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Retrieved: April 6 2018
Published: April 6 2018
Link: https://www.northumberlandnews.com/news-story/8372627-community-living-given-grant-to-help-people-with-disabilities-find-jobs/
Summary
- The Summer Employment Transition program received nearly a half million grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to provide job readiness to 93 people with disabilities (development, physical, learning and mental illness) aged 16 to 19 in Northcumberland County
-They will hire secondary school students to be these participants job coaches who will be with them the entire time at their job.
-The participants will experience a summer job with hours a week ranging from 4 to 40
Personal Comments
I think this is an amazing opportunity and something desperately needed, it;s important for all people, disability or no, to be able to support themselves in some way, or be a part of the community. A job transition program such as this opens so many doors not just for the 93 people participating in it, but also for the employers who will be more accepting of hiring people with disabilities, and the staff that work with these participants who can now go on and pass their experience on to more people who could benefit from a "job coach"

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Source and Date

Retrieved:  April 6 2018

Published: April 3 2018

Link: https://globalnews.ca/news/4119283/canucks-autism-rogers-arena/

Summary:

-At the Vancouver Canucks second to last home, their goalie Jacob Markstorm will be wearing a helmet with puzzle pieces in support of World Autism Awareness day and the Canucks Autism Network

-The Rogers Arena will also start to support services for fans with autism and other sensory needs, such as providing noise-blocking headphones and a quiet room with trained staff

-The article also mentions that the Canucks co-owner Paolo Aquilini has a son on the Autism spectrum, the national anthem will but sung by a boy with autism and the players will have stickers for the Canucks Autism Network on their helmets

Personal Comments:

While I am in support of making all areas more inclusive, especially hockey arenas since hockey is such a big part of our culture, but also very loud and crowded, I believe that in the case of autism ‘awareness’ we need to look past just being aware of people with autism, and focus more on being accepting of people with autism.

As we discuss in this course a lot of this acceptance comes from the language we use, Markstorm says “Everybody knows somebody that [autism] affects,” (Global News, 2018) by saying that it is something that “affects” people implies that their disabilities is something they can and have to overcome. I also think the use of puzzle pieces to represent autism is rooted in a misunderstanding of people with autism, and does more harm than good because it implies people with autism are “missing a piece of the puzzle” or that they are a puzzle we need to figure out.

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Retrieved: April 6th, 2018
Published: April 6th,2018
Link: https://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-story/8378154-those-with-autism-need-support-as-they-age/
Summary:
-After those with autism leave childhood they are often left with none of the supports they had while they were in the Ontario education system, which is often a sturggle for most
- One of the most pressing problems with this is societal views of those with autism and how they have been ignored when speaking up against the lack of programs available to adults living with autism
-Although for those with intellectual disabilities there are many supports left for those who as autistic without one, there are very few
-It also talks about how we are extremely unprepared for the students coming through the system now and there is a desperate need for more diagnosis technology
Personal Comments:
-I agree with the article in terms of the lack of programming for those with autism after they are finished high-school and that there needs to be a drastic change in the programs available for them and there families.
-It is often a fact that after graduation these students end up staying at home every day due to the lack of programming.

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Those with autism need support as they age

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A think tank formed to understand the challenges faced by autistic seniors says there are few resources in place to address their specific needs.

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Source and Date:
Published: March 30th, 2018
Link: https://www.disabled-world.com/health/neurology/adhd-autism/moody.php
Summary:
-People with Autism and ADHD have a higher chance of having anxiety than others.
-Reasearchers found that people with Autism and ADHD have more anxiety when they are adults
Personal Comments:
I personally believe this research is true because some people with Autism are sensitive to sound and if they get to overwhelmed its because their anxiety is making them get overwhelmed by the sounds. Also having a brother who has ADHD I can say that people with ADHD do tend to get more anxiety than others as their body as so much energy that they can get anxiety because they don't know what to do with all that energy they have built up.

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Retrieved: April 4, 2018
Published: March 28, 2018
Link: https://www.insidehalton.com/community-story/8353783-award-winning-artist-lee-donates-painting-to-oakville-public-library/
Summary:
-Aiden Lee, an award winning artist with autism was commissioned by the Oakville Public Library to create a painting
-He requested that it be donated and the funds go to investing in library programs for children with developmental disabilities.
Personal Comments:
The initial line of the article is a little confusing it states Aiden is "the 2017 YMCA Oakville Youth Peace Award winner and autism artist" because of the absence of person first language I didn't know if that meant he had autism or if he was an artist who depicted autism/donated paintings on behalf of people with autism and had to do extra research to actually find out. Besides that I really enjoyed the article and found a lot of his quotes inspiring and touching, especially where he says, "We need to see the beauty in other people, accept them for who they are, and believe in their art" (insidehalton.com, 2018). I also appreciate his to advocate for programs for people with autism in libraries, they are community places but in my experience it is difficult for some to feel welcome in a quiet and intimidating space.

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Retrieved: March 27th, 2018
Published: March 27th, 2018
Link:
https://globalnews.ca/news/4108048/fredericton-vulnerable-children-road-signs/
Summary:
-The town has agreed to not put up any new signs and take down any signs that have anything to do with disabilities
-The town hopes that drivers will still slow down and be able to step on their breaks if a child was to run out on the street.
Personal Comments:
I personally believe that they should not be taking down signs that say Autistic child, Autistic children, Deaf children playing on the street. Any of those signs should not be taken down as it is making drivers aware that there is a child that has autism on the street so if a child was to run out in front of the car and you tried to approach that child then they may not respond the same way another child would. I believe it is very important that the town keeps those signs up and continue to put more signs up and around for awareness.

