News

Dear CCVO supporter,

This morning we launched our latest report on the state of the nonprofit sector Too Essential to Fail and a campaign to ensure relief for organizations facing the effects of the inflation and the pandemic.

 Too Essential to Fail describes a sector in crisis. While other sectors recover, nonprofits juggle heightened demand for services with increasingly complex client needs and decreasing revenues. Between the pandemic, rising inflation and now a looming recession, this essential sector has been dealt blow after blow.

We are calling on the Province for an urgent, one-time top-up of $30 million in immediate relief to protect our programs and services.

Nonprofits provide food and basic needs, settlement and senior supports, sports and recreation, arts and culture, entrepreneurship, environmental health – and more. They are proven, established partners in the delivery of essential services.  They employ nearly 1/20 Albertans and together contribute $5.5 million to the economy every year.

 

 

But drowning people can’t save drowning people. After nearly three years of doing more with less, nonprofits and the communities they serve are in crisis. Pandemic supports were not targeted to the sector and failed to meet their needs. Other Provincial investments, such as the Community Initiatives Program, have not kept up with inflation and population growth.     

We are asking for your help, by joining and sharing our call for immediate relief from the Government of Alberta – to ensure the viability of nonprofits for all Albertans.

Thank you for all the great work you do in our community.

Warmly,

Karen Ball

President & CEO, CCVO (Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations)

International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022

Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan, 2022

The Action Plan is a blueprint for change to make Canada more inclusive of the more than 22% of persons – or 6.2 million people – that identify as having a disability in our country. The Action Plan has 4 initial pillars: financial security, employment, accessible and inclusive communities, and a modern approach to disability. Simply put, the Action Plan aims to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in Canada. The work required to achieve this – to make Canada inclusive, fair, and free of physical, societal, and attitudinal barriers - will be extensive. Learn More Here

Gormley – Robin Acton | On Demand CJME / CKOM 15 Jul

Gormley smiling with a microphone beside him

Conversation starts 2:35

 

Gormley - On Demand CJME / CKOM | Robin Acton - Friday, July 15, 2022. Rawlco Radio Ltd. - iono.fm

 

 

Inclusion Canada has been following the case of Brent Gobana, a man accused of sexually assaulting multiple individuals with intellectual disabilities while he worked at Shepherd's Villa.

The hidden history of “Hand Talk”

An indigenous person hand signing and the image title before we had american sign language, we had 'hand talk'

Access2card

Access 2 Program 

Designed for people of all ages who have a permanent disability and require the assistance of a support person, the goal of the Access 2 Program is to improve social inclusion and provide access to entertainment, cultural and recreation opportunities and experiences without any added financial burden. The Access 2 Card is accepted at a wide range of entertainment, cultural and recreation venues, as well as festivals, concerts, and special events including movie theatres, Calgary zoo, Calaway park, and Telus spark to name a few.

When an Access 2 cardholder (the individual with a permanent disability) presents their valid Access 2 Card at any participating venue partner, their support person receives free admissions; the cardholder pays for regular admissions.

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15th Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Centre for Research on Work Disability Policy | Centre de recherche sur les politiques en metière d'invalidté professionelle

The 15th Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will take place from June 14 to June 16, 2022, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Honourable Carla Qualthrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, will lead Canada's delegation this year.

The UN has chosen a hybrid format for COSP this year, with all formal sessions taking place in-person and all side events being held virtually. All formal sessions of COSP will be live-streamed online for public viewing. The link to each day's sessions will be available each morning on UN Web TV at: https://media.un.org.

Side events will also be taking place throughout the week, mostly virtually. Some events require registration, so please consult each event listing for specific information. The full list of events can be found here: https://teamup.com/kscueapdd7v1thgxrv.

Information on COSP, including the full schedule, can be found here: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/conference-of-states-parties-to-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2/cosp15.html.

Please find more information below.

