1
Disabled Access
Friendly Campaign
Think about us!
Level
C1C2
1.
5.
Age
Adults
Wheelchairs and the workplace
Text by Katie Quartano. Questions by Carol Everhard.
Topic
Grammar
Vocabulary
Accessibility for wheelchair
Connecting
Workplace, adjectives
users in the workplace
devices
& antonyms
I was born and raised in White Plains, New York. As a teenager I was a rising star on my high school
swim team and in training for a new competitive season. One evening when I was 15 I suddenly found
myself unable to move my legs. An Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), a rare disorder in which a
weakened blood vessel can break and damage surrounding nerves, had ruptured in my spinal cord.
This left me paralysed from the waist down, and I became a wheelchair user.
I wasn't prepared for all the challenges that using a wheelchair
would present, but it did not prevent me from returning to high
school, graduating from university, and ultimately having a
successful career. Finding ways to overcome the unforeseen
has sometimes been difficult, but I have always been
determined and positive, and I don’t let obstacles close doors
on me.
10.
When I went away to university, it was the first time that I
would be surrounded by people who hadn’t known me before
becoming paralyzed, and I have to admit I was apprehensive
about how I would be perceived. The experience taught me a lot
about preparing myself for a world where being a wheelchair
user is not commonplace.
15.
20.
25.
30.
Skill
Reading
A fellow student recommended that I join a sorority to meet
new people. This is a club for women students at university, and it is a great way to network and
make friends. At the beginning of the academic year, members of the sorority visit each other’s
houses, and I was anxious about this since I knew that probably most of them would not be
accessible, and probably none of them would have a toilet I could use. Initially I planned to base my
decision on which homes to visit on their ease of access. The women in all of the houses, however,
were enthusiastic about making accommodations for me, so the wheelchair did not ultimately have to
be a factor in my decision. Later, most of the women I met in the sorority admitted that they had
never interacted with someone who uses a wheelchair before, but they learned a lot about the
importance of accessibility from getting to know me. The need for a personal experience to open
people’s eyes to issues of accessibility is something I also encountered later on in the workplace.
When I graduated from university and started looking for a job, I realized that wheelchair
accessibility was crucial not only to my freedom and independence, but also to my career path. We
all have an internal check list when considering employment opportunities, such as training, career
development, location and salary, but my check list also has to include the equally important subjects
of lifts, ramps, and accessible toilets.
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35.
40.
45.
50.
55.
60.
65.
70.
75.
I wondered if it would be difficult to find a job to accommodate my needs, but I was also
determined not to accept a job solely because of the ease of accessibility. Just like everyone else, I
was looking for a job to fulfill my goals, interests and desires.
I had an interview for a job as studio manager at a recording company, where my degree in media
production was relevant. The job really seemed tailor made, but the only issue was that the toilet
was not accessible, and I feared that this would mean that either I would not be offered the job, or
I could not accept it. But having met me in person, the owner said, "Let me think about how I can
make this work. I'll call you tomorrow." He did indeed call me the next day and asked me to come
back in. When I got to the office, he introduced me to a contractor whom he had hired to make the
toilet accessible. The job turned out to be great for my career and I stayed there for four years.
The next job I applied for also appeared very promising when I went for the interview, until I found
out that the offices were on several floors and there was no lift. The person who interviewed me
asked me if I thought the wheelchair would affect my ability to do the job, and I replied not as long
as I did not have to go upstairs. He replied that it wasn't important - he felt that the tasks for my
job didn't require me to go upstairs very often. I accepted the job and when I needed to go upstairs
my colleagues just carried me up. This wasn’t ideal, but it was a solution that kept the door open for
me.
Later, I decided to make a career change, and I took a course in graphic design. I was offered a
great job and accepted it, but once again there was the problem of the inaccessible toilet. When my
boss and I inspected it together, we agreed that the problem was simple to rectify - we simply
reversed the hinges on the door and I was able to get in. A small change to the toilet door opened
an important door in life for me.
Although there are laws that clearly specify the requirements for building owners and businesses to
provide accessibility for wheelchair users, in my experience what really motivates business owners to
be become aware of their responsibilities is personal contact with an individual wheelchair user.