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Retrieved: April 3rd, 2018
Published: March 26th, 2018
Link:
https://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/8352316-mom-fears-losing-drug-for-child-after-study-ends/
Summary:
- After participating in a study that involved taking cannabis oil to try and help prevent seizures, Alara's family has been told that they will have to begin paying for the drug which will be costing them $1,800 a month.
-"I don't even want to think to drop this medication, which saved my daughter's life," said Ozkose, calling the cannabis oil a "miracle" because Alara went from having about 100 seizures a day to none after starting the drug. "Who can want that as a parent?"(www.insidehalton.com, 2018).
Personal Comments:
Reading this article was shocking. I feel as if since this mothers child has participated in a study to test the affects of this drug I don't think it is appropriate that the family pay that much now that the study has been completed. First of all Alara's mom is a single mom and that is quite a bit of money to have to pay when they weren't having to before. The drug has been helping her daughter immensely and since they were involved in a part of a study I believe that the rate should be the same as it was in the beginning.

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Mom fears losing drug for child after study ends

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Mom fears losing access to experimental drug that helped daughter after study ends

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Retrieved: March 25th, 2018
Published: March 25th, 2018
Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qMPDQFms10
Summary:
-Tajia has cerebral palsy and is an inspiration to her friends, family, and to her follower of social media.
-Her dream is to be able to walk even though her cerebral palsy affects her mobility to walk.
Personal Comments:
This video was very inspiring to watch because Tajia has a dream and no matter what she is determined to reach her dream, no matter what type of obstacles are in her way. In the video Tajia says no matter what everyone has their own challenges and that doesn't make someone different. I strongly agree with her, as some people think that just because you have a disability means you can't do stuff. But really people with disabilities can do anything they set their minds to.

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Retrieved: April 6 2018

Published: March 25 2018

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-man-intellectual-disabilities-losing-longtime-respite-caregivers-1.4591843

Summary:

-Matthew "Matty" Brandon has cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome and autism and goes to a day program during the day and then two staff from that program do respite work with him on the weekends

-The day program started to reinforce a policy where the respite workers couldn’t do secondary work with Matty, claiming the work will emotionally and physically drain them and distract them from their work at the day program, they had to choose between the full time job and working privately with Matty

-His parents are concerned because with his care workers gone, one that has known him for 12 years, Mattys connection and interactions with the community are severely cut off and they pointed out that it takes a long time for Matty to connect to new people, so it isn’t as simple as just finding another person to work with him

Personal Comments:

This article hit close to home because I do private respite care with a lot of the participants that also come to the camp I work at, and although my work doesn’t have the same rule I am torn between my personal bias’s a lot since I have a deeper connection with the participants I see outside of work, and as well as a bond with their families. I strongly disagree with the day program in Mattys case, finding support workers who have such a bond with their clients can be very hard for parents and not allowing them to continue their work severely impacts the life of Matty and as well as his workers. To me it seems like a shallow excuse claiming it is for the “safety” of their employees, because ultimately that is something that comes down to the employee himself. As for the article itself, I liked the way the majority of it was written, except that the very first sentence describes Matty as having the “cognitive ability of a toddler” (CBC, 2018) which is so highly insulting and appropriate at all, especially since they go on to list the disabilities Matty has in the next line, making the comparison of him to a toddler especially unnecessary.

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Retrieved: April 6 2018
Published: March 24 2018
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/meg-ohsada-figure-skater-1.4591119
Summary:
-Meg Ohsada is a 23 figure skater from Calgary and has downs syndrome. She has won medals in the Special Olympics and preformed around the world.
-Meg doesn't talk a lot and is soft spoken, she started a special olympics skating programs and dancing lessons at a young age and excelled in them. She also does rhythmic gymnastics and horse back riding.
Comments
I think articles like this that show Megs excellence are so powerful because they present an image to others, not just with downs syndrome but other disabilities, at what they can achieve despite common misconceptions.

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Published: March 1st, 2018
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndvLzJ-GXQY
Summary:
-Anicee was born with  Brittle Bone Disease and was raised in an orphanage because no one wanted her just because of her disability.
-Anicee was then adopted by two loving parents who also have the same Disease as her.
- Anciee and her parents live and normal life doing things just like everyone else.
Personal Comments:
-Hearing about a child get adopted into a loving and accepting home is always a happy story. I believe that Anciee and her parents are proving everyone who things people with disabilities can't life by themselves and can't do what others can do, wrong. They are proving that just because they have a disability doesn't mean they can't live a normal life.

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Retrieved: April 6 2018

Published: March 18 2018

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-sledge-hockey-1.4581508

Summary:

-This article focuses on a Calgary sledge hockey team who played a game and then watched the men’s gold medal sledge hockey game in Pyeongchang

-The article talks about some of the players and their goals to play in the Olympics someday, and the coach’s dream for more kids to know about and play the sport

Personal Comments:

I really enjoyed how this article talked about sledge hockey like it is just another sport (as it should) and not like it is the disability version of “regular hockey” it reinforces this by mentioning not just people with disabilities play the sport, but it is truly an inclusive sport because there are some players on the team with cerebral palsy and some without physical disabilities.

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Retrieved: April 3rd, 2018
Published: February 4th, 2018
Link: http://torontosun.com/news/local-news/technology-provides-kids-the-miracle-of-speech
Summary:
- Maria had been denied the ability to communicate before using a new technology created at  Toronto’s Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
- "It converts vocal cord vibrations into a digital signal which can then be understood and heard on a computer or phone." (Torontosun.com, 2018).
-“Before I was upset. Now I feel super happy and I use my computer to talk to people who want to talk to me,” Maria said."(Torontosun.com, 2018).
Personal Comments:
I personally believe that everyone should have the right to communicate and with the technology that is being created recently this is becoming possible for lots of people with exceptionalities. It was not until she was 12 that Maria was able to receive this device and utilize it to her full potential. It is such a life changing experience for someone and it is making me happy to see all of these amazing improvements in communication devices.

