13:54:58 5/22/2008

New Name, New Staff, New Era

Hello everyone.

Finally, it is official! Say “Goodbye” to the Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres (CAILC) and “Hello” to Independent Living Canada (IL Canada).  As of May 1st, 2008, our new name is being embedded into all of our current and previous materials and we are beginning a new era of “Independent Living” in Canada.

It is going to take some getting used to but the need for the name change is long overdue.  The old name was a mouthful to say, and made for a branding nightmare. Independent Living Canada and its national association of member IL Centres demonstrate and foster the Independent Living Movement locally, provincially and nationally. The new name reinforces our mission.

Independent Living Resource Centres, Independent Living Centres – the ongoing debate!

You may notice I used the term IL Centres above. At the Executive Directors’ Forum held the end of April, we once again wrestled with what to call the Centres.  In the USA, they are called Centres for Independent Living (CILS). When the concept evolved in Canada, Centres were originally called Independent Living Centres (ILCs) but some early leaders decided to insert the word “resource” due to the fact many people thought they were places to live; hence, the term Independent Living Resource Centres.

Some of the early Centres kept the original ILC name.  We also have many ILRCs, and in British Columbia they bucked the trend, calling themselves Disability Resource Centres – another marketing and branding nightmare!

The Executive Directors agreed, for the time being, it is best for Independent Living Canada to use IL Centres to refer to member organizations.  This last outstanding branding issue will eventually go to the national board so for the time being we will say “IL Centres.”  

Branding

Branding (or re-branding in our case) is not an easy process to say the least.  It can be painful at times but well worth it in the end!  Our efforts to re-brand are very broad in scope covering everything from the sign as you enter our door to envelopes to email addresses and so much in between! 

Thanks to help from Independent Living Kingston, this spring we are looking forward to releasing the Branding Manual, a tool for use throughout IL Canada and our network ILCs, which will cover vital aspects of our IL communications work:

• The Vision, Mission, and Marketing Statements;
• The design elements of our new logo, slogan and other symbols;
• Our new letterhead, newsletter and PowerPoint templates;
• Use of plain language and with dignity;
• The use of specific colour, formats, typefaces, paper – the list goes on!

I’m happy to see our new brand sprouting like spring flowers!  I am encouraged by the number of ILCs who plan to or have incorporated the new brand in their own centre’s materials.  It’s wonderful to be a part of our Movement taking this first step in presenting a united front to the world, one that is easily identifiable, recognized and marketable.  Re-branding will help us develop a personality as an organization – a new lever to accomplish more of our goals.

Annual Executive Directors’ Forum

Picture: Executive Directors form across Canada at the 2008 Ed forum

IL Centre Executive Directors spent three days together from April 28 to 30th in Ottawa for the third Annual ED Forum.  The theme of the Forum was Healthy Eating based on our “Food for Thought” Project funded by Public Health Agency of Canada.  This was an opportunity to share information about this innovative initiative with the network.

We had a number great presentations beginning with Jihan Abbas, community researcher who shared the results of the first focus groups using the Participatory Action Research model this project is based on. We were pleased to also have representives of our national partners on this project there to share their expertise:  Chris Bourne (ALA), Heather Sandeson (Dieticians of Canada), and Jane Rabinowicz (Santropol Roulant). This was a chance for everyone to get a sense of the scope of the project as well as receive newly created tip sheets (eating on a budget and label reading) as well as a facilitators’ guide to exploring Canada’s food guide with consumers.

This was also great occasion to bring together the project coordinators from each one of the nine pilot sites working on the Food for Thought Project. It was nice to put some faces to the voices we so often hear only on the conference calls! Aside from gathering resources from our national partners, each centre had the time to present the model they are implementing in working with local consumers. Spending this time together allowed us to share resources, discuss challenges and brainstorm solutions as a team. By the conclusion of our meeting we were able to plan some next steps and better understand the impact this project can have.