When an employer meets a specific person who is a wheelchair user, it touches them and compels
them to think differently and make accommodations. I have been very fortunate in that I have
worked for open-minded individuals, who realized that even though
I use a wheelchair, I work just as hard as anybody else, and I am
good for business. In fact, research that shows that diversity in
the workplace has a number of benefits, including improved
understanding of the marketplace, enhanced creativity and
problem-solving ability in teams. Companies are beginning to look
at representation as a business issue, as opposed to a legal
compliance issue, a moral issue or a social responsibility issue. I am
good for business not in spite of my disability, but in some ways
because of it.
My hope for the near future is that business owners will not have
to know someone personally to care about making their
environment accessible, and that they will make changes because
they want to make the world a better place, not because they are
forced to comply with the law.
Based on an article by Mia Schaikewitz “The Workplace And Wheelchairs”
Mia Schaikewitz The Workplace And Wheelchairs: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mia-schaikewitz/theworkplace-and-wheelchairs_b_1646191.html
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3
GLOSSARY
apprehensive =
worried that something unpleasant may happen
blood vessel =
any of the tubes through which blood flows in the body
to close the door on = to make it impossible for something to happen, especially a plan or a solution
to a problem
to compel =
to force somebody to do something
compliance =
the practice of obeying rules or laws
to comply with =
to obey (a rule, the law etc.)
contractor =
a person who has a contract to do work for another company
disorder =
an illness that stops part of the body from functioning correctly
diversity =
a range of people who are different from each other
to enhance =
to increase or further improve the good quality, value or status of something
graphic design =
drawings and diagrams particularly connected with the production of books,
magazines etc.
hinge =
a piece of metal that fastens the edge of a door, window, lid, etc.
to something else and allows it to swing open or closed
to make accommodations for (s.one) = to make changes in yourself or your behaviour or conditions
to suit another person
obstacle =
a situation that makes it difficult for you to do or achieve something
to paralyse =
to make somebody unable to feel or move all or part of their body
to perceive =
to understand or think of somebody in a particular way
to rectify =
to put right something that is wrong
to reverse =
to change something so that it is the opposite of what it was before
to rupture =
an injury in which something in the body breaks apart or bursts
spinal cord =
tailor made =
the mass of nerves inside the row of small bones that are
connected together down the middle of the back and that
connect all parts of the body to the brain
specifically made for a particular person or need and therefore very suitable
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A. ADJECTIVES AND THEIR OPPOSITES
Look at the adjectives from the text given in the table below and suggest suitable opposites for
them with which they could be replaced in the text to reverse the meaning. The first one has
been done as an example:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Line
No.
1.
3.
9.
11.
15.
18.
23.
32.
Adjective
rising
rare
successful
positive
apprehensive
commonplace
accessible
internal
Antonym
falling
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Line
No.
39.
45.
54.
61.
62.
66.
68.
69.
Adjective
Antonym
relevant
promising
simple
fortunate
open-minded
enhanced
legal
moral
B. CONNECTING DEVICES.The text makes use of a number of connecting devices which help
to keep it coherent and cohesive. Decide which of the ten connecting devices listed below,
would best fit in the gaps in the sentences given:
however, just like, where, the next, later, when, although, in fact, but, not because
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
I enjoy the post I am in at present, …………………… it is very well paid, but because I love the
personal contact I have with all the customers.
………………………… the majority of people, I am happy when my boss praises my work.
Many people assume that because Mia is confined to a wheelchair, she is very unhappy. …………………
she is very satisfied with her life and rarely feels discontented.
Stephen visited some friends in Ipswich, ………………… he met his future wife.
Most people rarely think about the difficulties encountered by the disabled. …………………, the
government’s new awareness-raising campaign in schools should begin to change that.
One minute the baby was sitting perfectly happily on his mother’s knee, …………………… he was
screaming his head off!
…………………… Gill’s boyfriend confessed to her that he had not really enjoyed meeting her parents.
