Vital meeting for those with disabilities

This is important for local people with disabilities and their families.

We know that over one in five Nova Scotians live with a disability, meaning over 7,000 of us live here in Pictou County. That’s a very significant number of the people whose lives will be affected by Bill 59.

Bill 59 is an important piece of provincial legislation that received second reading in our Nova Scotia legislature in November and will go before the Law Amendments Committee on Feb. 14 for further consideration.

Meanwhile, the Disabled Persons Commission has held sessions around the province to present the public with an overview of the legislation and to seek input from the public as to what we like or want changed.

Unfortunately, the session scheduled for Pictou County last month at the Wellness Centre had to be cancelled so very few local people know anything about it.

I could go on about why that meeting setup failed but I don’t wish to.

Suffice to say that officials from Nova Scotia’s Disabled Persons Commission have agreed to try again. They’ve accepted our invitation to attend and present their Bill 59 overview at our Let Abilities Work Partnership Society (LAWPS) General/Board meeting this coming Friday at 1 p.m., which, as usual, will be held in the basement of the Christian Fellowship Church on Abercrombie Road, New Glasgow.

I feel it’s so important that Pictou County people with disabilities become aware of what this Bill 59 says and does not say as that will have a profound effect on all people with disabilities and their families.

This session Friday should be very interesting. It’s an opportunity to become familiar with Bill 59 if you’ve not previously been able to attend a session. It’s also an opportunity to meet and learn about our Let Abilities Work disability group. We love to welcome new people so everyone should make a special effort to attend. We’re looking for a good turnout.

We will have ASL interpreters and CART too if we are able to arrange it. And, we hope to keep it a scent-free event.

Also our group’s snowstorm postponed Christmas Pizza Party was rescheduled for Feb. 10.

So, anticipating a larger turnout, we’ll make the pizzas party size so those attending can plan to enjoy a piece of so with us. Ralph Ferguson, Chair, Let Abilities Work Partnership Society (LAWPS)