Information Sources: Associations, Societies & Resource Centres

ABILITY SOCIETY OF ALBERTA - ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Suite 600
906 8th Ave SW
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 1H9
Tel: (403) 262-9445
Fax: (403) 262-4539
TTY:
Toll Free:
E-mail: info@abilitysociety.org
Contact: Jamie Bohach, Director of Marketing & Fund Development

Organizational Notes:

: http://www.abilitysociety.org

ADAPTIVE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

Environment Canada
Information Management - Information Technology Directorate
10 Wellington Street
2nd Floor, Room 249A
Hull, Québec
K1A 0H3
Tel: (819) 994-4835
Fax: (819) 953-5995
TTY: (819) 956-5142
Toll Free:
E-mail: ecact@ec.gc.ca
Contact: Jeff Stark

Organizational Notes:

Our Adaptive Computer Technology Program is really separated into three business lines...

• Client Services - ACT Centre - We provide accomodations to our department and other Government departments (on a cost recovery basis)
• Training - ACT Centre - We operate a training facility with a variety of accessibility related programs going on year-round.
• Accessibility Testing - ACT Testing Lab - We have a lab set up where webmasters and applications developers can come in and test for accessibility during their development cycle.

: http://www.ec.gc.ca/act-tia

ARCH - DISABILITY LAW CENTRE

425 Bloor St. East
Suite 110
Toronto, Ontario
M4W 3R5
Tel.: (416) 482-8255
Fax: (416) 482-2981 or 866-881-2723
TTY: (416) 482-1254 or 866-482-2728
Toll Free:866-482-2724
E-mail:
Contact:

Organizational Notes:

: http://www.archlegalclinic.ca

BLISSYMBOLICS COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL

1630 Lawrence Avenue West
Suite 104
Toronto, Ontario
M6L 1C5
Tel.: (416) 242-9114
Fax: (416) 244-6543
TTY:
Toll Free:
E-mail:
Contact: Katherine Seybold

Organizational Notes:

: http://www.blissymbolics.org

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS - AN INDEPENDENT LEARNING CENTRE INC.

275 First Street, Unit 9
Collingwood, Ontario
L9Y 1A8
Tel.: (705) 445-1543
Fax: (705) 445-1656
TTY: (705) 445-1658
Toll Free:800-843-6943
E-mail: info@breakingdownbarriers.org
Contact: Louise Pope

Organizational Notes:

: http://www.breakingdownbarriers.org

CANADIAN ABILITIES FOUNDATION

#401 - 340 College Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5T 3A9

Tel.: (416) 923-1885
Fax: (416) 923-9829
TTY:
Toll Free:
E-mail:
Contact: Jaclyn Law, Managing Editor

Organizational Notes:

We offer a great deal of disability-related resource material in a "self-serve" format - through our magazine, "Abilities", through our website, Enablelink, and through some publications such as the directory of Disability Organizations in Canada.

: http://www.abilities.ca

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTRES (CAILC)

1104-170 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5V5
Tel.: (613) 563-2581
Fax: (613) 563-3861
TTY: (613) 563-4215
Toll Free:
E-mail: cailc@magma.ca
Contact: Traci Walters, National Director

Organizational Notes:

CAILC is an umbrella organization of 22 local and autonomous Independent Living Resource Centres (ILRCs). Each ILRC is community-based and controlled by persons with disabilities. CAILC's central role is providing support and resources to its members; promoting the development of ILRCs; articulating the independent living philosophy; providing organizational assistance, training, implementation of programs; acting as liaison between ILRCs and government.

Advocates the use of participatory research methodologies and models in all medical and social science research; advocates for the full participation of persons with disabilities and their organizations in the design, implementation and reporting of research studies related to persons with disabilities. Undertaken research in the areas of persons with disabilities and: family violence, literacy, youth violence, multiculturalism and seniors.