As well as the Healthy Eating theme, we had the opportunity to hear from some very interesting and timely speakers.  David Hicks, the Bureau Chief from Canada News Wire gave a presentation on branding:  “So now you have a new name, where do you go from here?”  Lee Rose of the HR Council for the Voluntary and Not-Profit Sector gave an overview of the HR Council’s new site, including its many HR management tools.  A third guest speaker, Jo-Anne Kusznier (HRSDC), gave us an update on the CPP Disability Program, and eligibility changes to it that may benefit many consumers with whom IL Centre staff work.  From our own network, Acting ED Sandra Carpenter from Toronto gave a presentation of her paper, ‘Conspicuous by its Absence’, a thought-provoking discussion of the legislation or should I say, lack thereof, and charter issues surrounding people with disabilities and hate crimes.

The ED Forum also afforded IL Canada staff the opportunity to do workshops on planned giving, to have a discussion on branding and messaging, and to do project updates on promising practices tools on our new VILRC and on our RESP initiative, ‘Investing in Futures.’  EDs had the chance to share information and some provincial networks also had some time to meet. The BC network is working on an IL Case for Support, and the Ontario network took on the task on doing a PATH, a creative way to map out a strategy for its future goals and how to attain them.  Last but certainly not least, we now have a newly created Prairie Network, consisting of three Centres located in Calgary, Regina and Saskatoon and I do believe that there is intent to form an Atlantic Region Network – Halifax, Miramichi and St. John’s.  We’ll hear soon!

New Executive Assistant (EA)

As former EA Jennifer Newman has moved on to greener pastures and we wish her well, I am happy to announce the arrival of our new National Office Executive Assistant, Diane Champagne.  Diane, who began her duties with us on May 13, 2008, has an extensive background in office administrative support with over 15 year’s experience. She has worked in the not-for-profit sector, health and medical field, federal government and private industry. She is service oriented, bilingual, upbeat, energetic, mature, and has a warm character. She has a strong interest in people with disabilities and supports the Independent Living philosophy. Her wealth of experience and strong interpersonal skills will support her in meeting the requirements of this highly responsible and challenging position.

Governor General Leadership Conference

I am thrilled to announce I have been accepted as a 2008 member of the Governor General’s Leadership Conference and the Independent Living Canada Board of Directors has endorsed my application. Most importantly, they are providing me with the two weeks of professional development time required for participation.

The 2008 Leadership Conference description is below. This event happens once every four years and people from across the country apply. As one of the successful applicants, I am so excited to attend and bring back my experiences and new knowledge to share with the national board, office staff and IL Centres! 
Description of the 2008 GG Leadership Conference

The 2008 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference will examine the role that leaders play in building and sustaining prosperous, engaged and inclusive communities.  Conference members will experience communities that are embracing a new vision of Canada and the world.  They will experience situations where leadership is required to help move communities forward on unfamiliar ground.  They will see first-hand how leaders determine outcomes.
The Conference will challenge participants to explore attitudes, actions and engagement on a range of issues and experiences from local and national perspectives, including:

• Canadians’ evolving attitudes towards community, career, lifestyle and country - and what changes mean to leaders and organizations;
• How the qualities of leadership are changing with the pressures of globalization, the knowledge explosion, the acceleration of communications, and demographic change;
• How pluralism is shaping Canadian communities – and why it is hitting barriers in other, older cultures.  Is Canada in step, or out of step, with the rest of the world, and how are we leveraging the advantage;
• Where Canadians are finding common ground and shared values on the new issues, challenges and opportunities facing the country;
• How global economic changes are impacting Canadian communities and how local and national leadership is shaping outcomes;  
• Whether civic engagement is strengthening or weakening in large and small communities across Canada;  
• How and why effective leadership matters more than ever.

Throughout the Conference, members will meet with Canadians from all walks of life who are dedicated to helping individuals engage in common enterprise and shared values.  The links between communities, the national perspective, and Canada’s place in the global community will underpin this examination.
For more information on the GG Leadership Conference go to www.leadershipcanada.ca
Until my next entry, get outside and enjoy the spring!

