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Ads featuring people with disabilities...February 5th, 2016 

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Ads featuring people with disabilities...February 5th, 2016 

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Super bowl is huge, and everyone looks forward to super bowl  commercials, what better way to educate and bring awareness about disabilities than during super bowl commercial with millions of people watching. people with disability should have an image to look at that represent what they
look like, which will promote inclusion.
saved by Lexcia

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More ads featuring people with disabilities

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More ads featuring people with disabilities ◂ WKBW provides local news for all of Western New York, Buffalo, NY and the Niagara Falls NY region 7 Eyewitness News is Buffalo's Source for news, sports, weather, and good things happening every day.

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How Universities are Helping Students with Disabilities

More than ever students with invisible disabilities  are pursuing higher education.
This very informative article addresses the challenges students face when seeking accommodations at a post-secondary level. One of the main concerns addressed is that in order to get accommodation a student must reveal what their diagnosis is and this can lead to restigmatization. In January, the Ontario Human Rights commission unveiled a precedent. A student needs to provide medical documentation that indicates the disability and the related limitations but they no longer need to indicate a specific diagnosis. This is welcome news as the percentage of students with 'hidden' disabilities is statistically higher than those with physical or sensory disabilities.
I believe this progress provides a 'safer' place for students who need support to reach out and seek assistance knowing they don't have to disclose a specific diagnosis. It also confirm that the voice of persons with a disability are being heard and changes are being made.
Diane

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When Marc Wilchesky started working at Toronto's York University in the 1980s, one of his first projects was to develop support strategies for students with learning disabilities. Upon arriving at his desk one day, Wilchesky found a note scrawled by one faculty member-a biology professor trained in the diversity of living organisms but seemingly not up on human rights and equality. It read: "Just as airlines shouldn't hire blind pilots, the university has no business admitting students with learning disabilities," recalls Wilchesky. It was short, but the message said plenty about the challenges students faced at post-secondary institutions. "That's where it was then," says Wilchesky, now executive director of counselling and disability services at York. "There were a lot of battles to be fought to educate people."

Some 30 years later, progress has been made toward understanding, accepting and supporting post-secondary students with "invisible" disabilities, which interfere with an individual's daily functioning but may not have an obvious physical manifestation. They run the gamut from dyslexia and attention hyperactivity deficit disorder (ADHD) to autism spectrum disorder to chronic diseases such as Crohn's, as well as mental health conditions including depression and anxiety. Indeed, the latter two are pervasive on Canadian campuses, and have become a massive public health focus of late.

Related: The mental health crisis on Canadian campuses

And yet, challenges persist. Wilchesky was recently part of a collaboration between York and Navi Dhanota, a graduate student who filed an application with the provincial human rights tribunal after the university denied her "academic accommodations." These are arrangements that, in effect, neutralize the limitations of students with disabilities-things such as writing exams in a room separate from the class at large, getting extra time on assignments and note-taking technology. In seeking accommodations, Dhanota had refused to disclose her mental health diagnosis-a requirement at most colleges and universities-on the basis that students shouldn't be forced to define their experiences using a psychiatric label.

In January, after months of mediation, York, Dhanota and the Ontario Human Rights Commission unveiled a precedent-setting resolution: while students must still provide medical documentation indicating they have a disability and its limitations, they no longer have to disclose their specific diagnosis. "It's a tremendously positive outcome," says Dianne Wintermute of Arch Disability Law Centre, who represented Dhanota. "We came up with something that worked for everybody."

The York outcome reﬂects an ever-evolving balancing act in higher education. "Even if one student would be reluctant to seek support from our disability services because they didn't want to disclose their diagnosis, we want to eliminate that barrier," says Wilchesky. "But at the same time we have to be sure that we're protecting the academic integrity of the institution, so it's not simply a case of a student saying, 'I have these needs, this is what I want. This is what I'm going to get.' "

Today, more students than ever with invisible disabilities are pursuing higher education, and in some schools they outnumber those with physical or sensory disabilities. "Our culture and society has changed [into] not making it such a stigmatized, secretive thing," says Michael Condra, who retired in June as director of health and counselling services at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. In addition, "the treatments are becoming much better and more effective, which make it more likely that a student will be able to function effectively in the stress and strain of a post-secondary environment."

Ironically, the process of seeking accommodations can actually re-stigmatize students with invisible disabilities. "When you're living with something and suffering, it's hard to say, 'I'm entitled to this,' " says Aliçia Raimundo, 26. While attending the University of Waterloo several years ago, she didn't pursue accommodations for her mental health and learning disabilities because she found the documentation requirements overwhelming. She figured, "I'm not failing, so is this worth it?" Raimundo recalls. "I could have been doing 15 to 20 per cent better, but at the time I didn't want to fight for the accommodations."

The 2013 National College Health Assessment survey of more than 34,000 post-secondary students at 32 schools across Canada found almost two per cent had been diagnosed with or treated for obsessive-compulsive disorder in the previous year; roughly four per cent reported having ADHD or a learning disability; and five per cent reported a chronic illness such as cancer, diabetes or autoimmune diseases. The data for mental health conditions was even higher: 10 per cent had been diagnosed with or treated for depression, and 12 per cent with anxiety. Many more had suffered, though: 37.5 per cent reported having felt at one time or another "so depressed that it was difficult to function" and 56 per cent reported experiencing "overwhelming anxiety." Almost 9.5 per cent had seriously considered suicide in their lifetime.

Given this prevalence, disability services offices-or accessibility services ofﬁces, as they are increasingly called-are now common on Canadian campuses. "There is an increased recognition that [accommodation] is important, but also an obligation," says Meredith Kushnir, marketing and community engagement lead at the Canadian Mental Health Association's Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health in Ontario.

Indeed, post-secondary institutions are required by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as provincial statutes to be accessible to students with disabilities. However, "no specific federal or provincial governmental standards exist," notes a report by the National Educational Association of Disabled Students. That means policies and procedures for accessing accommodations vary by college or university, as do the stafﬁng and budgets for disability services, and the level of understanding among administrators and faculty. In effect, schools are still figuring out what, exactly, best practices look like, and how to implement them.

This realization propelled Condra to lead a three-year research project between Queen's and St. Lawrence College in Kingston to study how schools in Ontario were accommodating students with mental health disabilities. The initiative, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, resulted in a landmark report released last October, which makes 14 recommendations for "documentation standards and guidelines" for all schools. "The idea was to bring some consistency," says Condra.

The first recommendation aligns with the York outcome. It urges schools to focus on the "functional limitations" of students as the basis for accommodation rather than their specific diagnosis. "When accommodations are based purely on the diagnosis, it leads to confusion because every student needs different types," says Kushnir. What's more, "for students who are learning how to navigate [post-secondary education], they might not be comfortable talking about their condition."

Schools might not be either, as Condra's group learned during their research. "A consistent theme [among professors] was, 'We need more education, we need a better understanding about our role,' " says Condra. Adds Kushnir, "If [professorss] have five classes with hundreds of students, [sorting out accommodation] can be quite daunting." As such, Condra's team developed an information handbook and eight YouTube videos to help faculty and students discuss disability and accommodations with each other.

For Raimundo, who has experienced dyslexia, depression and anxiety since adolescence, and once, at age 13, tried to end her life, going to the University of Waterloo in 2007 was a turning point. "When I was in high school very few people knew what I was going through," she recalls, "and then when I went to university I decided to speak honestly about mental health." It wasn't easy, and there were times Raimundo was misunderstood, but school counsellors helped, and so did the encouragement of others who were inspired by her story. Since then, Raimundo has been diagnosed with Asperger's, too. Now she works as an ambassador for students with invisible disabilities-she calls herself a "mental health superhero"-participating in local, national and international initiatives to educate others.

Her message is worth repeating: "One thing I wish people understood about accommodations is that students can live without them, but it makes life a lot harder," says Raimundo. "They might have the smarts to achieve [grades in the] 90s but will only achieve 60s. It's about levelling the playing field." To students in particular, Raimundo has another message, too: "Know what exists on your campus before you go, where your allies will be. Find those people like you who have struggled. Knowing that you're not alone is such an important part of this."

In this way, students with invisible disabilities are finally being seen.

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How universities are helping students with 'invisible' disabilities - Macleans.ca

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When Marc Wilchesky started working at Toronto's York University in the 1980s, one of his first projects was to develop support strategies for students with learning disabilities. Upon arriving at his desk one day, Wilchesky found a note scrawled by one faculty member-a biology professor trained in the diversity of living organisms but seemingly not up on human rights and equality.

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March 17, 2016
This psa most certainly brings awareness for any person with down syndrome as they are often viewed one day by the public. This PSA shuts down any stereotype associated with down syndrome.
saved by Lexcia

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социальная реклама

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March 21 - World Down Syndrome Day #HowDoYouSeeMe Сайт о социальной рекламе http://www.2social.info/ Социальная реклама ВКонтакте http://vk.com/sotcialka

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Show 'Em What's Underneath. Show 'Em Your Jockey: Chris Van Etten

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Show 'Em What's Underneath. Show 'Em Your Jockey: Chris Van Etten

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June 9, 2016
This video focuses on the story of Chris Van Etten and his perseverance and strength in relation to his disability. In this video, he explains his experience as a former Marien and how he lost both of his legs. The purpose of this video was to highlight his empowerment through the disability rather than coping with the disability. His experiences have allowed him to move past labels such as disabled, and towards accepting one’s disability and feeling a sense of empowerment.

I believe that this video does an excellent job highlighting the experiences of an individual with a disability, as it allows for a real life perspective to be taken into consideration. This video gave Chris the chance to explain his disability and share his perceptions, thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes. This platform also provided him with the opportunity to encourage others to feel empowered in relation to their disability.
Gurmilan

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Show 'Em What's Underneath. Show 'Em Your Jockey: Chris Van Etten

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Meet Chris Van Etten, U.S. Marine Veteran who show us that perseverance always wins. Learn more about our everyday heroes: http://www.jockey.com/showem

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Why so many Canadians with disabilities are overeducated and unemployed...TVO news August 3, 2016 

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Why so many Canadians with disabilities are overeducated and unemployed...TVO news August 3, 2016 

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Layla Therese has earned an honours bachelor of arts in English and Philosophy from Carleton University in Ottawa among other institutions. With a disability she has a difficult time finding a job.

Graduates with disability who do find work make roughly $4000-$6000 less in annual salaries

Stats Canada has also found that people with disability are more likely to leave the workforce early

17.4 percent of those with disability say they face some sort of discrimination in their job search.

I find it unbelievable and unfair that people with disabilities face such discrimination in the workforce, especially when they are qualified or educated. I strongly believe whether a person has a disability or not if they are qualified and able to work, why aren’t they being hired? A disability doesn’t mean they are unable to work, and in Layla’s case she is most certainly qualified to teach, and even though she is in a wheelchair that does not mean she will not be able to do her job. I also find it surprising that most places she applied to were not wheelchair friendly.

saved by Lexcia

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Ever since she was eight, Layla Thérèse knew she wanted to be a teacher. Though she grew up fully aware she'd face barriers living with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, even she wasn't ready for just how hard pursuing such a career would be.

At 29, Thérèse, a Toronto resident, has earned an honours bachelor of arts in English and philosophy from Carleton University in Ottawa, a bachelor of education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, and additional qualifications in special education, adaptive technology and English as a second language - all certifications any school board will tell you are highly sought after in prospective teachers.

Yet, after two years of applications without a call from the Toronto District School Board, Peel District School Board, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and various Toronto-area private schools, Thérèse is one of many Canadians with disabilities who are highly educated, but unemployed. A study from the University of Guelph shows that though Canadian universities report an increase in the number of graduates who identify as people with disabilities, unemployment rates for post-secondary graduates with disabilities is twice that of those without. Graduates with disabilities who do find work make roughly $4,000 to $6,000 less in annual salaries. Statistics Canada has also found that people with disabilities are more likely to leave the workforce early, and 17.4 per cent of those with disabilities say they faced some sort of discrimination in their job search.

"I've lost count of the number of [places] I've sent my resume to," Thérèse says. "In the first two to three weeks, I got upwards of a dozen callbacks. In my cover letters I clearly state that I have a disability, that I use a wheelchair, and I would ask, 'Are you wheelchair accessible?' Nine times out of 10 the answer was, 'We had no idea you needed that. No, we're not. We're sorry. Best of luck in your search.'"

Brad Seward, a doctoral candidate at the University of Guelph, co-authored the national survey on graduates with disabilities, which studied 31,000 students across Canada, 1,600 of whom said they had a learning disability, emotional or behavioural disabilities or a physical disability. They answered questions two years after graduation and the outcomes "were staggering," Seward told Nam Kiwanuka on The Agenda in the Summer. "What we found was that graduates with disabilities were much less represented in full time jobs and much more represented in part-time jobs and unemployment."

For Thérèse, inaccessible locations were only the beginning. Last fall, she went back to school at a downtown Toronto college to gain more credentials in teaching English as a second language, but says she was so inadequately accommodated and openly discriminated against that she dropped out of the program without finishing.

