Message from the Co-Chairs
Canadians think about disability today quite differently from the views they
held only a few years ago. Previously dominant was the medical model of
disability, which regarded disability as a purely personal problem to be
"cured" or otherwise "fixed". Thankfully the current trend
of thought takes the shape of a social model of disability, where persons with
disabilities are considered to be disadvantaged by social and environmental
barriers to participation that exist in a hostile environment. As a result of
these barriers, people experience disability.
This changed view has developed in synchronicity with a growing international
human rights movement which has promoted the ideals of empowerment,
self-advocacy and inclusion.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is
part of this growing global movement. Its main purpose is to confirm the human
rights of persons with disabilities set out in international law. The UN
Convention's core issues govern non-discrimination and reasonable accommodation.
Both of these types of obligations are well known and applied under Canadian
law.
Canada was among the first countries to sign the Convention when it was
opened for signature on March 30, 2007. Over 100 States have already signed it
as well. Four countries have ratified the Convention. It will come into force
after the 20th ratification, expected to occur before the end of 2007. Canada is
currently considering the ratification of the Convention.
It can be said that in its own modest way, the National Council of Federal
Employees with Disabilities is working at promoting the principles of the UN
Convention at level of employment equity for federal public servants. For
example, an advisory group at the ADM level was split into two core groups
looking to make headways in the areas of disability management and of the
provision of a centre of expertise on accommodations. We hope to be able to tell
you more about this in an upcoming newsletter!
Carole Willans-Théberge, NCFPSD Co-Chair,
NCR Duane Simpson, NCFPSD Co-Chair, Regions
A Word from the NCFED National Office
Our Co-Chairs say it very well: in our own modest way, we are working at
promoting the UN Convention’s core principles, and so are each and every one
of you through your participation in our consultations and surveys, and by
providing us your feedback.
This is uppermost in our minds as we start preparations for NCFED’s
Congress 2008. Once again the focus is on “Our Community: Energized,
Enabled, Empowered” as we continue to build towards a more welcoming
public service for persons with disabilities. Information concerning the
Congress, including guest speakers and workshops, will be posted on the web site
as plans develop, so keep an eye on the website and mark your calendars for June
11 and 12 for employees, and June 13 for managers.
Over the next few months the organizing committee will be developing the
agenda, so your ideas and suggestions are welcome. Drop us a line and share your
thoughts and innovative ideas with us; we will do our best to incorporate as
many as possible into this year’s event and make it the best one yet. Lise
Lachapelle and I will certainly be very busy in the office this winter as we
work with the Congress Organizing Committee and prepare for a new incoming
Board. Stay tuned for more news!
Louise Normand, Executive Director
NCFPSD Activities
This is an election year for NCFED! The call for nominations process is being
finalized. Now is the time to start the search for nominees in your region!
Progress on issues affecting Federal Employees with Disabilities
On June 28, 2007, Susan Fletcher, Champion of the Person with Disabilities
Network at Health Canada, and ADM, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety
Branch, invited several departmental champions for persons with disabilities to
a meeting to discuss NCFED priorities, to seek support, and to discuss next
steps.
Carole Willans-Théberge made a presentation: Focus for Action on
Employment Equity for Public Servants with Disabilities in the Federal Workplace.
The deck outlined key issues identified by NCFED further to consultations
involving federal public servants with disabilities and suggested
"ramps" (steps) for further work.
Of all the issues mentioned, three were identified and agreed upon as top
priorities. The Infocentre - coordination centre for accommodations and case
management was assigned to one ADM Committee. Disability management and
insurance, as well as mental health issues were merged as a second ADM Committee
- this includes return to work, disability insurance, medical insurance, fitness
to work evaluations, and general mental health issues. It was agreed to convene
interdepartmental working groups to develop work plans and initiate action on
the two broad priorities. The departments leading the work will ensure that key
federal organizations currently conducting initiatives in these areas as well as
the NCFED are consulted regarding accomplishments and best practices.
The next meeting of ADMs will be called late in the fall of 2007. Agenda
items will include status reports from the working groups and support for the
NCFED spring Congress.
A Word from the CPSA
The Canada Public Service Agency and the Canadian Human Rights Commission
invite you to DIVERSITY 07, from October 22 to 24, 2007, in Ottawa. This
conference will be the first in a series of events on diversity. Topics to be
discussed will include accommodating mental health issues in the workplace, how
to handle medical information and functional assessments, and many others
topics.
At the end of the conference, you will have a better understanding of your
duty to accommodate obligations, and tools to help build a more inclusive and
representative workforce.
