So says Mrs. Ann Lindroth of the task ahead of her as the Island's first Co-ordinator of Disabled Persons.

To be sure, Bermuda lags well behind countries like America and Europe in its treatment and acceptance of the disabled, and the facilities and opportunities provided for them, despite the Human Rights Act, 1981 and its amendments.

Mrs. Lindroth, who has had years of experience working with organisations involved with the disabled, says the ultimate aim of her office is to empower the disabled; facilitate universal acceptance of people with disabilities, and provide them with the same advantages the rest of the population enjoys.

"Our aim is to aspire to full participation in life, and full educational and employment opportunities for the disabled,'' she explains. "That is an ideal, and I don't think it is unrealistic, but first we have to assess where we are now and then see how we are going to get there.'' For decades, the disabled have been pressing for equal opportunities and acceptance as full partners in life, with very little success. At last, however, Government has recognised the need for someone to co-ordinate the various strands of this large, complex issue and provide input which will lead to genuine progress and a more level playing field.

In Mrs. Lindroth they appear to have found a woman of unbounded enthusiasm and dedication with a real "can do'' outlook, who hopes to foster the same spirit in the disabled.

She cautions, however, that she has no magic wand to wave in fulfilling her duties. Rather, through her office she aims to open eyes and doors, change hearts, and become an invaluable resource centre for disabled persons wishing to make more of their lives.

"For instance, if a sip and puff wheelchair user wants to learn to fly an aeroplane, I have the article on someone else who has done it, and I could put them in touch with them,'' she explains.

For years an inveterate collector of helpful literature, magazines, reports and more that will be of use to the disabled, Mrs. Lindroth's eagle eye is forever scouting for more material for her extensive filing system.

"Even if some literature is a little out of date, at least the address is there, and from that someone can get current information either via the internet or by writing to the company,'' she explains.

The coordinator has also attended many conferences relating to the disabled over the years, which have also proved invaluable sources of knowledge, networking and literature.

Among the issues she will address are better accessibility for the disabled in terms of transportation, sports, education, and employment.

To that end Mrs. Lindroth, who has actually been in her post since August 2000 although the official announcement was not made until last month, has been continuously "pounding the pavement'' in her search to understand the big picture.

"I want to meet all the players and service providers, employers -- everyone who fits into the puzzle,'' she says of her research.

Stressing that she is not out to usurp the role of any group or organisation working on behalf of the disabled, the co-ordinator instead wants them to see her as a central resource person.

"All the groups which already exist know their own issues. I would be very willing to go to each one, and attend monthly functions and have them tell me what the issues are,'' she explains. "I want to be a mouthpiece for them, and work with them. I want them to advise me, and I in turn will advise Government.'' Taking transportation as one area of concern, Mrs. Lindroth says that, while people with all sorts of mobility problems have visited her office since it opened, she only received her first wheelchair visitor last week.

"Why was that?'' she asks. "Probably because they had transportation difficulties getting to my office. Once they got here, they had no trouble coming inside, so transportation for the physically disabled is a big issue.'' While admitting that she "can't fix things'', her role will allow her to give credence to their valid concerns.

With regard to employment, Mrs. Lindroth says her role will be to help both employers and physically disabled employees come together.

In addition to scanning employment ads, she is continuing to meet with employers across the board.

"My job is to open up horizons a little bit, part of which is listening to employers, getting their opinions, and finding out what skills and characteristics they are looking for in employees,'' she explains. "I don't want them to feel threatened because that is not a good platform to start from, but I do want them to be willing to open the door and give it a try,'' she explains.

At the same time, the co-ordinator says that prospective employees must have a skill to offer a prospective employer.

"We are not a charity,'' she stresses. "Sometimes people will be very qualified but be lacking in experience. I will act as an advocate to just open the door to employment. If I can get them an interview, or if that interview leads to a job, the rest of it is in their hands.

"The employer can do certain things to make adaptations for a disabled employee, but the flip side of that coin is that employees must make certain that they are doing the very best they can.'' While she is very sympathetic to the difficulties of the mentally and physically disabled, Mrs. Lindroth does not necessarily accept the argument that because they are disabled no-one will hire them.

"That is probably an excuse,'' the positive thinker says. "Very often it is not the disability but lifestyle issues, such as substance abuse, which may be the problem. A lot of people can do better for themselves if they really are honest with themselves, and manage their disability,'' she offers.

Sports is another facet of the Co-ordinator's mission to let the disabled to reach their full potential in the community. It is a subject dear to her heart.

A keen sportswoman who has long seen her name "in lights'' in equestrian and triathlon circles, she has also been actively involved internationally in the Paralympics, and notes that Bermuda is a member of the International Paralympic Association.

"We are eligible to send Bermudians to compete in 18 Paralympic sports, but we only do horseback riding,'' she notes. "It is a very high standard, so it is not something that someone could just take up, but for young children with physical disabilities they can aspire to all those sports at that level.'' As the person who revived the Riding for the Disabled programme at Spicelands, and also assisted in the design of WindReach Recreational Village and the development of its programmes, Mrs. Lindroth says she is "always looking for a little environmental adaptation that will level the playing field and allow full participation.'' An accredited British Horse Society assistant instructor (BHSAI), she is keen to see Bermudians with disabilities enjoy the same benefits and opportunities as able-bodied sportsmen and women everywhere.

"It's not necessarily the winning but the participation and broadening of their horizons,'' the Co-ordinator stresses. "The enjoyment of better self-esteem that they get from being able to do things on many different levels is something that the disabled can do, and are certainly doing in the rest of the world. I think that is what we need to bring to Bermuda.'' Mrs. Lindroth's path to her present job began after an extended trip to Australia, following which she resolved to do some community work.

With her equestrian history and BHSAI, she volunteered to assist with the Riding for the Disabled programme. It turned out that the physiotherapist at Friendship Vale School endorsed horse riding for physically disabled children, so it was a natural fit for Mrs. Lindroth, and she notes with pride how well the students progressed in every way.

Having then discovered what she terms "her true calling'', the mother of one son entered the University of North Carolina at the age of 40 and successfully gained her Bachelor of Science degree in therapeutic recreation, following which she completed graduate courses in counselling.

Returning to Bermuda, she joined WindReach Recreational Village when it was at the drawing board stage, and was despatched to its Canadian counterpart for ten months.

Upon her subsequent return to the local WindReach as Activity Director Mrs.

Lindroth got to know "all the main players'' and agencies who serve the disabled in Bermuda, as well as the clients themselves, so she sees her present appointment as "a natural progression'', and is quite prepared for what she may meet on the road ahead.

"Road blocks are easy,'' she says of the challenges facing her. "My job is to get rid of them. To change mind sets and say, `Let's give it a try.' That is all we ask. There are all sorts of areas that are not up and running in Bermuda.''