: http://www.cailc.ca

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS (CARP)

201 Consumers Road
Suite 302
Toronto, Ontario
M2J 4G8
Tel.: (416) 494-4700
Fax: (416) 494-9139
TTY:
Toll Free: 888-876-9992
E-mail:
Contact: Kathy Regan, Executive Director

Organizational Notes:

CARP is a national professional association representing over 2,900 rehabilitation professionals across Canada and, in a smaller number, in the United States and abroad. CARP's mandate is to provide resources to members to maximize their effectiveness and increase the understanding of the significant role rehabilitation professional fill in Canadian society. Its mission is to support members in promoting and providing the professional delivery of rehabilitation services.

Rehabilitation professionals work with persons with disabilities and disadvantages and their families to provide services and supports such as assessment, affective/adjustment counselling, vocational counselling case management and job placement services. Rehabilitation professionals facilitate, manage and implement individual rehabilitation plans to ensure effective vocational and avocational outcomes in the most integrated setting possible. Members are employed as rehabilitation counsellors and consultants, vocational counsellors and consultants, case managers, vocational evaluators, and job placement specialists. Members also work in medical rehabilitation and include rehabilitation nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, kinesiologists, psychologists, medical doctors and other medical specialists.

CARP National is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors. To ensure a national perspective and ongoing communication, the presidents of the societies(or region) or other appointed professional members serve on the National Board. Association members elect one professional member from each jurisdiction to serve as a national director. Ex-officio members may be appointed at the Board's discretion.

: http://www.carpnational.org

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF

203-251 Bank Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 1X3
Tel.: (613) 565-2882
Fax: (613) 565-1207
TTY: (613) 565-8882
Toll Free:
E-mail: info@cad.ca
Contact: James Roots, Executive Director

Organizational Notes:

Deaf-related subjects: technology, education, rights, children, seniors, ect.

The CAD provides consultation and information on Deaf needs and interests to the public, business, media, educators, governments and others. We conduct research and collect data regarding Deaf issues; issue reports on these studies; and provide expertise on them; develop and implement pilot programs. We offer assistance to Deaf organizations and service agencies across the country, and also provide a major library and resource centre on deafness at our office in Ottawa, Ontario.

: http://www.cad.ca

CANADIAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND

396 Cooper Street
Suite 401
Ottawa Ontario
K2P 2H7
Tel.: (613) 567-0311
Fax: (613) 567-2728
TTY:
Toll Free: 877-304-0968
E-mail: ccb@ccbnational.net
Contact:

Organizational Notes:

: http://www.ccbnational.net

CANADIAN COUNCIL ON REHABILITATION AND WORK

111 Richmond St. West
Suite 401
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 2G4
Tel.: (416) 260-3060
Fax: (416) 260-3093
TTY: (416) 260-9923
Toll Free: 800-664-0925
E-mail: info@ccrw.org
Contact: Carole J. Barron, President & CEO

Organizational Notes:

The National Office of the CCRW is located in Toronto, Ontario with an Eastern Regional Office, serving the Atlantic Provinces, opening December 2, 2002 in Moncton, New Brunswick.

The CCRW is committed to innovation, change and the removal of societal barriers by creating an expanding network of partnerships with government, labour and business, and community agencies; providing job accommodation services and work preparation opportunities that lead to guaranteed employment; and, distributing current information relating to the employment of persons with disabilities through workshops, publications and on-line resources.

CCRW is a national, non-profit organization promoting and supporting the meaningful and equitable employment of people with disabilities.

: http://www.ccrw.org

CANADIAN HARD OF HEARING ASSOCIATION

2415 Holly Lane
Suite 205
Ottawa, Ontario
K1V 7P2
Tel.: (613) 526-1584
Fax: (613) 526-4718
TTY: (613) 526-2692
Toll Free: 800-263-8068
E-mail: execdir@chha.ca
Contact: Janice McNamara, Executive Director

Organizational Notes:

: http://www.chha.ca

CANADIAN HEARING SOCIETY

271 Spadina Road
Toronto Ontario
M5R 2V3

Tel.: (416) 928-2507
Fax: (416) 928-2506
TTY: (416) 964-0023
Toll Free:
E-mail:
Contact: Kelly Duffin, President & CEO

Organizational Notes:

Provides a wide range of direct health care and social services that promote independence of deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people. Also provides programs that encourage the prevention of hearing loss among the general public.

