A brief account of a seriously “sensitive” to pollution person living in a society where fragranced and toxic products are more important than lives, where disabled lives are disposeable, where it’s now easy to be euthanized (even for for externally imposed and inflicted) suffering, but not to receive support to remove the causes of suffering, causes and conditions that have been made systemic for many people with disabilities.
I’m not a poet and I know it and I wrote it anyway…
What Now? Continue reading
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Community, Disability, Environmental Sensitivities, Food, Fragrance, Health, Healthy Environment, Housing, Human Rights, MCS/ES, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Pesticides, Policy, Pollution, Support
Tagged allergies, asthma, Bill C7, cancer, chemical sensitivity, Clothing, dryer vents, EHS, euthanasia, fibromyalgia, hazardous air pollutants, human canaries, Human Rights and Disability, invisible disabilities, laundry products, MCAS, MCS, migraines, multiple chemical sensitivities, toilet paper, unwanted, VOCs, Water
Dear everyone, if you are Canadian, please sign this petition, and no matter where you are, please share this with all the Canadians you know!
e-2729 Petition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:
…
We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:
1. Create an international classification of disease designation code in Canada for environmental sensitivities so that those affected may have access to medical care;
2. Include environmental sensitivities as a disability that must be accommodated on all relevant documents and forms in governmental departments and organizations that minister social assistance, housing, medical, and other public services; and
3. Ensure all indoor public spaces are declared scent and fragrance-free.
Posted in Accessibility, Disability, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Government, Health Care, Human Rights, Policy, Public Health
Tagged allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivity, CIRS, EHS, environmental illness, fibromyalgia, fragrance-free, human canaries, IAQ, ICD, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, mould, multiple chemical sensitivities, petition, scent free, TILT, video
Toronto’s Mayor John Tory has lent (not given) his support with a Proclamation for for Awareness Day:
(I’m sorry there’s no written transcript for the image)
Continue reading
Posted in Accessibility, Community, Disability, Environmental Sensitivities, Health Care, Housing, Human Rights, Policy
Tagged allergies, asthma, CFS/ME, chemical sensitivity, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ecopsychology, EHS, fibromyalgia, fragrance-free, human canaries, IAQ, invisible disabilities, MAID, MCS, multiple chemical sensitivities, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, proclamation, suicide, video
I saw an announcement on fb from a city agency that was opening up an arena to allow homeless people a place to shower, and they were also providing soap, shampoo, and other necessities.
“People who are homeless or precariously housed in (the city) relied upon bathrooms and showers in public facilities. But, they have closed their doors during the pandemic. There are now free showers and washrooms open daily at (the) Arena.”
Homelessness is something far too many human canaries are intimately familiar with, since there are so few accessible, medically safe housing options available when our ‘sensitivities’ become disabling. Many human canaries are precariously housed too.
Graphic image text description:
Everyone welcome.
Toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, and more provided.
Free showers & washrooms
———————————————————————-
ACCESSIBILITY QUESTION:
Is the soap and shampoo fragrance-free so that people with environmental ‘sensitivities’ could also access the space?
MAY is MCS/ES Awareness Month
—
I was (due to MCS/ES related accessibility barriers) homeless myself for a year, and the need to shower did not go away. I know several homeless canaries now, one who just a few days ago was discussing her attempts to create a shower outside the van she is living in, so I asked the fb page a question about accessibility for homeless canaries.
Here’s what happened:
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Fragrance, Human Rights, Medically Required Housing, Policy, Public Health
Tagged accessibility barriers, accessibility standards, allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivity, fragrance-free, homeless, human canary, IAQ, invisible disabilities, MCS, multiple chemical sensitivities, shower
There have been several articles in the news lately about the experiences of people who have been forced to endure quarantine or social isolation due to the coronavirus.
Many other people are worried about having to stay at home for a couple of weeks, without access to their regular activities, because they have never had to think about what it’s like, but some of us (indeed millions around the world) have been forced to stay confined and isolated, sometimes for most of our lives! Our stories are seldom told, and when they are told, they’re often dismissed as anomalies and quickly forgotten.
When I saw the following articles, I felt the need to add a different perspective.
Posted in Accessibility, Environment, Environmental Health, Health Care, Policy, Public Health
Tagged accessibility, allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivity, coronavirus, environmental sensitivities, invisible disabilities, isolation, MCAS, MCS, ME/CFS, multiple chemical sensitivities, quarantine, social distancing, solitary confinement, toxic trespass
“Accepting the leadership offered by the Task Force on Environmental Health to address the health care system, proactive change can begin immediately at all levels of society including federal, provincial, and municipal governments and public departments and agencies.
These would include, but are not limited to, public transportation providers, school boards, and the private sector.”
screenshots
of the report recommendations
with source added
The Legal Rights and Challenges Faced by Persons with Chronic Disability Triggered by Environmental Factors
From ARCH Disability Law Centre and the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA), September 2019
“3. Conclusion While there has been significant research and study into barriers to include persons with EH disabilities, critical obstacles remain.
Seeking help in the health system, trying to find and/or retain adequate housing or employment, entering public spaces, shopping, or using public transportation, limit the inclusion of persons with EH disabilities in our communities.
Much more needs to be done to acknowledge the significant hurdles faced by persons with EH disabilities.
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Health, Health Care, Housing, Human Rights, Policy, Pollution, Public Health
Tagged allergies, ARCH, asthma, autism, barriers, cancer, CELA, chemical sensitivity, education, employment, environmental sensitivities, federal, fragrance-free, IAQ, jobs, marginalization, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, municipal, non-toxic, poverty, provincial, scent free, shopping, stigma, toxic chemicals, transportation, universal design, VOCs
Having been housebound for far too many years due to having to avoid exposure to common, everyday products and materials that disable me, has given me time to observe the world (and sometimes even make a little sense of it).
Still, there are some things that make no sense. With over 404,207 Ontario citizens diagnosed with MCS, and 740,370 with one or more diagnoses of MCS, FM, and/or CFS (ME) (in 2016), why hasn’t the Ontario government done anything about the Task Force recommendation to raise
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Human Rights, Policy, Public Health
Tagged allergies, asthma, autism, cancer, CFS/ME, chemical sensitivity, environmental sensitivities, fibromyalgia, fragrance-free, hazardous air pollutants, IAQ, invisible disabilities, MCS, multiple chemical sensitivities, sensitive to pollution, toxic trespass, VOCs
The Canadian Human Rights Commission’s
Policy on Environmental Sensitivities
has been updated to add more on scent-free policies.
Image description: “Environmental sensitivity and scent-free policies” text on a blue background to the left, with a photo of a dark haired woman resting her chin on her hand, while looking wistfully (towards the title text) out a window with rain drops on it, on the right side.
The new policy includes this:
“A scent-free policy is similar to other workplace policies such as
anti-harassment policies. It applies to all employees and is intended to guide
their conduct. If an employee does not comply with the policy, disciplinary
action can be taken.”
and this:
“If an employee with environmental sensitivities needs to leave because of a trigger, this person should not suffer negative impacts because of their disability
or their need for accommodation.”
Visit the CHRC website to download the PDF:
https://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/eng/content/policy-environmental-sensitivities
Full text of the policy
(as copied from their PDF for people who have difficulties with PDFs):
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Sensitivities, Fragrance, Government, Human Rights, Policy
Tagged accommodation, allergies, anti-harassment, chemical sensitivity, CHRC, employment, fragrance-free, health and safety, IAQ, invisible disabilities, less toxic, MCS, multiple chemical sensitivities, scent free, service providers
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Seriously "Sensitive" to Pollution 