JUNE
2001 TO BE ONTARIO'S FIRST DEAF-BLIND AWARENESS MONTH
December
21, 2000 (Toronto) – Late yesterday evening, the Ontario
Legislature passed Willowdale MPP David Young's Private Member's
Bill entitled The Ontario Deaf-blind Awareness Month Act, 2000.
The Act establishes the month of June as Deaf-Blind Awareness
Month in the province of Ontario.
Deaf-Blindness is a disability that affects between
3000 and 7000 Canadians. While some individuals are born with
Deaf-Blindness, most people acquire one or both of the disabilities
later in life through disease, trauma caused by an accident,
or simply by aging.
"I am pleased that this Act received the support of the House,"
said Young. "I want to thank Joyce Thompson, the staff and residents
of Rotary Cheshire Homes for all their support in getting this
Bill passed."
The staff at Rotary Cheshire Homes have worked closely
with Mr. Young on Bill 125, and they hope that this legislation
will assist in their efforts to draw much needed attention to
the work that is done at the Home. Rotary Cheshire Homes is
a rent-geared-to-income apartment building that was specifically
built for adults who have the dual disability of deafness and
blindness.
"Not enough facilities like Rotary Cheshire exist across
the province to help those living with Deaf-Blindness" said
Young. "I believe that by raising awareness of Deaf-Blindness,
governments, private individuals and businesses will be more
willing to come forward with the funding and resources necessary
to build more facilities like Rotary Cheshire, to train more
intervenors, and to communicate the kinds of services available
to families with deaf-blind loved ones."
The staff and residents of Rotary Cheshire were pleased
to learn of the Bill's passage. "I believe that this Legislation
will greatly assist us in raising public awareness of deaf-blindness
and the need to expand the range of services available to assist
people with this dual disability," said Joyce Thompson, Executive
Director of Rotary Cheshire Homes.
"David Young has proven to be a true friend of Rotary
Cheshire Homes and of Ontario's deaf-blind community, and he
should be commended for his hard work on issues affecting the
deaf-blind community over the last year," Thompson said.
For more information, please contact:
Chris Loretto, Executive Assistant
(416) 314-7850
Deaf-Blind
Awareness Month Act, 2000
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