Posts by Tom Adson
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Building new, rather than the application of vinegar and brown paper generates jobs that are suited to future building techniques and technologies that can be based on environmental needs. Generally much more industry knowledge and positive experience is built up derived from building new too, whereas patching up the old leads to unforeseen costs and expenditure, and above all frustration and negativity.
However care has to be taken to ensure quality standards are maintained by good inspection that avoids cowboy escapades and 'leaky building' outcomes.
The same principles apply to the Social Sciences and Health industries. Quality is vital, but in order to achieve this it requires extra effort applied to detail along with adequate testing and tuning. Eventually things can click into place and the outputs hoped for can be achieved. Patience is important, but so is vigilance by those who need to be served, and their task is to keep the process moving by keeping up the critique and sprinkling salt on the tail. Don't give up!
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Rosemary, I have referred to your refs and your comments are valid, however I’ll attempt to maintain a positive spin.
The earthquake was terrible and created exceptional circumstances beyond our control, especially in the area of architecture and engineering. My contention is that many existing buildings have exceeded their economic life, not just in Christchurch but throughout NZ (and around the world actually). With a few exceptions they should be subjected to the bulldozer effect, and in that way new buildings would not only accommodate the needs of the working disabled, but the general needs of our mother Earth too in relation to the environment, energy efficiency, clean water and increased food supply, and climate change, etc.
Wise and responsible investment is needed to make advancements that benefit society as a whole. The Govt must ensure this happens. The subject here is buildings, but I would like to include footpaths as well.
About a month ago I was nearly ran down by an old fella’ and his pet poodle sitting in the leg space of his ‘go-go-like-hell-mobile’. He was hooning along on the footpath at about 10kms/hr, I was walking at about 3kms/hr. The freedom of speed seemed to turn the disabled racer into a different kind of animal hell bent on destruction of his piers...old folks like me. I could barely hop out of his way. It scared the wits out of me, so perhaps we should now get cars off the city roads and hand them back to people. Perhaps that is a human right that is currently being ignored? Cars have rights, but we don't. I hope I have made you smile, as that is my intention? The philosophy of a survivor is to recognise that a sense of humour is essential.
Personally I am a renaissance man. Let’s put our effort into things that are purpose built around all the needs of modern living. Propping up the old and inappropriate does not make sense... for anyone. However if some people insist on putting money into sows ears there is little we can do to stop them, especially under exceptional circumstances.
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Like Fred Astaire said, with Ginger Rogers help, " You have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again." It's a continuous process and was their interpretation of a recovery plan.
As far as I know all new public buildings require wheelchair access, and it remains as a permanent requirement, unless your refs are saying otherwise?. I will try and read them.
Keeping positive is important, as that is where the energy comes from. Despite that we all need a bit of space for ourselves sometimes, and that is tops.
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Access: Disability as a wicked policy problem, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,
Well in that case it one thing in life that I am glad I did not do, avoid the effort. It has helped to keep me strong.
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All, the following contribution is intended to adjust perspectives in a positive way. Fifteen years of my career were spent working at one of NZ’s universities. It has wide ranging buildings from very old to new, cottages and high rise, totalling 165,000 square metres (circa 1998). The small group of general staff I worked with (around 50), and mainly comprised of trades people had the task to keep the place going on a day to day basis, and provide significant contribution to the outputs of architects, engineers and building contractors. The educators made constant demands for more and more buildings and associated services that usually exceeded available budgets, and especially the capacity of the team of people I worked with to take on the additional work and responsibilities. As the campus grew rapidly in size no additional staff were taken on.
About twenty five years ago the university was required to start providing wheelchair access to all its public buildings, which was a very big job to do. We groaned under the load, but got on with the task recognising that the basic need could not be disputed. I guess it was our contribution towards a worthwhile cause, as many extra hours of work and effort were contributed without overtime being paid, and often with our task masters being dissatisfied with results. It wasn’t just a matter of sawing wood and laying concrete, etc. Contracts, design, specifications and especially compliance around fire and health and safety arrangements had to be checked by those who could understand and appreciate their importance.