: http://www.chs.ca

CANADIAN PARAPLEGIC ASSOCIATION

1101 Prince of Wales Drive
Suite 230
Ottawa, Ontario
K2C 3W7
Tel.: (613) 723-1033
Fax: (613) 723-1060
TTY:
Toll Free: 800-720-4933
E-mail: cpanational@canparaplegic.org
Contact:

Organizational Notes:

: http://www.canparaplegic.org

CNIB

1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto Ontario
M4G 3E8
Tel.: (416) 486-2500
Fax: (416) 480-7677
TTY: (416) 480-8645
Toll Free:
E-mail:
Contact:

Organizational Notes:

CNIB is a charity dedicated to serving the needs of Canadians who are blind, deafblind and visually impaired. It is the largest and the only national organization in Canada to provide such services, which include rehabilitation, access technology, and the largest talking books library in Canada.

Through active participation in national and international organisations, and through focused donations, CNIB fosters and encourages research into the prevention and amelioration of the effects of blindness and visual impairment, and the development of new technologies that allow clients to participate fully in all life experiences.

The CNIB provides 7 core services of rehabilitation and information, including talking books, orientation and mobility instruction, special services for children, and employment counseling and assistance. The CNIB also publishes many publications on all aspects of vision loss.

: http://www.cnib.ca

COUNCIL OF CANADIANS WITH DISABILITIES

294 Portage Avenue
Suite 926
Winnipeg Manitoba
R3C 0B9

Tel.: (204) 947-0303
Fax: (204) 942-4625
TTY:
Toll Free: 866-947-0303
E-mail: ccd@ccdonline.ca
Contact: Laurie Beachell, Executive Director

Organizational Notes:

CCD is a national advocacy association of persons with disabilities which seeks to improve the status of Canadians with disabilities. CCD monitors federal legislation, policy and programs as they affect persons with disabilities.

: http://www.ccdonline.ca

DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES

63 Cornell Road NW
Calgary, Alberta
T2L 0L4
Tel: (403) 284-6214
Fax: (403) 282-7006
TTY: (403) 284-6201
Toll Free: 877-711-3447
E-mail:
Contact: Suzanne Belisle

Organizational Notes:

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services is a registered, non-profit charity serving all who are affected by hearing loss. community.The Equipment department serves as a source for current assistive technology used for home, work, educational institutions, leisure activities and places of worship. Some rental items are available. Consultation services and corporate staff training on TTY (Telephone for the Deaf) use and hearing access issues in general, are available. All sales and rental revenues from the Equipment Department are used to support other vital services and programs offered by Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services to the deaf and hard of hearing communities.

: http://www.dhhs.org

DISABLED PEOPLES INTERNATIONAL (DPI)

748 Broadway
Winnipeg Manitoba
R3G 0X3
Tel.: (204) 287-8010
Fax: (204) 783-6270
TTY: (204) 284-2598
Toll Free:
E-mail:
Contact: Moira Horgan-Jones, Executive Director

Organizational Notes:

: http://www.dpi.org

EASTER SEAL SOCIETY, ONTARIO (THE)

1185 Eglinton Avenue East
Suite 706
North York, Ontario
M3C 3C6
Tel.: (416) 421-8377
Fax: (416) 696-1035
TTY:
Toll Free: 800-668-6252
E-mail:
Contact: Meredith Wiens, Manager, Communications

Organizational Notes:

The Easter Seal Society, Ontario is dedicated to helping children, youth and young adults with physical disabilities achieve their full individual potential and future independence. Easter Seals helps fund the purchase of expensive mobility equipment and communication devices, offers summer camp and funding for other summer recreational programs, and provides access to information and resources.

Programming in providing:

• Financial assistance
• Summer Camp
• Resource information
• Community outreach

: http://www.easterseals.org

HTX.ca - THE HEALTH TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE (HTX)

1380 Rodick Road, Suite 100
Markham, Ontario
L3R 4G5

Tel.: (905) 248-2732
Fax.: (905) 479-2055
TTY:
Toll Free:
E-mail: Contact: Jennifer Woods, Director of Operations

Organizational Notes:

HTX has one over-arching goal: to accelerate the development of the Medical and Assistive Technologies cluster in Canada in general and Ontario in particular. In achieving this goal many highly valued goals and objectives will be realized for the province and the country. Ontario has many of the key elements necessary to create a world class cluster and is home to approximately 60% of the economic activity of the sector.

