Independence has become the topical issue for the local disabled community. Not whether Bermuda decides to tear away from Britain, but their personal independence. They do not want to have to be helped into restaurants, clubs and other public places. And they want to be able to use public transport.

This was made clear during a Press conference on Wednesday attended by Minister of Health Patrice Minors.

She announced that the Committee on Disabilities will now be moving ?to establish policy initiatives designed to ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities?. There was a chance of these policies becoming legislation.

Lisa Currin heads the committee, set up earlier this year and made up of a ?dynamic? group of individuals, including people with disabilities, people working with, as well as family members of, the disabled.

The committee?s recommendations, which will be finished at the end of August, will cover a broad range of issues concerning the disabled community.

Mrs. Minors said she intended to share the committee?s recommendations with the public. ?Further,? she added, ?the Ministry ... and especially the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged will be tasked with developing a clear action plan and ensuring that all agreed recommendations are implemented in as timely a manner as possible.?

Ms Currin named ?transportation, accessibility, housing, education, culture, recreation, family life (and) women with disabilities? as a priority.

?Being physically challenged, access is the greatest conflict, said Kristen Badenduk. ?There is so little awareness of what access really means.? Ms Badenduk noted that she has to wait for someone to let her through the doors in the many handicap unfriendly places on the Island.

Ms Currin shared this belief, saying that the disabled did not always like to feel dependent on other people?s help ? much as that help is appreciated.

Ms Currin said that the general approach given to her by restaurant employees was: ?Oh well we have four big guys standing out front,? that will help solve the problem of accessibility.