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La 15e sessions de la Conférence des États parties (CEP) à la Convention relative aux droits des personnel handicapées (la CDPH) de l'Organisation des Nations Unies (ONU), aura lieu le 14 au 16 juin 2022, au siège social des Nations Unies à New York. L'honorable Carla Qualthrough, minister de l'Emploi, du Dévelopment de la main-d'œuvre et de l'inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap, dirigera la délégation canadienne cette année.

L'ONU a choisi un format hybride pour le CEP cette année, toutes les séances formelles se déroulant en personne et tous les événements parallèles se tenant virtuellement. Les séances officielles de la CEP seront diffusées en ligne sur le site Web de la télévision des Nation Unies pour le visionnement public. Le lien ver les séances sera disponible le matin de chaque jour sure la télévision Web de l'ONU, cliquez sur le lien suivant (en anglais) : http://webtv.un.org/

Des événements parallèles se tiendront tout au long de la semaine, la plupart d'entre eux virtuallement. Certains événements parallèles nécessitent une inscription, veuillez donc consulter la liste de chaque événement pour des informations spécifiques. Vous trouverez un calendrier à l'adresse suivante : https://teamup.com/kscueapdd7v1thgxrv

Vous trouverez de l'information sur la CEP, y compris le calendrier complet, ici (en anglais) : https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/conference-of-states-parties-to-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2/cosp14.html

Veuillez trouver plus d'informations ci-dessous.

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English follows the French. 

La 15e sessions ded la Conférence des États parties (CEP) à la Convention relative aux droits des personnes handicapées (la CDPH) de l'Organisation des Nations Unies (ONU), aura lieu le 14 au 16 juin 2022, au siège social des Nations Unies à New York. L'hoborable Carla Qualtrough, ministre de l'Emploi, du Développement de la main-d'œuvre et de l'Inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap, dirigera la délégation canadianne cette annèe.

 

La thème général de la CEP de cette annèe est « Construire des sociétés inclusives et participatives pour les persinnes en situation de handicap dans le contexte de la COVID-19 et au0delà ». Il y aura des discussions en table ronde sur les sous-thèmes suivants :

  1. Innovation et technologie visant à faire avancer les droits des personnes en situation de handicap;
  2. Automatisation économique et sense de l'entrepreneuriat des personnes en situation de handicap;
  3. Participation des personnes en situation de handicap aux mesures prises en faveur due climat, dans la réduction des risques de catastophe et l'aptitude à surmonter les catastrophes naturelles.

Cette année, la séance d'ouverture comprendra également l'élection de neuf nouveaux membres du Comité des Nations Unies sur les droits des personnes handicapées. Pour la toute première fois, les Canada a désigné un candidat à cette élection. Mme Laverne Jacobs est une professeure de droit à l'Université de Windsorm qui a plus de 20 ans d'experience dans le domaine des personnes en situation de handicap, des droits de la personne et du droit administratif. La liste de tous les candidats, se trouve ici : https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/Elections2022.aspx

L'ONU a choisi un format hybride pour le CEP cette année, toutes les séances formelles se déroulant en peronne et tous les événements parallèles se tenant virtuellement. Les séances officielles de la CEP seront diffusées en ligne sur le site Web de la télévision des Nations Unies pour le visionnement public. Le lien vers les séances sera sera disponible le matin de chaque jour sur la télévision Web de l'ONU, cliquez sur le lien suivant (en anglias) : http://webtv.un.org/

Des événements parallèles se tiendront tout au long de la semaine, la plupart d'entre eux virtuellement. Certains événements parallèles nécessitent une inscription, veuillez donc consulter la liste de chaque événement pour des informations spécifiques. Vous trouverez un calendrier à l'adresse suivante : https://teamup.com/kscueapdd7v1thgxrv

Vous trouverez de l'information sur la CEP, y compris le calendrier complet, ici (en anglais) : https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/conference-of-states-parties-to-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2/cosp14.html

La ministre Qualtrough prononcera une allocution de haut niveau lor de la séance d'ouverture le 14 juin entre 10 h et 13 h et de nouveau de 15 h à 18 h. L'heure exacte de ses remarques nèest pas conue, car cela dépendra de sa position sur la liste des orateurs.