: https://www.htx.ca/htx/Index.aspx

LEARNING DISABILITIES ASSOCIATION OF CANADA

250 City Centre Ave.
Suite 616
Ottawa Ontario
K1R 6K7
Tel.: (613) 238-5721
Fax: (613) 235-5391
TTY:
Toll Free:
E-mail: information@ldac-taac.ca
Contact: Judy Kerr, Executive Director

Organizational Notes:

Non-profit organization with affiliates in each province and territory and 75 chapters in communities across Canada. Membership of 10,000 including parents, educators, psychologists, lawyers, etc. and individuals with learning disabilities. Its mission is to advance the education, employment, social development, legal rights and general well-being of people with learning disabilities.

We provide input to various federal government departments on learning disabilities regarding programming and policies impacting individuals with learning disabilities.

: http://www.ldac-taac.ca

NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DISABLED STUDENTS (NEADS)

Room 426, Unicentre
Carleton University
Ottawa Ontario
K1S 5B6
Tel.: (613) 526-8008
Fax: (613) 520-3704
TTY: (613) 526-8008
Toll Free:
E-mail: neads@cyberus.ca
Contact: Frank Smith, National Coordinator

Organizational Notes:

: http://www.neads.ca

ROEHER INSTITUTE

York University, Kinsmen Building
4700 Keele Street
North York, Ontario
M3J 1P3
Tel.: (416) 661-9611 ext. 204
Fax: (416) 661-5701
TTY: (416) 661-2023
Toll Free: 800-856-2207
E-mail: info@roeher.ca
Contact: Cameron Crawford, President

Organizational Notes:

Established in 1969. Non profit Institute, formerly known as the National Institute on Mental Retardation, is a national institute for education, information and the study of public policy affecting persons with disabilities.

Institute's goals are:

1. To examine and understand issues affecting persons with an intellectual disability and other disabilities
2. To act as a centre for the exchange of ideas and to encourage new ways of thinking about persons with disabilities
3. To provide insight into the social policy, programs, laws and other features of Canadian society that affect the capacity of people with disabilities to exercise their rights and fully participate in society. Activities include: research and public policy analysis; publishing; training, education and leadership development. Research is conducted with a major focus on public policy and funding, studies of innovative social programs and development of policy alternatives. Areas of interest include social security, employment, accommodation and housing, education, human rights, leisure and recreation, sexual and family abuse, legal and human rights, social well-being and biomedical ethics.

: http://www.roeher.ca

TACTILE COLOUR COMMUNICATION SOCIETY

1329 Denman Street
Victoria, British Columbia
V8R 1X4
Tel: (250) 480-1610
Fax:
TTY:
Toll Free: 888-600-1931
E-mail: info@tactile.org
URL: www.tactile.org
Contact: Stacie Ratch

Organizational Notes:

Tactile Colour is an easy system of twelve standardized textures representing twelve colours. Each texture is distinctive and has a bold colour. The system is both intuitive and logical. They are arranged to reflect the colour spectrum so that the texture for orange feels between those of red and yellow. Green is a mixture of yellow and blue and so on. The contrasting colours like red and green and black and white are represented by contrasting textures. Tactile Colour Communication Society is a registered charity with Revenue Canada. The charity has a belief that advancements designed for people with disabilities can benefit everyone.

Tactile Colour can now produce maps of parks, university campuses, malls, ect., at minimum of 100 copies.

: http://www.tactile.org

THE TETRA SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA

3077 Granville Street
Suite 207
Vancouver, B.C.
V6H 3J9
Tel: (604) 688-6464
Fax: (604) 688-6463
TTY:
Toll Free: 877-688-8762
E-mail: ptweedie@tetrasociety.org
Contact: Pat Tweedie, Program Coordinator

Organizational Notes:

Recruit technically skilled volunteers to work one on one with disabled people needing an assistive device.

: http://www.tetrasociety.org