More news, views and all kinds of stuff from Edmonton Sun columnist Cam Tait
Thursday, 1 August 2013
The Thursday Camburger: "Survey said ..."
On Sunday we petition against the Disabled Adult Transportation System and the new two-hour
cancellation policy be introduced Sept. 1. As of 11:30 a.m Thursday we have 130
supporters. Folks have also shared their thoughts on why the signed the petition.
Here are some examples …
Sandra from
Calmar:
“My mother in law has short term memory loss and changing this policy
is going to confuse her again.”
Shauna-Lee from Edmonton:
“I work in a day program for people with severe developmental
disabilities. This will almost eliminate our ability to access the community. I
am thoroughly disgusted with the lack of consideration and the lack of
dialogue. Have any of the powers that be even considered what this really does
to the individual who use the service? I'm sure it looks great on paper but how
about talking with the users to figure out the reality of the situation.”
Vickie from Spring Lake, Alberta
“I have many friends who use DATS, I stand in solidarity with them.”
Moyra, from Edmonton:
“Services for persons with disabilities must
undertake consultation with the people they service - if transportation
services for persons without disabilities underwent changes without
consultation the public would be outraged, and rightly so. Public policies and
public services MUST be developed through consultations and cater to those with
the most needs. I have witnessed mistreat of people with disabilities for far
too long. Politicians must support services for those with disabilities and
speak out against discriminating practices. DATS has a responsibility to
educate themselves and realign their services for those they intend to serve!
Edmonton politicians we are depending on YOU!”
Cindy from Edmonton:
“For 30 years I have watch the disabled
community make leaps and bounds in their efforts to live their lives in the
community as we all do. In the past 5 years I have been watching all this hard
work be abolished by government agencies and other who make changes without
consulting the people it directly affects. DATS needs to understand that their
clients have serious health issues and cannot plan their lives 24 hour ahead of
time. Unfortunately medical issues arise unexpectedly and cannot be planned 2
hours ahead of time; this is a fact that cannot be changed no matter how much
DATS tried to punish people for canceling 30 minutes prior to their pick up.
DATS needs to speak to their clients and deal with issues on a one to one
basis.”
Teresa from Edmonton:
“The new policy infantilizes people with
disabilities. They need to be able to accomodate their work and personal
transportation needs just like any other citizen - with access to reliable public
transit that is as similar as possible to that provided to the general
public.”
Ken from Edmonton:
“It is very disheartening to watch all the
hard work done for persons with disabilities over the past 40 years be
discarded and ignored by those who are not directly impacted. DATS is a
wonderful service and needs to remain caring, compassionate and understanding
that their clients deal with daily struggles relating to their health and
cannot plan like most individuals can. It is unfortunate but they need more
time to cancel as last minute health issue arise on a daily basis and are
unavoidable. DATS, as with all government agencies and providers need to
educate themselves before trying to change policies and procedures.”
Nicola from Edmonton:
“People need to be able to get around. Sometimes plans change within
less than 2h, and scolding disabled adults like they are naughty children over
it doesn't solve the issue and is just disrespectful and compromises the
dignity of these people.”
o
o
Rosalina from Edmonton:
“As a caregiver, I am responsible for making and cancelling trips for
my clients. I cannot determine when they are going to be sick or have a need to
be toileted and cleaned up 2 hours in advance. Would DATS prefer that we send
the clients on the bus sick &/or smelly?”
Jamie from Edmonton:
“The worst form of imprisonment doesn't come from committing a crime.
It happens when our government(s) and our society fail those who are living
with disabilities.”
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Tea with Tait -- Wednesday: Cup No. 3
Thirteen minutes may seem long for a video. But not this one. A father's love for his son ... Enjoy!
Click here to sign a petition against a new Disabled Adult Transportation System policy
Click here for an on-line quote from Challenge Insurance in Edmonton
The Wednesday Camburger: Does DATS think Edmontonians with disabilities are NOT busy?
There are many different angles to share about the new
Disabled Adult Transportation System policy, which is scheduled to roll through
Edmonton streets Sept. 1. DATS users are being asked to cancel rides two hours
before their scheduled pick-ups, 90 minutes more than tee current half-hour cancellation
policy. Today, let’s discuss the possible perception DATS administration has of
Edmontonians with disabilities: that we are really not that busy.