Traci Walters
National Director
Independent Living Canada! 

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14:51:03 4/16/2008

From the desk of Traci

Hello everyone!  What’s new?

New Corporate Sponsor

First of all I want to announce that ING Canada and the ING Foundation made a generous donation of $20,000 towards a project for youth with disabilities.  Mr. John Pole, Regional Branch Manager, Ottawa, ING Insurance, visited the CAILC office last week to present their contribution and show their support.  Thank you ING Canada and the ING Foundation!

Picture: Linda McGreevy, John Pole (Regional Branch Manager, Ottawa, ING Insurance), and Traci Walters

What’s going on in the office?

The CAILC staff have been ultra busy with all the work on our plates. We are swamped with the planning of both an upcoming national Executive Directors Forum and a board of directors meeting which will be held at the end of May in Shippagan, NB. CRVA-PA  inc. is located in the city of Shippagan but also serves the outlying rural communities in the region of the Acadian Peninsula. The CAILC board is committed to traveling to the various communities where ILRCs are located. However, there are not very many communities that have enough accessible hotel rooms to accommodate them.

We were invited by the " Centre de la Péninsule Acadienne " and they are very excited about the upcoming meeting. The province of New Brunswick is assisting our travels by funding an event coordinator for two weeks.  The Adult Learning Knowledge Centre is covering the cost of the francophone network dinner / presentation.  Thank you to the province of New Brunswick and the Adult Learning Knowledge Centre for their contributions. 

In order to accommodate our gang, we are using numerous motels, inns and even the student residents of the University of Moncton campus in Shippagan.

When 19 board members and some CAILC staff arrive in various locations we are able to promote the need for accessibility, create awareness of the Independent Living Movement and demonstrate the connection between the national organization and the local Centres.

The entire board of directors is very excited to show support to CRVA-PA inc. which supports and provides services to a large rural, and predominantly francophone community.

As mentioned above, we are in the midst of preparing for our annual Executive Director’s Forum, held in Ottawa from April 28 -30th.  This is our third annual forum and this event enables the Executives to learn the latest developments at the national office, share information and resources from across the country, network, and work together with a shared vision to enhance the services for people with disabilities offered at the grassroots level.

Various government departments and community representatives will send speakers to update us on the changes to the Canada Pension Plan – Disability, the Office for Disability Issues and their new Enabling Accessibility Fund.  The Human Resource Council will be sharing their latest tools and techniques as well.

CAILC is currently implementing a Healthy Eating project entitled “Food for Thought” which is the main focus of the Forum.  Special guest speakers from CAILC partnerships on this project Dieticians of Canada, Santropol Roulant, and Active Living Alliance for Canadians with Disabilities will present valuable information to assist in the implementation of Food for Thought on the ground level. 

Eight of our pilot sites in this project have completed consumer focus groups on healthy eating, health living and Canada’s new Food Guide. The information collected will be the core information base for our project.  The Executive Directors will receive this information to highlight the need for education, awareness, services and supports in this area.  Over the course of a year, we will support the same consumers involved in the initial research, and determine if any of our pilot program modeling can help improve the healthy eating/lifestyles of these individuals in conjunction with using food as a vehicle to reduce social isolation.


New Name – Independent Living Canada

On May 1, 2008, it is official….CAILC’s new name will be Independent Living Canada.  Changing a name isn’t an easy process.  We need to change message recordings, re-brand, send out official notices, change our letterhead, change our website including our website address, and on and on it goes. It isn’t going to be easy, especially when the office is short staffed as it is. Oh well, that’s life in a non-profit.

Speaking of short staffed – my executive assistant Jen Newman is leaving CAILC in order to move to cottage country – Muskoka.  She has been a wonderful asset at the CAILC office and we will definitely miss her. She has done an incredible job and has supported not only me but all the staff too.

