Message from the Co-Chairs
Progress occurs where political will lies and where people are willing to
work collaboratively towards a common objective. Political will and willing
people are most easily "fired up" where a solid structure is in place
providing clear and strategic directions, while at the same time recognizing and
coordinating efforts.
So while governance and community building take time, the end reward is the
creation of participatory structures that will help to guide planning, decision
making, and implementation. As Co-Chairs that is the foremost legacy that we
will leave from our term in office as founding Co-Chairs.
Community building requires that the National Council of Federal Employees
with Disabilities builds its profile and credibility, both in respect of the
people for whom we are advocating policy and environmental changes in the work
environment, as well as with senior and line management. You can help us by
circulating this newsletter to your co-workers and getting more and more people
to subscribe. Remember: the only requirement to become a member is a sincere
belief that the Government of Canada should be supported in its efforts to
become an employer of choice for all Canadians, including Canadians with
disabilities.
Senior management is listening to us more and more. The Canada Public Service
Agency (formerly PSHRMAC) has called us the "ears, eyes and voices" of
federal public servants with disabilities. Our role as advisors on broad
policies and strategic directions in respect of the federal employer is gaining
growing recognition. This is a major achievement.
Please mark your calendars now for NCFED Congress 2008, which will be taking
place at the Ottawa Congress Centre from June 11th to 13th, 2008.
Carole Willans-Théberge, NCFED Co-Chair, NCR
Duane Simpson, NCFED Co-Chair, Regions
A Word from the NCFED National Office
Change, change and more change, it never seems to end! However, in every
change there are ways to become stronger and more committed. Many changes have
occurred within the Canada Public Service Agency (formerly PSHRMAC) including
the creation of a Secretariat. The planning and preparation of events,
activities and ongoing day to day needs have been made so much easier, we are
grateful for PSA's assistance, precious advice and continuous support, it is
very much appreciated.
Taking up most of our time these days is NCFED Congress 2008!!! Mark your
agendas…it will be happening at the Ottawa Congress Centre on June 11, 12, 13,
2008. We hope to see you all there, so, don't miss it, more details will
follow in future editions of this newsletter. Watch our website!
Louise Normand, Executive Director
NCFED Activities
Name Change of Agency
As of April 30, 2007, the Public Service Human Resource Management Agency (PSHRMAC)
changed its name to Canada Public Service Agency (CPSA) / Agence de la fonction
publique du Canada (AFPC). This new title emphasizes the Agency's focus on
service and better identifies the goal of the work of the Agency. An address
change has also been made for the departmental website. It is now www.psagency-agencefp.gc.ca
Creation of a Secretariat for the Three National Employment Equity
Councils
A common Secretariat is now in place at the Canada Public Service Agency to
provide financial and administrative support to the National Council of Federal
Employees with Disabilities (NCFED), the National Council of Visible Minorities
(NCVM) and the National Council of Aboriginal Federal Employees (NCAFE). The
Secretariat team includes Suresh K. Kumar, Policy/Program Officer ((613)
952-3140, Suresh.Kumar@cpsa-afpc.gc.ca)
and Suzanne Dinelle, Administrative/Financial Assistant ((613) 952-2063, Suzanne.Dinelle@cpsa-afpc.gc.ca)
. The Secretariat is part of the Operations Division in the Diversity
Directorate and Jan Michaels (613) 946-6183, Jan.Michaels@cpsa-afpc.gc.ca)
is its new Director. The Operations Directorate of the Diversity Division will
support public service managers and employees to build an increasingly
representative and inclusive workforce. The team looks forward to serving the
three National Councils.
Newsbites on Disability Issues
Grand Opening of Entrance at 2OO Promenade du Portage
A ramp and an elevator have been installed to allow better access to the
entrance of CIDA. An invitation was extended to all employees at CIDA to join
them in celebrating the grand opening of this new entrance. They celebrated in
the main lobby on May 1st, 2007 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Thanks were
extended to all the hard work and dedication of the group of employees living
with a disability at CIDA and to the support of the Employment Equity Advisory
Committee (EEAC). This is a great example of the Power of Teamwork, Dedication
and Leadership!
First Data Enters into Strategic Alliance with T-Base Communications
Blind and partially sighted consumers gain expanded access to alternative
format statement services
Ogdensburg, NY and Omaha, NEB, May 10, 2007-T-Base Communications and
First Data Resources, a division of electronics commerce and payments leader,
First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) announced today they will collaborate to provide
specialized statement services to First Data's clients for their customers who
are unable to access their financial information in conventional print.
About First Data
First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) is a leading provider of electronic commerce
and payment solutions for business worldwide. Serving over 5 million merchant
locations, 1,900 card issuers and their customers, First Data posers the global
economy by making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses around the
world to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. For more
information, visit www.firstdata.com
About T-Base Communications
With locations in Canada and the United States, T- Base Communications
produces listen-ready and touch-ready contractual and customer management
materials, assisting government and industry to communicate with their customers
who cannot access information in conventional print. Specializing in Braille,
large print, e-Text, audio and website accessibility, T-Base Communications
works in partnership with North America's most progressive companies to meet the
diverse information needs of their customers such as American Express,
Citigroup, LaSalle Bank, Merrill Lynch, Nokia, Royal Bank, Symcor, TD, and
Verizon Wireless. For more information, visit www.tbase.com
Vision Australia and T-Base Communications Announce Exclusive, Long-term
Partnership Agreement
People who are blind or have low vision in Australia and New Zealand gain
expanded access to alternative format statement services For more information or
to support Vision Australia call 1300 84 74 66 or visit www.visionaustralia.org.au/
May was Speech and Hearing Awareness Month
Did you know?