Perhaps such at attitude still exists from decades ago when
people with disabilities were yet to be mainstreamed into employment and school
programs. So maybe an outing could be cancelled two hours before a trip because
folks didn’t have many things going on. Over the years, though, people with
disabilities garnered more services which increased our independence. We became
part of the community and our lives became busier.
It’s somewhat frustrating to understand why such an integral
support system — transportation — is taking away from our independence. People
with disabilities in Edmonton have busy lives. In today’s fast-pace society we
need the flexibility to make changes at the last second. Now, under the new
two-hour cancellation policy, if we don’t comply within the given time frame,
we will be sent a letter from DATS, slapping our wrists. I am sorry, but this
isn’t fair.
We have launched a petition against the
implementation of the two-hour policy. If you want to show your support, please
sign it.
Monday, 29 July 2013
The Monday Cam-burger: MISSION - 500 names on DATS petition by Friday (PLEASE CLICK ON THE HEADLINE FOR MORE!!)
We started a petition against the City of Edmonton Friday,
asking them to stop a new policy for the Disabled Adult Transportation System starting
Sept. 1. DATS is asking users to cancel their rides two hours before their
scheduled pick up. The cancelation policy, as it stands now, is 30-minutes.
As a DATS user (I have cerebral palsy and use a wheelchair)
I feel this takes independence and dignity away. I have been disabled my entire
life and I feel the new two-hour policy could very well limit what I can and
can’t do. I wonder, too, how people who are newly disabled and now use DATS.
They need all the re-enforcements and positive policies to help them adjust to
their new lifestyles to be contributing community members. I have to seriously
wonder what the two-hour policy could do to their incentive.
The other thing concerning me is the lack of consultation DATS
had with the users and why they would rely on research from Dallas and Seattle
— not much snow there, folks — and enforce the a two-hour policy in Edmonton.
Let’s aim for 500 names by Friday to give the petition a
boost. If we can make that statement we can go to the City of Edmonton. And you
never know what could happen from there?
Friday, 26 July 2013
Tea with Tait: When a friend has a good day...(PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL POST)
I am really happy this evening for a friend of mine who is getting a chance to do something he loves to do. And, selfishly, I am thrilled he will be in town for a while, because, even though I don’t see him as often as I would like, I have been worried he might leave town. I’m talking about Mark Scholz. I met Mark in the fall of 1997 when he came to Edmonton from Halifax to Edmonton to co-host The Big Breakfast (remember that?) on A-Channel. Mark and I started sharing time together and formed a great friendship. I can honestly say he is like a brother to me and we have had a few special times together.
Mark is a great drummer. My father played clarinet in a small “orchestra” — Dad’s words — in Saskatchewan. Dad loved telling stories and Mark loved listening. When Dad passed away Mark was a pallbearer; when my mother passed on Mark and I drove to the funeral together. We’ve travelled together and have had many, many laughs together.
I also know Mark as a very talented broadcaster. I never understood why Mark and A-Channel parted ways. He free-lanced for CBC Radio for several years, but nothing permanent. Until this morning: that’s when 630 CHED announced Mark and J'lyn Nye will co-host the 630 CHED Afternoon News starting Aug. !9. The duo will fill in the 2 to 6 p.m. Time slot, while, in another move announced by the station, Dan Tencer and Andrew Grose have been given the keys to the 9 a.m. to 12 noon slot.
Mark is a dear friend. And any time a friend has a good day, so do I.
KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING! CLICK HERE!
KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING! CLICK HERE!
A petition against lack of communication with people with disabilities — revised Friday at 5:15 p.m.
We’ve started a petition today against the Disabled Adult Transportation System on their new policy, set to roll into gear Sept. 1. DATS is changing their cancellation policy from 30 minutes to two hours without any consultation with their users. We petitioning the policy — and the lack of communication DATS had with their users: they only shared the news in the DATS newsletter — after the policy was changed.
We’ve seen this lack of consultation rodeo before. In June, Alberta Health Services made wide sweeping changes to home care without — you guessed it — any consultation. In fact, (I know from personal experience as I am a home care user) when existing home care programs were asked to submit proposals, we were told if we called our MLA or the media our proposal could very well be disqualified. Why does the word bullying comes to mind?
