Do persons with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else?
Persons with disabilities, whether physical or mental, face barriers in their daily lives that others do not. Does this mean that their rights are being unfairly infringed upon? If a very large person does not fit into a standard airline seat, should the company be obliged to provide two adjoining seats at no extra fee? Should a couple, both of whom have a developmental disability, be restricted from having children?
Both of these scenarios are real and people have voiced opposing opinions. How should our Canadian society decide what is a right – or what is fair – for persons with disabilities?
Join the discussion at the November Philosophers’ Café as Greg Hill leads us into a discussion on the rights of persons with disabilities and society’s role in respecting them.
Hill started his career 45 years ago in Ontario working in a large institution for people who at that time were labeled “mentally retarded”. Thankfully, that label is history and Greg has worked his way up, and west to Campbell River, where he has been for the last 31 years. He is the executive director of the Campbell River and District Association for Community Living, and has been involved in many provincial projects and initiatives, which has given him a keen insight into the rights of persons who are “differently abled.”
Once a month, a speaker will introduce a theme to the Café, and then all who attend can join in respectful, non-partisan conversation, or just sit back and listen. You are welcome to propose topics and introduce them at future Cafés. Themes should be of broad interest and national significance, and have an element of controversy to them.
Hill looks forward to talking about those rights and connected responsibilities, and how the societal pendulum swings on this issue.
As with each Café, Hill will have just 10 minutes to introduce the topic, and then the floor is open for 50 minutes of moderated discussion.
The next Philosophers’ Café takes place Wednesday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m. at Berwick Comox Valley, 1700 Comox Ave., Comox, in the community room.