La ministre Qualtrough prononcera déclaration lors de la Table ronde 2 « Automatisation économique et sense de l'entrepreneuruat des personnes en situation de handicap », le 15 juin entre 15 h et 18 h.

En plus, la ministre Qualtrough animera également l'événement parallèle du Gouvernement du Canada « Leadership et perspectives des jeunes : faire progresser l'inclusion et les droits des personnes en situation de handicap ». Lévénement parallèle aura lieu virtuellement le 13 juin, de 8 h 30 à 9 h 45 (heure avancée de l'est).

Dèautre événements parallèles avec participation canadienne inclut:

  • Le lundi 13 juin de 10 h 00 à 11 h 15 « An Intersectional Approach to Disability Inclusions and Beyond » organisé par UN Women (un représentant canadien est membre du panel)

 

  • Le Mercredi 15 Juin de 8 h 30 à 9 h 45 « Women with Disabilities: Leading Climate Action » organisé par Disability Rights Fund Inc. (un représentant canadien est membre du panel)

 

  • Le Jeudi 16 Juin de 11 h 30 à 12 h 45 « Canary in a Coalmine: The Expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada » organisé par Inclusion Canada

 

  • Le Jeudi 15 Juin de 13 h 15 à 14 h 30 « Joining Forces to Monitor Disability Rights and Housing Rights in Canada » organisé par la Commission canadienne des droits de la personne

 

  • Le Vendredi 17 Juin de 10 h 00 à 11 h 15 « Using Technology to Bring Together Women and Gender Minorities with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic » organisé par représentant d'Affaires mondiales Canada est membre du panel)

Le forum de la société civile 2022, organisé par International Disability Alliance, aura lieu virtuellement le 13 Juin, de 9 h 30 à 12 h 30 (heure avancée de l'est). Plus d'informations ur le fofrum peuvent être trouvées ici: https://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/content/2022-civil-society-forum

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The 15th Conference of State Parties (COSP) to the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will take place from June 14 to June 16, 2022, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment Inclusion, will lead Canada's delegation this year.

 

The overarching theme for this year's COSP is, "Building disability-inclusive and participatory societies in the COVID context and beyond". There will also be roundtable discussions on each of the following sub-themes:

  1. innovation and technology advancing disability rights;
  2. economic empowerment and entrepreneurship of persons with disabilities; and,
  3. participation of persons with disabilities risk reduction and resilience against natural disasters.

This year, the opening session will also include the election of nine new members to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. For the first time ever, Canada has put forward a candidate for election. Dr. Laverne Jacobs is a law professor at the University of Windsor, who has over 20 years of experience in disability, human rights and administrative law.

The list of candidates, including their biographies, can be found here: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/Elections2022.aspx

 

The UN has chosen a hybrid format for COSP this year, with all formal sessions taking place in-person and all side events being held virtually. All formal sessions of COSP will be live-streamed online for public viewing. The link to each day's sessions will be available each morning on UN Web TV at: https://media.un.org

 

Side events will also be taking place throughout the week, mostly virtually. Some side events require registration, so please consult each event listing for specific information. The list of events can be found here: https://teamup.com/kscueapdd7v1thgxrv.

Information on COSP, including the full schedule, can be found here: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/conference-of-states-parties-to-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2/cosp15.html.

 

Minister Qualtrough will deliver Canada's high-level remarks during the opening session on June 14th, which is scheduled between 10 A.M. and 1 P.M. and again from 3 P.M. to 6 P.M. The exact timing of her remarks is unknown, as it will depend on where she is on the speakers' list.

 

Minister Qualtrough is also expected to deliver a statement during Roundtable 2, "Economic empowerment and entrepreneurship of persons with disabilities", on June 15, between 3:00 P.M. and 6 P.M.

In addition, Minister Qualtrough will host Canada's side event on "Youth leadership and perspectives: advancing disability inclusion and the rights of persons with disabilities". The side event will take place virtually on June 13, from 8:30 A.M. to 9:45 A.M. (EDT).