Jen came to us in 2004 and did her practicum for one year, originally focusing on the UN Day event.  She was involved with the Crime Prevention Conference, annual UN Day, Access to Recovery Project, and many other CAILC activities.  We are going to miss her but I don’t think she will be able to go too far. I have already asked her to help out with our newsletter and other tasks that can be done virtually.

In the meantime, we are currently seeking a new EA. Please check out the Job Posting. If you or anybody else you know is interested in applying please send your resume and cover letter.

On the Political Front

On the federal front, our organization follows the Government of Canada’s involvement in disability issues both in Canada and internationally.  We are currently waiting for the Government of Canada to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

The Convention aims not only to end discrimination against people with disabilities but to promote and put in place legislative and administrative measures that will result in their full participation and inclusion in all aspects of society. Canada signed the Convention on March 30, 2007, but has yet to sign the optional protocol, and has not yet ratified the Convention.  Check out the United Nations’ Enable website on the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities for updates on the Countries who have ratified the Convention. 

Also, keep your eyes open for disability in the news.  There have been many articles written recently on the federal government and the funding of services and supports in the disability community. 

Until the next time…

 

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9:41:33 3/12/2008

From the desk of Traci

Winter…I have had enough! It’s really getting to me now. Most of the time the skies are grey in Ottawa and it is not letting up any time soon.  To top it off, we now know that Robert Latimer, the father of the late Tracy Latimer, is moving to a half-way house somewhere in town.
 
Most people in Canada remember Robert Latimer. He’s the father who placed his severely disabled daughter, Tracy, into his Chevy truck parked in a garage on their farm, and he piped in exhaust fumes until she died of carbon monoxide poisoning. He did this apparently to save his daughter from pain.

Photo: Tracy Latimer

While originally charged with first-degree murder, Latimer was convicted of second-degree murder. That verdict was thrown out on appeal because of Crown misconduct. When a second jury rendered the same verdict in 1997, it recommended Latimer serve only one year in custody and another year under house arrest. In 2001, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned the sentence, imposing the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years without parole.

While Latimer was eligible for day parole on Dec. 8, 2007, the regional parole board in B.C. rightly denied his request. However a parole board appeal has now overruled that original decision, ignoring the seriousness of his crime.

What really bothers me is that the media have never understood the real issue at stake in this case either. I continually see references to ‘mercy killing’ in the news. Many people in the general public feel sorry for this man and actually sympathize with him. This would never, ever have been the case if Tracy had been an able-bodied child.

There were options for Tracy for both support and for management of her pain, and yet he chose premeditated murder instead.

The fact of the matter is that releasing Robert Latimer early diminishes the severity of the crime. As Dave Shannon, one of CAILC’s board members says, “the absurdity of the argument proposed by Robert Latimer is that while the Latimer sympathizers work to gain public approval, they grasp at legitimacy through unequivocal ableism”.

The same day that this news appeared in the papers, just below one of the stories on Mr. Latimer was an article about a mother from St. Catharines, Ontario who has been charged with the manslaughter of her disabled daughter. There are already expressions of  the same type of sympathy being expressed for this parent too, similar to those that Robert Latimer received. For example, the father of the woman accused immediately commented that his daughter has had a rough life. He said nothing about his granddaughter! The reporter referred to the 17 year-old victim, Courtney Wise, as someone who “suffered from cerebral palsy.” As we know, the majority of people who happen to have cerebral palsy are living productive and happy lives.  After all the advocacy and education that the Council of Canadians, CAILC and pretty well most of the disability organizations in Canada have done over the past 10 or more years, it feels like nothing has changed in the way this issue is reported on and the way that many people in the general public sympathize with the murders.  We need to keep a very close eye on this issue. Please speak up in your communities, write letters to the editors and keep Tracy, Courtney, and others who have died as a result of murder in our minds so we can work to protect vulnerable Canadians with disabilities from the same fate as they have met in their too short lives.

