Unitec disgrace

**enigma51** · 5th March 2009, 07:18

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10560073

Good job mate.

**Grahameeboy** · 5th March 2009, 07:21

Originally Posted by Swoop

So you called the Herald?

Mmmm...yes......bright and breezy this morning I see

**Grahameeboy** · 5th March 2009, 07:47

page a5...long column of herald

**Marmoot** · 5th March 2009, 08:02

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

Well the Management are in a panic and the shit has really hit the fan at Unitec following contact by NZ Herald journalist...

Fuck PC.........

...HTFU and take action to improve lives.

HTFU. Yeah Right....

The society needs to HTFU and stop sensationalising about these type of issues instead.

I'd love to see the guy becomes an electrician and changing lightbulbs on the ceiling, crawling on the attic space, and wiring a building from top to bottom without taking all his clients to the newspaper for not providing him with disability lifts and having crawlspace where his wheelchair wouldn't fit.

Know what? I'll probably apply for a prostitute job at the White House later and sue them for discrimination if they don't accept me just because I'm ugly.

FFS....what's next? Blind guy wants to be a commercial liner pilot? I dare you to have the first flight with him.

Each to their calling, mate. Pigs can't fly and elephants shouldn't jump off the cliffs.

**Mom** · 5th March 2009, 08:26

I dont think this should be boiled down to whether this man will become a sparkie in the traditional sense of the word at all. Here is a bloke educating himself in a field he is obviously intereted in, who alone knows what he will end up doing with his qualification, the fact that he is actually doing something apart from withering away at home should be applauded.

This is to do with a system failure at Unitec that placed him in the appalling situation he is in. His disability was not picked up on until a complaint was made about the lack of facilities. Seems to me they are now doing something to improve this situation for him.

Thank goodness he is a guy, I can not imagine the humiliation a female would have felt having to take a piss in the corner of a classroom. Totally and completely unacceptable no matter your gender.

Having said that though, the disabled access requirements do create huge problems for many businesses. Costs of retro-fitting are enormous and edged with all sorts of problems (degree angles of ramps for example) that actually make providing access damn near impossible. I have been in the situation on a Board of trustees for a childrens camp, where we simply could not afford to make some of the changes required of us even with free labour, materials at cost and so on, as the building and where it was sited prevented us from compliing fully for the entire camp facility. We ended up creating a stand alone one bedroom unit seperately from the main camp building and providing a ramp up to the ground floor of the main building for access. Effectively separating some kids from the rest because of their disability, the complete opposite of what is supposed to be an inclusive focus.

I hope Unitec get something sorted for this fella sooner rather than later.

**Grahameeboy** · 5th March 2009, 08:33

Originally Posted by Marmoot

HTFU. Yeah Right....

The society needs to HTFU and stop sensationalising about these type of issues instead.

I'd love to see the guy becomes an electrician and changing lightbulbs on the ceiling, crawling on the attic space, and wiring a building from top to bottom without taking all his clients to the newspaper for not providing him with disability lifts and having crawlspace where his wheelchair wouldn't fit.

Know what? I'll probably apply for a prostitute job at the White House later and sue them for discrimination if they don't accept me just because I'm ugly.

FFS....what's next? Blind guy wants to be a commercial liner pilot? I dare you to have the first flight with him.

Each to their calling, mate. Pigs can't fly and elephants shouldn't jump off the cliffs.

You Plonker...he can be a service electrician in a shop that does repairs...such a narrowminded view..."That's NZ Today"

I tell you what, get a bowl at work, go into a corner of the room and piss in it all week and let me know how it feels...and if you need a shit...well nuff said.

**Grahameeboy** · 5th March 2009, 08:38

Originally Posted by Mom

I dont think this should be boiled down to whether this man will become a sparkie in the traditional sense of the word at all. Here is a bloke educating himself in a field he is obviously intereted in, who alone knows what he will end up doing with his qualification, the fact that he is actually doing something apart from withering away at home should be applauded.

This is to do with a system failure at Unitec that placed him in the appalling situation he is in. His disability was not picked up on until a complaint was made about the lack of facilities. Seems to me they are now doing something to improve this situation for him.

Thank goodness he is a guy, I can not imagine the humiliation a female would have felt having to take a piss in the corner of a classroom. Totally and completely unacceptable no matter your gender.

Having said that though, the disabled access requirements do create huge problems for many businesses. Costs of retro-fitting are enormous and edged with all sorts of problems (degree angles of ramps for example) that actually make providing access damn near impossible. I have been in the situation on a Board of trustees for a childrens camp, where we simply could not afford to make some of the changes required of us even with free labour, materials at cost and so on, as the building and where it was sited prevented us from compliing fully for the entire camp facility. We ended up creating a stand alone one bedroom unit seperately from the main camp building and providing a ramp up to the ground floor of the main building for access. Effectively separating some kids from the rest because of their disability, the complete opposite of what is supposed to be an inclusive focus.