Since Thérèse left the program, career advisers have told her that her best option might be to go into business for herself. This is what consultant Andrew Gurza did after being unsatisfied with the typical employment assistance programs offered to people with disabilities. With a bachelor of arts in law and a master's degree in legal studies from Carleton, Gurza had hoped to do some kind of work around disability awareness, but the career consultant he spoke to dismissed his dream as a hobby. Even when family friends put him in touch with potential mentors for advice, they recommended he pursue a more menial job in what Gurza thinks was an effort to be more practical and realistic.

"Everyone wanted to tell me my passion wasn't real and the only work that I thought I would get using these employment services was customer service or other entry-level jobs," Gurza says.

Seward says the income gap for graduates with disabilities is important "because theories of cumulative advantage would argue that these inequalities can become entrenched over time, which exacerbates those differences. [Our study] was only two years out of graduation. Once you look at a life course perspective it can get harder."

For five years Gurza worked in customer service at a Toronto-based communications firm, but issues with attendant care, WheelTrans transportation to his job, catheterization and his leg bag periodically bursting meant he made only sporadic appearances. The company made an effort to move his shifts around, and two years into the job, there was an opportunity to work from home. But when Gurza asked to be trained for the position, he was told the training would be too intense for him. He asked about the position periodically each year, but not wanting to make waves, he eventually stopped.

Since then, Gurza has launched a relatively successful career as a disability consultant, writer and podcaster. But, like Thérèse, he still relies on income from the Ontario Disability Support Program, which claws back 50 per cent of a participant's earnings after the first $250, making it very difficult to get ahead.

"If you're looking for a career, don't use the employment services for people with disabilities," Gurza says. "Instead, I recommend new grads with disabilities use their lived experience as a person with a disability to tap into that underserved market and create a career for themselves."
Aaron Broverman is a Toronto-based freelance journalist.

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Why so many Canadians with disabilities are overeducated and unemployed

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Ever since she was eight, Layla Thérèse knew she wanted to be a teacher. Though she grew up fully aware she'd face barriers living with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, even she wasn't ready for just how hard pursuing such a career would be.

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August 11, 2016
This advertisement which was made by Canadian Tire and was first aired for the promotion of the Rio olympics, introduces the concept on inclusion of all individuals in sports. In the advertisement, a child who is in a wheelchair is shown watching other children playing basketball. One child who is playing basketball decides to make the sport more inclusive so the child who is in the wheelchair can also participate. The purpose of this advertisement is to explain the importance of making sports inclusive for all individuals, especially for individuals with disabilities.

I believe this is an important issue which needs to be discussed by everyone, so solutions can be created to make sports more inclusive. In many situations, individuals with disabilities wish to participate in sports but cannot due to accessibility issues. In order to make sports more accessible for all individuals, different parts of society, such as schools, organizations, and clubs must create sport programs which are accessible for individuals with disabilities.
Gurmilan

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Calgary group ‘Between Friends’ gives people with disabilities sense of belonging

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Calgary group ‘Between Friends’ gives people with disabilities sense of belonging

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August 19, 2016
The Between Friends club of Calgary is an organization that provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in social and recreational activities. The Between Friends club includes staff members, volunteers, donors, and participants who work together to build on skills, specifically social skills. The club provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to meet people, make friends, to grow and develop skills, and have a sense of belonging. This club allows for individuals to build relations with other members of society and create an environment where they feel comfortable and safe. This club provides many different opportunities such as summer camps, barbecues, movie nights, bowling programs, and sleepovers.

I think that this is an excellent idea and must be implanted by more clubs/ organizations since it helps to promote social skills. In many cases, whether is be in school or in society, individuals with disabilities are not provided with opportunities to participate in activities and interact with peers. This club provides individuals with the opportunity to participate in activities which are popular amongst most children, but not with individuals with disabilities because often they are not given the chance due to issues related to accessibility.
Gurmilan

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The Between Friends club of Calgary, an organization that provides social and recreational activities to people with disabilities, hosted its Summer's End BBQ on Wednesday.

The event was attended by Between Friends staff, volunteers, donors and participants and included a barbeque and performance by music icon Tom Jackson.

"We're really giving people the opportunity to meet people to make friends, to grow and to develop skills so they can have a sense of belonging," said Suzanne Jackett, CEO of Between Friends.
READ MORE: Calgary's 'Enable' website connects people with disabilities to caregivers
The 750-member group is important to Calgarians as many people with disabilities are still largely marginalized and don't tend to have the same opportunities as others.

"It's really important in our community because people with disabilities are still on the outside," Jackett said.

"They're sort of on the outside looking in and what we're trying to create is an environment in a community and a city where everyone has the opportunity to belong."

There are many different opportunities through Between Friends, including its summer camp at Camp Bonaventure, bowling programs, movie nights and a residential sleepover camp in partnership with Easter Seals Camp Horizon.
READ MORE: Edmonton launches initiative to help those living with disabilities
Tom Jackson had his own reasons for participating in the event.

"I need to be around positive things and be able to take as much of that in as I can," Jackson said. "When I leave this park tonight, the first thing I'm going to do is I'm going to go share that with someone else."

Jackett knows that more acceptance would make all the difference in the world.

"It's opening your eyes and opening your mind to accept people with disabilities. We are way more alike than we are different and just giving people with disabilities a chance to participate and interact is what is going to make this world and this city a better place."
READ MORE: London mom creates #ToyLikeMe campaign, dolls to reflect children with disabilities

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Calgary group 'Between Friends' gives people with disabilities sense of belonging

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The Between Friends club of Calgary, an organization that provides social and recreational activities to people with disabilities, hosted its Summer's End BBQ on Wednesday. The event was attended by Between Friends staff, volunteers, donors and participants and included a barbeque and performance by music icon Tom Jackson.

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Labelling Students Without Providing Support is Ineffective   Students with a learning disability won't benefit from a written Individual Educational Plan (IEP) unless there is support given through an Educational Assistant, Para educator,  psychologists, or social workers. Labels given to students without an understanding of the need for and type of support required are indeed leaving students behind.
This was a good reminder of the importance of using the IEP as a working document everyday we support our students as Educational Assistants. By accessing this document we are ensuring evidence based strategies that can be implemented to ensure a student with a disability is optimally supported. We need to remember to use the IEP daily.
Diane

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Parents of a child with a learning disability can feel like they're on a "detective mission" within the education system.

The first clue they need is an individual education plan (IEP), which outlines what a child needs in the classroom and should suggest ways to help them learn.

But the IEP doesn't solve the case.

In fact, the bigger mystery for parents and teachers is often how to actually put the document to practical use.

Janet Ridsdale's been lucky navigating the education system with her 18-year-old son Derek, who has autism, cerebral palsy and an anxiety disorder.

Derek has attended schools specifically for children with disabilities and a typical school, and at both he's had the support he needs.

But the mother from Calgary might be the exception, partly because she was able to search out what Derek needed and be his advocate.

She's heard from many parents who are frustrated, confused and exhausted from trying to figure out the mysteries of the system.

"It's almost like you have to go on a detective mission to figure out what you're going to have to do to make the IEP something useful for your child," she said. "Not everybody has the time or the knowledge to do that."

Michelle McCullough, a special education teacher in York Region, north of Toronto, is supposed to spend half her day teaching a class of nine students with special needs and the other half in regular classrooms helping not only her students, but other children with less severe learning challenges.

It's also part of her job to assess students, write IEPs and have meetings with or about her students, but she says there's no time allotted for many of those tasks.

She says it can be a struggle for teachers in a typical classroom to meet the recommendations of various IEPs as well as the needs of all the other students.

"A lot of kids' needs are not being met," she told CBC News.

A nationwide problem

Canadian Teachers' Federation president Heather Smith says teachers can't teach to 30 students individually.

"A classroom teacher can't be an expert on every type of disability," she said.

Smith says teachers need access to other teachers who specialize in helping children with learning disabilities, as well as educational assistants and psychologists or social workers. She says the lack of support is a nationwide problem.

"Funding is based purely on numbers [of students] and not on need."

In her home province of New Brunswick, Smith says the only students with access to an educational assistant are those with serious medical needs or major behavioural problems, and children who need some extra support or attention aren't receiving it.

In B.C., teachers have lost the right to bargain about class composition, a ruling headed for the Supreme Court. This means teachers can have classrooms with more than seven students with IEPs, Smith said.

An education report in Newfoundland and Labrador released in June found the province has a serious lack of resources for students with special needs, which puts the entire system "under serious stress." The report recommends more student assistants and psychologists, and that funding decisions be based on needs and "generous in application."

Manitoba started to review its special education policy in 2015 and announced changes in January, including how schools apply for support funding.

The Saskatchewan government announced in June it will eliminate 14 teaching positions and 60 educational assistant positions.

Terminology without treatment

Judith Wiener, a professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, says there's a lot of terminology for children who struggle in the classroom, but schools aren't always using the best treatments and methods to help them.

"There's no point in giving a label unless you're also providing services," Wiener said.

For example, a child may have an IEP because of a learning disability that affects reading, Wiener said. A teacher modifies a test so the child has more time, but extra time isn't going to help if the child can't read it to begin with, she said.

"It isn't often enough that we're providing intensive help at that time."

Heidi Bernhardt, the executive director of the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada, says implementing an IEP doesn't always require additional resources.

It can be as simple as having a teacher check with a student about how to start a project, go over instructions or make slight modifications to homework.

"Most [ADHD] students are fine in a regular classroom. A lot of it has to do with the knowledge of the teacher and the goodwill of the teacher," she said.

Jacqueline Specht, the director of the Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education and professor at Western University, says a lot of money and resources are spent coming up with identifiers and IEPs, but it's not really helping teachers.

"I think a lot of times we do some damage when we identify and make people think that by having this identifier you know exactly what to do with a child," she said. "If you say, 'Here's a label, here's an IEP, you have to do something totally different,' we're giving that false sense that that's going to help people in a general kind of way."

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health/child and teen health/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

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Lots of labels but not enough resources for students with special needs

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Parents of a child with a learning disability can feel like they're on a "detective mission" within the education system. The first clue they need is an individual education plan (IEP), which outlines what a child needs in the classroom and should suggest ways to help them learn.

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Lakeshore Soccer Club shines light on young athletes with disabilities

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Lakeshore Soccer Club shines light on young athletes with disabilities

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August 27, 2016
It is difficult for children with autism and other disabilities to participate in sports and often are stuck on the sidelines. To ensure this is not the case, Lakeshore Soccer Club introduced the Super Sonics program which is designed for soccer players with disabilities. This program includes soccer players who have either autism or down syndrome and provides them with the opportunity to learn the cognitive skills associated with the game. The program includes players from the age of four to 19 years old and the program now has about 75 young athletes. All of the soccer players and their coaches, who are Special Olympics certified, get together every Saturday.

I think this is an excellent initiative as it allows all individuals regardless of disability to get together and join in a sport. In many cases, individuals with disabilities are not given the opportunity to participate in sports and be part of a team. This program allows individuals with disabilities to be leaders and learn how to be a part of team. This promotes confidence, independence, and communication with peers.
Gurmilan

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On any given Saturday morning, there's usually a lot of soccer going on.

With around 4,500 kids, it's usually pretty busy for the Lakeshore Soccer Club, but for those that have autism and other challenges, like Anthony Di Jiulio, at times, they're stuck on the sidelines.

"He wanted to be part of a sports activity," his mother, Maureen O'Toole, said. "He watched his sister play soccer for Lakeshore and he really wanted to also - at one point, all he wanted was to have a jersey, just like his big sister did."

So Lakeshore's director general, Kelly-Anne Soutter, gave Anthony his own jersey and a little more.

She spearheaded the Super Sonics program - designed for soccer players with disabilities - and it's been going strong for nearly a decade.

"Some of them don't have the ability to keep up with a 60 minute game or a 90 minute game," Soutter said. "So this is very developmental, it's not just a full game of competition - they're learning cognitive skills that are necessary for soccer."

Ranging from four to 19 years old, the program now has about 75 young athletes.

And every Saturday, each one of them gets to attend their own practice.

"The coaches they're all Special Olympics certified," Soutter said. "So they come out year round. We do this in the wintertime at John Abbott College and in the summer - all year long."

Parents explain that the program is about more than just soccer.

"It's that sense of self-worth that he has, that 'I can be part of something too.' It's very important," O'Toole said.

To help Anthony and the other Super Sonics celebrate the end of their season, Olympic bronze medalist, Rhian Wilkinson, came out to show support.

"It's really down to these big clubs to reach out into the community and make soccer available to as many children as possible," she said. "Obviously, I'm a big fan of the game and I want as many children, no matter what's going on in their lives, to have access to the game."

The West-Island native and former Lakeshore soccer player said she hopes to show kids that with a lot of hard work anything is possible.

Her advice for the Super Sonics and all the young athletes out there?

"There's always going to be this thing called luck but sometimes you make your own luck by being in the right place and putting in the work. So set your goals high and go for it," Wilkinson said.

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Lakeshore Soccer Club shines light on young athletes with disabilities

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On any given Saturday morning, there's usually a lot of soccer going on. With around 4,500 kids, it's usually pretty busy for the Lakeshore Soccer Club, but for those that have autism and other challenges, like Anthony Di Jiulio, at times, they're stuck on the sidelines.

