nova scotia

Filed under: Themes, Blind Visionaries, Campaign Watch

Helen McFadyen—who is chair of the Halifax Regional Municipality’s Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities, a board member of Guide Dog Users of Canada, a member of the blind caucus of equualaccess.org, past president of the Halifax Chapter of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians, and a much-cherished Irked contributor—recently forwarded us the following advance news release:

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Filed under: Books & Book Reviews

Anna Quon’s first novel to be released Oct. 15!

Anna Quon’s first novel to be released Oct. 15!

Anna Quon’s first novel to be released Oct. 15!

Find out what Anna titled her book after the jump…

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Filed under: Campaign Watch, Irked Videos

“This is my way of doing something for Tema. Although I was unable to help her in any way, this award will ensure her memory lives on.” —Vince Savoia

Excerpted from Tema.ca:

The first people to arrive on the scene, emergency services personnel witness traumatic events with every shift. Yet they continue to perform their essential duty of saving lives—often in the face of unspeakable tragedy. So unspeakable, in fact, that many of these heroic individuals struggle quietly with the physical, psychological and emotional effects of their jobs. The Tema Conter Memorial Trust was established to end the silence and ease the suffering. The charity was founded by Mr. Vince Savoia, an attending paramedic at the murder scene of Ms. Tema Conter in 1988. Upon coping with post-traumatic stress as a result of this horrible episode, Mr. Savoia created the Tema Conter Memorial Trust.

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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:

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Filed under: Themes, Blind Visionaries

Great shot of Helen & Opal. Photo credit: Cyndi Burns

Guide dogs receive extensive training that includes many aspects and exposure to many situations. Ideally, these dogs are raised with people who consistently expose them to “stuff” as pups: all types of walking surfaces (such as gravel, pavement, grates, escalators, wood, grass…), all kinds of noises (example: traffic, bangs, shouting, music, clapping, machines…), all kinds of people Click to continue »

Filed under: Themes, Blind Visionaries

Our discussion on the implications of Halifax, Nova Scotia’s recent decision to stop providing free bus passes to blind people has lead to international conversation. Below are some of the responses we’ve received from the Halifax community and the global community. Respected and gifted people, with and without visual impairment, with and without disability, with and without agenda, have come together to express themselves on this highly complex issue. Scroll down to read opinions from Lee Stringer, Sara Miles, Jeff Moyer, Jackson Hunsicker, an editor from the BBC, and more…

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Filed under: Uncategorized

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Filed under: Themes, Blind Visionaries

If you’ve been following Irked this week, then you know that Dartmouth, Nova Scotia-based Dennis McCormack, founder and former editor of the Atlantic Braille Press, has been a tireless and vocal opponent of the Halifax Regional Municipality’s forthcoming bus pass policy change. Here are some samples from the myriad letters that Dennis has been writing to local newspapers, with additional clippings taken from an editorial Dennis wrote for the Chronicle-Herald titled “No winners in decision to cancel free transit passes” (published 2009-01-15):

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Filed under: Uncategorized

It’s My Baby

By Anna Quon

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Filed under: Themes, Blind Visionaries

“This bus pass is a passport to socialization for us. There is an issue of justice here.”

The following terrific article, titled “Metro Transit nixes passes for blind,” appeared in the January 23-29, 2009 edition of The Halifax Commoner. It was written by Ryan Baker:

Dennis McCormack has used Metro Transit to get around Halifax Regional Municipality for more than 40 years, just like thousands of other Haligonians.

But McCormack is different from the people sitting around him on the bus. Nestled next to his bus pass is a plastic card from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

McCormack has a condition called albinism, leaving him with less than 10 percent visibility in his clear blue eyes.

For as long as he’s taken the bus, McCormack has used a courtesy pass from Metro Transit. Those free rides—for him and all visually impaired people—are coming to an end.

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