I saw something that shocked me, and I don’t know how anyone involved with this could have thought it was a good idea.
This is what I saw
If you are a Canadian, you will probably understand.
.
It’s pretty much the same thing as this (slightly revised) image:
(pretend it’s done all the way)
What would you think if you saw that?
Shoppers Drug Mart is the antithesis of scent or fragrance free!
Posted in Accessibility, Disability, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Health Care, Human Rights
Tagged accessibility barriers, allergies, asthma, cancer, chemical sensitivity, Environmental Health Clinic, environmental sensitivities, fibromyalgia, fragrance-free, gaslighting, hazardous air pollutants, health care access for people with MCS/ES, IAQ, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, petrochemicals, ShoppersDrug Mart, smoke-free, tobacco, toxic chemicals, VOCs, WHO
Smoke and chemicals (such as fragrances, air “fresheners”, laundry products, pesticides, and other VOCs) do not respect property lines as they travel throughout space, often making others quite sick, even disabling them in their own homes. This is especially a problem in multi-unit housing, and where housing units are built close together.
This is also a very serious accessibility issue for people with MCS/ES, as there are few affordable housing options available, and most of these put people at risk of further harm due to indoor air pollution issues, despite HUD and other federal agencies in the US and Canada recognizing MCS/ES as a disability that needs to be accommodated.
The following webinar is about addressing smoke, but the issues are applicable to other forms of indoor air pollutants as well. It should also be available as a podcast later.
For those of you who are interested and able, the webinar is being offered on Wed, Aug 5, 2015 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EDT by the Asthma Community Network
Breathing Easy at Home: Partnering to Increase Smoke-Free Policies in Federally Assisted Housing
More info: Continue reading
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When she needed accommodation, you won’t believe the rigmarole that ensued.
(unless you have MCS/ES)
“They should not have to make significantly more effort to access or obtain service. They should also not have to accept lesser quality or more inconvenience.”
.
Someone with MCS (who wishes to remain anonymous) was asked about how her efforts to receive appropriate, safe, accommodation were going, so she could see a health care provider. She is one of a growing number of people who become disabled from exposures to toxic chemicals found in many everyday products and materials, especially in fragrances.
This is pretty much how the story goes:
She contacted a health care provider by phone and talked to a receptionist.
She asked her if they had a scent-free policy and was told they didn’t.
Posted in Accessibility, Chemicals, Disability, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Human Rights, Indoor Air Quality, MCS/ES, Policy, Precaution
Tagged allergies, AODA, environmental sensitivities, Fragrance, fragrance-free, fragrance-free policy, health, IAQ, invisible disabilities, multiple chemical sensitivities, petrochemicals, Pollution, rigmarole, smoke-free, systemic barriers, systemic discrimination, toxic chemicals
Fragrance chemicals are linked to so many health problems now that they should be banned from indoor environments just like smoking.
Posted in Accessibility, Fragrance, Health, Images, Indoor Air Quality, Pollution, Public Health
Tagged asthma, environment, environmental sensitivities, Fragrance, fragrance chemicals, fragrance-free policy, hazardous air pollutants, Housing, images, indoor air quality, multiple chemical sensitivities, phthalates, smoke-free, toxic chemicals
Dr. L. Christine Oliver is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Co-Director of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.
This is an excellent half hour presentation.
Dr Oliver packs so much about the issues faced by people with MCS into the first 16 minutes of this video. If you can’t watch the whole video, at least watch this much. Alison Johnson finishes off by reading from her important book Amputated Lives.
Alison Johnson is the author/producer/director of books and documentaries on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Visit http://www.alisonjohnsonmcs.com to download a transcript or to purchase her books or DVDs.
Posted in Accessibility, Disability, Environmental Health, Health Care, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Public Health
Tagged chemical exposures, environmental sensitivities, Fragrance, fragrance-free policy, health, health care access for people with MCS/ES, Housing, indoor air quality, MCS and CDC, MCS video, MCS/ES, sensitive to pollution, smoke-free, suicide, video
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Seriously "Sensitive" to Pollution 