 

Other side events with Canadian participation include:

  • Monday, June 13 (10:00 - 11:15 A.M.) An Intersectional Approach to Disability Inclusion and Beyond - organized y UN Women (Canadian representative on the panel)

 

  • Wednesday, June 15 (8:30 - 9:45 A.M.) Women with Disabilities: Lead Climate Action - organized by Disability Rightd Fund Inc. (Canadian representative on the panel)

 

  • Thursday, June 16 (11:30 A.M. - 12:45 P.M.) Canary in a Coalmine: The Expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada - organized by INclusion Canada

 

  • Thursday, June 16 (1:15 - 2:30 P.M.) joining Forced to MOnitor Disability Rights and Housing Rights in Canada - organized by the Canadian Human Rights Commission

 

  • Friday, June 17 )10:00 - 11:15) Using Technology to Bring Together Women and Gender Minorities with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic - organized by Women Enabled International (a representative from Global Affairs Canada will be a panel member)

 

The 2022 Civil Society Forum, hosted by the International Disability Alliance, is taking place virtually on June 13, 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. (EDT).

More information on the forum can be found at this link: https://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/content/2022-civil-society-forum

 

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Historic appointment of Canada's first Accessibility Commissioner

April 25, 2022, Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada. The goal of a barrier-free Canada, one that is inclusive from the start, is at the heart of the Accessible Canada (Act). That is why the Government of Canada continues to implement the Act and is introducing strong measures to ensure this goal becomes reality.

 

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Voice of Albertans with Disabilities

 

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Service Canada Update General

Do you want to know more about Employment Insurance(EI) Program?

Do you have questions about the eligibility for Canada Recovery Benefit(CRB)?

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit(CRSB) provides $500($450 after taxes withheld) per week for up to a maximum of four weeks.

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit(CRCB) provides $500($450 after taxes withheld)for up to 42 weeks per household.

You can apply for your Social Insurance Number(SIN) online.

Please check out resources:

Service Canada update General

Feel free to contact us at info@ilrcc.ab.ca

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Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security Benefits, and Seniors Benefits

Are you turning 60 or 65 years old?

Are you a CPP contributor under the age of 65 who became disabled?

Please check out resources:

Summary of Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security Benefits

Canada Pension Plan Retirement Pension

Seniors Handout (EN) (1)

Feel free to contact us at info@ilrcc.ab.ca

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Too few Canadians with disabilities got tax-free COVID benefit, minister charges

Too few Canadians with disabilities got tax-free COVID benefit, minister charges

Canadians with disabilities ‘particularly vulnerable’ during COVID-19 crisis: Qualtrough

Canadians with disabilities ‘particularly vulnerable’ during COVID-19 crisis: Qualtrough

The Disability Tax Credit Ultimate Resource Guide

The Disability Tax Credit Ultimate Resource Guide has been updated and now reflects changes made as of February 2021. It features the Disability Tax Credit amounts, the application process, and other important information.

Here are the links to the Disability Credit Canada where you will find the guide and the Disability Tax Credit Calculator:

2021 Disability Tax Credit Guide

Disability Tax Credit Calculator

The DCCI Scholarship for Canadian Students with Disabilities

This annual scholarship is brought to you by Disability Credit Canada. The winner is rewarded with $1000 to help young disabled Canadians achieve their goals in higher education or vocational training. Click on the link below for more information:

Due date: July 31, 2022 Scholarship for young Canadians with disabilities

 

For further information or assistance email us at info@ilrcc.ab.ca or call us at 403-263-6880. We can assist in filling out the forms and applications through phone sessions or in-person by appointment only.

2021

The Disability Tax Credit Ultimate Resource Guide

The Disability Tax Credit Ultimate Resource Guide has been updated and now reflects changes made as of February 2021. It features the Disability Tax Credit amounts, the application process, and other important information.