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Maria Chukalovskaya loves that she can now engage in a conversation.

The joy of communicating had been denied the 12-year-old - who has motor skill difficulties affecting speech - before using a life-changing technology that allows her to connect through a "Hummer" developed at Toronto's Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.

It converts vocal cord vibrations into a digital signal which can then be understood and heard on a computer or phone.

"Before I was upset. Now I feel super happy and I use my computer to talk to people who want to talk to me," Maria said.

She has been working with the Hummer since 2012 and it takes time to master.

"It wasn't easy, but I never gave up," she added.

Maria had been in a private school specializing in her disability, but is now integrated in a mainstream school. She's learning Russian and French along with the regular curriculum.

"I love my computer. I love to learn and I love to talk to people," Maria said.

The Hummer was developed by Dr. Tom Chau - vice president of research and senior scientist at Holland Bloorview - who was recently awarded the Order of Ontario for his innovative work.

He said Maria is an example how unlocking the world of communication can help a child blossom simply by allowing them to express themselves.

"It allows children to participate with a larger community," said Chau, who added he is just grateful to help children like Maria have a new world of possibilities.

"They can go from being unable to express themselves to being able to do that more and more each day."

He said his hope is the Order of Ontario "will help elevate awareness of childhood disability research happening in Ontario and inspire in all of us a world with no boundaries."

Maria's mother said she can't imagine life without the Hummer technology.

"Today, my daughter Maria is a 12-year old girl who is bright and social," said Elena Chukalovskaya.

"She likes to write stories and participate in school. She is very proud of her achievements in academics, performing all her school work using her system which she controls with the Hummer. Our family believes that the effect of the technology Maria uses is life-changing. "

Chau's research isn't work, said Donna Cappelli, whose child with a disability also participated in Hummer research.

"It's his passion. He is motivated by making a difference. I know that Tom's work is going to change lives dramatically for many children with disabilities," Cappelli said.

Dozens of children are learning with the Hummer at Holland Bloorview - located on Kilgour Rd. in East York - using the technology as their primary means of communication.
kconnor@postmedia.com

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Technology provides kids the miracle of speech

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Maria Chukalovskaya loves that she can now engage in a conversation. The joy of communicating had been denied the 12-year-old - who has motor skill difficulties affecting speech - before using a life-changing technology that allows her to connect through a &...

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Retrieved: March 29th,2018
Published: August 6th, 2017
Lin: https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2013/10/the_top_10_wheelchair_accessible_restaurants_in_toronto/
Summary:
-This article outlines the best restaurants in Toronto that are accessible to those with disabilities, which are not as common as one would think.
-It also briefly expresses the need for more accessibility in the restaurant industry in Toronto.
Personal Comments:
-I believe that this is a great source for those in Toronto to find a restaurant that has the level of accessibility they require in addition to the fact that there should be more wheelchair friendly and more accessible restaurants and businesses within the city.

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Wheelchair accessible restaurants in Toronto are still not as common as they should be. Accessibility can be a huge determining factor for many looking for a restaurant to dine with friends or family. Tired of calling ahead to determine if there is a level entry or a barrier-free washroom? This list should get you started.

Here are my picks for the top wheelchair accessible restaurants in Toronto.

This sprawling restaurant and bakery at the corner of Richmond and Peter has an automatic double door entrance 38 inches wide and plenty of spacing between tables to get around. There's also an elevator that takes you up to their mezzanine level. More details.

This King West joint does rustic Italian for lunch and dinner but also has a cafe in the back for fresh pastries and espresso. Wide double doors are at the entrance and there's a large single occupancy washroom with automatic door openers. More details.

This Bloor West Village vegan restaurant has a beautiful dining space, open kitchen and extensive wine selection. There's lots of space between the tables as well as an accessible washroom. More details.

Near the bustling intersection of Bay and Bloor, this popular vegan restaurant is easily accessible via the Yonge-Bloor subway and its automatic door entry provides the first glimpse into its barrier-free space. More details.

This Chinatown destination for Asian fusion has several accessibility features to keep no one away. The front entrance includes an automatic opener and once inside a large stair lift is available to take you to the main eating area. More details.

Pizza lovers rejoice! The University Avenue location of this much loved pizza chain is its most accessible and also takes reservations. If booth seating is not available, make sure to ask for the standard height tables in the back. More details.

This bright, clean and accessible restaurant and cafe on a quiet street near Victoria Park and Sheppard is the place to go for a Mediterranean lunch, baked treats and gelato. There are automatic doors, an accessible washroom and good seating options. More details.

The Yonge and Dundas location of this Asian chain is fully accessible. With a large entrance and a variety of standard height tables this space can accommodate. More details.

This pub near Sugar Beach at Corus Quay is a large, accessible indoor and outdoor restaurant space with a view that's hard to beat. The friendly staff is also happy to help with any special needs or accommodations. More details.

The Distillery District location of this Montreal-based chocolate and dessert chain is an accessible place to go for an indulgent lunch or dessert. The entrance is spacious and clear of obstructions and there's also an accessible washroom. More details.

Lead photo by Jesse Milns at Oretta. Written by Silvia Guido, a Toronto-based physiotherapist specializing in neurological rehabilitation who also writes for AccessTO, a Toronto-based website that highlights wheelchair accessible venues including bars, cafes and music venues.

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The top 10 wheelchair accessible restaurants in Toronto

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Wheelchair accessible restaurants in Toronto are still not as common as they should be. Accessibility can be a huge determining factor for many looking for a restaurant to dine with friends or family. Tired of calling ahead to determine if there is a level entry or a barrier-free washroom?

