Established by the City Council to provide advice on matters affecting persons with disabilities in the community, the Disability Advisory Committee has welcomed a new member, Dr. Janet Cameron Hoult.
Dr. Hoult is a professor emerita from CSULA. Dealing with her own disabilities has given her a deeper understanding of what we as a community need to do to provide support for other disabled citizens.
Some years ago, following the lead of City Council member Mehaul O’Leary, she presented the Council with information about the crosswalks at the intersection of Overland and Culver Boulevard, near the Senior Center. The crossing time was not sufficient for those with walkers, canes and wheelchairs and there was no median for them to wait for the light to change. Thanks to the Council’s action, there is now enough time to cross safely.
Dr. Hoult, a published poet, presented the DAC with the following poem when she joined the group.
Speaking Up for the Disabled
When you are disabled
you simply are not able
to do the things you were accustomed to.
If you have back trouble
bent over nearly double
standing straight is really hard to do.
So we use devices
to avoid any crisis…
wheelchairs, walkers, canes and special shoes.
Sometimes we need assistance
and there can be resistance
to making changes that will help us move.
So thank you Culver City
for our Disability Advisory Committee
that speaks up for us and keeps us in the groove…!