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15:25:19  2/13/2008

From the desk of Traci

Hello from Paris

Hi there! I am sitting at the international airport in Paris waiting for my return flight home.  About a year ago, the Office for Disability Issues of HRSDC sent over some visitors from the Government of France so they could learn about the Independent Living Movement in Canada. They were researching disability/social policies in Canada and the U.S.A.  Subsequently, the Government of France, Ministry of Health, invited me to speak at a conference entitled “Social Policies in the U.S.A. and Canada – Reforms and Challenges.” They asked me to speak about the impact of social/disability policies on the IL Movement. There were numerous Canadian and American academics and a few community members that were invited to speak.

My presentation focused on the problems that Canadians with disabilities have been facing since the changes in health and social assistance policies that were introduced with the Canada Health and Social Transfer in the Federal Budget of 1996.  Prior to this, many people would argue that Canada had a strong social safety net because of a federal program mechanism called the “Canada Assistance Plan (CAP)”. CAP was a funding instrument that provided funds to social programs and social assistance across the country. The federal government paid 50% of services such as homemaking, counseling, information and referral services, attendant and childcare services, assistance with covering the costs of medically prescribed diets, wheelchairs, prostheses, etc.

We actually had somewhat consistent services across the country and people with disabilities, like other Canadians, knew that there were some predictable services that they could depend on no matter where they lived.  It was simple; if the provinces wanted to provide certain social services (as defined by the program), the federal government would pay half.

The federal government eliminated CAP in 1996, with virtually no consultations whatsoever, and decided to transfer money to provinces for health and social services. I have read that the amount is less than one third of what they used to invest.  With this transfer there are no strings attached whatsoever. Nothing is the same. In fact, services and programs are so different province to province that it is like living in a different country if you were to move. 

A bit of IL funding history for you with regards to CAP

When the Canadian Government decided to fund the development of the ILRCs in Canada, the cost-shared program was in existence. In 1988, the Minister of Health at that time, Jake Epp signed a special IL initiative to help kick start the growth of ILRCs. A Special Parliamentary Committee had recommended this and the goal of the initiative was to demonstrate the IL Centre to provinces across the country with the hopes of securing agreements with the provinces for the cost sharing of the IL Movement in Canada. The feds would have paid 50% and the provinces the other 50%. 

In 1996, when CAP was removed it was like pulling the carpet out from underneath CAILC and the IL Network. The potential funding mechanism was removed and since that day we find ourselves in IL limbo.

The core funding is renewed year to year without any increases, which takes into consideration the higher cost of wages, health benefits, rent, communications etc.

The sad thing is that even Government reports state that IL is the most effective model for services and programs concerning people with disabilities.  When the IL Network is supporting well over 250,000 people each year it is time that we call upon our Governments, both provincial and federal, to support their fare share. We do the work that the governments can’t. We are helping individuals with disabilities access their rightful place in society and this is a responsibility for both levels of government.

CAILC’s Social Policy Committee is currently completing an IL Case for Support for all levels of Government.  It will be released soon with a strategy for educating politicians on the urgent need to increase their support. CAILC, ILRCs and people with disabilities contribute to the economic and social fabric of our society and we need to be properly recognized for the essential role that we play.

After listening to other panel members and being part of a panel of speakers, I was reminded that Canada is still an amazing place to live if you get sick. Many insured Americans go bankrupt every year due to medical costs let alone the uninsured. We do not have that in Canada but it dawned on me that Canada’s health system is based on the “medical model” of sickness and maybe that’s why it is so difficult for people with disabilities. If you are not sick, and have a disability and require disability supports for everyday living then the system doesn’t necessary work for you.  Having access to disability supports that enable participation and full citizenship does not fit in our “sick model” of health care.  We have “sick care” not “health care”.   For people with disabilities, the IL philosophy promotes the de-medicalization of the disability and supports self-actualization which leads to healthier lives.

To that end, I find that being outside of the country sometimes provides an opportunity to reflect on the big picture while learning about the situation of people with disabilities in other countries.