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Source and Date:
Retrieved: April 3rd, 2018
Published: November 22nd, 2017
Link: http://torontosun.com/news/national/nova-scotia-mother-with-mild-intellectual-disability-denied-custody-of-son
Summary:
- A mother with a mild intellectual disability in  Nova Scotia has lost custody of her child
-The mother had tried to make her point that her mild intellectual disability would not cause any risk of safety for the child and she loves him very much.
-"Forgeron says a parental capacity assessment found the mother’s mild intellectual disability negatively impacts on her parenting abilities, and although she would meet her son’s basic needs, she would have difficulty solving the “novel” problems that will inevitably arise as the child matures." (Torontosun.com, 2017).
Personal Comments:
This article was an interesting read. Though it shared the results of the court case and some back history on the mother and the father but it never really explains how the verdict came to be. Was there tests involved? Was there multiple meetings and interviews with the mother and father? These are some questions that I would like to look into more.

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SYDNEY, N.S. - A mother with a mild intellectual disability has lost custody of her 18-month-old son after a Nova Scotia judge found she does not have the capacity to parent the child.

Nova Scotia's Community Services Department has been caring for the child since shortly after he was born and earlier this year sought a permanent care order because of protection concerns.

The 40-year-old mother opposed the order, arguing that she sincerely loves her son and that her mild intellectual disability is not a risk to his safety.

In a written decision, Justice Theresa Forgeron of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Sydney found the child would be at a "substantial risk of harm" in his mother's care because she cannot adequately supervise and protect him.

Forgeron says a parental capacity assessment found the mother's mild intellectual disability negatively impacts on her parenting abilities, and although she would meet her son's basic needs, she would have difficulty solving the "novel" problems that will inevitably arise as the child matures.

The decision says the woman does not have the capacity to parent on her own, and would require a supportive network to safely parent the child, which she does not have.

It says the woman also lacks insight, noting the child's father has an extensive child protection history involving substance abuse and violence and that the mother had previously refused to dissociate with him.

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Nova Scotia mother with mild intellectual disability denied custody of son

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SYDNEY, N.S. - A mother with a mild intellectual disability has lost custody of her 18-month-old son after a Nova Scotia judge found she does not have the capacity to parent the child. Nova Scotia's Community Services Department has been caring for the child since shortly after he was born and earlier this year sought a permanent care order because of protection concerns.

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Retrieved: April 2nd, 2018
Published: December 30th, 2017
Link: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/12/29/what-will-canadas-new-accessibility-law-in-2018-look-like.html
Summary:
-The article is about the coming accessibility legislation the government is tackling on a federal level, which will be the first time that this has happened in Canada.
-It goes on about how it will allow flexibility in order for businesses to find the most appropriate accessibility solution for there environment and their customers.
-It also goes on about how a broad standard would be the most universal approach
Personal Comments:
-Its good to see the Federal government addressing the accessibility issues as a whole, in order to reinforce those set by the provinces, which has helped but still needs to work on the accessibility needs for those with disabilities
-These standards will most likely be set universally so that every possible accessibility needs can be met through one installation

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Canadians with disabilities have their sights set on 2018, when the federal government is expected to usher in long-sought legislation designed to increase accessibility nationwide. The governing Liberals have promised to create a bill that would remove barriers in federally regulated sectors such as banking, interprovincial transportation, telecommunications and government-run services such as Canada Post.

But what will the expected legislation look like and what will it accomplish? People close to the process weighed in:

- What is Canada's current accessibility picture?

The pending federal legislation would mark the first time Canada has moved to tackle accessibility at the national level. Other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia have all had federal legislation in place for years or decades. Even most provincial governments have yet to take on the issue. Only Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia have laws in place to address the needs of disabled residents.

- How do accessibility laws work?

They vary widely and have to strike a balance between being specific enough to attain results without being too restrictive for the people and places that have to abide by them. One approach, such as the one used in Ontario, involves developing standards focusing on broad areas such as customer service, built environments or employment. Some experts say Ottawa may go in a similar direction.

Michael Prince, Lansdowne professor of social policy at the University of Victoria, says individuals and businesses need to have enough flexibility to find accessibility solutions that make sense for their environments or clientele.

"We say, 'here's the standard, here's the expected result we want. How you get there is up to you,'" he said of some government approaches.

Prince said some jurisdictions have gone so far as to set up government resources to help organizations comply with accessibility standards. He cited Ireland's Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, an agency established a decade ago to conduct research and help shape accessibility practices in the country and abroad. Prince, who has taken part in numerous government consultations on the Canadian law, said having a comparable resource in place here would go a long way to making sure the new act is effective for years to come.

- What has the government promised?

Kent Hehr, the minister for persons with disabilities and the man charged with crafting the new legislation, says he's on track to table the bill in the spring of 2018 as previously promised. Details, however, are still in the works, and Hehr declined to offer any specifics on what the bill might contain.

Hehr, who is quadriplegic and uses a wheelchair, said Canada is looking to other jurisdictions for lessons on how to implement a sound piece of legislation that would limit the hard work many disabled Canadians do on a regular basis even during some of society's most basic interactions.

"As people with disabilities, we run into situations three, four, five, six times a day," he said in a telephone interview. "And sometimes we become immune to them and we simply find other creative ways to move forward. I'm hoping we don't have to be as creative in the future."

- What kind of barriers do people with disabilities face?

Advocates say every sector that will fall under the scope of a federal act is rife with examples of barriers that vary depending on the disability in question. While many organizations and industries have developed inclusion strategies, they say myriad anecdotes demonstrate the fact that more formal intervention is necessary. Some examples include:

Banking: When Jim Derksen goes to his local bank to conduct routine transactions, he's never sure that he'll be able to cross those tasks off his to-do list. Derksen, who uses a wheelchair, says many branch counters or bank machine keypads are located too high for someone using a mobility aid to reach. This is exacerbated for those with conditions that limit their ability to extend their arms. Some branches feature a wheelchair-accessible counter, but Derksen said high demand typically results in long lineups.

