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Fred Dugdale Encourages You to Support BFM's Broken Promise Campaign

May 31, 2018

Fred, a board member of the Manitoba Brain Injury Association and member of the Provincial Council of the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities, has supported BFM's campaign by creating a video message. (We've included the trascript below)

The landmark Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) promised significant progress toward full accessibility by 2023. That's just not happening. The promise is being broken.

Fred deserves better. So do you. We all do.

Please join in calling for better at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AMABrokenPromise


Here's the transcript of Fred's message:

Hello, my name is Fred Dugdale and I’m affected by traumatic brain injury that resulted from a life altering, career ending, motor vehicle accident, for which I was not at fault.

I currently serve on the Board of Directors of Manitoba Brain Injury Association and the Provincial Council of Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities.

I’m one of the 200,000 Manitobans who lives with a disability and I encounter various barriers
almost every day.

One of the biggest barriers, that I and many others face, is attitude.

I often refer to this as arrogant, apathetic ignorance.

Getting a distinct impression that you are an inconvenience, complicating their work day.

And, if unavoidable and necessary to manage, worthy of only minimal compliance.
Since, I have what is termed as an invisible or less-visible disability, I am often not accepted as having a genuine need for occasional, reasonable accommodation to access services that I require.

When I ask for reasonable accommodation, please don't give me a blank stare and then suggest I should try looking on Trivago.

There is fragmentation of process and information, which often results in a runaround - where, quite frankly, the buck stops nowhere.

People seeking to resolve matters concerning accessibility and reasonable accommodation are bounced around the bureaucracy like a pinball are often lost in the shuffle of weak follow through.

Good intentions in the Accessibility for Manitobans Act are often lost in the shuffle of weak follow through.

Trying to navigate through the maze, is exhausting.

The landmark Accessibility for Manitobans Act promised that significant, measurable progress would be made toward full accessibility by 2023.

That promise is being broken. We all deserve better. That is why I am encouraging you to join

Barrier-Free Manitoba’s campaign to call for an immediate action, so this can get back on track.

Just go online and make sure your voice is heard loud and clear. I deserve better. So do you.

Please act today.


Thanks for your help and support Fred

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