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This 19 year old student with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy  is driving a car using a joystick. This system can be installed in the car but the cost is $70. 000 . The Government does not pay for this service because driving is not considered medically necessary. He can use voice activator to use the blinker by saying where he would like to go (left, right).

This is absolutely incredible to see how the technology progresses and make an opportunity for people with disabilities. It give them sense of independence, self confidence and purpose to look forward to something in their lives.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/18-year-old-ubc-student-with-disability-first-in-canada-to-use-swiss-driving-system-1.3789317
Zuzana

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UBC student with disability first in Canada to use joystick driving system

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RJ Mitte actor on breaking bad...living with cerebral palsy....Oct 10th. 2016 

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RJ Mitte actor on breaking bad...living with cerebral palsy....Oct 10th. 2016 

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Being a fan of the amc Breaking Bad series, left me interested in knowing more about Walter Jr  who plays a young teen with cerebral palsy, Walter Jr is played by RJ Mitte a real life person with cp, having cp hasn't slowed in down, besides acting he models as well. What do I like about the character Walter Jr? Even though in the show Walter Jr has cp, which causes difficulty in speech and impairment in his motor skills. He is still a typical teenage boy who acts out and rebel against his parents. disability or not, he's just a teenage boy. His disability doesn't slow him down, he rebels by asking his parents to call him Flynn, asking his best friend to teach him how to drive. and also using fowl language towards his parents, his disability hasn't defined him and he is still capable of doing everything just in his own way. I love this character because he doesn't allow his disability to take over his life and he lives his life as a teen is suppose to. I also like that the writers and producers didn't make his character a stereotypical child with cerebral palsy.

saved by Lexcia

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RJ Mitte of 'Breaking Bad' on Living with Cerebral Palsy

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Accessible Icon Project would like to change the decade old icon into more active icon. Professor Glenney who was working on this project said that we re-examine the way we think of people with disabilities. There is a lot of controversy  where some of the people say the sticker does not represent them.
I believe that change is good sometimes, however I am not sure if this transformation is necessary.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/wheelchair-movement-pushes-more-active-view-of-people-with-disabilities-1.3815429
Zuzana

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It started as a guerilla graffiti movement to change not just the wheelchair icon but also they way we see people with disabilities.

Brian Glenney, a graffiti artist and philosophy professor at Norwich University in Vermont, and a friend noticed a more active looking wheelchair symbol at his local Marshalls store in 2010 - the arm of the person was back to push the wheel, which had small lines indicating movement next to it.

"This is cool. This helps us kind of disrupt our view of people with disabilities and help us reimagine this, but we don't want a corporate one, we want one for the people," Glenney said.

Glenney is at McNally Robinson in Winnipeg tonight to talk about his guerilla campaign to change wheelchair signs and why his image should be adopted everywhere.

In his image, the person in the chair leans forward with one arm up, clearly representing motion.

"So if you want to emphasize something when you're writing a document, you boldface it, you italicize it. We essentially did that with the old international symbol of access, moving forward, italicized, in motion, right - active," Glenney said.

After he spent years putting his own stickers showing the new icon over the old symbol, two U.S states have adopted it.

"New York and Connecticut [adopted] the symbol full scale, and in adopting the symbol, they also changed the language from the word 'handicapped' to 'reserved' or 'access space,'" Glenney said.

Nanaimo, B.C., is the only Canadian city so far to adopt the new symbol, but other communities are petitioning to change their symbols, Glenney said.

It is not without controversy, though.

Glenney admitted there are some within the community who say the new icon does not represent them.

"Like if you have visual deficits or auditory deficits, if you have very very significant disabilities, you're not mobile, they feel it's ableist," Glenny said.

Glenney said they make a good point and their objections provide an opportunity to continue to re-examine the ways we think about people with disabilities.

However, Glenney said, symbols aren't meant to represent; they are mostly there to act as guideposts for wayfinding.

The free public lecture is Friday at 7:30 p.m at McNally Robinson Booksellers on Grant Avenue.

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Wheelchair movement pushes more active view of people with disabilities

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It started as a guerilla graffiti movement to change not just the wheelchair icon but also they way we see people with disabilities. Brian Glenney, a graffiti artist and philosophy professor at Norwich University in Vermont, and a friend noticed a more active looking wheelchair symbol at his local Marshalls store in 2010 - the arm of the person was back to push the wheel, which had small lines indicating movement next to it.

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Blind Saskatoon dad says disability has nothing to do with parenting

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Blind Saskatoon dad says disability has nothing to do with parenting

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November 10, 2016
This online article is about Gerry Nelson, who lost his sight due to diabetes after his twenty-fifth birthday, and his parenting experiences. The purpose of this article is to explain that the loss of sight does not mean that an individual cannot be a parent. The disability does not take away from Gerry being a hands-on, interactive, and involved one hundred percent type of parent. Although there are challenges that do arise and to outsiders their family may not always appear to be “normal”, the gave Wyatt (Gerry’s Son) the chance to learn important lessons about the opinions of strangers, and provided him with the opportunity to educate others about parenting with disabilities.

I believe this is an excellent article which outlines that parenting is not dependent on the disability. There are many ways in which parents can be excellent role models and mentors for their child, even if that approach may not be the norm of society. Parents with disabilities are able to educate their children and further provide them with the opportunity to teach other members of society about the benefits disability has on parenting. I believe that the child becomes more understanding of disabilities and helps them be more aware of the issues and challenges present in society. This example helps educate individuals and provides the opportunity to remove stereotypes in relation to disability and parenting.
Gurmilan

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Thu, Nov 10: A father who lost his eyesight before his son was born says disability has nothing to do with parenting. In part three of "parenting with a disability," Julie Mintenko reintroduces you to Gerry Nelson.

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Blind Saskatoon dad says disability has nothing to do with parenting | Watch News Videos Online

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Thu, Nov 10: A father who lost his eyesight before his son was born says disability has nothing to do with parenting. In part three of "parenting with a disability," Julie Mintenko reintroduces you to Gerry Nelson.

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Contest encouraging rural entrepreneurs with disability returns

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Contest encouraging rural entrepreneurs with disability returns

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January 16, 2017
Community Futures which is located in Saskatchewan and Manitoba first launched the Just Watch Me contest which is part of the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP). This contest provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to share their business ideas and promote them as leaders of society. The purpose of this contest is to support small business leaders in their path to success, while educating the public on the diverse workforce. In order to enter the contest, individuals must create a two to three minute video which informs the judges about their business success. The entrepreneur who receives the most public votes on the contest website will be declared the winner. Prizes include a number of cash and business support services which are provides by a number of local businesses and organizations.

I think this is a great initiative and provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to share their ideas with other individuals and local businesses. This contest helps individuals promote their business and increase their customer profile. This contest helps individuals build confidence and promotes independence in relation to their business and the choices they make.
Gurmilan

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First launched in 2011 by Community Futures, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the Just Watch Me contest is part of the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP).

The contest initially started with just a few entries, but spread by word of mouth and it's been gaining in popularity each year. Some contestants who initially competed as startup entrepreneurs came back to compete in the seasoned category.
READ MORE: Manitoba teen wins contest for entrepreneurs with disabilities
EDP manager Susan Bater was excited about the 2016-17 launch and the potential to support small business leaders in their path to success, but also to educate the public on our diverse workforce, seeing abilities and people first.

"We ask entrepreneurs to enter the contest, do a quick two to three minute video telling us about their business success, so we can let everybody know," Bater said.

"We have a lot of great stories."

The contest has two categories: Startup Entrepreneur or Seasoned Entrepreneur. Each participant creates a profile on themselves and their rural business, and includes a video. The deadline to submit is Jan. 25, 2017.

According to the contest website, the videos are judged by a dynamic group of individuals from the business and disability community. The top four contestants in the seasoned entrepreneur category move to online public voting starting Feb. 1, 2017. The entrepreneur who receives the most public votes will be declared the winner on Feb. 17, 2017.

A number of local businesses and organizations are supporting the contest and helping provide prizes, including cash and business support services.

Nail The Numbers, BlackSun Inc., Square One, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce and Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc. are a few local examples.

All participants that create a business profile are entered into a draw for $100, plus they receive a guaranteed prize. Top prizes include $250 cash and prizes for a Saskatchewan winner and Manitoba winner in the startup category.

In the seasoned category, there are cash prizes for first, second, third and fourth place topping out at $1000 cash plus prizes. The first place winner in the seasoned entrepreneur category also gets $5000 worth of social media services from Exchange Digital PR.

The contest's website has a list of the business support prizes from those participating sponsors.
READ MORE: Dreams keep coming true for winner of 'Just Watch Me' contest
Most importantly though, entrepreneurs are helping create an encouraging environment for others wishing to pursue a similar path, but who fear coming up against the stereotypes that still exist today around disability.

They get the word out about their business, and show communities across both provinces what is possible. Rural entrepreneurs also tend to get less traffic and attention compared to their large city counterparts, which is the reason the contest focuses on smaller communities.

"All the entrepreneurs say you know the prizes are fantastic, but we really love the votes, and really love the community support," Bater said.

"So you just really want the public to come and embrace the contest, follow us on Twitter @EDPJustWatchMe, and come back when it's time to vote."
READ MORE: Parenting with a disability: Spinal cord injury
Janie Gaudet, a 2015 contestant who won the Startup Saskatchewan Entrepreneur is back, entering the seasoned entrepreneur category this time. She hopes to see other entrepreneurs with disabilities or health challenges participate, and promises them a great experience.

"I didn't know about Square One. I didn't know about Community Futures and all those people that are out there cheering for you," Gaudet said.

"It's really energizing, and just helps you hold your head up and keep on going."

Global Saskatoon anchor Julie Mintenko is the Just Watch Me contest social media ambassador for 2016-17.

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Contest encouraging rural entrepreneurs with disability returns

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First launched in 2011 by Community Futures, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the Just Watch Me contest is part of the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP). The contest initially started with just a few entries, but spread by word of mouth and it's been gaining in popularity each year.

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‘Lazy is not a disability’: City of Edmonton reminds drivers accessible stalls are for those with disabilities

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‘Lazy is not a disability’: City of Edmonton reminds drivers accessible stalls are for those with disabilities

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November 21, 2016
During the busy holiday season, drivers are reminded to not park in accessible stalls unless they have an official placard. The designated parking spots are for people with disabilities and provides them with safe access to both businesses and residences. Many individuals are seen to be abusing this right and this causes challenges for individuals with an official placard. It is important that members of society are reminded about the importance of keeping accessible parking spaces available for individuals who are in need of them.

I believe this is an important issue and have seen it done by many individuals even when they do not have an official placard. This further causes challenges for individuals with disabilities as they do not have parking spaces which are easily accessible and have a shorter walking distances to businesses and residences. It is necessary that all individuals respect this right and understand importance of these parking spaces.
Gurmilan

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Just in time for the busy holiday season, Edmonton drivers are being reminded not to park in accessible stalls unless they have an official placard.

Mayor Don Iveson is urging Edmontonians to work together to ensure accessible parking stalls are available for people with reduced mobility.

"These parking stalls are a necessity for people with disabilities, providing them with safe access to residences and businesses," Iveson said.

"Unfortunately, it is quite common," Troy Courtoreille, co-ordinator with the City of Edmonton's Community Standards Branch, said. "Even though we're actively patrolling and ticketing, we suspect we're only seeing a small portion of the total infractions on a daily basis."

So far this year, more than 3,200 parking tickets have been issued for parking illegally in an accessible parking stall.

That's why the City of Edmonton has designated Nov. 21-25 as Accessible Parking Week with the tag line: "Lazy is not a disability."
READ MORE: Edmonton cracks down on drivers illegally parking in disabled stalls
There are approximately 150,000 accessible parking stalls in the city for residents who have impaired or lower mobility.

"By respecting the need for designated parking stalls, we create an inclusive city where all Edmontonians can actively participate in our community," Coun. Tony Caterina said.

"As we near the holiday season, our shopping centres are getting busier which means parking is at a high demand," he added. "That's why the City of Edmonton is reminding people about the importance of keeping accessible parking stalls free for people who need them."

The fine for parking in an accessible stall illegally is $250. Drivers are also subject to towing and impound fees.

"Since 2014, the City of Edmonton has had to issue over 10,000 tickets for people parked illegally- that's averaging about 3,600 tickets per year," Courtoreille said. "I think there's very much an attitude where they're just not conscious of how they're affecting citizens who need these stalls."

"Laziness is not a disability and we're really encouraging citizens to park responsibly," he said.

Demand for parking placards has increased from 20,000 in 1992 to about 154,000 in 2016.

"Even a few seconds of blocking one of these stalls affects the quality of life of our citizens," Courtoreille added.

"It won't always be obvious to you that someone needs an accessible parking space," Erin Jackson said.

Jackson sits on the city's Accessible Advisory Committee and uses a wheelchair herself.

She's heard all of the excuses.

"'I'm only going in for one minute,' or, 'I'm just picking someone up.' It's just one of those things we don't put our minds to and we need to keep those spots open for residents that really need them."