Even when he makes it to a counter, Derksen said another barrier frequently arises when he tries to use the pin pad. Such machines are regularly secured to the countertop, he said, making it impossible for many customers to reach them.

Derksen recognizes that businesses all over the country often take such precautions as a security measure, but he said the new law must force people to get more proactive in recognizing accessibility barriers and be creative in trying to overcome them.

"We require a law which is enforced, which will push the innovation and the ingenuity," he said. "Because unless there's a push, these compromises will be far less than acceptable."

Transport: In his work for the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, John Rae hears many examples of travel plans thwarted by accessibility barriers. As a blind person, Rae said he cannot use self-check-in kiosks at airports and must rely on harried counter staff for basic travel support.

Up until this year, Via Rail could only accommodate one wheelchair user at a time on its trains. The situation only began to change in the spring after the Canadian Transportation Agency ordered the company to double that capacity across its entire fleet, an edict Via Rail recently announced it would heed after months of resistance.

Rae said an accessibility law is essential to prevent such protracted battles from playing out in future. It would also have the added advantage of ensuring transportation companies keep accessibility in mind when doing everything from purchasing new vehicles to designing customer service protocols.

"(Current laws) talk about 'undue obstacles' to travel. We want the word 'undue' removed," Rae said.

- Would broad "standards" actually help?

Yes, but experts and advocates alike say they won't get the job done on their own. Michael Bach, managing director of the Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society, said a standard in an area such as customer service would push companies to make disability issues a higher priority.

But standards can only go so far, he said, adding a potential benefit of an accessibility law would be its capacity to force the federal government to bring other laws in line. As an example, Bach cited statutes under the banking and tax acts that bar people with intellectual disabilities from either opening their own bank accounts or accessing their own funds.

"It's great to be setting standards and coming up with a process to set them. It's part of the picture, but there's other pieces that need to be addressed for an inclusive and accessible Canada," he said.

Bach and Rae both said the new law should make it mandatory for the government to put its own policies, legislation and program decisions through a disability analysis, just as it currently does for gender-related issues. Rae said such an approach would help identify instances of discriminatory laws on the books and signal that the feds are willing to get their own house in order before compelling others to do the same.

"It would be a signal to the disabled community that the government is really serious about its desire to make Canada a more accessible country."

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What will Canada's new accessibility law in 2018 look like? | The Star

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Canadians with disabilities have their sights set on 2018, when the federal government is expected to usher in long-sought legislation designed to increase accessibility nationwide. The governing Liberals have promised to create a bill that would remove barriers in federally regulated sectors such as banking, interprovincial transportation, telecommunications and government-run services such as Canada Post.

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Source and Date:
Retrieved Feb 12th
Published Feb 12th
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJeFcdN42Jo&feature=youtu.be
Summary:
-Jack and Jordyn are diagnosed with RCDP
-Parents want the world to know their children have a purpose, everybody has a purpose in life, that they're loved and that there is a reason why they are here
-Main focus of the video is to educate people about RCDP but it also helped shed light on proper language and comments when it comes to discussing the topic of disability.

Personal Comments:
There was one comment in this interview that really stuck out to me and that was when Jake and Jordyn's father was saying how when people find out about his children's diagnosis they say things like "I'm so sorry, I'm praying for you" and he responds "why are you sorry? I'm the one that was blessed. I have two little angels with me". That part of the interview reminded me of the first couple weeks of class where we reviewed that peoples comments about saying "you're such a good person" or "you must be so patient" can actually devalue the person with the disability because it insists that you must be a good person to look past the disability.

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SIblings with RCDP (A Rare Type of Dwarfism)

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Jake and Jordyn are siblings that were only expected to live to be two years at most due to a rare condition known as RCDP. Now 15 and 12, the two are proof that you don't need to walk or talk to make an impact in this world.

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Source and Date: Article in Toronto Sun. Februry 5th, 2018
link: http://torontosun.com/news/local-news/new-camh-hub-to-focus-on-developmental-disabilities-and-mental-illness
Summary:

-This article is about one of Canada's most prominent mental health treatment centres opening a new research hub that will focus its attention on people with developmental disabilities and psychiatric conditions. The article says that stats show that incidents of mental illness are  higher among people with autism, Down syndrome or other neurodevelopmental disabilities than among the general population. Medical sociologist Alex Haagaard said "Scientists with lived experience of both disability and mental illness have unique perspectives that can help inform research and ensure that solutions actually address the needs of the population."

Personal Comments:
I personally really enjoyed reading this article. A few children I work with have high anxiety along with an ASD diagnosis and I tend to wonder quite often how the two diagnosis work together. It was interesting to read how some doctors view this and how great it is to see a facility like this open. Though most of the language in this article was "people first" language there were one or two catches in it that I think could be changed as well.

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TORONTO - One of Canada's most high-profile mental health treatment centres says it's opening a new research hub that will focus on the needs of people with both developmental disabilities and psychiatric conditions.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health says the new hub is the first in Canada to tackle the needs of a population that has long been ignored.

Statistics suggest that incidents of mental illness are considerably higher among those with autism, Down syndrome or other neurodevelopmental disabilities than among the general population.

The problem exists at all ages, but is worse for adults, as the few resources available while children are in school all but disappear once they age out of the system.

CAMH's new Azrieli Centre for Adult Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Mental Health will focus on research and education that experts hope will improve the way the medical community responds to this group's unique needs.

People with disabilities and medical experts agree it's common to see doctors conflate disability and mental illness, often dismissing the symptoms of one disorder by attributing them to the other.