- One in 10 Canadians has a speech, language or hearing problem.
- About 4 % of preschool children have a significant speech or language
problem.
- About 1% of Canadians and 4% of preschoolers stutter.
- Men are four times more likely to stutter than women.
The good news is that many speech and hearing disorders can be identified
early and treated to prevent communication difficulties in school, on the job,
and in social situations.
Speech and Hearing Awareness Month, or May Month is coordinated by the
Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists (CASLPA), the body that
supports Canadian speech-language pathologists and audiologists. There are
activities and events planned across Canada.
Related resources
Behaviour
in children with language disorders - a handout for parents
Suggests ways to assess whether your child has difficulty with verbal or
social expression and language comprehension. Recommends various intervention
strategies for communication difficulties. Source: Canadian
Child Care Federation (CCCF)
Hearing
health for children
Outlines warning signs of hearing loss and provides a checklist for a child's
hearing development. Stresses the importance of early detection. Link requires
PDF reader. Source: Canadian Association of
Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA)
Hearing
loss and leisure noise
Discusses the connection between noise levels and their duration with
auditory loss. Presents measures to protect our hearing.
Source: Health Canada. From: It's
your health: environment
Singing
through the day
Encourages singing to a child in order to further develop his/her listening
skills. Suggests that rhythm and rhyme make important words stand out, and that
with a chorus, children get a chance to repeat and remember words and whole
sentences. Source: FRP Canada
Noise
control in industry: a basic guide
Describes a guide to occupational noise problems and how to control exposure.
The guide discusses how to measure noise exposure levels, assess risk of hearing
loss, and how to develop a hearing conservation program. Includes ordering
information. Source: Canadian Centre for
Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) From: Pocket
guides
How
much noise is safe for my hearing?
Identifies types of hearing damage that may result from noise exposure;
briefly explains how to estimate safe noise levels; and lists tips for reducing
noise levels at work. Prepared by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health
and Safety. Source: Canadian
Health Network (CHN). From: FAQs:
workplace health
June was Stroke Awareness Month
Stroke is preventable
For information please see link below
Source: Canadian Health
Network (CHN) From: Partner
feature of the month: archives
September will be Mental Awareness week from September 30 to October 6 For
information please see links. Source: http://www.cpa-apc.org/
From : http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca
Web site Corner
ACCOMMODATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES: Environmental
sensitivities are a group of poorly understood medical conditions that cause
people to react adversely to environmental triggers. The Canadian Human Rights
Commission commissioned this report, in which the researchers seek to establish
the status of the issues related to environmental sensitivities from a legal
perspective and as these relate to the protection of human rights.
Accommodation for Environmental Sensitivities: Legal Perspective, by Cara
Wilkie and David Baker, Canadian Human Rights Commission, released May 23, 2007.
http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/pdf/legal_sensitivity_en.pdf
Environmental Sensitivities: Disability and Medical Evidence HTML Version:
http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/research_program_recherche/esensitivities_legal_hypersensibilitee/toc_tdm-en.asp
Environmental Health
The articles and position papers that follow are but a sample of the work
that LDAC is involved in. We are grateful for the expertise of Barbara McElgunn,
who retired on November 1, 2003 from her position as Health Policy Officer for
the last twenty years for the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada.
- LDAC Position Statements
- Articles
- Protecting
the Brain: Neurotoxicants and Child Development by Barbara McElgunn,
Health Policy Officer, Learning Disabilities Association of Canada
(Source: Interaction, volume 13, No. 1 Spring 1999, publication of the
Canadian Child Care Federation)
- Understanding
and Preventing Environmental Hazards to Child Health and Development
by Barbara McElgunn, Health Policy Officer, Learning Disabilities
Association of Canada (Source: Linking Research to Practice: Second
Canadian Forum, Proceedings report, Canadian Child Care Federation,
March 2000)
- Parliamentary Briefs
- Partnerships
- Reports
- Links
General tips for better communication in most situations:
People
with disabilities - putting people first is the key to good communication
References:
A
Way with Words and Images: Terminology Guide Concerning Persons with
Disabilities. Human Resources Development Canada.
Fact Sheet on
Stuttering (PDF): Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathologists and
Audiologists (CASLPA).
http://dawn.thot.net/Etiquette.html
Disabled Women?s Network Ontario
http://dawn.thot.net/disability_guide.html.Canadian
Centre on Disability Studies.
http://www.cnib.ca/ Canadian Association of
the Deaf.
http://www.cnib.ca/ Canadian National
Institute for the Blind.
Vacation planning for people with disabilities: Planning
is key: vacationing for people with disabilities
Finding the right school: Post-secondary
education … tips for adults with disabilities
Accessibility can mean more than one thing: Accessibility
means more than just ramps
References for this article:
Myths and Facts About Health
The CHN Top 10 Health Myths
There is a lot of health information out there and it is hard to know what to
believe. Sometimes incorrect or confusing information stops us from making
healthy choices for ourselves and our families. Read the CHN top 10 health myths
to help you find out the real facts.
Fact versus fiction
- Packed lunches are time-consuming and boring.
- Using antibacterial soap is the best way to kill germs and prevent
infections.
- All stress is normal and my body is built to handle it.
- All natural health products are safe.
- You can feel if you have high blood pressure.
- My child will not be healthy if he goes into a childcare environment.
- Eating
disorders are hereditary.
- You can't prevent diabetes - either you will get it or you won't.
- It is not safe for my children to be in day care or attend school with
children who have HIV or AIDS.
- I'm too busy with work all day and with the duties I have at home to find
time to be physically active.
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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