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Table Of Contents

Questions to Consider


Being Green  Disability Business

Suggestions


Eco-Centers

Workshops Becoming green

Organizations of persons with Disabilities



leaves in handsShould Organizations of People with Disabilities be concerned about the Environment ?
 Inaccessible though it may be, we are part of this world
. Maria Barile, 2007leavesin hand left

Questions to Consider

 
  1. Why should organizations of people with disabilities be concerned about  the  Environment?
  1. How can an organization become environmentally friendly? 
  1. Is the disability movement doing what it should to reduce, reuse and recycle paper that is in their offices, at meetings, and during conferences?

Being 'Green' in the Disability Business


1. Minimize the amount of paper used during meetings and conferences. Whenever possible, use technology and other technical aids. Often, this creates: 

  • Access for All !
  • Compatible with universal design

 2. Reduce paper in the office 

a) Use e-mail instead of sending out small or medium amounts of “snail mail”
 
 b) Telephone members that do not have e-mail  
 
c) For members without computers, offer them the use of a computer at the organization

3. When it is absolutely necessary to use paper, reuse that paper. Make sure that there are recycling boxes on the premises of the office and recycle it!

Do we know?

  1. Are wheelchairs batteries recycled? 
  1. What happens to old or unused wheels and other parts from wheelchairs?  
  1. Are parts of older (but useable) wheelchairs sent to countries that can use them? 
  1. Are there rechargeable batteries for hearing aids?  
  1. Can older hearing aids models be reused?    
  1. What is the best method of disposing of 'ear mould' ?
  1. Can ‘earmould’ be recycled?    
  1. Are technical aid loan programs more environmentally friendly and economically wise, as compared to other types of programs?  
  1. Are there ecological adapted mini buses?

Suggested Actions:     

  • Ask the rehabilitation centers if they refurbish and reuse the wheelchair or wheelchair parts
  • Ask technical aids dealers and other vendors if they refurbish the technical aids
  • Investigate and sensitize the companies that build wheelchairs, hearing aids and other technical aids, including batteries, to the  importance of using materials that are reusable and/or recyclable
  • Inform membership of the facts
  • Advocate for government to only contract with companies that are environmentally friendly when tendering technical aid provision programs.

Other suggestions


1. Investigate: What happens to other office equipment and computers?   
         
   2. Reuse: offer discarded equipment to members or other organizations that may need it

Suggestions for Eco-Centers

As with every other social movement, organizations striving to be "green," "environmentally friendly," or whose mandate is to "save the planet" must also think of ways in which they can guarantee universal access when developing tools that need to be used by the general public.

Think of how persons with disabilities, the elderly, children, and people who cannot read or understand specific languages, might be able to use the recycling bins, ecological cups, etc.

Think of how the use of colours or coloured labels, large print, and plain language can assist different groups of people.

Use Braille!

Make the recycling center accessible to all !
semiaccesible recycling bin

Workshops on Becoming Green

Eco-Access offers workshops on how people with disabilities can contribute to the recycling effort. To register for these or to schedule a presentation,  contact us.











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