Research on the topic is minimal, reflecting what many see as the level of care afforded to people who are both disabled and mentally ill. But the advocates and experts said the data that does exist illustrates the scope of the problem.

A 2012 study from CAMH and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences found that 45 per cent of adults in Ontario with a developmental disability also had a psychiatric disorder, roughly twice the rate of the general population.

In 2010, a study from the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry found almost half of hospital admissions for people with such disabilities were for psychiatric reasons.

For Daniel Share-Strom, who has Asperger syndrome and struggled with mental health issues throughout his life, the overlap is easy to explain.

"From birth, whether it's from jerks or people who genuinely have good intentions, you're told every single day how weird you are and how wrong you are," Share-Strom said in a telephone interview. "People are trying to correct your basic instincts. On top of that, there's all these sensory challenge. People are naturally going to lose their confidence and naturally going to start feeling anxious about the world around them or depressed when thinking about their perceived failures."

Dr. Yona Lunsky, head of the new centre, said there are other causes behind the complex interplay between disability and mental health.

She sited ongoing stigma, social isolation, chronic unemployment and poverty as factors that loom large in the reality of many disabled people and can take a severe toll on mental health.

What's less understood, she said, is the way to best identify the needs of a person contending with both a developmental disability and psychiatric disorder at the same time.

She said health-care providers will frequently overlook or dismiss a sign of a mental illness, such as anxiety or depression, by treating it as a symptom of autism. Conversely, she said people who don't act according to social norms may have their behaviour chalked up to mental illness when it is in fact just a way their disability manifests itself.

This, she said, can lead to people receiving inappropriate treatment, such as antipsychotic medication that will not address their needs.

"One group sees only one side, the other sees only the other," Lunsky said of most health-care providers. "We need to have an understanding of both."

Medical sociologist Alex Haagaard said that misunderstanding can result in patients avoiding treatment altogether for fear of how they will be served by a system that can't grasp their needs.

Haagaard, who uses the gender-neutral pronouns they/them, said doctors have routinely misunderstood the interplay between the autism and chronic depression that are part of everyday life.

The result has been some harrowing personal experiences.

"When I'm having a depressive episode, I don't feel safe bringing it to my doctors because I worry about the extent to which it will derail my attempt to seek diagnoses for my physical issues," Haagaard said. "It's definitely a significant problem."

Lunsky said the new centre, funded by a $10.4 million donation from the Azrieli Foundation, will not be a standalone facility where patients can go to seek direct treatment.

Instead, it will focus on hiring researchers and clinicians to support CAMH's existing services, develop new treatment protocols for the issue and share that knowledge throughout the medical community.

Haagaard said educating health-care workers is crucial, but they hope the patients the centre aims to help will play an active, ongoing role in its work.

Haagaard said scientists with lived experience of both disability and mental illness have unique perspectives that can help inform research and ensure that solutions actually address the needs of the population.

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New CAMH hub to focus on developmental disabilities and mental illness

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TORONTO - One of Canada's most high-profile mental health treatment centres says it's opening a new research hub that will focus on the needs of people with both developmental disabilities and psychiatric conditions. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health says the new hub is the first in Canada to tackle the needs of a population that has long been ignored.

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Source and Date:
InsideHalton.com Article
Retrieved Feb 12th, 2018
Published Feb 12th, 2018
Link:
https://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/8127023-two-barrie-boys-told-not-to-return-to-school-after-aggressive-incidents/

Summary:
-Boys in barrie were suspended for "aggressive behaviour" and are now being told they are not allowed to return to school.
- The boys are diagnosed with autism, ADHD and anxiety
- The mother of the boys believe that the situation could have been handled in a different, more productive manner rather than the exclusion from school.
Personal Comments:
This news article was shocking to read. Especially about the exclusion from school and how people think these behaviours are correlated with a bad home life. Different settings and environments have the potential to change "regular" behaviour and not just that but in certain situations other people can amplify the situation. I do agree with the boys' mom that the situation could have been handled in a different more productive manner

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Two Barrie boys told not to return to school after aggressive incidents

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Two Barrie boys are being told they are a detriment to the well-being of other students, and they are not allowed to return to their schools.

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Retrieved: April 1st, 2018
Published: March 30th, 2018
Link: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/03/30/provincial-funding-boost-could-help-people-with-developmental-disabilities.html
Summary:
- The article talks about the budget proposal that the Provincial government has made in order to assist those with developmental disabilities transition to adulthood
- The budget proposal makes those with developmental disabilities eligible for at least $5,000 a year for support, and has the potential to assist 40,000 Ontarian's within the next 3 years.
- “For the first time in the province’s history, every eligible adult with a developmental disability, including youth turning 18 and transitioning to adult services, will get at least $5,000 a year in direct funding through Passport to help with connecting in their community and respite for caregivers,”(thestar.com ,2018)
Personal Comments:
As a voter in the upcoming election I am glad to see that the issue in terms of the lack of government funding for those trying to participate in such community programs has been addressed in the proposed budget. It is often that people with developmental disabilities are often forgotten after there time in the education system has finished, but with this exciting new allocation for funding it is evident that in the future those with developmental disabilities will b able to continue with community programs and build on there employable skills, with financial assistance from the government.

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A $1.8 billion Ontario budget proposal to help adults with developmental disabilities could ease funding wait lists by offering everyone eligible for support at least $5,000 a year.

More than 40,000 people could be helped over the next three years, according to the Liberals' pre-election budget.

If adopted, the new money would also address the problem youth face when they turn 18 and lose provincial Special Services at Home funding while they await support through Passport, which serves adults, said Michael Coteau, minister for both children and youth services and community and social services.

Both programs provide money to families so children and adults with developmental disabilities can take part in community programs, develop work and daily life skills, hire a support worker and live independently.

