Have you dreamt of the perfect accessible home ensuring your independence? An Ontario firm can make that dream a reality.

Howard Sher, executive vice-president of Quality Homes, recognizes that disability is a part of the human experience and that accessible housing is

an increasing need as Ontario's population ages. Over 13.5% of Ontarians have a disability - that means 1,639,090 people, with an additional 1.1 million

Ontarians providing support to a family member or friend with a longterm health condition or disability.

Did you know that 44.9% of Ontario's disabled population are aged 65 and over? Our population is aging fast and seniors aged 65 and over will become more numerous than children aged 15 and under around the year 2015. This will be an unprecedented situation in Ontario and Canada. By 2031, the number of people in Canada aged 65 and over will range between 8.9 million and 9.4 million. This translates to approximately 3,635,754 Ontarians.

I am a 37-year-old woman who is physically challenged and has relied on the use of a wheelchair for mobility since contracting spinal meningitis at four. Growing up I was very fortunate to have an extremely talented father who built our family a new accessible home to ensure I had the same quality of life as my brother and sister. Over the years, I have seen a multitude of emerging opportunities to reduce existing barriers that prevent the disabled population from enjoying full inclusion. There has been increased momentum and energy in society to deal with this inequity. In my lifetime, I have witnessed the following government initiatives and advancements:

 The International Year of Disabled Persons - 1981 is often cited as the landmark date for tracing the history of disability studies in Canada.

 United Nations Declaration of the International Decade of Disabled Persons (1982 1993).

 In 1982, a major federal provincial effort was initiated to propose

options for disability income reform. Another major initiative was the appointment of the Royal Commission on Equality in Employment.

 The 1984 Report of the Royal Commission on Equality in Employment explored society's duty to accommodate persons with disabilities and the elimination of overt and systemic barriers to equality.

 In 1992, the Conference of Federal/Provincial/ Territorial Ministers of Social Services announced a Mainstream Review to develop a collective strategic framework for the full integration of Canadians with disabilities.

 In June, 2005 our provincial government announced their continued commitment to removing barriers for persons with disabilities and the investment of new monies to achieve their goal of a barrier free Ontario by the year 2020.

Although our governments have dedicated a lot of energy and money towards their vision of full inclusion and a barrierfree Ontario, the reality today is that persons with disabilities still face barriers and discrimination, which prevent them from participating as full citizens in all aspects of society.

Most persons with disabilities see themselves as independent individuals with the ability to control all facets of their lives. The attitudes of non-disabled Ontarians also are evolving to be more consistent with the views and realities of persons with disabilities. As a result,

Ontarians with disabilities are no longer viewed as 'exceptions' whose needs must be met through segregated programs. We are now seen more as fellow citizens, who share the belief that we have a responsibility to one another and that each of us has something of value to contribute. Ontarians are working together to build a prosperous, caring and inclusive society - one in which everyone has the opportunity to lead a full, rich and meaningful life.

While governments acknowledge their role in providing leadership, the achievement of full citizenship requires more than the involvement of governments alone. Efforts from all sectors of society, including government departments and agencies, private enterprise and voluntary organizations, are required to achieve the overall goal of full citizenship.

After months of shopping for a home of my own, I became increasingly frustrated with the lack of accessible homes on the market and the high cost associated with retrofitting to make a home, at best, "doable", so I approached Mr. Sher with an idea.

It is with great excitement that I announce that Quality Homes has the answer to all of your accessible housing needs. It is a pioneer and innovator in the world of custom-built homes and provides service to all of Ontario. As the leader in the industry, it sets the standard for quality in custom-built homes. Established in 1987,

Quality Homes has evolved into Canada's leading factory-built housing company, through a dedication to excellence in satisfying its customers.To continue this tradition of superior service, it recognizes the need for accessible housing.

Howard sought my assistance in designing an accessible model home, which is displayed at the firm's sales centre in Kenilworth. Howard felt, "who better to design an accessible home than someone who has dealt with mobility issues their whole life?" The sales centre has seven decorated models, ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 square feet. The staff has received extensive training related to the needs of individuals with a variety of disabilities.

Quality Homes will provide you with expertise in designing and building the perfect accessible home, specific to your individual needs, including such things as wheel-in showers, lower kitchen cabinets, automatic lowering cabinets, automatic door openers, stair glides, ramps, textured walls for the blind, home communication devices, etc. It has arranged for direct purchasing of specialty devices ensuring the lowest possible price for its customers.

Visit Quality's website at www.qualityhomes.ca and allow yourself to make your dream of independence became a reality. You can also call 1-866276-5397 for further information.

Sandra Thompson

Waterloo