Here are the links to the Disability Credit Canada where you will find the guide and the Disability Tax Credit Calculator:

2021 Disability Tax Credit Guide

Disability Tax Credit Calculator

The DCCI Scholarship for Canadian Students with Disabilities

This annual scholarship is brought to you by the Disability Credit Canada. The winner is rewarded with $1000 to help young disabled Canadians achieve their goals in higher education or vocational training. Click on the link below for more information:

2021 Scholarship for young Canadians with disabilities

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2020

COVID-19 Accessibility Guidelines

COVID-19 has created new barriers and amplified other barriers for Canadians with disabilities. The pandemic is prompting us to rethink best practices in terms of accessibility.
Accessibility Standards Canada is released some  accessibility guidelines for COVID-19. These cover guidelines for working from home and returning to the workplace. To check out this resource CLICK HERE

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Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region, 2020

International Day of People with Disabilities: Thinking outside the wheelchair
By Philip Mills and Samantha Walsh

In the 28 years since the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the first annual observance of the International Day of People With Disabilities, much has been done to recognize and promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all facets of our society and in our communities.
Still, the word ‘disability’ for many conjures the image of a person using a wheelchair. Despite the fact that many people with disabilities use assistive devices, this narrative leaves out a significant portion of people with invisible disabilities, including mental illness, chronic pain, seeing or hearing disabilities, and learning or cognitive disabilities.

According to 2017 Statistics Canada data, 22% of Canadians have at least one disability. That’s one in five Canadians, or 6.2 million people. The breakdown by disability shows that a significant proportion of these are invisible, including those related to pain (14.5%), mental health (7.2%), seeing or hearing (10.2%), and learning (3.9%).
Invisible disabilities highlight the immense difference between experience and stigma. It can seem like a person who uses a wheelchair is more disabled, and therefore the target of more stigma, because in a world designed for people who can walk, the barriers faced by someone using a wheelchair are evident. By contrast, someone’s experiences with dyslexia or anxiety will be less obvious to the casual observer, and are therefore viewed as less disabling.

However, disability has no hierarchy. A person’s experience with disability, regardless of complexity, is not determined by devices they may or may not use. The social model of disability looks at disability from a cultural standpoint, and focuses on the needs and experiences of people with disabilities while understanding that not every disability is going to be visible. It opposes the medicalized model that views disability as something to be diagnosed and treated. Indeed, the last institution in Ontario for people with developmental disabilities was only closed in 2009. With a history of institutionalization not far behind us, society is still working on wrapping its collective brain around looking at disability more holistically. We still cannot fathom that ‘disability’ is in fact created by a society that fails to consider that we are a diverse community of people who move through the world in different ways.
Disability is the only minority that is an open-ended category that anyone can join, and certainly the chances increase the longer we live. Yet, our discussions of accessibility and inclusion hardly go beyond the government-mandated minimum standards of installing ramps and elevators. In Canada, we still don’t have comprehensive disability legislation. Many of our public programs and policies are divisive, where only specific groups of people with disabilities are eligible for certain benefits or federal tax credits. People with invisible disabilities continue to face structural barriers to accessing programs and funding because they do not meet the strict eligibility criteria of narrow definitions of disability.

If we’re going to have meaningful conversations about inclusion, accessibility and universal design, it’s time we expanded our thinking about disability at the societal and government levels to include all people with physical, intellectual, social emotional and learning disabilities. This includes engaging people with invisible disabilities in our communities to help create a society that can include everyone. No matter how well-intentioned policies may be, we continue to build our communities in ways that ultimately exclude people from them.

We still have a long way to go. This is why the International Day of People With Disabilities on December 3rd is so important. It is the perfect opportunity for us to raise awareness of those living with invisible disabilities and to make our intentions of a more equitable, diverse and inclusive society a lived reality for those with disabilities.

Philip Mills is the Executive Director of the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region (ILCWR) and Samantha Walsh is ILCWR’s Director of Service and the Second Vice Chair of Independent Living Canada. ILCWR is a non-profit organization in Waterloo Region that supports people with disabilities to live independently.