Trip to aid awareness of a ‘barrier free’ world
TORONTO, June 22, 2005 -- York University students Corrine Humphreys and Denise Williams left recently to 
accompany a child with a disability and his parents to Japan’s Expo on a nine-day journey to help raise awareness internationally for a barrier free world and to promote cross-cultural exchanges between Canadian and Japanese students. The trip has been arranged by Manulife Life Insurance Company in Japan as part of its sponsorship of the Canadian Pavilion at the 2005 Aichi Expo and in cooperation with the Ontario March of Dimes.
“We are extremely proud of Corrine and Denise,” said Lorna R. Marsden, President and Vice-Chancellor of York. “They represent the kind of caring students who typify the York community and we will be very interested to find out what they learned upon their return.”
"Through this event we wish to strengthen the ties between Canadian and Japanese young people and support our communities in Japan," said Manulife Life Insurance Company President and CEO Geoff Crickmay. "We are very pleased to be able to work together with York University to welcome York students to participate."
Humphreys is studying for her M.A. in critical disability studies. She suffers from chronic pain as the result of a motorcycle accident and hopes to become a psychotherapist. Williams will be entering her fourth-year as a kinesiology and health sciences student in the fall. Both students were nominated by York faculty and their travel and lodging expenses were paid for by the York University Alumni Association and an anonymous benefactor.
Paul Manieri was selected by Ontario March of Dimes to make the trip to Japan, along with his family. Manieri was born with cerebral palsy, spastic diplegia and uses splints, a bugsy walker for school and outdoors, and a wheelchair for distances. Manieri is the 2005 Ontario Easter Seals Ambassador.
The Ontario March of Dimes Conductive Education Program has helped Paul build his self-confidence and achieve his potential beyond what he thought he could achieve. "We've seen our son Paul become stronger and more independent with his walking and everyday tasks after he joined the program," says Paul's mom, Anna Maria Manieri.
Humphreys, Williams, Manieri and his family, as well as children with a disability from Japan and able-bodied students from Japan, will tour the Expo together on June 25. The theme of the day is twofold: an international exchange between the child from Canada and the Japanese children, and an opportunity for children who are not disabled to learn more about barrier free issues.
“I was nominated because I have previous work and volunteer experience with kids with a disability.” says Williams. “Being a kinesiology major, I love sports and working with kids. I hope to learn more about how to integrate special need populations into the sporting environment to inspire other parts of the world to think like Canada.” 
“As a person with a disability myself,” says Humphreys, “I want to open people’s eyes to the possibilities for inclusion. York is the most accessible of all universities in Canada and I am so thankful for this opportunity to go to Japan to support, learn, experience and to educate people about the positive aspects of living with disabilities.”
York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 180,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 faculties and 21 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.
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For further information, please contact:
George McNeillie, Assistant Director Media Relations, York University, 416-736-2100 x 22091/ gmcneil@yorku.ca