Perhaps we’re seeing a trend. I think we need to make a statement and encourage all levels of government to have better consultation with people with disabilities before making significant changes. But, first things first: the DATS policy. If we get enough signatures by Aug. 1 on the lack of consultation with users on the new DATS cancellation policy we will deliver the petition to Edmonton City Council. One never knows: maybe City Council will reverse DATS cancellation policy. After all, we will have talked to people to get their input.
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
DATS not the way to show respect when making changes
Brenda Lewis made a comment which sums up our Monday meeting
with Deanna Crozier, director of the Disabled Adult Transportation System.
"I hate being belittled and having more and more
restrictions that are demeaning and break my spirit,” Brenda, a long-time DATS
user. We met with Deanna to discuss why DATS is implementing a new policy where
users have to cancel their rides two hours in advance starting Sept. 1.
With the city of Edmonton growing as well as specific needs
of some DATS users with kidney issues and users with dementia, DATS is trying
to get more trips. And while that is fair, the way DATS conveyed the message is
not. There were two very vague statements in two DATS newsletters: the most
recent being 121 words explaining the policy is changing. There was no mention
of DATS participation in a 2010 peer review by the American
Public Transportation Association with representatives from Calgary, Ottawa,
Seattle and Dallas since January 2011. I find it curious Edmonton does not have the same climate
as, say, Seattle and Dallas, in the winter — yet they are implementing a
two-hour cancellation policy as the U.S. cities.
This information certainly should have been shared with DATS
users. Absolutely. On Wednesday morning in an e-mail exchange, Deanna said “more
information will be added to the DATS page of the ETS website, an August
e-Bulletin will be sent to e mail users, a “Cancellation Bulletin” will be
distributed on the DATS vehicles in August, and additional information
will be in the September, 2013.”
 |
| Mayor Stephen Mandel |
The story has drawn the attention of mayor Stephen Mandel. His office contacted me Monday afternoon the Mayor will meet with DATS to ask
how the policy was compacted to the public and “and how they plan to deal with
the implications and inconvenience to DATS users.”
This story is far from over. I respectfully ask that you
vote on the poll on the right side of the post. Because people with
disabilities are being bullied by DATS and it must be stopped. I give the last word to Brenda Lewis.
"We are not second, third or fourth class citizens but
you wouldn't know it by the disregard and disrespect we are shown fairly often.
If they listened to their clientele, who have no other option for
transportation they might find some common ground — but the fact is, they never
listen. This is only the tip of the iceberg of deterioration."
July 24 - Cam 'n Eggs
—Robert Louis Stevenson
Tuesday, 23 July 2013
Welcome to Tea with Tait, the first cup
QR77 named the replacements for Rutherford earlier this month: Roger Kingkade and Erin Kelly in take over the mid-morning slot Aug. 19, giving the show a local flavour. Rutherford was carried on 630 CHED in Edmonton and CHED has yet to make an announcement. So let’s have some fun. We’re going to keep the theme of two co-hosts, one woman and one men and see who might make a good fit.
Ladies first.
CHED might want to keep things in-house, moving J’yLn Nye from FRESH-FM — a sister station of CHED — into the job. Nye has a ton of experience from her television gig as late-night anchor on Global. She’s personal and has a lot of energy and has done a great job filling in after Rutherford left.
Eileen Bell reads the afternoon news on CHED and has one of the best voices is town. She knows the right questions to ask and when to ask them. Bell has been around Edmonton for almost three decades and has a great sense of community.
OK, men …
Dan Tencer does a great job in the evenings with Inside Sports and with Edmonton Oiler broadcasts on CHED. He’s a great talent. Does he want a shot at a news talk show? You have to wonder.
If CHED wants to go outside of the building, how about Mark Scholz? He proved he has the stuff it takes for live television and radio. Scholz came to Edmonton in 1997 and was a co-host of the Big Breakfast on A-Channel where he gained vast popularity. He has also worked for CBC AM in town.
If I were a betting man, and I’m not (right honey?) — but here’s my vote.
 |
| Nye |
 |
| Scholz |
The Cam-Burger: A Royal Reminder
I have never been a Royal Watcher (so I may be in error capitalizing both words) so the media treatment of the birth of the new baby in London is a little curious to me. I understand the deep tradition of the monarch and I respect what they represent. But all the hype, the excitement and the media coverage … well, I don’t understand.
