Life on wheels
Wheelchair no obstacle to making a contribution

by Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 01/98) - Though a congenital spinal disease binds Vital Manuel to a wheelchair, the 23-year-old is filled with optimism about life and contributions he can still make to his community.

Twice a week Manuel works at territorial cabinet minister Stephen Kakfwi's office. He also makes pottery, which he sometimes sells, at the Abe Miller Centre.

"He's often here every day," said Kakfwi's executive assistant Lynda Sorensen. "If he's got nothing to do he'll come and hang around the legislature. He's well known around town and very well liked. He's a people-watcher."

While at Kakfwi's office, Manuel photocopies documents, delivers messages and sorts mail, providing much-needed office help.

"He's been taught to be self-sufficient and the system has served him well," Sorensen said.

Manuel's work for Kakfwi gives him pocket money to top up his income assistance.

Back at the Abe Miller Centre, the ceramics program offers job skills and organization skills behind making pottery, according to Yellowknife Association of Community Living president Terry Hill.

"A lot of people don't realize that a person (who) has a physical or intellectual disability ... can still function and do quite a terrific job," Hill said.

Wheeling down a sidewalk ramp, Manuel compares Yellowknife with his home community of Fort Good Hope.

"It's much better," he said. "Most places are accessible here."

The Toronto Dominion Bank has capitalized on his banking needs because unlike the Royal Bank or the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, they have a wheelchair ramp.

He does his own grocery shopping at Extra Foods in small batches. When done, he places one bag handle on each side of the back handles of his wheelchair.

Wheeling down Franklin Avenue, Manuel points out some businesses which still lack wheelchair ramps and to those, such as the Arctic Art Gallery, which are fully wheelchair-accessible.

He has never gone to play bingo at the legion as a large cement step makes the trip impossible.

But he regularly takes in movies at the cinema using an entrance which becomes available if he phones first to let them know he's coming.

"I used to play sports when I was at Sir John," the 1996 graduate said of his time playing volleyball and basketball.

Living in Yellowknife since 1992, Manuel has a wheelchair-accessible apartment near the downtown for convenience.

Some wheelchair-bound Yellowknifers have vehicles with attachments to allow the wheelchair to snap into place.

Manuel uses cabs and phones ahead to let them know he is in a wheelchair.

"It's a special van for disabled people and when they call they make a request," said Branko Babic, a director of City Cabs.

Top of pageDiscussion boardSearch