Residents who see someone parked illegally can call 311 or the non-emergency complaint line at 780-423-5467. Parking officers can be dispatched to investigate.

Parking permits for people with disabilities are issued by Alberta Transportation.
with files from Slav Kornik

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'Lazy is not a disability': City of Edmonton reminds drivers accessible stalls are for those with disabilities

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Just in time for the busy holiday season, Edmonton drivers are being reminded not to park in accessible stalls unless they have an official placard. Mayor Don Iveson is urging Edmontonians to work together to ensure accessible parking stalls are available for people with reduced mobility.

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High unemployment rate for people with disabilities force Government to tackle this issue and find a solution.

We all have right to have a job and support ourselves or our families. Why is it different with people with disabilities? It shows that the perception that the person with disability won't be able to handle or do the job correctly is still there.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/disabilities-employment-legislation-1.3968555
Zuzana

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The minister tasked with crafting laws to make Canada more accessible to people with disabilities says employment will be a key focus of her efforts.

Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, says removing accessibility barriers will be crucial to tackling long-standing high jobless rates among the country's disabled population.

Qualtrough says most aspects of the anticipated Canadians with Disabilities Act will address employment issues in some way, citing examples such as targeted programs or improving building standards that might make future workplaces more accessible.

Data has long shown that Canadians with disabilities are greatly under-employed compared to their non-disabled counterparts, with multiple studies finding that only half of disabled Canadians have found work.

Qualtrough says details of the Canadians with Disabilities Act are still in the works, adding a series of 18 consultations across the country will play a key part in shaping the new laws.

She says she hopes to have the act before parliament by this time next year.

The prospective act, which disability rights advocates have been seeking for years, would govern areas that fall under federal jurisdiction. Major examples include financial services such as banks, telecommunications, and interprovincial transportation.

Accessibility strategies

Only Ontario and Manitoba currently have provincial accessibility legislation on the books, though other provinces including Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland have all expressed interest in addressing accessibility strategies. Qualtrough said the federal act has to be written to work alongside existing provincial laws without encroaching on their areas of jurisdiction.

The sweeping legislation, which may tackle everything from building codes to customer service standards, all have potential to improve Canada's stubbornly high unemployment figures for people with disabilities, she said.

"Everything impacts employment," Qualtrough said in an interview. "If you don't have a building environment that's accessible, you can't work there. If you don't have the transportation that gets you there, you can't work there. If you don't have technology that's accessible, you can't work there. All roads lead back to employment in some way. So in that regard, absolutely employment will be impacted quite significantly by this law."

High unemployment rate

Two years ago, Statistics Canada released figures putting the employment rate for disabled Canadians at 49 per cent, compared to 79 per cent for the general population. An online poll commissioned by CIBC last month reached a similar conclusion, saying only half of respondents living with a disability have a full- or part-time job.

Qualtrough said employment barriers were a recurring theme in the 17 consultations already held across Canada in a bid to seek input on the new act. The last such session is slated to take place in Toronto this week.

The issue has long been recognized as a pressing concern for the disabled community, but some advocates are skeptical that it can be handled through legislation.

Joe Dale, executive director of the Ontario Disability Employment Network, said laws can only go so far towards including people with disabilities in the workforce.

The sort of change required is more rooted in attitudes and cultures rather than government rules, he said, adding laws can't necessarily do much to dispel misconceptions about people with disabilities or argue the business case for exploring a largely untapped talent pool.

"To build legislation that has an employment focus where one of the biggest barriers is attitudinal and bias is a tough thing to do in legislature and it's a tougher thing to sell," he said. "Typically all these types of things end up getting people to the point of interview ... but it can't necessarily guarantee they're going to get through the door."

Business advantages to hires

Qualtrough said Ottawa is keenly aware of the business advantages of hiring people with disabilities, saying research has shown such candidates are frequently well educated, inclined to remain loyal to an employer and highly innovative after years of navigating societal systems that can leave them at a disadvantage.

She said the consultation sessions have illustrated the need to take a direct approach with the new act and think beyond simply accommodating would-be employees.

"We really need to change the conversation around disability generally from one of need and inabilities and retrofitting and accommodation to one of inclusion," she said. "It's time we started looking at people as contributing members of society instead of burdens on society."

Another key message to emerge from the consultations, she said, is the need for the federal act to have strong enforcement powers.

Canadians have been clear that an act without teeth will fall short of the mark, she said, adding the government has not yet decided how enforcement mechanisms would look.

Possible accessibility commissioner

Qualtrough did not rule out the idea of introducing an accessibility commissioner who would oversee complaints related to the new law.

Nor did she eliminate the idea of maintaining the current system, which sees complaints of discrimination based on disability come before provincial and federal human rights commissions.

She acknowledged that the current system leaves something to be desired.

"The fundamental flaw with our current system is that it's for the most part reactive," she said. "You have to wait until someone's discriminated against, you have to wait until someone's denied ... a service, a house, whatever.

"Then people swoop in and two to three years later we tell you, 'you're right, you shouldn't have been denied."'

Eliminating that flaw is one of several demands made by Barrier-Free Canada, an advocacy organization that has been crusading for federal legislation.

"(The act) should not simply incorporate the existing procedures for filing discrimination complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission or under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as these are too slow and cumbersome, and can yield inadequate remedies," the organization writes on its list of principles.

Other demands include strict timelines for the country to comply with the new laws and a call for all provinces to enact accessibility legislation of their own.

Qualtrough said it's too early to speculate on timelines or other particulars of the act before the law is drafted. She said she hopes that process will be complete by the end of the year.

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Government working to boost job prospects for disabled Canadians | CBC News

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The minister tasked with crafting laws to make Canada more accessible to people with disabilities says employment will be a key focus of her efforts. Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, says removing accessibility barriers will be crucial to tackling long-standing high jobless rates among the country's disabled population.

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Special Education Has Made Huge Strides, However there Is Still More Support Needed.

Special education has made huge strides however there is still a lot that needs to be done to support students. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a model used to develop learners who can access their own learning needs and providing access to students  with various learning styles. Having said that, it is often the class size and ratio of students needs that prevents UDL from making the strides it was created for. Students with a learning disability can sink when they do not have adequate support with a knowledge of how to accommodate and modify as required.
Our jobs as E/A's continue to promote access and inclusion as we week to support with the knowledge and practices we have developed.
What types UDL activities have you observed? How do you think you as an E/A can support the teacher as she seek to implement this in a class with varied abilities?
Diane

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Sixty years ago, a child with special needs would have never seen the inside of a classroom.

Fifty years ago, his or her acceptance was at the discretion of a school board - an administrative body holding the power to bar a child from learning because it was simply too much of an inconvenience.

It wasn't until 1979 that provincial legislation was amended to say a school "shall" accept a student with special needs, rather than the discretionary "may."

With a change in legislation and a shift in attitudes towards special needs children, the line between regular and special needs classrooms slowly began to blur.

That blurred line has since disappeared in many classrooms in Newfoundland and Labrador, where inclusive education sees children of various needs placed together in the same learning environment.

During CBC's Inside the Classroom education forum, teachers from across the province expressed frustration and utter dismay at how the inclusion model has been implemented.

Teachers say they do not have the proper resources at their disposal to handle students with a vast range of special needs, from learning disabilities, to mental illnesses and behavioural disorders.

So, why not?

Money talks, teachers walk

Complaints of being understaffed are nothing new.

In a critical analysis of Newfoundland and Labrador's special education system in 2000, Alan Edmunds reported that teachers were upset at a lack of resources and a larger workload. They believed inclusion was a cost-saving measure by the province, rather than a well-intentioned initiative.

Sixteen years later, a provincial budget - which took no prisoners in any part of the province - bucked the overall trend of growth in education spending across Canada in the last decade.

In total, $50.9 million was cut from the education and early childhood development budget for this school year - the largest cut from any government department - and 142 jobs were allocated for the rollout of full-day kindergarten.

This move stripped resources from regular classrooms and moved them to the kindergarten program. That left many teachers without instructional resource teachers to assist them in their inclusive classrooms.

Growing pains

Special education evolved into inclusion in the decades since the integration of special needs kids into regular schools. Models have come and gone, and the definition of inclusion has seen changes.

By the 1990s, students with exceptionalities started their education in the regular classroom and were placed in separate classrooms if a special need was identified.

Teachers would then work with the student and his or her parents to tailor a unique strategy for the student's learning - known as an individual support services plan (ISSP).

The method was met with criticism from teachers and experts, including David Philpott, a professor at Memorial University and a current member of the premier's task force on education.

'Policy and practice must change if the needs of students are to remain central to the focus of education.'
- David Philpott, Memorial University professor

By 2007, Philpott and a commission of educators had called down the model, saying it was no longer feasible.

"The commission is concerned that too many students are receiving ineffective programs," he wrote.

"Policy and practice must change if the needs of students are to remain central to the focus of education. That change has to begin now."

A change in philosophy

The idea of inclusion has since moved away from focusing on each individual as problems arise, and instead targets a broader way to reach everybody from the start.

"We are moving towards an idea of universal design for learning," said Gabrielle Young, a special education professor at Memorial University. "[That] means you have to get to know your students from the very beginning, get to know who they are, and plan accordingly."

The idea was adapted from architecture - make a building accessible from the beginning, rather than tacking on additions like wheelchair ramps and elevators as the needs arise.

An initiative began in 2009 to bring schools into the new inclusion model. They were placed in one of eight groups, with a new group being trained into the model each year.

'Having an extra teacher being plopped into a classroom every third day ... can actually be more destructive.'
- Gabrielle Young, Memorial University professor

The new system still allows for children to be moved away from the regular classroom and requires plenty of planning and creativity, Young said.

It also requires the dedication of instructional resource teachers on more than a part-time basis.

"It cannot be placed solely on the classroom teacher," Young said.

"Having an extra teacher being plopped into a classroom every third day ... can actually be more destructive."

It's not easy, but they'll keep trying

The evolution of special education has seen students move from the basement to the classroom - an undeniable victory for equality and human rights.

While the teachers featured on Inside the Classroom agreed wholeheartedly with the intention, they do not see inclusion as a realistic method under the current conditions of the province's education system.

Inconsistent implementation, ambiguous philosophies and government budget cuts have affected the progress of inclusive education in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The result, teachers say, is a lack of dedicated resources and a mess of stress.

Craig Tucker, a junior high and high school teacher in central Newfoundland, showed the frustration in his voice as he summed up his feelings on the topic.

"When you have a large class with a lot of exceptionalities, you are spread very, very thin," he said.

He was then asked how his colleagues cope with the realities they are facing.

"You do your best," he replied.

"Our system is run by teachers who are constantly under pressure, but who are always making it work. But I wonder how long that's going to continue."

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social affairs/social issues/human rights and civil liberties

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From exile to inclusion: Special education makes big strides, but problems persist

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Sixty years ago, a child with special needs would have never seen the inside of a classroom. Fifty years ago, his or her acceptance was at the discretion of a school board - an administrative body holding the power to bar a child from learning because it was simply too much of an inconvenience.

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A new puppet was introduced in Sesame Street. Her name is Julia and she has autism.
The most challenging part for creator of the show was how to "normalize" autism to children.  Many educators and psychologists are consulted to create this character.

It's about the time to stop looking at children with disabilities as some kind of aliens. They are who they are, and in many cases they are very smart children. I love the idea that they are showing how to approach child with autism and do not give up to be a "friend" even if the child seem unresponsive to feelings.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/julia-sesame-street-new-muppet-autism/
Zuzana

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Update: The following is a script from "New Kid on the Street," which aired on March 19, 2017. Lesley Stahl is the correspondent. Shari Finkelstein, producer. Nieves Zuberbuhler, associate producer. "Sesame Street" will air the special episode "Meet Julia" Monday, April 10 on HBO and PBS KIDS. First episode of "Sesame Street": Sally, you've never seen a street like Sesame Street. Everything happens here!
There are not many shows on television that deserve to be called true American institutions - but one of them is surely "Sesame Street." It's been on the air now for almost 50 years. When Sesame Street began in 1969, it was considered an experiment. The question: Could television be used to educate young children? Well, research proved the answer to be yes, and the nonprofit children's television workshop -- now called Sesame Workshop -- that created the show, has been refining and expanding that mission ever since, everything from ABC's and 123's, to race, and even death. In a few weeks, Sesame Street -- which now airs on HBO as well as its longtime home on PBS -- will take on its latest challenge: introducing a new kid on the street. A Muppet named Julia, who has autism.
Bert: Hey Ernie, do you know that you, uh, have a banana in your ear? Ernie: What was that, Bert?
For many of us, these opening notes are a trip down memory lane.
Bert: Will you just take that banana out of your ear?! Ernie: I'm sorry you'll have to speak a little louder, Bert. I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear!
To a street we watched as kids, with our kids, or both.
Abby: It was a little awkward. Whaaaaaa! [gets knocked over by Big Bird's tail] Big Bird: I'm sorry!
With Muppet characters as known and beloved as any human TV star.