Cost is only $495 per person. Watch www.mySCHOOL-monECOLE.gc.ca
for more information.
Newsbites on Disability Issues
Lots of talk, not much action on diversity
By Shannon Klie
The majority of Canadian organizations rank diversity as a priority, but 42
per cent of them have no strategic plan to foster it, according to a Conference
Board of Canada report.
"There's always a gap between awareness and execution in anything,"
said Prem Benimadhu, vice-president of governance and HR management at the
Conference Board.
Unfortunately there are several stumbling blocks to organizations
implementing strategic plans to foster diversity, he added.
"There's a full-plate mentality in organizations, particularly among
managers. They're wrestling with hoards of issues every day and if diversity is
presented to them as another nice thing for them to do, they will pay lip
service to it and little gets done," he said.
In the Conference Board's Report on Diversity: Priorities, Practices and
Performance in Canadian Organizations, only 56 per cent of organizations said
senior management communicates the importance of diversity to organizational
success, leaving a lot of room for improvement.
"Leaders' commitment to (diversity) is lacklustre," said Benimadhu.
"In any program, leadership matters, the commitment of leaders matters.
What it means is that leaders will have to make more than a yearly pronouncement
on the value of diversity and really lead the charge."
If diversity isn't linked to the overall business strategy of an
organization, it's easier to push it aside for other business priorities, said
Benimadhu.
Senior management should also be held accountable for diversity and reaching
targets, he said. This ensures the diversity plan can be measured and progress
can be evaluated.
Even though 80 per cent of the organizations surveyed fall under the
Employment Equity Act, none of them meet the labour market availability of all
four Employment Equity groups. The worst representation rates are seen for
people with disabilities, followed by Aboriginal people.
But diversity isn't just about representation rates. Even if all
organizations had the proper representation of all four groups, they must
leverage that diversity and that means managing, motivating and engaging a
diverse workforce. Therefore, organizations need to invest in training and
development for current and future leaders to make the most of diverse
employees, said Benimadhu.
Unfortunately, too many organizations believe they won't have to do anything
to increase diversity because it will just happen naturally, especially with
Canada's changing demographics, said diversity consultant Sullivan.
"The leadership has to be convinced that it's not going to happen on its
own, because it won't," she said. "If you want a different result from
what you've got right now then you have to change something."
© Copyright Canadian HR Reporter, January 15, 2007, by permission of
Carswell, Toronto, Ontario, 1-800-387-5164.
Traumatic Military Deployments Increase Mental Health Conditions
Source: Canadian Press
Author: James Keller
HALIFAX (CP) - There is a strong link between traumatic experiences during
military deployments and the risk of mental-health problems, suggests a study
that also concludes untreated conditions are an "enormous problem" in
the Canadian Forces.
The study, published in the current issue of the Archives of General
Psychiatry, was based on Statistics Canada interviews with more than 8,000
active Canadian military personnel in 2002.
http://medbroadcast.com/channel_main.asp?channel_id=1022
The facts about hearing loss
Deafness is the inability to hear sound. It has many causes and can occur at
any age. People can go deaf suddenly as a side effect of a virus, or lose their
hearing over time because of disease, nerve damage, or injury caused by noise.
About one baby in 800 is born deaf, often because of genetic factors. Over 2
million people in North America cannot hear at all, and are considered
profoundly deaf. Another 30 million have serious hearing problems.
http://medbroadcast.com/channel_section_list.asp?channel_id=1059&relation_id=7694
October is Autism Month
Breaking News
Autism Society Canada Website
Whether you are a person with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a
parent/caregiver of a child with autism, a family member, a volunteer, an
educator, a health or social service professional, or an interested researcher,
this site will provide you with reliable information on autism and referrals to
many helpful services and resources. You will also find news of Autism Society
Canada's (ASC) recent activities and publications.
ASC puts special focus on providing information, referral and resources for
parents and other family members who are seeking support for children with
autism. This site also provides resources and links for youths and adults with
autism conditions. Whether you are looking for people in the community to
connect with, information on university/college supports, or just for general
information and links to interesting places on the web, we hope the ASC site
will be helpful to you.
ASC is working to ensure that people with ASDs can reach their full potential
as participating members of their communities.
ASC News & Events
Autism Society Canada Welcomes New Executive Director. Autism Society Canada
is very pleased to announce the recent appointment of our new Executive
Director, Kathleen Provost...