When I left the university (2000) much had been achieved, and it was gratifying to see people in wheelchairs moving in and out of buildings with books and papers on their knees, often with determined expressions on their faces and eyes wide open to new opportunities and challenges. To me these were the rewards of hard work and a job well done, by a small group of mainly trade’s people in a very large building complex equivalent in size to a small city.
Society now has a set of new minds ideally suited to helping other disabled people across their whole challenging spectrum, and I think this is a very important start to something that can grow and help to make the world a better place to live in for everyone.
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I think it important to reflect and put a label on your statement Hilary, "We know which category of people is most likely...". My label says it is ignorance, stigma, and discrimination in the main that rips us all off. Part of the remedy is to inform and educate the public; and then allow the 20% of those who act and care to take the lead on disability matters.
Those who act and care exist within the full social and political spectrum, so that is where the collaboration needs to become more focused and replace the bursting seams with an efficient zip fastener. One day we might even be able to remove the zip fastener and be able to accept that to some degree we are all disabled and not able to match our dreams with reality. However with concerted effort there are many who can be assisted to close the yawning gap with positive drivers. Love being the most powerful, but backed up with determination and a good set of tools.
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Access: Disability as a wicked policy problem, in reply to Hilary Stace,
It is a pity that yet another disconnection has been created, when just the opposite is what is required.
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Access: Disability as a wicked policy problem, in reply to Sacha,
Sacha, you make a very important point, but isn’t that wonderful that Sir John may hold such a very positive view of himself. Let me reiterate the suggestion that every part of society, private and public collaborates to make a positive contribution to the disability spectrum. Who could argue with such a goal, which I think may be listened to by all good Kiwi’s, which is by far most of them; and only 20% of them actively participating will be needed to make a real difference. In a sense Sir John’s already providing very good service (privately I would guess) for those with mental health problems in his TV presentations, and this can flow on to physical disabilities too. Why not?
I have enormous admiration for those who have physical disabilities and teach us all just what can be achieved through application of their psychological drive and impressive strength, and a range of virtues and abilities that many 'non- disabled' people do not have. They inspire us all.
I believe that the most important function of the blogs that I read here in “Public Address” is to identify the disconnections within what should be a fully integrated approach. Hopefully the Prod Commission may note the disconnections and ensure they are fixed when they launch their less than perfect plan, hopefully in collaboration with the Health and Disabilities Commission, MoH, MSD, and HNZ, etc.
Human limitations mean that Imperfections are sure to remain, so it is an imperative that provision is made for a ‘notes’ column in trials and any plan, as that can provide feedback. The feedback identifies the lessons learned and then uses them to update and improve future versions of the plan. It all makes sense to me.
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Access: Disability as a wicked policy problem, in reply to ,
Who would know, unless it is caught on camera and we know the full story. Perhaps she was born into an abusive world?
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Access: Disability as a wicked policy problem, in reply to Joe Wylie,
Was the beating, and resulting injuries recorded on camera?
A few weeks ago I had cause to go to Wellington CBD. To get there I walked down Stout Street past the Court and near my old work place building, NZDF. There was a couple, man and women in their mid 30’s I guess, in a loud and agitated state having a ‘domestic’. The women was physically threatening the male, arms up and hands ready to do damage. The male had his hands up palm forward ready to defend himself. The body language and aggressive noise told everything. They were partially concealed by an alcove.
As I drew near, but remained at a relatively safe distance the couple became aware of my presence. He looked at me pleadingly; she looked at me with death and poison in her eyes. I looked at both of them and then said.“Do you realise that what you are doing is being recorded on camera?” I could have been bluffing, but in fact it was true. Remember I had worked in the building opposite.
After a moment the body language changed to a much more passive nature. The man looked relieved. The woman still hated me, I could see that, but at least her brain had calmed down a bit. After counting to around ten I went on my way, but noted the banshee had departed and had been replaced by a murmur.
I told a colleague about it and his response was, “he’d probably lost the housekeeping on the horses”, and she was a mum trying to feed her kids on fresh air and an occasional bread roll thrown in by the Salvation Army. He’s probably right.