Today, almost half a century later, "Sesame Street" is shot on a soundstage in Astoria, Queens, with one of the cameramen who filmed the first episode still on the job. The "Sesame Street" set is a vibrant, upbeat place, with puppeteers on rolling stools down below, and the furry and feathery creatures they bring to life in the sometimes crowded space above.
Big Bird: Oh, hi Julia. I'm Big Bird. Nice to meet you. Oh. Julia?
The puppeteers figure out how to position their Muppet by watching the scene on monitors.

The day we visited, they were filming the debut of the new Muppet character, Julia, who has autism. The story begins with Julia's friends, Muppets Elmo and Abby Cadabby, introducing her to Big Bird.

But Big Bird is confused when Julia doesn't respond.

"I would love her to be not Julia, the kid on 'Sesame Street' who has autism. I would like her to be just Julia." Christine Ferraro, writer

Christine Ferraro: I think the big discussion right at the start was, "How do we do this? How do we talk about autism?"

Christine Ferraro has been a writer at Sesame Street for 25 years, during which time the frequency of autism diagnoses has multiplied.
Abby: Julia, you're so creative! Julia: [laughs and flaps]
Lesley Stahl: The chances of a little kid two, three, four years old having some kind of a relationship with another kid with autism is pretty high.

Christine Ferraro: Exactly. Especially once they hit school age, because they'll be in their classrooms.

But how to portray autism?

Christine Ferraro: It's tricky because autism is not one thing, because it is different for every single person who has autism. There is an expression that goes, "If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism."

"Sesame Street" has always based its characters and content on extensive research. They regularly bring in educators and child psychologists. In the case of Julia, they also worked with autism organizations to decide which characteristics she should have and how best to normalize autism for all children.

"There is an expression that goes, 'If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism.'" Christine Ferraro, writer

Christine Ferraro: So that when they encounter them in their real life it's familiar. And they see that these-- these can be their friends too.

Abby: Hi, Miss Lesley, you look very shiny and beautiful today.

Lesley Stahl: Well so do you.

During a break in the filming, Julia and her friends did for us what they're hoping to do for millions with this episode...

Lesley Stahl: And hi, Julia.

...help the audience understand when a child with autism doesn't react the way one might expect.

Lesley Stahl: Big Bird, when you first met Julia-

Big Bird: Uh-huh.

Lesley Stahl: --she didn't answer you either.

Big Bird: Yeah that's right. And I thought that maybe she didn't like me.

Elmo: Yeah, but you know, we had to explain to Big Bird that Julia likes Big Bird. It's just that Julia has autism. So sometimes it takes her a little longer to do things.
Oscar: What do you want?
Lesley Stahl: You're explaining her, 'cause you've come to understand her so well.

Elmo: Well-- we're pretty good at understanding people. We live with a grouch.

"Sesame Street" has been around so long now that it's hard to remember a time before children's television waseducational. But Sesame Street's creator Joan Ganz Cooney remembers it well.

Joan Ganz Cooney: It was just nutty cartoons with no purpose at all. I mean, I would watch them and just be appalled.

Lesley Stahl: As you're talking, I'm seeing a cat slam against a wall, be reduced to nothing, slide down, and come back to life.

Joan Ganz Cooney: Yes, that was commercial television.

Ganz cooney, then a public television producer, was asked by the Carnegie Corporation to study whether television could be something different.
Beer ad song: You can't beat the fresh creamy taste of Piel's...
Joan Ganz Cooney: The question being, "Do you think television could teach children?"

Ironically, she says the answer was right in front of her and everyone else, in beer.

Joan Ganz Cooney: They were singing beer commercials, children were. Well, so obviously, they had learned-

Lesley Stahl: They'd learned the jingle?
Sesame Street: "Boys and girls, have you met, the 26 letters called the alphabet.... A, B, C,"
Joan Ganz Cooney: So if a commercial could teach beer, couldn't it teach one-- one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10?
Girl: 8, 9, 9, 10, 11. You got pretty eyes. Kermit: So do you.
Joan Ganz Cooney: And we did. We created little commercials.
Big Bird: Tada! Adults: Oh, look at that. Big Bird: I can't wait 'til he sees it. Say, where is he?
The new show had a particular target: low-income children who were arriving at school less prepared than their middle-class peers. So Ganz Cooney deliberately made the set a gritty New York street urban kids could relate to, with an interracial cast that got the show banned early on in Mississippi. Nationwide, though, it was a hit. Kids -- and parents -- loved Jim Henson's Muppets.

And testing showed kids who watched were learning. Sometimes the lessons were about real life, as when the actor who played beloved shopkeeper Mr. Hooper passed away, and the show decided to address the subject of death head on.
Maria: Uh, don't you remember we told you Mr. Hooper died. He's dead. Big Bird: Oh yeah, I remember. I'll give it to him when he comes back. Susan: Big Bird, when, when people die, they don't come back. Big Bird: Ever?
Lesley Stahl: You could have changed actors.
Gulliver: In my neighborhood, birds only play with birds, so I'm not playing with a Snuffleupagus. Snuffy: Ohhh, that hurts my feelings.
Joan Ganz Cooney: Yes. But we decided " Sesame Street " had always dealt with the real. And it was real, and so we decided not to just replace him and call the man Mr. Hooper and hope they didn't notice.
Abby holding up drawings of houses: This one is where I live with my Mommy, and this one is where I live with my Daddy.
Over the years, "Sesame Street" did segments about other challenging subjects, like skin color, disabilities, and prejudice.
Elmo (w/ kid and dad with prosthetic hand): It's like a robot hand.
Less well known is a branch of Sesame, separate from the TV show, that creates online videos like this and other materials. They're called social impact initiatives and they're targeted at specific communities of kids.
Muppet: My dad's in jail.
Like children of divorce, kids from military families..

And the nearly three million kids with a parent incarcerated.

The focus on autism began as one of these social impact projects -- with videos.

Boy w/ bubbles, mom v/o: My son Louie is 6, and he has autism.

"It means that our kids are important enough to be seen in society. Having Julia on the show and seeing all of the characters treat her with compassion...it's huge." Stacey Gordon, puppeteer

And an online animated storybook about a little girl named Julia. The initiative was so well-received, sesame decided to bring Julia to the broadcast, which meant designing a new Muppet.

Rollie Krewson: This is our eye drawer.

Lesley Stahl: Look at that, my goodness.

This is where Muppets are born, at the Jim Henson workshop, at the work station of master puppet creator Rollie Krewson.

Rollie Krewson: The male eyes have no eyelashes. And the female eye have eyelashes.

Lesley Stahl: Because Julia has autism, were there special challenges in building her?

Rollie Krewson: Yes actually, because when she gets upset, she flaps her hands. So she has two separate sets of arms. She has a set of arms that does this. ( ARMS FLAP) And then she has a set of arms when she's fine and OK. So they would switch on set.

And of course every Muppet needs a puppeteer. But not every puppeteer has the connection Stacey Gordon does to the role. Gordon is the mother of a son with autism. She traveled all the way from Phoenix to audition for the part.

Lesley Stahl: The idea that there will be a child with autism on Sesame Street -

Stacey Gordon: Yeah.

Lesley Stahl: Tell me what that means to you.

Stacey Gordon: It means that our kids are important enough to be seen in society. Having Julia on the show and seeing all of the characters treat her with compassion-

Lesley Stahl: And like her.

Stacey Gordon: And like her.

Lesley Stahl: That's big.
Julia: Noise noise. Alan: The sirens are bothering you?
Stacey Gordon: Yeah, it's huge.
Julia: Break break.
Gordon told us she channeled her own son's experiences for a tough scene where Julia's heightened sensitivity to noise triggers a meltdown.

Stacey Gordon: It's important for kids without autism to see what autism can look like.

Stacey Gordon: Had my son's friends been exposed to his behaviors through something that they had seen on TV before they experienced them in the classroom, they might not have been frightened. They might not have been worried when he cried. They would have known that he plays in a different way and that that's OK.

Lesley Stahl: He didn't have that.

Stacey Gordon: He didn't-

Lesley Stahl: But maybe-

Stacey Gordon: --have that.
Abby: You want to play now, Julia? Julia: Play, play, play.
Lesley Stahl: --kids from now on will.

Stacey Gordon: And that's a beautiful thing.
Abby: Oh Julia, you're bouncing like a rubber ball. Boing, boing, boing. Elmo: Boing, boing. Julia: Boing.
Also beautiful to Gordon, the message of inclusion at the heart of one of the episode's most memorable scenes.

Christine Ferraro: They decide to play tag together. But Julia's so excited that she's jumping up and down. That's a thing that can be typical of some kids with autism.
Elmo: This is fun, Julia. Abby: Hey, it's a whole new game! It's boing tag! Julia: [tags her] Boing! Abby: [screams] Ah! Now I'm it! Big Bird: You know, I think I'd like to be a friend of Julia too.
Christine Ferraro: And then it turns into a game where they're all jumping like her. So it was a very easy way to show that with a very slight accommodation they can meet her where she is.

And get something out of it themselves.

Lesley Stahl: She is going to be a recurring character?

Christine Ferraro: That's the hope.

Lesley Stahl: And will she become a major character?

Christine Ferraro: We'll see.

Lesley Stahl: You'd like to have her become a major character, I can see.

Christine Ferraro: I would-- I would love her to be. I would love her to be not Julia, the kid on "Sesame Street" who has autism. I would like her to be just Julia.

Elmo: Yeah, we really like Julia. She's really special to us, Miss Lesley.

Lesley Stahl: Julia, are you having fun with your new friends?

Julia: Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun.

Elmo: That's a yes.

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Newest "Sesame Street" Muppet has autism: Meet Julia

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Update: The following is a script from "New Kid on the Street," which aired on March 19, 2017. Lesley Stahl is the correspondent. Shari Finkelstein, producer. Nieves Zuberbuhler, associate producer. "Sesame Street" will air the special episode "Meet Julia" Monday, April 10 on HBO and PBS KIDS.

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Canadian Association for Community Living April 3, 2017

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Canadian Association for Community Living April 3, 2017

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Community Living Sees Some Positive Changes to the Federal Budget

Canadians with Intellectual and other disabilities may see some positive steps being taken in the Federal budget. These inclusions will make positive gains by increasing accessibility and removing barriers in federal jurisdiction.
These budget changes will also have an impact on those living in rural and remote areas enabling greater access.

As we see changes being made to promote inclusion, increase accessibility and heighten the awareness for those living with a disability, this communicates equal opportunity and mutual respect.
Diane

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Federal Budget 2017 proposes new and expanded investments with significant potential for making a positive impact on the social and economic well-being of Canadians with intellectual and other disabilities and their families. The Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) believes this potential can be maximized by attaching clear accountabilities, principles and conditions to these investments. This will make sure they make positive gains in building an inclusive and accessible Canada. We hope to see these requirements confirmed soon.
Encouraging Highlights:

Inclusive National Housing Strategy - a commitment to invest $11.2 billion over 11 years in initiatives to "build, renew and repair Canada's stock of affordable housing and help ensure that Canadians have affordable housing that meets their needs." $5 billion of this commitment is to be invested in a newNational Housing Fund to pool resources among housing development partners, provide access to low-cost loans for repair and renewal of housing units and development of new affordable housing, and to provide upfront capital contributions for development. CACL is very encouraged by the creation of this fund and is working with non-profit and private sector partners to develop the 'My Home My Community' initiative for inclusive affordable housing development. The new National Housing Fund seems ideally suited to invest in this initiative and help scale up the affordable and inclusive housing and community innovations we have been developing in communities across Canada.

Federal Accessibility Legislation - Budget 2017 reaffirms commitment to federal accessibility legislation to promote social and economic inclusion in the federal sector, "which will promote equality of opportunity and increase the inclusion and participation of Canadians who have disabilities or functional limitations by increasing accessibility and removing barriers in areas of federal jurisdiction." CACL is actively involved in consultations on this legislation, and is encouraging that a major provision be the requirement that federal law, policy and regulations be developed through a 'disability and inclusion-based policy lens', much like a gender lens is incorporated in federal policy development. As well, accessibility standards for the federally-regulated sector to ensure inclusive approaches to delivering goods and services will be essential.

Adding nurse practitioners to the list of medical practitioners that can certify eligibility for Disability Tax Credit applicants. This will enable greater access by people with disabilities living in rural and remote areas, particularly affecting Indigenous peoples with disabilities.

Creating the 'Canada Caregiver Credit', to integrate the existing caregiver tax credits and ensuring eligibility for caregivers whether they live with their family member, or not. This change is expected to extend benefits to more caregivers and to provide an additional $310 million in additional tax relief over the 2016-17 to 2021-22 period. This increase signals the government's recognition of the role of family and informal caregivers. However, CACL believes that more needs to be done to ensure that family and informal caregivers have their current and future financial security needs met - including increased benefits and Canada Pension Plan credits for caregiving contributions that impact opportunity to participate in the paid labour market.

Investing $22.3 million in a new Accessible Technology Development program to co-fund partnerships to develop new assistive devices and technologies.

Increasing funding under the Enabling Accessibility Fund by $8million/year starting in 2018-19 as part of the infrastructure plan, to improve the safety and accessibility of community spaces and workplaces.

