Ontarians call for a barrier-free zoneThe Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) Committee has just launched a website on the Internet to document its fight to establish a more accessible Ontario at: http://www.odacommittee.net/. This broad-based disability coalition is dedicated to the passage of a new law in Ontario which will create a barrier free society for persons with disabilities by the year 2000. Premier Harris promised in writing during the 1995 Ontario election that he would pass an Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and would work together with the ODA Committee to develop it. The website will provide complete, detailed news and background information on the ODA Committee's fight to hold Premier Mike Harris to his election promise. "The website is the latest tool in our campaign to force the government to put its money where its mouth is on disability rights," says ODA Committee co-chair David Lepofsky, "we trusted the Harris government to live up to its solemn election promises to us. So far we have got nothing. We feel that the website will allow us to bring out message to more people with disabilities in Ontario, increasing the pressure on the government." The new website will serve as a helpful resource for the news media, by providing instant access to a comprehensive, up-to-date collection of the major documents and information concerning this current provincial issue. In January and February of this year, the coalition made presentations before the provincial legislature's Standing Committee on Social Development which was holding hearings on the impact on persons with disabilities of provincial budget cuts. The coalition argued that the government should enact legislation protecting disability programs before implementing other legislative changes that would jeopardize the equality rights and services of persons with disabilities. For a copy of its presentation, contact Steve Keane at (416) 979-5514. Bulletins from the Not Dead Yet FrontKatie Lynn Baker HomicideLast year Katie Lynn Baker was starved to death in British Columbia. An inquest has now ruled her death a homicide. Her mother was already under investigation for neglect of Katie Lynn and several other children at the time that Katie Lynn died. The social workers investigating the case knew that Katie Lynn would die soon, but failed to take any action to save her. Katie Lynn Baker was almost ten years old and had Rett syndrome. Although her death was ruled a homicide no one has been charged in the case. Katie Lynn's mother claims that Katie Lynn told her that she wanted to die. Of course, Katie Lynn could not talk, and her primary caregiver testified that she felt Katie Lynn was trying to communicate that she wanted to live. Eike-Henner Kluge, prominent bioethicist, testified at the inquest that children should have the "right to die" even if they do not ask to do so. Social workers testified that they were confussed by DNR orders and thought that they meant that nothing should be done to keep the child alive. This is a simple case of a child who was starved to death by the person responsible for her care. So far, nothing has been done about it.
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