Common Goals: An Open Letter from Autism Society Canada. April 26,
2007: Autism Society Canada is a nationally incorporated charity founded in 1976
by the regional societies existing at that time. ASC is committed to advocacy,
public education, information and referral, and the support of provincial and
territorial autism societies. Over the last 30 years our mandate has remained
constant: to work toward the necessary changes that will improve the quality of
life of Canadians with Autism Spectrum Disorders across their lifespan. We would
like to take this opportunity to update you on our activities…
Autism Society Canada Sees Lack of Urgency in Senate Committee
Recommendations on Support of Canadians with Autism Spectrum Disorders
For immediate release…April 3, 2007 Ottawa – More than three years have
passed since Autism Society Canada (ASC) began to call on the federal government
to put in place a comprehensive national autism strategy to address the lifespan
needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)…
Autism Society Canada announces Dr. Peter Zwack Memorial Scholarship:
In November 2005 the Canadian Autism community lost one of their most
enthusiastic and hard-working supporters with the passing of ASC's sitting
President, Dr. Peter Zwack. It is with great pleasure that ASC announces the
introduction of a memorial research scholarship in memory of Dr. Peter Zwack and
the work he so diligently championed in the ASD field…
Being deaf no handicap for Laurier House tour guide
Katie Daubs, Ottawa Citizen
Victoria LeBlanc's fingers dance likes fireflies as she talks about Wilfrid
Laurier rushing to Montreal by train to propose to Zo Lafontaine. It's her
favourite story.
A couple looking at a portrait of the former prime minister and his wife
listen, totally entranced. Their tour guide hasn't uttered a word. The voice
telling the story is that of an interpreter.
Victoria Leblanc, 21, is a deaf tour guide for Laurier House. She is seen
with a bust of Laurier
Ms. LeBlanc hasn't been able to hear since she was four years old. No one
knows why. Genetics, the doctors guessed. This year, the 21-year-old is one of
two deaf tour guides at Laurier House whose job is to give tours in sign
language. It's a pilot project for the historic site, done through the Young
Canada Works program.
Anne-Marie Johnson, the manager of Laurier House, says it's been a real
"eye-opener." "We've learned so much. They make us aware of
things because we don't live in that culture."
Sometimes, when visitors come to the historic Laurier Avenue home, they're
confused by having a tour guide communicate through sign language and an
interpreter. They tell Ms. LeBlanc they don't need sign language. She laughs.
"I say, It's for me. I'm deaf'." She says when student groups come
through, those who have had her tour brag to their friends that they had the
"deaf tour guide." It's cool. But it's frustrating, she admits. Many
people won't make eye contact with her. Many only ask the interpreter questions.
Thursday, when Ms. LeBlanc began her tour, a couple from Saskatchewan did a
double take. They didn't know where to look or who to ask questions of. But by
the end, they were excitedly talking to Ms. LeBlanc about Expo '67.
That's all she really wants. "So many people don't know anything about
deaf people," she said. "I feel better they've met me." Ms.
LeBlanc doesn't remember what it was like to hear. She learned to speak before
she lost her hearing, and had to learn sign language as a young child. When she
signs, her lips move, and sometimes you can hear her voice. She says her voice
makes her self-conscious. She once did an entire job interview without an
interpreter, and the employer didn't even realize she was deaf. He was impressed
with the American Sign Language skills she had listed on her resumé.
Ms. LeBlanc can also read lips. The only problems she has are overgrown
moustaches and fast-talkers. Her own father, mediocre at sign language, has to
keep his moustache well-trimmed. She hails from Vancouver and studies at
Gallaudet University in Washington.
Before she arrived in Ottawa this summer, she scoured the Internet to find an
apartment. She found one near the University of Ottawa, set everything up by
e-mail and hopped on a plane. But when she thinks back, she can't remember if
she told her new roommates she was deaf. She just tacked a manual alphabet (for
sign language) up on the freezer with a magnet when she got there. "I love
interacting with hearing people, she said. "A lot of people are afraid a
deaf person won't like being asked a question."
She's not afraid. She'll answer any question. Her chin piercing didn't really
hurt - and water doesn't spurt out of the hole when the earring isn't there. And
the only difference between the hearing and the non-hearing - is hearing. It's
as simple as that.
Apple iPhone Not Hearing Aid Compatible
The iPhone arrived amid much hype and secrecy. HLAA met with Apple and
AT&T representatives to play with and test out the phone. In addition to
learning how the various technological innovations such as the touch screen
work, obviously we were eager to know how accessible the phone is to people who
use hearing aids and cochlear implants. What we learned was very discouraging.
The bottom line is that the phone is not hearing aid compatible either on
microphone or telecoil settings.
Complaints have been filed with the FCC because HLAA believes that Apple,
when designing the phone, could have tested it for hearing aid compatibility
implemented standards to make it accessible to hearing aid and cochlear implant
users.