Promising Investments - Accountabilities for inclusion and accessibility needed to help deliver the commitments:

Early Learning and Child Care - $7 billion over 10 years for investments in early learning and child care. We urge the government to require that funding agreements with provinces and territories be based on the 'QUAD' principles advanced by the early learning, children's rights and disability communities when the federal government was considering a national child care program in the early 2000s. These principles include: quality, universal inclusion, without discrimination based on disability, accessible and developmental learning incorporated.

Workforce Development Agreements - will consolidate the existing Canada Job Fund Agreements, the Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities (LMAPDs) and the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers. The Budget states this consolidation "will make transfers to the provinces and territories simpler and more flexible." CACL urges that with increased funding, and with pooling LMAPD dollars with other funding envelopes, the agreements with provinces and territories must ensure increased investment in disability-specific labour force participation initiatives above and beyond the $222 million currently allocated through the LMAPDs. To deliver on potential to advance labour force inclusion, agreements must require provinces and territories to track investments and progress on increasing labour force participation of people with disabilities. Without clear requirements for tracking the dollars in this way, the LMAPDs should stay in place.

Reporting Requirements for partners in the Infrastructure Plan - The Budget indicates that partners, including provinces and territories, will be required to report on benefits and impacts of infrastructure investments on specific groups, including people with disabilities. This is an important step in moving beyond piecemeal accessibility investments, to a more systemic approach. If implemented well, it would help to ensure that all new infrastructure investments will benefit those often excluded by architectural and systemic barriers. Budget 2017 commits to an allocation to its long-term infrastructure plan of over $80 billion over 10 years. That is a huge investment. It will expand, renew and build many roads, public services, information and communications systems, transportation systems, recreation facilities, and other infrastructure. Invested to achieve inclusive and accessible infrastructure, it could have a transformative impact on social and economic well-being of Canadians with disabilities. CACL urges that a clear set of benchmarks for inclusion and accessibility be central to investment agreements with partners' and to reporting requirements under the long-term infrastructure plan.

Strengthening Indigenous Communities - Combined with Budget 2016 investments, additional commitments in Budget 2017 total $11 billion over six years to: improve infrastructure on-reserve and in Inuit communities; establish a new Indigenous framework for early learning and child care; provide support for post-secondary education, deliver better health outcomes, and advance reconciliation. As with other promising investments, CACL encourages all partners to ensure that these investments - whether for infrastructure, early learning and child care, education or health care - be designed for inclusive outcomes so that the hugely disproportionate number of Indigenous persons with disabilities and their families directly benefit.

National Strategy for Gender-Based Violence - $101 million commitment. We strongly support the gender focus in this budget and urge that this strategy specifically address the hugely disproportionate violence against girls and women with intellectual and other disabilities. Tools and approaches have been developed for integrating a disability lens into gender-based violence response and prevention strategies and they could be incorporated into this initiative.

Budget 2017 holds real promise to improve the social and economic conditions of Canadians with disabilities. The government is holding to its commitment to introduce accessibility legislation and invest in an inclusive national housing strategy and long-term infrastructure plan. CACL is encouraged by specific policy changes to improve accessibility in current programs, like adding nurse practitioners to list of professionals for determining eligibility for the Disability Tax Credit; as well as new investments in the Enabling Accessibility Fund and the planned Accessible Technology Development program.

There is real potential of this budget to make a lasting impact on improving the lives of people with intellectual and other disabilities, and on the social and community infrastructure essential for this purpose. However, this potential will be realized only if needed accountabilities are built into program design and agreements with provinces and territories and other partners, including for: funds allocated to early learning and child care to ensure results for children with disabilities; funding under the Workforce Development Agreements, so that dedicated funds under the LMAPDs do not get used by provinces and territories for other purposes; the National Housing Fund; investments in Indigenous communities; long-term infrastructure investment; the Federal Accessibility legislation; and, the planned federal poverty reduction strategy, which CACL trusts will address the entrenched poverty of Canadians with intellectual and other disabilities.

We see that this government recognizes that people can be disadvantaged in multiple ways, which can compound exclusion. This is certainly true for people with intellectual and other disabilities who are also Indigenous persons, racialized, women, LGBT-Q, refugees and immigrants. Any investment for a specific population group must recognize and address the disability-related needs of those communities as well.

In this regard, we are encouraged by the government decision to embed a gender lens to guide budget planning, policy making and programming. We urge that an 'intersectional' approach be used in this strategy to address the disproportionate disadvantage of girls and women with disabilities, as well as women caregivers. We look forward to the day when a disability and inclusion lens is as central to these exercises.

This Budget is an important step in laying stronger foundations for an inclusive and accessible Canada. It provides investment tracks that have significant potential. Delivering effective and inclusive outcomes will require strong accountabilities as noted above. It will also require continued engagement with the disability community and other civil society partners. The government is to be congratulated for its record so far on engaging the disability community. We hope that this engagement continues through the coming year to ensure that the Budget 2017 commitments and investment streams do, in fact, deliver positive outcomes for Canadians with disabilities, their families and communities.

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Federal Budget 2017: Positive Steps for Canadians with Disabilities - Accountabilities Needed to Ensure Inclusion and Accessibility

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Federal Budget 2017 proposes new and expanded investments with significant potential for making a positive impact on the social and economic well-being of Canadians with intellectual and other disabilities and their families. The Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) believes this potential can be maximized by attaching clear accountabilities, principles and conditions to these investments.

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The Ontario Disability Support Program Modifies Application Form

*Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) applicants will no longer have to navigate the long application form required to receive  support. A newer shortened and modified form will reduce the burden and stress associated with this process. They will now have access to a shortened version which is efficient and will save the health care and social system a lot of unnecessary extra costs.
I see this as a very positive step forward. Why add stress to those who require support and further complicate the process of garnering that support?

Diane

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Kimberly Sturge, a 31-year-old Toronto single mother, lost her job as a legal assistant in 2012 after she developed vertigo, an anxiety disorder and depression, due to a head injury. She was relieved to hear she won't have to endure another medical review under the old system. (STEVE RUSSELL / TORONTO STAR) | Order this photo

Kimberly Sturge, who struggled to complete her medical review for ODSP two years ago, praises her doctor, Fatima Uddin, left, and social worker, Julia Porter, for helping her through the process. (Steve Russell / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Two years after the Star highlighted problems with Ontario's onerous and intimidating medical review process for disabled people on welfare, Social Services Minister Helena Jaczek has introduced a more simple and streamlined approach.

Beginning this month, those whose medical conditions have not improved will no longer be required to fill out the same forms they completed for their initial application for benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

"Our government is committed to a more client-friendly and efficient adjudication process," Jaczek said Wednesday. "These changes will reduce the burden on clients, health care professionals, stakeholders and staff, while maintaining a process that is fair and accountable."

The new, simplified medical review package is focused solely on determining whether the medical condition that caused the person to require support in the first place has improved.

If there is no improvement, or expected improvement, a statement from the patient's health care provider will suffice, cutting the need for costly medical tests and referrals to specialists that had been required in the past.

"Only in cases where improvement is reported or prognosis is unknown, will the health care professional be asked to provide further information," says an advisory posted on the social services ministry website.

ODSP recipient Kimberly Sturge, 31, says she is "relieved" she won't have to endure another medical review under the old system.

The Toronto single mother, who developed severe vertigo, an anxiety disorder and chronic depression in 2012 after a head injury left her unable to continue working as a legal assistant, suffered a mental-health set-back when her ODSP medical review was rejected twice in 2014.

"I no longer feel anxious about my next review in two years," she said Wednesday. "It makes me feel good to have been able to tell my story and make a difference."

Legal clinic case workers, who say the majority of their work involves helping people navigate access to ODSP benefits, were pleased by the government's willingness to address the long-standing issue.

"This is the first minister who has acknowledged there was a problem with how they are adjudicating disability," said Mary Marrone, legal director of the Income Security Advocacy Centre, a legal aid clinic that advocates on behalf of people on social assistance.

"The new forms are much simpler and focus on the legal test, which is: Has the client improved?" said Marrone, who has been pressing the government to reform the process since 2010.

"The process is clear, so doctors know why they are filling out these forms and there isn't the same demand for massive amounts of information," she added.

Due to rising ODSP caseloads, a backlog of more than 60,000 medical reviews prompted the province in the spring of 2015 to more than triple the number of forms issued each month, from 600 to 1,900. An outcry by legal clinics and medical professionals, highlighted by the Star, prompted Jaczek to re-examine the process.

"People, especially with mental health issues, find (the current process) particularly difficult and intimidating," Jaczek told the Star a year ago when she struck a working group of medical professionals, social workers, lawyers and community advocates to solve the problem.

"What we're trying to do is lessen the burden on families and individuals and the health care providers and the legal clinics... who often end up appealing decisions made," Jaczek said at the time.

Almost one-third of about 350,000 households with a person receiving support under the program have disabilities that are expected to improve such as cancer, depression or an addiction. As a result, the government conducts medical reviews every two to five years to see if the person is still legally eligible for support.

Until now, the 21-page review form doctors and other health care providers were required to complete was the same one they fill out when patients first apply for benefits.

Doctors said it is costly for the medical system to repeat tests they don't believe are necessary. And legal clinics say appeals for clients who have been denied benefits are a waste of time and money, as half of the cases are upheld.

Social workers say the small number of people on ODSP who are difficult to reach due to homelessness or a medical condition that makes it hard for them to keep appointments, risk being cut off if they don't complete the forms.

Dr. Fatima Uddin, who works at the Regent Park Community Health Clinic, says many of her patients rely on ODSP and are overwhelmed by the medical review process.

"It is quite stressful for patients who have already been approved for ODSP to go through that harrowing process all over again just to prove they continue to be as unwell as they were before," she said.

"The new process is simple, efficient and reduces a lot of the stress for patients and (medical) providers," Uddin said. "And it is going to save the health care and social service system a lot of unnecessary costs."

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Ontario ends onerous reviews for disabled people on welfare | Toronto Star

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Two years after the Star highlighted problems with Ontario's onerous and intimidating medical review process for disabled people on welfare, Social Services Minister Helena Jaczek has introduced a more simple and streamlined approach.

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Little League Sends a Mother and Does Not Provide Equal Access

A mother of a set of twins was disappointed with a response from Little League when she inquired about enrolment for her twin sons. One of her sons is a boy with down syndrome. As a lively, keen, little boy she believed that the twins would be able to play together. Little League directed her to another program so that he could play in a league with other children with disabilities.
Although I agree that consideration must be given to the physical and emotional risk factors that may be associated with any player and his or her needs. I disagree that the basis for the decision should be on disability alone.
Diane

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A Calgary mom's concerns over her oldest child have gone viral.

Karyn Slater, a mom of four active little boys, posted a letter to her blog to say she was upset the way a little league organization responded to her about signing up her son who has Down syndrome.

Slater wanted to sign two of her sons up for T-ball this spring. She wanted the brothers to play on the same team but instead of getting them on the roster, an alternate program was suggested to her by league officials.

Rather than responding to her email reading "sign him up," the league directed her to a program they felt could better accommodate his needs.

"They didn't flat out say 'no' but said, 'We have had challenges with kiddos with disabilities and so we would recommend this other program to you,'" Slater said.

Karyn and her husband Curtis have made all kinds of efforts to enrol their son into mainstream sports and a typical school and want him to be as included as possible.

"They didn't give Jake a chance without meeting him," Curtis said. "It was a blanket statement suggesting the other program was a better fit and it didn't seem right."

Karyn felt protective.

"You love your kids and I am a mama bear for all of them.

" You go through anger, hurt and grieving." she added. "I came out of that with more of a resolve to be an advocate for change in the midst of that."

"There has been a reaction and it struck a nerve in the disability community," Curtis said. "This is a common experience, they're often approaching organizations where it's easier to say no or suggest another program and for us, that's not OK."

The Centennial Little league president, Chris Bentley, said they never refused Jake into the program and insisted it was more of what they would consider a "suggestion" about enrolling him somewhere else.

"I have regrets there's a kid out there not playing ball," Bentley said. "But do I have a regret suggesting she try Challenger first? Absolutely not.

"It's designed for kids with emotional, cognitive and physical challenges and she took the suggestion the wrong way."

Bentley added they've had lots of kids with different abilities in the past play for their teams and are happy to have Jake play. The Slaters say for this season, they've scheduled their son for soccer instead.

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Little League letdown for Calgary boy with Down syndrome

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A Calgary mom's concerns over her oldest child have gone viral. Karyn Slater, a mom of four active little boys, posted a letter to her blog to say she was upset the way a little league organization responded to her about signing up her son who has Down syndrome.

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How Ontario traps those with disabilities in lives of poverty

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How Ontario traps those with disabilities in lives of poverty

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April 15, 2017
In this article, the issues related to disability benefits programs and the rates in relation to benefits is discussed and analyzed. Each province has their own disability benefits program and through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) support for drug, dental, and disability related costs are covered. Although this sounds pleasant, when one takes a look further into cost of living, you notice some issues. In Ontario, the average apartment costs $856 per month, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. The average cost for food per month for an individual is $511 and without considering transportation, telephone, and basic living costs, one can understand that the government support is not enough. The restrictions on benefits cause many people with disabilities to enter a poverty trap which further causes problems for employment and planning for the future.

