.

People living with vision loss are not alone when it comes to poverty and underemployment and, therefore, in my view, need not be given anything more than others who are financially compromised. As I have already mentioned, there are seniors, single parents and their children, and individuals living with a long list of mobility challenges who all need assistance in a plethora of areas in their lives to help mitigate their financial plight.

Employment counselling for many with physical challenges, education for employers who are innocently ignorant, afraid, or have a prejudice toward those with a physical challenge, violence intervention and assertiveness training for men, women and children, not  to mention education and life-skills training provided to all who have been robbed or deprived of these opportunities for whatever  reason could significantly reduce the number of those who would be in need of complimentary transit passes, including people who are blind and living with low vision.

By the way, those of us with a physical challenge and are fortunate enough to be making a good living have an annual tax deduction to help with extra expenses related to our particular situation.

When all’s said and done, being blind or having vision loss isn’t a reason why one should be given a complimentary transit pass.”

***

Bonus track: Listen to the song “Merci Louis,” which Terry wrote to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth. To purchase this track as a download, or to purchase a hard copy greeting card with a CD enclosed, please visit www.terry-kelly.com.

Merci Louis
Written by Terry Kelly for Jefter Publishing – SOCAN

Little Louis lost his sight,
In his Papa’s workshop in the town of Coupvray, France.
The saddlemaker’s awl that pierced his eye,
In time would help the blind to read and write.
For the soldiers of Napoleon’s war,
The tactile night-reading code was born.
Capitaine Barbier showed young Louis, when the war was through,
Who modified it, finger-sized it, to the six dots we all use.

Merci, Louis,
Thank-you, Louis Braille.
We honour you each day
With a world of reading hands.
Six magic dots
Are the keys to the locks
That free the Blind to read.
Je dis, merci, Louis Braille.
I say, thank-you, Louis Braille.

Dearest Louie, I wish you were here,
To touch your gift of genius everywhere.
To look about you at the blind of the world,
Empowered proud men, women, boys and girls.
Louis just like in your day,
Some say we don’t need Braille!
But we are millions strong,
Singing loud and clear,
“Vive Louis, Vive Braille.”

Merci, Louis,
Thank-you, Louis Braille.
We honour you each day
With a world of reading hands.
Six magic dots
Are the keys to the locks
That free the Blind to read.
Je dis, merci, Louis Braille.
I say, thank-you, Louis Braille.

Merci, Louis,
Thank-you, Louis Braille.
We honour you each day
With a world of reading hands.
Six magic dots
Are the keys to the locks
That free the Blind to read.
Je dis, merci, Louis Braille.
I say, thank-you, Louis Braille.

Je dis, merci, Louis Braille
I say, thank-you, Louis Braille
Je dis, merci, Louis Braille
I say, thank-you, Louis Braille

Merci Louis
Thank-you Louis Braille
Merci Louis
Thank-you Louis Braille
Merci Louis
Thank-you Louis Braille

Permalink / Comments