I hope Unitec get something sorted for this fella sooner rather than later.

I agree in your case Mom cost is a factor but with my home and Educational Institutions funding is there.

I spoke too the Media guy at Unitec and explained the OSH issues for the staff and students and the fact that they need a fire plan for evacuation. The toilet has a dividing wall which is not retaining, they have a building dept who could sort this out at the weekend...his response was that was a safety issue...what about the disabled guy..is he not more important I said...they are equal he said..geeze...

Also explained this to the TEC President.

**Marmoot** · 5th March 2009, 08:38

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

I tell you what, get a bowl at work, go into a corner of the room and piss in it all week and let me know how it feels...and if you need a shit...well nuff said.

Why should I? I chose my workplace based on what I can and can't do.

If I choose one that I can't do, that's my own fault and I wouldn't expect the world to change it for me.

**Grahameeboy** · 5th March 2009, 08:42

Originally Posted by Marmoot

Why should I? I chose my workplace based on what I can and can't do.

If I choose one that I can't do, that's my own fault and I wouldn't expect the world to change it for me.

With that attitude I would not expect the world to change for you and clearly this guy has a better attitude...you are not listening..he can be trained to be an electrician and get a job...

This guy may have no use of his legs but he clearly has more get up and go than you do.

I rarely bit back but come on geezer...

**Marmoot** · 5th March 2009, 08:47

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

With that attitude I would not expect the world to change for you and clearly this guy has a better attitude...you are not listening..he can be trained to be an electrician and get a job...

This guy may have no use of his legs but he clearly has more get up and go than you do.

I rarely bit back but come on geezer...

No, seriously. The next big thing would be a law university for the deaf-and-mute.

What about the mentally disabled? Why doesn't law or engineering courses have materials that suit the mentally disabled people?

I'm not putting them down, and I do have respect on those who really want to progress, but oh come on. The political correctness of crucifying anyone who doesn't have a disabled toilet is just a bit insane.

If Unitec hadn't accepted him to the course just because of his disabilities, now that's something different.

**Mom** · 5th March 2009, 08:47

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

I agree in your case Mom cost is a factor but with my home and Educational Institutions funding is there.

I spoke too the Media guy at Unitec and explained the OSH issues for the staff and students and the fact that they need a fire plan for evacuation. The toilet has a dividing wall which is not retaining, they have a building dept who could sort this out at the weekend...his response was that was a safety issue...what about the disabled guy..is he not more important I said...they are equal he said..geeze...

Also explained this to the TEC President.

Believe it or not GB this camp was owned by the Ministry of Education, but there was no assistance financial or otherwise forthcoming. The MOE has policies and rules, as do schools regarding Health & Safety, OSH and any number of things. Schools were saying they could not come to our camp because we did not meet the policies of their school and the regulations they were required to meet, we had to upgrade, and find the funds ourselves. Thank goodness for funding organisations like Lotto and ASB etc, we would have been sunk with outthem.

**Grahameeboy** · 5th March 2009, 08:56

Originally Posted by Marmoot

No, seriously. The next big thing would be a law university for the deaf-and-mute.

Pardon?

What about the mentally disabled? Why doesn't law or engineering courses have materials that suit the mentally disabled people?

Simple because a mentally disabled person...excluding some....would not have the intellect to do the course..no different to say me as I know I coulld not do a Law Degree / Eng. Degree.

This is not discrimination. This guy is different because he has a brain so has te ability to learn.

I'm not putting them down, and I do have respect on those who really want to progress, but oh come on. The political correctness of crucifying anyone who doesn't have a disabled toilet is just a bit insane.

No it is not. Nothing about being PC, just basic Human Rights

If Unitec hadn't accepted him to the course just because of his disabilities, now that's something different.

Worse, yes. But then you are surely arguing your own point?

...................

**Finn** · 5th March 2009, 08:57

Well done GB.

Now can you please focus your attention on the traffic problems?

**Grahameeboy** · 5th March 2009, 09:00

Originally Posted by Mom

Believe it or not GB this camp was owned by the Ministry of Education, but there was no assistance financial or otherwise forthcoming. The MOE has policies and rules, as do schools regarding Health & Safety, OSH and any number of things. Schools were saying they could not come to our camp because we did not meet the policies of their school and the regulations they were required to meet, we had to upgrade, and find the funds ourselves. Thank goodness for funding organisations like Lotto and ASB etc, we would have been sunk with outthem.

You should employe me...Nats was the first NZ child aged 4 to get funding for a hi/low chair for her wheelchair...normal age criteria 14...I even appealed and wn...she was also the first 2 year old to get funding for her wheelchair.

Was this a while ago? I know I am a passionate person and when it comes to things like this I don't give up..