This is a serious issue and it is important that benefit plans are analyzed and modifications are made in order to reduce poverty amongst individuals with disabilities. Since there are so many costs associated with certain disabilities, it is important that government support is altered in relation to cost of living in Ontario during that specific year.
Gurmilan

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Helen Ries: 'the social safety net for those with disabilities is inadequate and tenuous.' (ANNA EPP / supplied photo)

In August 2016, Ontario's ombudsman released "Nowhere to Turn," a report outlining multiple systemic failures in provincial supports and services that lead to crisis for many adults with developmental disabilities. The stories in the report are often heart-breaking and speak to the many ways our current system leaves persons with disabilities vulnerable and trapped in poverty.

I experienced this first-hand. My mother died suddenly in 2015 leaving me as the primary support person for my brother, an adult with Down syndrome. I soon understood from this new perspective that the social safety net for those with disabilities is inadequate and tenuous.

What disability supports is my brother entitled to from the government?

Each province has its own disability benefits program and the rates and benefits vary. In Ontario, a single adult on disability benefits can receive a base rate of up to $1,128 a month through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) as well as support for drug, dental and disability related costs. Sounds OK at first glance - until you look at the cost of living.

In Ontario, this monthly living allowance amount doesn't go far.

The average rent for a bachelor apartment in Ontario is $856 per month, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. The average cost of food per month for an individual is $511. So without even considering transportation, telephone and other basic living costs, it's evident that government support is not an adequate means of subsistence.

In larger urban centres like Toronto, where the cost of living is higher, the inadequacy of the support is compounded. Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank's 2016 Hunger Report noted that 33 per cent of its food bank users are receiving ODSP.

Many essentials for living cannot be attained on the funds the government provides those with disabilities. This means some of their basic needs - safe and accessible housing, clothing, recreational expenses, fee-for-service related disability supports, nutritious food, transportation and accessibility related costs - go unmet.

Many struggle with poverty alone, but for others, like my brother, there are family members who want to offer financial help so he can avoid having to live in poverty.

But here's the rub. People on ODSP aren't even allowed much help from loved ones.

A person on disability benefits is only able to hold a limit of up to $5,000 dollars in assets and a $6,000 limit in the gifts they receive each year - including gifts for basic living, such as food or a bus pass or tickets to community outings, and including gifts from family. This means that even if loved ones want to provide partial support or a helping hand, they are not permitted by the system above $6,000 (or $500 a month), without an interruption of benefits.

These restrictions on assets and gifts serve as an ironclad poverty trap that keep many people with disabilities in a state of profound uncertainty and crisis. They also prevent them from successfully transitioning to employment and planning for the future.

This is why over the past few months, a coalition of disability, mental health, poverty and community organizations have come together to ask the Ontario government to make a simple regulatory change: To raise the asset cap from $5,000 to $100,000 and eliminate the current gift limit of $6,000 for those receiving disability supports.

Allowing an increase in the assets and gifts people on disability can access will make their lives safer, healthier and allow them to dodge the bullet of profound crisis that already affect so many.

There is a precedent for this change.

In 2015, British Columbia raised its asset level limit for those receiving disability benefits from $5,000 to $100,000 and removed the gift limit altogether. And Alberta has had an asset limit of $100,000 for some time.

A change in provincial regulations would align with what is allowed federally. Recipients of the Registered Disability Savings Plan are permitted to access their funds - a combination of personal (family) savings and government grants - without limit, once it has vested, in order to enhance their quality of life.

It's time Ontario caught up.

Changing the regulations around gifts and assets would not remove all the financial barriers those with disabilities face and it would not address the unmet needs of many individuals. But it would provide opportunities for more support for a significant number of people while not putting any pressure on government resources.

Helen Ries is a sibling caregiver, a community activist and an independent consultant. She is a contributor to EvidenceNetwork.ca. www.helenries.ca

Jihan Abbas is an independent scholar, consultant and activist. She holds a PhD in sociology. @JihanAbbas

The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please contact us or see our privacy policy for more information.

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How Ontario traps those with disabilities in lives of poverty | Toronto Star

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In August 2016, Ontario's ombudsman released "Nowhere to Turn," a report outlining multiple systemic failures in provincial supports and services that lead to crisis for many adults with developmental disabilities. The stories in the report are often heart-breaking and speak to the many ways our current system leaves persons with disabilities vulnerable and trapped in poverty.

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Mother wins disability discrimination case..... May 9th 2017.                                            Maria McKeith worked part time for Ardoyne Association but was let go in 2015 after working there since 2010· The disability discrimination Act protects people against discrimination because of their disability·         Maria McKeith was denied the opportunity to work due to her daughter’s disability.Reading this article caused some confusion for me, as I fail to understand how a company can terminate their employee for having a child with disability especially when this employee’s work hasn’t been affected by her daughter’s disability. And as mentioned in the article she did not ask for special treatment of any kind because of her daughter’s disability. I think this is very unfortunate that she was let go because of her daughter’s disability, which should have never happened.

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Mother wins disability discrimination case..... May 9th 2017.                                            Maria McKeith worked part time for Ardoyne Association but was let go in 2015 after working there since 2010· The disability discrimination Act protects people against discrimination because of their disability·         Maria McKeith was denied the opportunity to work due to her daughter’s disability.Reading this article caused some confusion for me, as I fail to understand how a company can terminate their employee for having a child with disability especially when this employee’s work hasn’t been affected by her daughter’s disability. And as mentioned in the article she did not ask for special treatment of any kind because of her daughter’s disability. I think this is very unfortunate that she was let go because of her daughter’s disability, which should have never happened.

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saved by Lexcia

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A woman who lost her job at a Belfast advice centre has been awarded £18,886 in damages, after being discriminated against.

A tribunal found Maria McKeith's dismissal from the Ardoyne Association was linked to her role as primary carer for her disabled daughter.

This was contrary to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, it said.

Ms McKeith worked part-time for the association from 2010 until she was dismissed in March 2015.

The tribunal said she had been unfairly dismissed and that the Ardoyne Association "did not put forward any convincing or coherent explanation for its decision".

In her managers' minds, "because the claimant had a disabled child, her position was not properly in the workplace. Her daughter was 'her priority'," it ruled.

"That is not the legal position," it said. "People who are disabled themselves, or who are the primary carer of a disabled person, have a right to work within the protection afforded by the 1995 Act."

The finding was appealed by the Ardoyne Association but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

Maria McKeith said she was left in shock when she was made redundant.

"I did not ask for any special treatment and I did not welcome it," she said.

"I enjoyed coming to work, meeting people and being able to advise and help them and I knew my daughter was being cared for while I was at work.

The tribunal awarded her £10,000 for injury to feelings, £6,760 for loss of earnings, and a total of £2,126 in interest.

Dr Michael Wardlow, Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission said employers needed to be aware of their responsibilities.

"The Disability Discrimination Act protects people against discrimination because of their disability," he said.

It also protects people in Ms McKeith's position, who have a role as primary carer for a disabled person.

"In this case, Ms McKeith was denied the opportunity to work as a result of her daughter's disability," he said.

"The law makes such discrimination unlawful.

"It is important also, as was referenced in these proceedings, to highlight that the purpose of the law is to assist disabled people and their primary carers to obtain work and to integrate them in to the workplace.

"That is not a matter simply of money, but the dignity of, and the respect due to, the people concerned."

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Mother wins disability discrimination case

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Maria McKeith's dismissal was linked to her role as carer for her disabled daughter, a tribunal finds.

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This blog is a perception of her disability. She is explaining that not all people who are blind have other disabilities or have a great sense of smell and not all ignore how they look.

It was interesting to read this blog pointing again on the negative stigma and the barriers people with disabilities have to face on a daily basis.

http://www.rickhansen.com/Blog/ArtMID/13094/ArticleID/158/Not-all-blind-people-One-woman%E2%80%99s-insight
Zuzana

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In my 29 years on the planet, it took me 23 of them to properly admit something to myself: I'm blind. It shouldn't be a surprise but just like for sighted people, I didn't grow up with a realistic idea of what being blind meant.

If you're thinking, "how can she possibly not know she's blind? You either can see or you can't.", join me for my first point.

Not all blind people ... are completely blind
It seems strange but it's true. According to VisionAware , 'of people who are legally blind in the US, only 15% have no light perception'. Being blind is one end of the sighted spectrum which ranges from those who have no usable vision and likely use a mobility cane or guide dog, to someone like me who makes use of what vision they have with additional aids to make things easier, to someone with 20/20 vision.

In terms of being blind, I can be invisible. I can walk down the street and no one would know that I'm blind. Blind or low vision individuals don't always want to, or know how to, access resources or adaptive devices, so not using a cane or guide dog to get around is not uncommon. There could be blind people around you and you wouldn't even know it! What does a blind person look like anyway?

Not all blind people ... have other disabilities
My eyes don't work properly but the rest of my body does, including my brain. You'd be surprised by the number of people who have talked to the person I'm with, or talked to me like a child and looked astounded when I reveal myself to be an educated woman. There seems to be common misunderstanding that if you have one type of disability, you have many types of disabilities. It's true that there are people with a variety of or multiple disabilities, health conditions or mental health issues, but that's not always the case. And my blindness only affected my education because of a lack of accessibility or teachers' confusion over how best to accommodate me. Disability and IQ aren't intrinsically linked.

Not all blind people ... have superpowers of hearing, smell, or anything else
I can hear where something has dropped on the floor with a great deal of accuracy. I can find my way around familiar places in the dark or with my eyes closed. I can find things in my bag by touch alone. But these aren't super powers; they're a set of skills I have developed to cope and compensate for a lack of sight. Fully sighted people don't rely on these skills, you don't need them. They aren't magical, they're just different.

On a much deeper level, this feels connected to a belief system surrounding people with disabilities that is worrying. I have albinism which is one of those conditions that people fear, mythologize, or both. In Tanzania and other nearby African nations, people with albinism are maimed, killed or have their bodies exhumed to be used in preparations or rituals to bring good luck. Under the Same Sun is an organization working to combat this, but many with albinism still live in fear and are often forced to stay hidden in order to survive. Changing stereotypes through discussion and education about disabilities continues to be an important way to break down these stigmas and social barriers.

Not all blind people ... ignore their appearance
Blind people care about their appearance. Not everyone, but it's not true that because we can't see ourselves very well (or at all) that we don't want to take pride in our appearance. Sure, you'll have to tell me if I have dog hair on my coat or lipstick on my teeth, but don't be surprised if I've got makeup on or my outfit is well put together.

Everyone will do what makes them happy, and for some people that means focusing on different things other than how they look, but don't assume that just because I'm blind I don't care. I'm willing to accidentally poke myself in the eye with a mascara wand just as much as the next woman!

Not all blind people ... want to be "cured"
I don't want to be cured. And I'm not saying that to lie to myself. There was a time when I would have given anything to be 'normal'. I used to pray for my disability to be taken away. Which is how I can say with confidence now that I don't want to be cured. If someone said I could wake up with full eyesight tomorrow I would more than likely say 'no'.

My experience of disability has shaped who I am as a person. It's made me resilient and resourceful. It's made me curious about the world, determined to succeed and develop a willingness to try to understand others because I know what it's like to be misunderstood and misjudged. So don't offer to pray for me, or tell me what your friend tried that worked, and don't for the love of all the cat-eye glasses, tell me that you feel sorry for me.

My life is great and blindness and learning to accept is part of that. Other people would take a cure for their blindness and I support that wholeheartedly. For me, I've worked hard to accept my blindness in a world of misconceptions, and I'm now a proud blind woman who's working to change those misconceptions for myself and others.

If you're interested in more thoughts on a few myths about people who are blind you should check out the wonderful Molly Burke and her Youtube video on this topic.

Guest blogger Rachel Finlay is the Access Manager for the Rick Hansen Foundation's BC pilot of our Accessibility Certification Program.. She's a bookworm who likes knitting, tea and politics.

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Not all blind people: One woman's insight

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In my 29 years on the planet, it took me 23 of them to properly admit something to myself: I'm blind. It shouldn't be a surprise but just like for sighted people, I didn't grow up with a realistic idea of what being blind meant.

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A person with low vision was refused to fill the passport application because the policy forbids staff from helping to fill the application for someone else.

I understand the policy stands that it could reach the potential threat of confidentiality but do we really have to cause such a trouble to a person who struggles with commuting?
http://globalnews.ca/news/3436714/passport-canada-disability-accessibility-policy-review/
Zuzana

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The First Clinic in Toronto provides care for mothers with variety of physical disabilities, who were told that they won't be able to have child. This negative stigma should not exist in today's society.

I feel like we always have to fight the stigma. Everyone has the same rights for living.
http://globalnews.ca/news/3447669/specialized-clinic-provides-care-for-pregnant-women-with-disabilities/
Zuzana

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At just one day old, baby Abbas is already a symbol of hope. He's the first baby born with the help of North America's first clinic designed to provide specialized pregnancy care to women with a variety of physical disabilities. It opened this week.

