Tag Archives: Councillor Molly Allaire

Moving Beyond ‘Crazy’: Language and Disability Awareness

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It’s 2025 and people are still using offensive language, including a resurgence of the ‘r word’. Councillor Allaire has used ‘crazy’ several times, including during a radio interview:

“like a crazy person”

“just a wild and crazy question“

“not trying to say anything crazy”

“yes I’m crazy and I did look at every single line”

“I had a few crazy questions“

“that route is crazy”

“it was crazy”

“it seems crazy”

“I feel it’s crazy”

“this is gonna sound crazy“

“it’s not so crazy“

“it’s crazy“

Back in 2019, the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee discussed an agenda item, Talking Accessibly, and carried a motion, “That Person First Language (PFL) BE ADOPTED as a pilot project at the Accessibility Committee level with further consideration of use in the organization at a later date.” 

Unfortunately, accessibility committee members have used outdated terms like handicapped.

In June 2023 I let council and CAO Critchley know that i was appalled to hear one Accessibility Advisory Committee member use “wheelchair bound” and another use “bound;” this language is outdated and offensive. i was equally shocked to see the term “crazy” used in three images on the town’s facebook page in reference to woofaroo. I provided a resource, Are You Still Using The Word Crazy in 2022,

i suggested there was a need for more training given the language used by a member of a committee that should be more aware of preferred terminology and the number of times i’ve encountered ableist attitudes.

The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy, launched in 2019, included Guidelines; the section below is from the original Guidelines, which have been updated (refer to pages 17 and 18).

5. USE PROPER LANGUAGE IN ORAL AND INFORMAL SPEECH

Most persons with disabilities are comfortable with the words used in daily life. You can say “let’s go for a walk” to a person who uses a wheelchair or write “have you heard the news?” to a person who is deaf. However, phrases such as “blind as a bat” or “deaf as a post” are unacceptable and should never be used, even in informal contexts. You should also be careful with metaphors like “blind to criticism” and “to fall on deaf ears”.

Misused terminology can also be inappropriate and hurtful, so avoid saying “I must have Alzheimer’s” when you forget something or “they’re paranoid” when people seem to be acting with excessive mistrust. Never use disability-related terms as an insult or to express criticism. For example, do not use the word “lame” to mean “boring” or “uncool”.

Another Resource: A way with words and images: guide for communicating with and about persons with disabilities.

Questions For New Council Unanswered: Update

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Some elected officials have now answered some of my October 26 questions, as mentioned in the November 14 post, Kudos And Questions For New Council Unanswered.

Since I did not encounter any barriers during campaigns by Councillor Diane Pouget and Councillor Peter Courtney, they were not asked to answer the three questions.

Mayor Michael Prue and Councillor Donald McArthur did not respond at the time of this post.

All answers, including typos and misspellings, are as received.

  • of the accessibility information the town provided to you for your campaign, which did you read?

    Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb: no answer

    Councillor Molly Allaire: I read all materials supplied to me during my campaign from the town. I did not want anything to jeopardize my chances of making it into council.

    Councillor Linden Crain: I read all election material provided by the Town throughout my campaign, including any information pertaining to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001, and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

  • what trainings have you participated in for accessibility legislation, for example, as an employee, volunteer, etc.?

    Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb    : I’m proud to say that I did complete the ADOA training that was offered to all members of council and I hope to put what I learned into practice not only in my “municipal life” but also in my personal life.

Councillor Molly Allaire: I have never really had any accessibility training. I have taken a few courses in university such as “Special Populations” and “Athletics for Everyone” which basically taught us many different populations accessibility needs and how to make recreation possible for everyone. At my previous job I learnt in the field about all walking aid assistive devices and such/

Councillor Linden Crain: Both the Town of Amherstburg and the County of Essex members of Council have received training on accessibility. I have also been advised that Administration will be doing a special session on accessibility in the first quarter of 2023.

  • how will you fulfill the obligation to remove barriers?

    Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb: no answer

Councillor Molly Allaire: I am just dipping my feet into the waters here so bare with me. I plan to start applying for grants with the towns approval of course to help making our playgrounds and “heritage buildings” more accessible. I know this is not the perfect plan but starting somewhere is important. If you have any ideas or concerns specifically about the town that you would like to bring forward I will always listen and try to help. This is why I stepped up for this position.

Councillor Linden Crain:

  • Continue an open dialogue with the Town’s Accessibility Advisory Committee.
  • Follow regulations outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. 
  • Always remain available to address concerns any resident faces in the Town of Amherstburg.
  • Work closely with Town Administration to establish procedures and measures that ensure those with disabilities have the opportunity to experience all our community has to offer.