…………………… Maria can speak Spanish rather well, she had some difficulty understanding the
accent in the more remote mountain villages she visited.
I would really love to take up your kind invitation to visit at the weekend, ……………… I’m afraid I’ve
already committed myself to doing something else.
Not everyone reacted in a composed manner ………………… the earthquake shook the building.
C. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TEXT
1.
As a person without a disability, what kind of challenges was Mia accustomed to? What were the
new challenges in her life after AVM was diagnosed?
2. Why was Mia apprehensive about going to university? Describe what happened to allay her
anxieties?
3. Which difficulties did Mia meet in the workplace and how were they overcome?
4. Are you surprised by Mia’s positive attitude?
5. What are Mia’s hopes and dreams for people with mobility disabilities in the future?
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5
A. ADJECTIVES AND THEIR OPPOSITES
Look at the adjectives from the text given in the table below and suggest suitable opposites for
them with which they could be replaced in the text to reverse the meaning. The first one has
been done as an example:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Line
No.
1.
3.
9.
11.
15.
18.
23.
32.
Adjective
Antonym
rising
rare
successful
positive
apprehensive
commonplace
accessible
internal
falling
common
unsuccessful
negative
unapprehensive
unusual
inaccessible
external
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Line
No.
39.
45.
54.
61.
62.
66.
68.
69.
Adjective
relevant
promising
simple
fortunate
open-minded
enhanced
legal
moral
Antonym
irrelevant
unpromising
complex, complicated
unfortunate
narrow-minded
reduced
illegal
immoral
B. CONNECTING DEVICES. The text makes use of a number of connecting devices which
provide coherence and cohesion. Decide which of the ten connecting devices listed below, would
best fit in the gaps in the sentences given:
however, just like, where, the next, later, when, although, in fact, but, not because
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
I enjoy the post I am in at present, not because it is very well paid, but because I love the
personal contact I have with all the customers.
Just like the majority of people, I am happy when my boss praises my work.
Many people assume that because Mia is confined to a wheelchair, she is very unhappy.
In fact,/However, she is very satisfied with her life and rarely feels discontented.
Stephen visited some friends in Ipswich, where he met his future wife.
Most people rarely think about the difficulties encountered by the disabled. However, the
government’s new awareness-raising campaign in schools should begin to change that.
One minute the baby was sitting perfectly happily on his mother’s knee, the next he was
screaming his head off!
Later, Gill’s boyfriend confessed to her that he had not really enjoyed meeting her parents.
Although Maria can speak Spanish rather well, she had some difficulty understanding the accent
in the more remote mountain villages she visited.
I would really love to take up your kind invitation to visit at the weekend, but/however; I’m
afraid I’ve already committed myself to doing something else.
Not everyone reacted in a composed manner when the earthquake shook the building.
C. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TEXT
1.
As a person without a disability, what kind of challenges was Mia accustomed to? What were the
new challenges in her life after AVM was diagnosed?
Before AVM: Being on her high school swim team, coping with the training and getting good
grades in school.
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After AVM: Coping with the difficulties of accessibility that wheelchair users face,
returning to high school, going to university and establishing a successful career.
2. Why was Mia apprehensive about going to university? Describe what happened to allay her
anxieties?
She was apprehensive about how others would see her, since she knew that not many people
would have personal experience of interacting with a wheelchair user. She joined a sorority
to make new friends and found that her fellow students were keen to make provisions for
her accessibility into their houses.
3. Which difficulties did Mia meet in the workplace and how were they overcome?
Inaccessible toilets, no lift. Employers were willing to make alterations to toilets in order
to make them accessible, allow her to work for the greatest part on one floor and on the
occasions when she had to go upstairs, her colleagues carried her.
4. Are you surprised by Mia’s positive attitude?
Students’ reactions
5. What are Mia’s hopes and dreams for people with mobility disabilities in the future?
She hopes that a new level of awareness in business owners will make them want to provide
premises accessible to people with mobility issues,and they will not need to have the
personal experience of knowing a wheelchair user to enlighten them. She dreams of a world
where business owners treat all their customers/employees equally and not because a law
has been passed forcing them to do so.
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