"For the first time in the province's history, every eligible adult with a developmental disability, including youth turning 18 and transitioning to adult services, will get at least $5,000 a year in direct funding through Passport to help with connecting in their community and respite for caregivers," Coteau said in a statement.

About 18,000 adults are waiting for Passport funding and all would be eligible for the new money immediately, if the budget measures are implemented, ministry officials said.

About 24,000 adults currently receive funding under the program. Any receiving less than $5,000 a year, would see their allocation increase under the change, officials added. Maximum annual funding for individuals under Passport is about $40,000.

The proposed funding would begin to address concerns raised in a $110 million class action lawsuit against the Ontario government for failing to eliminate the years-long wait list for support services, said Timmins father Marc Leroux.

"It's a very good start," said Leroux, who launched the legal battle last April on behalf of his developmentally disabled daughter Briana, 20.

"But there is an election in June and I don't know if the Liberals are going to get elected," he said Thursday. "Hopefully any other government would make good on this. It would go a long way to help us and many other families we know in the same situation."

The class action, which is not yet certified, alleges wait lists are indeterminate and inconsistent and deny eligible recipients benefits necessary for their basic needs and safety. The lengthy waits interfere with the life and security of people with disabilities and their families, it adds.

Family members or other caregivers are forced to step in, often at great personal cost, the lawsuit adds.

Leroux's daughter Briana, who is non-verbal and functions at the level of a 3-year-old, lost about $6,500 in annual Special Services at Home funding in February 2015 when she turned 18. She was subsequently placed on the wait list for Passport, but Leroux still doesn't know when he will get any help.

Without funding, he has been unable to hire a support worker for the past two summers to care for Briana when she was not in school. As a result, he was forced to quit his job as a real estate agent during the summer to look after her. (People with disabilities can attend public school until age 21.)

Leroux's lawyer, Jody Brown of Koskie Minsky LLP, said the proposed budget funding is a "positive way forward." But it won't impact the class action because the case is based on damages Leroux and other class members have already faced, he said.

"It doesn't fix the problems people went through, such as mental breakdowns, lost jobs, and immense struggles to provide basic necessities to their children when they turned 18," said Brown, adding more than 20,000 people may have been affected. A motion for certification will be heard in September.

"We're glad to see this investment, but what we need is a clear path to eliminating any waiting list," said Marg Spoelstra of Autism Ontario.

"It is unacceptable for people to be transitioning from their youth to adulthood with no resources," she said in an interview. "To me, these (changes) need to go forward regardless of who is sitting in the key leadership position come June 8."

Other improvements to be covered under the proposed funding include more services for case management to help youth transition to adulthood, a 24-7 hotline to deploy front-line professionals during emergencies and more training for police and other emergency responders. The new money would also support about 800 people with developmental disabilities who are inappropriately housed in hospitals, shelters and long-term care homes.

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Provincial funding boost could help people with developmental disabilities | Toronto Star

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A $1.8 billion Ontario budget proposal to help adults with developmental disabilities could ease funding wait lists by offering everyone eligible for support at least $5,000 a year. More than 40,000 people could be helped over the next three years, according to the Liberals' pre-election budget.

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Source and Date:
InsideHalton.com Article
Retrieved: Feb 12th, 2018
Published: Jan 31st, 2018
Link: https://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/8101995-town-of-milton-revamping-its-supportive-housing-policies/
Summary:
-The town of Milton is changing their supportive housing policies
- “While the most pressing need appears to be options for the aging population, there is also a need for supportive housing for other population groups including people with physical disabilities, mental health issues, developmental disabilities, substance abuse issues and youth.”
-These new policies provide positive changes such as: "Modify the current resident caps to remove the minimum number of residents and raise the maximum to 10 residents"
Personal Comments:
I personally have worked with members of the community that are living in these homes and I have heard some of the issues about the rules and policies from them. I am glad to see there are changes being made for the better and that Milton is realizing that productive steps needed to be taken.

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Town of Milton revamping its supportive housing policies

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The town is working to update its rules and regulations that govern supportive housing in group home settings.

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Retrieved: April 4th, 2018
Published: November 5th, 2017
Link: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/11/05/via-rails-attempt-to-limit-wheelchair-access-on-trains-rejected-by-regulator.html
Summary:
- The article is about VIA Rail's attempt to remove some of the accessible seating on their trains and limit the access for those with mobility issues and have a history of avoiding CTA (Canadian Transportation Agency) about similar issues
-The CTA rejected their efforts to do so, after a complaint field by a Toronto couple who both have cerebral palsy and use motorized scooters, the couple state that VIA Rail's approach prevents them from travelling together.
Personal Comments:
- VIA Rail's attempt to remove seating for those with mobility issues is appalling, especially when they have been avoiding such upgrades that the CTA has told them to make , and now wish to remove some of those accessible seating which they are already lacking in, it is these type of companies that resist the change towards inclusion that make the lives of those with mobility issues even more difficult

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The Canadian Transportation Agency is rejecting Via Rail's efforts to limit access on its trains for passengers using wheelchairs and other mobility aids.

The national rail provider has been actively resisting a previous Agency ruling dictating that all trains coast to coast must double their capacity to accommodate mobility aids and create two tie-down spots for the devices.

The CTA's ruling came about as the result of a complaint from a Toronto married couple, both of whom have cerebral palsy and use motorized scooters. They contend that Via's long-standing approach prevents them from travelling together.

Via Rail had tried to push back against the CTA ruling, saying it only planned to create two tie-down spots on one of three classes of train travelling on one specific route.

In a decision dated Nov. 1, the CTA rejected Via's approach and ordered the company to either add tiedowns for all trains across the country or present clear arguments as to why doing so would create undue hardship.

Via Rail says it is "analyzing" the CTA's latest decision and "cannot comment further at this time."