Website Corner
Coping with Stress: "Stress is a fact of daily life and is the
result of both the good and bad things that happen. Too much stress can cause
serious health concerns, but there are many ways of dealing with stress that can
reduce your risk.
It's Your Health (IYH) has produced a new article on Mental Health - Coping
with Stress. To read the article go to: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/life-vie/stress_e.html
Healthy Hearing: Help for persons with hearing loss
Suffering from hearing loss? You're not alone, and there are many
ways to cope
Ear Health > Related Conditions
Deafness (Hearing Loss · Presbycusis · Hard of Hearing)
Ménière's Disease (Ringing Ears · Inner Ear Disorder · Vertigo Disease ·
Endolymphatic Hydrops)
Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)
Vertigo (Dizziness · Spinning)
The CHN has new tools to stay connected, explore exciting new tools to
learn about your health.
What is NCFED?
What NCFED Does
The National Council of Federal Employees with Disabilities (NCFED)
represents the interests of federal public servants with visible and/or
invisible disabilities.
Areas of action include, but are not limited to: awareness, recruitment,
retention, career progression, accommodation, accessibility and training.
The NCFED provides information, advice, analysis and recommendations on
relevant issues, as well as the actions required to address them, to federal
public service management and other key players. The ultimate goal is a
respectful and inclusive work environment.
What NCFED Does Not Do
The NCFED often receives personal requests for assistance from federal
employees with disabilities who are experiencing a specific problem. While every
effort is made to direct enquiries to the person or organization mandated with
handling this kind of issue, the NCFED does not have any role, responsibility or
resources to deal with individual cases. The NCFED has a policy role, reviewing
the broader issues and carrying large initiatives to bring about systemic
improvements in federal work environments across Canada. The personal stories
raised by individual employees are certainly important to our understanding of
the key issues that affect federal public servants with disabilities and help us
to better focus our policy development strategies - however the NCFED cannot
actively participate in individual cases.
NCFED Subscription
Join NCFED and be part of a national network of people working together for
an inclusive Public Service! Anyone interested in employment equity and
disability issues is welcome to subscribe. Having a disability is not a
requirement. There is no fee… it is free.
Subscribers receive the quarterly newsletter, notice of web site updates and
advance notice and personal invitation to the next big NCFED event in 2008. In
addition, you will have the opportunity to participate in various surveys and to
provide input on important issues.
How can you become a subscriber? Download the
form (Word format) and send it by e-mail at lnormand@justice.gc.ca,
by fax at (613)948-2236 or by mail at the following address to the National
Council of Federal Employees with Disabilities, 360 Albert Street, 14th Floor,
Ottawa ON K1A 0H8
NCFED Editorial Board
Louise Normand - Executive Director
Lise Lachapelle - Jr. Editor and Co-ordinator
Carole Willans-Théberge - Co-Chair, NCR
Marjolaine Levert - Communications Subcommittee Member
Executive Board Members
Duane Simpson
Victoria BC
B.C. Regional Representative - Co-Chair, Regions
Tel: 250-363-5440
Fax: 250-363-7980
simpson.daa@forces.gc.ca
Carole Willans-Théberge
Ottawa ON
NCR Representative - Co-Chair, NCR
Tel: 613-944-4220
Fax: 613-947-7581
ctheberge@pco-bcp.gc.ca
Max Brault
Ottawa ON
NCR Representative
Tel: 613-990-0044
Fax: 613-998-9480
braultm@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Kevin Bruff
St. John's NL
Atlantic Representative
Tel: 709-772-5978
Fax: 709-772-4390
kevin.bruff@pwgsc.gc.ca
Tony Fenn
Ottawa ON
NCR Representative
Tel: 613-948-8553
Fax: 613-957-1327
TTY: 613-957-0619
tony_fenn@hc-sc.gc.ca
Marlene Hoce
Regina SK
Prairie Representative
Tel: 306-780-8090
Fax: 306-780-6926
marlene.hoce@ccra-adrc.gc.ca
Delphine Elleze
Yellowknife , NT
North Representative
Tel: 867-766-8308
Fax: 867-873-6895
Delphine.Elleze@servicecanada.gc.ca
Cory Thompson
Barrie, ON
Ontario Representative
Tel: 705-725-2475
Fax: 705-739-3369
Cory.thornton@ccra-adrc.gc.ca
Guy Delisle
Montreal, QC
Quebec Representative
Tel: 514-866-7654 ext: 3211
Fax: 514-283-5748
Guy.delisle@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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