Food for Thought – A Healthy Eating Initiative

We are currently implementing our new Health Canada funded project Food for Thought and we are pleased to announce that 8 ILRCs have been selected for the pilot. These sites will explore how food can be used as a vehicle to reduce isolation while educating consumers on Canada’s New Food Guide.  In total, 17 Centres respond to our request for proposals and I would like to thank each and every one of them for taking the time and effort to do so.  The following sites have been selected: Cowichan / Nanaimo, Calgary,   Kingston, Niagara, Alfred, Montreal, Shippagan, and Halifax.  Vernon was selected as the evaluator. 

These sites are currently preparing to conduct focus groups with individuals to find out more about their eating, meal preparation and shopping habits and other healthy lifestyle issues. The participants will also be involved in the healthy eating pilots over the next year. We will use the focus group information as a baseline and will see how they are doing in one year’s time. We want to know if any of the healthy eating pilots/programs have made any difference and if so, what? The results will be shared with the public and other ILRCs and various program models will be documented for use by the network or other disability/non-disability organizations.

On the Corporate Front

We have just received word that ING Canada is going to provide a donation of $20,000 towards a youth initiative as a first time investment. If all goes well, they may consider a larger investment in the future. We are excited about another financial institution seeing the benefit of partnering with CAILC and we look forward to working with them.

Branding

As mentioned in my last entry, the CAILC membership of IL Centres has approved a name change for the organization. We will launch our new name – Independent Living Canada – with our newly branded materials hopefully, at our upcoming Annual Executive Director’s Forum at the end of April. So far, the tentative dates are April 28, 29 and 30, 2008.  

The folks from the Kingston Centre are working with us to develop branding and communications tools for the national office that can be adapted by local ILRCS. These tools will be completed by March 31st this year. 

We did change our logo and slogan last spring but the results of a corporate Think Tank convinced CAILC to change its name so the emphasis will focus on Independent Living. 

Stay tuned for more updates on our projects, our name change and other activities of the national association.

 

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10:40:51 1/11/2008

From the desk of Traci

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a great holiday season.  Everyone here at CAILC wishes you peace and prosperity for 2008.

Picture: CAILC Board of Directors 2007/2008

When I last wrote we had just finished our Annual General Meeting, the UN Day event and the End Exclusion Day in Ottawa.  Wow, what a whirlwind!

It took me at least a month to recuperate and now I am in desperate need of some sun. It has been so grey in Ottawa.

I didn’t tell you everything about what happened at our Annual General Meeting. CAILC gives out awards every year and one of them is the Allan Simpson Excellence in IL Programming Award, in memory of an amazing IL leader and dear friend Allan.  This year the Ontario Direct Funding Program delivered by the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto won the award.

Picture: Beverly Elliott accepts the Allan Simpson Excellence in IL Programming Award at the CAILC AGM. (With Dave Shannon)

This province wide Ontario based project provides funding to individuals with mobility limitations who require attendant services.  After a contract is signed individuals are sent funding directly to hire, train and manage the delivery of their own personal support services.  This program provides the maximum amount of choice, flexibility and control for the participants, as well as, the maximum amount of responsibility. 

The program’s application process also demonstrates an IL approach as it uses peers / participants in its review and selection of self managers.

The Centre for Independent Living in Toronto is an excellent example of a consumer controlled, disability driven organization delivering quality programming.

Rounding out this innovative project is its unique partnership with consumer run Independent Living Resource Centres in Ontario.  ONILC partners provide essential promotion of the program, assistance to applicants and support to self managers in each of the regions of this vast province.