We need to view the new son to Prince William and Kate as a reminder of the millions of new babies who are born every day. We need to be challenged by this: to remind ourselves we to embrace every new child as much as we can and give them everything we can — and more — so they can succeed. We need to view them with limitless optimism; for they are our future … regardless or not if they become king one day.
@camtait
Monday, 22 July 2013
A ray of sunshine from the Edmonton Eskimos
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| Jonathon Crompton |
It’s a rainy, rainy Monday morning in Edmonton and with the Eskimos falling to 31-21 Saturday, there might not be much motivation to put things in gear as we trudge ahead for the week. The Eskimos were beat by the B.C. Lions and slid to 1-3 on the season. But there are a few positive things.
The Esks scored 21 points. That’s 18 more than a week ago when they fell 19-3 to the Lions. But there was something I saw and his name is Jonathan Crompton. He’s a quarterback who came in relief of Mike Reilly in the final few minutes of the fourth quarter. In his first drive, he got the hurry up offence on the go, and on his first drive, Crompton engineered a touchdown. Given the situation the performance was impressive.
And so the question begs to be asked: could Crompton be the starting quarterback Thursday when the Eskimos visit the Allouettes in Montreal? I would really like to see that. It would be a wonderful challenge for Crompton, and it might give the Eskimos the shot in the arm they need. The team has struggled at the quarterback position, and, who knows? Crompton could be it — proving, yet again, heroes are not born, but made … even in the rain.
@camtait
CLICK HERE FOR A FREE HOME OR AUTO QUOTE FROM CHALLENGE INSURANCE
Saturday, 20 July 2013
The voice of Telus Field this weekend
Senior baseball players from eight Alberta teams are experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime experience this weekend at Telus Field. As the 2013 Blue Willow Invitational continues through Sunday evening, players will experience playing on a professional field, under the lights and precious time in dug-outs. But the players aren’t the only ones getting the real feel of what it’s like in the Big Leagues. Right, Jordan Schell?
 |
| Jordan Schell |
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, July 20
Game 3 - 8
AM – Cold Lake Cardinals vs Heisler Cardinals
Game 4 – 10
AM – Rocky Red Dogs vs Fort McMurray Pirates
Game 5 – 12
PM – Loser Game 1 vs Loser Game 3
Game 6 - 2
PM – Loser Game 2 vs Loser Game 4
Sunday, July 21
Game 7 - 10
AM – Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 3
Game 8 –
5:30pm – Winner Game 2 vs Winner Game 4
Game 9 –
7:30 PM – Championship Game – Winner Game 7 vs Winner Game 8
@camtait
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| facebook.com/cam.tait |
Thursday, 18 July 2013
The Cam-burger: Edmonton Prospects need to fold their tent at Telus Field
The team is laughable. Their owner Pat Cassidy isn’t going to fire the team’s manager, Tracy Neumann because (but sshh!!! —don’t tell anyone) they’re married. Wouldn’t that be fun over a family Sunday dinner? It’s not even funny how this baseball club has been run, and speaking of baseball, they can’t even play. After Wednesday’s loss, their Western Major Baseball League record is 6-31. Interestingly, they only won six games last season.
The Prospects are doing more harm than good: what kind of an atmosphere have they created for their players? How are they going to recruit when they they can’t coaches? How are they helping the baseball image in Edmonton, a city pining for a credible baseball team — or, for that matter, a baseball team at all? Let’s hope there’s professional baseball in Edmonton next year so local baseball fans don’t have to put up with the Edmonton Prospects.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? PLEASE CLICK HERE
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A FREE ON-LINE QUOTE FROM CHALLENGE INSURANCE
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
The first Edmonton election issue on disability begins ... NOW!
On Tuesday we shared the new policy the Disabled Adult Transportation wants to shift into gear Sept. 1 and have users cancel their rides two hours in advance. We received many emails and tweets from users who are very unhappy with the decision, claiming — and rightly so — their independence is being taken away. We also received an e-mail from DATS director Deanna Crozier asking for a meeting. She said she wants to explain the system wants to do more trips. But at what cost? Clearly, someone will lose out. We’ll find out more after the Monday meeting.
TWITTER @camtait
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
The July 15 Cam-burger: DATS going in reverse with new policy
The recent announcement from the Disabled Adult Transportation System about a new policy coming into effect Sept. 1 is a sad reflection in today’s society. DATS is changing their late cancel policy from 30 minutes to two hours.
PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS RIGHT HERE
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