With this newest addition to her family, Dalia Abd Almajed is now a proud mother of two - but there was a time she worried if she could have a healthy pregnancy at all.

"I was so afraid when I first knew that I was pregnant with the first baby, because [I use a] wheelchair with all these complications and problems," Abd Almajed said.

Just four years ago in 2013, Abd Almajed was rushed to hospital after suddenly losing mobility in both legs. She stopped breathing and was unconscious for three days.

When she awoke, doctors diagnosed her with transverse myelitis, a rare disease affecting her spinal cord.

When Abd Almajed learned she was pregnant in 2014, she knew everything - from getting ultrasounds to finding a hospital with accessible beds - would be a challenge. As it happens, she had firsthand insight into the process, as she was trained as a doctor in Iraq, specializing in obstetrics.

For women with disabilities, pregnancy can be daunting. Many are discouraged from having children. In some cases, doctors have even told women to terminate their pregnancies over concerns it would be too risky or complicated.

Dr. Anne Berndl at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre refused to accept these limits.

"To be told that motherhood is not for you, this is not possible for you...this is not an attitude we should have as a society," Dr. Berndl told Global News.

As a maternal fetal medicine specialist, Berndl cared for women with high-risk pregnancies, including some women with physical disabilities.

The struggles and stigma faced by these women struck a chord with Berndl, and together with the team at Sunnybrook, this week Berndl launched the Accessible Care Pregnancy Clinic for women with a variety of both invisible and visible physical disabilities. It's the first of its kind in North America.

Berndl wants all women to feel well cared for, and is in the process of developing a new standard of care for women with disabilities.

"We're trying to provide education so that we can provide a shift in attitude to create a positive environment for women with disabilities," she said.

According to Sunnybrook, women seeking care at the clinic may have a variety of disabilities, including spinal cord injuries, severe arthritis, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, muscular dystrophy, scoliosis or have a history of trauma such as a car accident.

Examination rooms and birthing units are wheelchair-accessible with special scales and chairs designed for patients with limited mobility.

Women with disabilities often require more complicated care because of underlying medical conditions, but Dr. Berndl said the majority can still have a healthy pregnancy.

By coordinating with all specialists involved, from the obstetrician to the dietitian, the clinic streamlines checkups and makes appointments much easier for women with limited mobility.

For Abd Almajed, Dr. Berndl helped her through her first pregnancy, and now the newly launched Accessible Care Pregnancy Clinic made all the difference in the healthy delivery of her new baby boy.

"Before, I didn't think that I can do it - but I did, so I hope everyone will have [a] baby like me," she said.

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pregnancy clinic for women with disabilitites

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Specialized clinic provides care for pregnant women with disabilities

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At just one day old, baby Abbas is already a symbol of hope. He's the first baby born with the help of North America's first clinic designed to provide specialized pregnancy care to women with a variety of physical disabilities. It opened this week.

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May 16, 2017

Born this way is an emmy award winning show, that centers around the life of seven people with down syndrome. This show is on  the third season, and the cast all have different dreams and aspirations. they also have their own lives, they have jobs and can maintain living on their own. the  show has been on for three seasons and the cast has received an enormous fan base, not for their disability but because their just like the average person who works hard, wants to find love, start a family and live a happy life.
Saved by Lexcia

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Born This Way Full Episodes, Video & More | A&E

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Disability Tax Credit is  frequently overlooked 

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Disability Tax Credit is  frequently overlooked 

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May 15, 2017
This article discusses how often disability tax  credit is overlooked as one might not know they quality or might over look filing for the disability tax credit because they think their situation doesn't apply.  To receive The disability tax credit one must first file their taxes in order to receive these benefits, also in order to get the disability tax credit it must be applied separately from other disability benefits. In addition to applying and quality for the disability tax credit people with disability can also qualify for other programs such as Registered Disability Saving Plan or Child disability Benefit. The disability tax credit is acknowledged by the government that living with a severe and prolonged impairment is often expensive for that individual, and as such people with disability should receive as much financial help as possible to live a happy, healthy comfortable life.

By Lexcia

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Disability group files complaints against 40 Saskatoon restaurants

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Disability group files complaints against 40 Saskatoon restaurants

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May 30, 2017
This articles discusses a group of people who are called barrier free Saskatchewan. This group filed a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission against 40 restaurant in Saskatoon. The people in this group feels a lot of restaurants don't make it accessible for people with impairments to visit their establishment.
Many complained that they're many restaurants they would love to try but are unable to get into, while others say when these restaurants were being built people with disability weren't even considered .

Saved by Lexcia

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When heading out for dinner, the first thing you may think about is what's on the menu. But is the menu available in braille? Can a wheelchair fit in the washroom or even make it through the front door?

This month, members of Barrier Free Saskatchewan filed complaints with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission against 40 Saskatoon restaurants they say are falling short when it comes to accessibility.

"Visually impaired people in this city may for the first time be going into a washroom in a facility and don't know whether or not it meets accessibility standards," said Len Boser on CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning.

'There are many restaurants I'd like to try but am unable to get into.' - Len , Barrier Free Saskatchewan

"It could be fairly scary."

Boser, who uses a motorized wheelchair, is one of the Barrier Free Saskatchewan members who lodged a total of 520 complaints against the restaurants.

Restaurants 'fly under the radar'

"People with disabilities weren't even thought of when some of these buildings were built," said Boser.

"There are many restaurants I'd like to try but am unable to get into."

Boser said that newer or extensively renovated buildings are more likely to meet accessibility standards, but he's still found many that "that fly under the radar."

Boser hopes the deliberate flood of complaints will lead to changes that will allow people living with disabilities to enjoy a hassle-free night out - something that's usually taken for granted.

With files from CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning

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Disability group files complaints against 40 Saskatoon restaurants

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When heading out for dinner, the first thing you may think about is what's on the menu. But is the menu available in braille? Can a wheelchair fit in the washroom or even make it through the front door?

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People with disabilities will not get a free fare for CNE in 2018. The recommendation came from an advisory council made of volunteers, people with disabilities and experts. People with disabilities need to treated as whole people and not as something less that is demeaning.

We learn to see the person first and not the disability, I understand this decision however most of the people with disabilities lives in poverty and won't be able to effort tickets.
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/05/17/cne-to-end-free-fare-for-people-with-disabilities-in-2018.html
Zuzana

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The CNE has accepted recommendations by an advisory council on how to improve accessibility at the fair. (Jasmine Kabatay / Toronto Star file photo)

People with disabilities will not get free entry to the Canadian National Exhibition starting next year, the fair's board of directors decided Wednesday as it accepted recommendations to improve accessibility.

The recommendation was one of six submitted by the CNE Advisory Council on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, which focused on ways to improve accessibility at the fair.

"Any organization needs time to evolve their culture to become more inclusive so what we've recommended to the CNE are a number of steps that will help the culture of the organization evolve to be more inclusive of people with disabilities," said Bob Stark, who chaired the committee and is a disability advocate and former CEO of ServiceOntario.

The independent advisory council was made up of volunteers from diverse backgrounds, including experts and some people with disabilities themselves, and was created last year.

"The CNE is announcing a range of new accessibility and inclusivity initiatives that reflect best practices across our city and province," said Virginia Ludy, CNE CEO in a press release. "We thank the Advisory Council for their recommendations. With their support we will position the CNE as a leader in accessibility and inclusivity."

After rigorous debate and consulting with experts and the public, Stark said, the committee "arrived at a place where the entire group had consensus on the recommendations that went forward."

Though Stark said the committee acknowledged there are people with disabilities who may not be able to afford admission, he said the majority are able to pay full fare.

"There certainly are individuals who find it quite demeaning that the organization or that the world thinks they need handouts," he said. "They are whole people they want to be seen as whole people they want to be treated as whole people and any implication they are less than that is demeaning."

The CNE has instead opted to give 50 per cent discounts for people with disabilities who have an Access2 Entertainment card and free admissions for their attendants, said spokesperson Tran Nguyen, who noted it's the same policy used at the Toronto Zoo.

In 2018, the CNE will also be distributing 20,000 free admissions through organizations like the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and United Way to those who cannot afford to attend, she said.

But beyond the question of admission fares, Stark noted the primary goal was to create a culture that's more inclusive at CNE.

The committee's other recommendations include hiring "permanent and temporary staff to include persons with disabilities at proportional levels to the community served" and to train all staff to have "high awareness of appropriate sensitivities, language and specific accommodation needs for persons with disabilities."

The report also recommends creating a more inclusive physical environment for people with disabilities and becoming a destination for people with disabilities and their families, which could include having an exhibition experience that addresses barriers they face.

"Success here is about the inclusive culture over a period of time," said Stark. "It's about a pride in Canada of being more inclusive and accepting of individuals that have diverse backgrounds and that's the opportunity."

The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please contact us or see our privacy policy for more information.

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CNE to end free fare for people with disabilities in 2018 | Toronto Star

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People with disabilities will not get free entry to the Canadian National Exhibition starting next year, the fair's board of directors decided Wednesday as it accepted recommendations to improve accessibility. The recommendation was one of six submitted by the CNE Advisory Council on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, which focused on ways to improve accessibility at the fair.

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Teenager is Left On a School Bus for Hours While Driver Attends a Funeral

A teenage girl with multiple disabilities was left on a school bus for nearly six hours. Her bus driver forgot to drop her off at her usual drop off spot. The driver proceeded to drive to a funeral where the teenager was left alone on the bus. It is unclear if the teenager had a seizure when she was left alone. A lawsuit has been filed.

I believe there should be a policy in place to ensure that no student is left abandoned on a bus. It only takes one incident to cause emotional and psychological harm when there is abandonment. Also, this young girl could have died of complicating factors caused by a seizure. What supports were in place for her protection?
Diane

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TORONTO - The mother of a disabled teen forgotten on a school bus and left alone for hours has launched a lawsuit against those she's holding responsible, claiming her daughter has sustained ongoing trauma as a result of the incident.

Laura Mastache claims her daughter Wendy has become noticeably more fearful and withdrawn in the months since a driver forgot to drop her off at her Toronto-area high school, drove the vehicle to a funeral and abandoned the 19-year-old on the bus on a chilly winter's day.

Both mother and daughter are named as plaintiffs in the suit, which accuses the driver, bus company Stock Transportation and the Toronto District School Board of negligence.

The suit is seeking total damages of $700,000 and alleges injury to dignity and loss of companionship as a result of the incident that took place on Jan. 23. None of the allegations in the suit have been proven in court.

Laura Mastache said her daughter did not sustain physical injuries in the incident, but said the alleged psychological changes she's observed, which include reluctance to go to class and sleep alone, should be acknowledged.

"We have some regressions in some areas," Mastache said in an interview. "It took us years for her to overcome some fears, now it's going back to square one."

A statement of claim filed in the case said Wendy Mastache boarded the bus as usual and was to be dropped off at a school entrance used by students who attend a special education class.

The teen, the document notes, has both epilepsy and autism and functions between a Grade 1 and 2 level.

The statement of claim alleges the bus driver dropped other students off at the main entrance of the school, but forgot to take Wendy to her usual drop-off point and immediately headed out to a funeral.

It alleges the girl sat alone and forgotten on the bus for hours, without access to food, liquid or washroom facilities.

Local reports indicate temperatures hovered just above the freezing mark that day, the statement of claim said, adding Wendy would not have been able to put on the scarf or gloves in her backpack without explicit reminders to do so.

"Laura has not been able to find out if Wendy had passed out or had seizures during this period," the statement of claim reads. "Due to Wendy's difficulty with verbal communication, Laura was not able to obtain any information regarding the six hour period."

Laura Mastache herself was unaware that anything was amiss for most of the day until a concerned teacher called her to report that her daughter had been absent from class all day, but had recently been seen getting off the bus that was rounding up students for the trip home.

Mastache, feeling worried, went to the school to make inquiries. She said school officials were reviewing surveillance video and reported that her daughter had not entered the school at the beginning of the day.

The statement of claim said Mastache confronted the school bus driver, who initially denied knowing anything about the teen's whereabouts. Under police interrogation that night, however, the statement of claim said the driver admitted to "her negligent actions."

The suit also argues the school board should have had an attendance policy that notifies parents of a special needs child's absence regardless of age.

Board spokesman Ryan Bird acknowledged that previous policy dictated only students under 18 were reported as absent to their parents in the past, but the incident with Wendy Mastache prompted a change.

Both Bird and Stock Transportation spokeswoman Kate Walden declined to comment on the specific lawsuit. Stock Transportation previously indicated that the bus driver involved was fired after the incident.

Mastache said she hopes the suit will prevent similar situations in the future.

"This happened to my daughter, and everybody's going to forget," Mastache said. "Maybe with this lawsuit the TDSB, Stock Transportation, even the drivers are going to think more that it's serious. The psychological damage, you cannot see it if you don't live with her."

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Family of student with disabilities sues after girl allegedly left on freezing bus for hours | Metro News

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TORONTO - The mother of a disabled teen forgotten on a school bus and left alone for hours has launched a lawsuit against those she's holding responsible, claiming her daughter has sustained ongoing trauma as a result of the incident.