Martin Anderson and Marie Murphy, the Toronto couple at the heart of the complaint, said they feel validated by the CTA's pushback.

Despite the agency's fairly clear-cut ruling, however, they fear more fighting lies ahead.

"We remain cautiously optimistic, but with each victory we feel we have, Via tends to drag it out again," Murphy said in a telephone interview. "It feels like we have the weight of the CTA behind us and that they are now finally being called to be accountable. I hope they won't be able to wiggle themselves out of this one."

The couple's long-standing battle with Via appeared to be at an end in February when the CTA first ruled on the formal complaint they filed protesting the company's approach to wheelchair accessibility.

Murphy and Anderson decried Via Rail's policy dictating that trains only permitted one tie-down area for someone travelling in a wheelchair or mobility scooter. Other passengers using such devices were forced to dismantle the aids and store them in the luggage compartment, risking damage to the expensive equipment.

Anderson and Murphy argued that the policy was discriminatory towards people with disabilities, while Via said any difficulties the couple encountered were the result of individual customer service failings rather than flawed policy.

CTA sided with the couple in February, ordering Via to either provide two tie-down areas per train or allow two mobility aids to make use of the same tie-down by May 15. Alternatively, Via could offer evidence that it could not comply without undue hardship.

Via opted to change its policy, saying it would make it possible for two mobility aids to use the existing tie-down area on specific trains as long as the users had the capacity to transfer to a regular seat for the trip.

On June 23, the CTA sent Via a letter seeking "confirmation" of several points, including the fact that the new accessibility rules would be applied on every Via train across the country.

Via Rail's July 12 response, filed after a deadline set by the CTA, made it clear that it planned only to apply the rules on one of three train types travelling within the Quebec-Windsor corridor.

The rail provider argued that Murphy and Anderson only travelled on that specific route and contended establishing more than one tie-down on the other two train types was either in the works or not feasible.

The CTA's latest ruling rejected that approach.

"This . . . is inconsistent with the Agency's order," the CTA wrote. "While VIA refers to a 'series of issues that make the application of this policy elsewhere not possible,' it did not explain what those issues are, nor make a clear claim of undue hardship. Given the above, the Agency finds that the revised policy does not comply with the order."

The decision also took Via to task for failing to thoroughly research ways in which additional mobility aids could be safely secured on board its trains, saying it "notes with concern how little work appears to have been done since 2015 on the question of scooter storage." The CTA gave Via until Nov. 16 to "confirm that no consultations were conducted" on the issue.

Murphy and Anderson said full compliance cannot come too soon, saying train travel is still very challenging.

When the couple tried to book two tie-down spots for an upcoming trip to Windsor, Ont., they found their first four time options were not available because one of the spots had already been reserved.

Anderson said their situation proves that there's a demand for broader accessibility for all Canadians.

"The tie-down spots were used," he said. "That shows the need for more spots now."

The CTA has ordered Via to either allow for two wheelchair tiedowns on all trains across the entire network or by submitting a claim of undue hardship "supported by clear and detailed evidence" by January 3.

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Via Rail's attempt to limit wheelchair access on trains rejected by regulator | Toronto Star

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The Canadian Transportation Agency is rejecting Via Rail's efforts to limit access on its trains for passengers using wheelchairs and other mobility aids. The national rail provider has been actively resisting a previous Agency ruling dictating that all trains coast to coast must double their capacity to accommodate mobility aids and create two tie-down spots for the devices.

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Source and Date
CTV News Youtube Video.
Retrieved Feb 7th, 2018.
Published July 16, 2016.
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGOw2G0lk1k
Summary: This youtube video from CTV news covers a story of how a girl named Emma invented a piece of assistive technology. The device is used for navigating a computer screen with only the tongue. Emma talks about how assistive technology can be very expensive and how her assistive device is cost effective and can make a big difference.
Personal Comments:
This news segment was interesting to watch. I admire how someone so young can come up with inventions to make the world more accessible to all.

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High schooler creates device for people with disabilities

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Subscribe to CTV News to watch more videos: https://www.youtube.com/ctvnews Connect with CTV News: For the latest news visit: http://www.ctvnews.ca/ For a full video offering visit the CTV News Network: http://www.ctvnews.ca/video CTV News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CTVNews CTV News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CTVNews Watch CTV News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WatchCTVNews CTV News on Google+: https://plus.google.com/+CTVNews/posts CTV News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/ctvnews/ CTV News on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ctvnews CTV News on Vine: https://vine.co/u/1134196353757794304 --- CTV News is Canada's most-watched news organization both locally and nationally, and has a network of national, international, and local news operations.

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Source and Date:

Retrieved: April 6 2018

Published: October 4 2016

Link: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/10/04/deaf-movie-theatres_n_12331018.html

Summary:

-Rikki Poynter tried to see a movie in Toronto and discovered they don’t offer closed captioning in most regular theatres, you need to pay extra to go to AVX or VIP screenings in order for someone who requires cc to see a movie.

-When she tweeted about her problem, the movie theatre asked her to call their guest services, despite her stating that she was deaf

-The article also shows other people on social media rallying in support of Rikki and empathising with her struggle

-Despite claiming inclusivity the article states that of the 20 films that had been showing in a Toronto movie theatre, only 6 had closed captioning

Personal Comments:

I think this is a big issue that needs more attention, since it is something that people who aren’t hard of hearing don’t consider often and needs to be addressed. Subtitles aren’t a big deal and don’t take away from movies at all, and even if movie theatres offer the option for closed captioning devices they often don’t work and take away from the movie viewing experience a lot more than just adding subtitles to the feature presentation. The article was good at bringing attention and reporting the issues, while maintaining the integrity of the woman the article was about without making her a subject of pity, but one that is being denied something she doesn’t deserve.