Citizens With Disabilities –
Tributes to Persons With Disabilities
John Rae
John Rae, 1st National Vice President of the Alliance
for Equality of Blind Canadians was honoured with one of
three Access Awards on November 25, 2009 at the Human
Rights Awards ceremony at City Hall, reports Richard
Quan, President of AEBC's Toronto Chapter. John has
worked tirelessly for many years to improve rights and
opportunities, not just for blind persons, but for all
Canadians with a disability.
"He has been particularly involved in fighting for human
rights protection, access to information in multiple
formats, and reducing the level of unemployment and
poverty that remains the reality for so many members of
the blind community," adds Quan.
"I am deeply honoured to receive this award from my
city," said John Rae, "But considering how far the
disabled community still has to travel to achieve the
1981 motto of 'full participation and equality,' I would
gladly trade this award for some more progress for our
community."
Udo Franz (1956-2009)
Udo Franz was one of the three incorporating members
of Citizens With Disabilities - Ontario. As
Executive Director of Aldebrain Attendant Care Services
Inc., conceiver, nurturer and steward of an integrated,
community high-rise project, Udo believed in the
capacity of persons with disabilities to lead their own
lives and their own organizations. A mover and a
shaker, Udo was well known for thinking out of the box.
Udo was fiercely independent, loyal and generous to his
friends and loved ones. He supported what he
believed in, and CWDO was an organization he supported.
Read an article about Udo written by George Gamester (Toronto Star, October 11, 1998)
Helen (Bobby) Sarlina (1951-2008)
A rebel, a fighter, Bobby was a person who refused to live down to others' expectations. Despite severe physical limitations, Bobby lived independently, earned a Social Work degree and worked for many years as a social worker for the City of Toronto, providing intake and support services to people on welfare.
Read an article about Bobby's remarkable life. (WORD format)
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