CAILC also has a Consumer of Excellence Award and this year the recipient is Francine Leduc from the Montreal ILRC. What an amazing woman! She is a long standing volunteer and board member. When times got tough for the Montreal Centre, Francine rolled up her sleeves and got to work.  The Montreal Centre, the first bi-lingual Centre in Canada, faced a great deal of difficulty getting off the ground. Accessing funding was proving to be very difficult along with trying to attract the right Executive Director with very little money. Francine volunteered to be the Interim Manager and within a few months the Centre moved to a better location, money starting coming in and they started to receive community support. It is not easy starting any organization especially during this era of outcomes driven projects that don’t necessarily line up to meet the needs of consumers or the organizations. Governments have their agendas and more often than not, they do not meet the true needs of the disability community.

Picture: Francine Leduc accepts the Consumer of Excellence Award at the CAILC AGM. (With Traci Walters and Dave Shannon)

Congratulations to Francine Leduc and the Montreal ILRC!

Lastly, every year I get to select the individuals for the CAILC Volunteer Award.  This award is for volunteers of the National Office and this year’s award recipients are the members of the CAILC Marketing and Fund Development Task Force (Ella Huang, Katrina O’Neil, Fred Kinsie, Mike Murphy, and Louise Pope).   We asked these individuals to be involved on the task force to assist in the implementation of the Marketing and Fund Development Initiative. This included work on our new branding and slogan development.  Many thanks to the CAILC Marketing and Fund Development Task Force Gang! 

Picture: Fred Kinsie, Mike Murphy, Catherine Sholtz on behalf of Louise Pope, Wendy Savoy on behalf of Katrina O’Neil, and Ella Huang accepts the Volunteer Award at the CAILC AGM

I also selected another dynamo volunteer, Mary Dufton.  Mary works for the federal government and volunteers as a writer for CAILC. You may have read one of her articles in our newsletter. She writes the Power of One feature in every issue which tells the story of unique individuals involved in the IL Movement who have made contributions and/or changes to their community and themselves.  Mary has written for Abilities Magazine and other organizational newsletters. Thank you, Mary!

Picture: Mary Dufton accepts the Volunteer Award at the CAILC AGM (With Traci Walters)



CAILC is now launching our Food for Thought Initiative and through an RFP process, we are currently selecting eight Centres to participate in this project. The overarching goal is to educate consumers on Canada’s New Food Guide and to pilot various program models using food as a vehicle for reducing isolation.  The pilots will be selected very soon and we will be ready to roll. Part of the project includes a national training event that our Executive Directors will be involved with in the next three months. We will connect with the food security sector and experts in the area of nutrition to explore healthy eating and healthy lifestyle programming for consumers.

The Access to Recovery Facilitators’ Guide for both the addiction treatment sector and IL/disability organizations has just been completed. Included in the guide are many of the tools that we created in our Substance Use/Misuse project such as, the national needs assessment, the Fact Sheets, etc.  Some workshops that can be used by both sectors in creating awareness of the issues of Substance Use/Misuse and people with disabilities have also been added. 

900 professionals gathered at the Issues of Substance Conference that I had attended in November.  I was actually very surprised that some treatment facilities do get it, and understand disability, but many still don’t. There are many barriers out there, one of which is that some facilities won’t allow an attendant with the individual during treatment due to confidentiality.  Very strange, and this clearly demonstrates the need to educate service providers. On the bright side, there were some treatment facilities that did understand and many that want to learn. We did discover that there are accessible treatment facilities available that operate with various philosophies, many based on the individual.  There are even some facilities that have access to foundations that assist with the funding if there are financial barriers. 

By the way, have you ever heard of the Independent Blue Ribbon Panel on Federal Grants and Contributions?  One of its goals is identifying barriers to access for applicants for government grant and contribution programs, and recommend changes to government-wide and departmental policies and practices to ensure that the government delivers those programs in a fair, cost-effective, and efficient manner.

Working in the non-profit sector we know first hand the barriers to government grants and contribution programs.  You can find the report at http://www.brp-gde.ca/en/

Check it out and see if anything sounds familiar.

Take care!
Traci

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Click here to see Traci's archived journal entries 

(9/6/2007 to 12/3/2007)

Click here to see Traci's archived journal entries 

(4/4/2007 to 8/20/2007)