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Abilities magazine articles
All articles are available below. You can narrow your focus to Canada or to a smaller region by using the drop-down menus, above.
Canada
- 1996 Metro Toronto Wheelchair Challenge
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Heightened by the prospect of excellent weather and extensive television coverage, the eighth annual Metro Toronto Wheelchair Challenge provided athletes, coaches and spectators with some outstanding ...
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A Boost for Researchers
2002 Neurotrauma Research Awards -
Researchers across Ontario are receiving a $1.2-million boost from the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF) for spinal cord and traumatic brain injury research in 2002. Funding will support 18 ...
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A Call for Ambassadors
Sharing Core Values for Sustaining Caring Communities -
In the last issue of ABILITIES, readers were introduced to "The Philia Project -- A Dialogue on Citizenship," by Sam Sullivan, one of the project leaders. In this issue, another project ...
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A Capital Destination
Where Canada Comes Alive -
Tourist destinations: Do they leave you out in the cold? Then visit Canada’s Capital Region. Regardless of the season, it’s the place to be! The National Capital Commission (NCC) and its many ...
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A Capital Idea
Ottawa in All Seasons -
Ottawa is more than a place to pose in front of Parliament, wearing a Mountie hat purchased a local souvenir shop – although the author confesses she has done exactly that! Ottawa, with its bounty of ...
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A Day With Disney
70 Kids from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Spend a Day in Orlando, Florida -
It’s 5:30 on an April morning in Winnipeg, MB. The sky is growing light. With 70 children and 50 adults, we’re preparing to board Flight AC6091 for a day at Walt Disney World in Orlando, ...
- A Fall Bouquet of Opportunities
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It may be fall, but it feels more like spring, what with the number of opportunities available for growth and enhancement starting this season. Review a lineup of ways to get involved and stay in ...
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A Hallmark of Quality
CARF Canada Accreditation -
CARF Canada is a private, not-for-profit accrediting organization that promotes quality rquality, value and optimal outcomes of rehabilitation ...
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A Model Strategy
The B.C. Strategy for Coordinating Disability -
With three months to go in the pilot phase of the B.C. Strategy for Coordinating Disability Issues, the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) is in the thick of several key initiatives, and looking ...
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A New Book for Non-Profits
Pressure Points and Possibilities -
The pressure is on! Non-profit organizations, including those serving people with disabilities, are being pressed to provide more and better services at the same time that governments are ...
- A New Home for the Ontario March of Dimes
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On January 18, 1995, in the presence of the Honourable Henry N. R. Jackman, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, friends, clients, donors, neighbours and government officials were welcomed to the Grand ...
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A Rose by any Other Name
...Is Not an Ontarians with Disabilities Act -
During the last election, the Progressive Conservatives, under the leadership of Mike Harris, as well as the Liberal and NDP leaders, made a promise that, if elected, they would introduce an ...
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A Standing Ovation
Artists Receive Accolades in Winnipeg -
A hush comes over the audience as the curtain is pulled back to reveal a dark outline of a figure. And then the figure begins to speak. This is David Roche, and he is presenting ...
- A Tribute to Disability Sports in Alberta
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The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum has recently enhanced its permanent disability sport ...
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A Unique Approach for Job Seekers
Multi-Agency Consortium on Employment Services -
Early in 1994, Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) approached the Training Coordinating Group for Persons with Disabilities (TCG) to work with the greater Toronto community to develop a new ...
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A Unique Project
Choice and Opportunity -
In the early 1990s, persons with an intellectual disability on Prince Edward Island were feeling frustrated by the existing supports and services. Individuals with an intellectual disability felt ...
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A Vision for Saskatchewan
The Disability Action Plan -
On June 28, 2001, the Saskatchewan Council on Disability Issues formally presented its Disability Action Plan to Premier Lorne Calvert and the Minister Responsible for Disability Issues, the ...
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A World of Possibilities
Volunteering Abroad -
Canadians of all ages and abilities are playing a vital role in international volunteer projects around the world. From building orphanages in China and studying wildlife in Costa Rica to meeting ...
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Accelerating the Pace of Research
www.RickHansen.org -
Ninety per cent of what we know in the area of spinal cord injury research has been acquired in the last 10 years. The mission of the Rick Hansen Institute and the Rick Hansen Man in Motion ...
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Access Guide Canada
Mapping the Wise Society -
With Access Guide Canada (AGC), an ambitious, online directory of accessible public space in Canada, we are mapping out which parts of society are working well for us. And we’re spreading the word. ...
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Access Guide Canada
If We Built It I Can Go -
It was just two years ago that we invited ABILITIES readers to help us build Access Guide Canada, an online guide to accessible places in Canada. Over 800 readers have since volunteered their time to ...
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Access Guide Canada
New and Improved -
Access Guide Canada has a new commenting feature and is now ...
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Access Supported by Students
Funds have Made a Difference on Campus -
SAC WAC -- the Students’ Administrative Council Wheelchair Access Committee -- was established in 1990 to ensure that University of Toronto facilities were made accessible to members of the ...
- Accessible Government Information
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The Province of New Brunswick has taken a significant step to ensure that all of its public information is accessible to its citizens. During the province’s Disability Awareness Week in June ...
- Accessible Niagara
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“Fantastic” is how 17 year old Darren Rhodes of Niagara Falls describes the trip he and his companion, Pamela Fowler, of Woodstock, Ontario, took recently abroad the fully-accessible Maid of the Mist ...
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Action for Ontarians with Disabilities?
An Interview with the Hon. Cam Jackson -
People with disabilities in Ontario have been waiting for an Ontarians with Disabilities Act ever since a campaign promise made six years ago. Yet we have yet to see a piece of legislation that ...
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Active Living for Everyone
The ALRC's Programs and Services Encourage Inclusion -
At the Active Living Resource Centre for Ontarians with a Disability (ALRC), the staff and volunteers want to get you connected with accessible and enjoyable recreation opportunities so you can get ...
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Adapting to Change
Ontario March of Dimes Annual General Meeting, September 26, 1992 -
Keynote speaker Dr. Charles E. Pascal, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Community and Social Services, gave a very personal and passionate speech on the theme "Adapting to Change: Listening, ...
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Advancing the Vision
New Sections of the ODA are Proclaimed -
A Message from the Minister: Making Ontario a better place for all of us, over time, is really what the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001, (ODA) is all about. In fact, accessibility is ...
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Alberta Disabilities Forum
A United Voice on Disability Issues -
Alberta is in a time of rapid change, and organizations of various types are partnering in this period of re-engineering and refocus. This is a time when they must align to address the political, ...
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An Accessible House of Our Own
Renovating a house in Winnipeg becomes a battle against the neighbourhood. -
In our family, I’m the one with the working legs. My daughter of seven has quadriplegia cerebral palsy and walks with a walker. My husband has a neuropathy affecting his legs and walks with a ...
- An End to Isolation
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How can we expel loneliness and isolation from the day-to-day lives of Canadians with disabilities? As we contemplate this issue, we realize it is critical to focus on children – to foster full ...
- Answering the Call to Get Involved
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We’ve heard from people across Canada who want to share their experiences so that others can see how Access Guide Canada helps communities welcome visitors with ...
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Art and Soul
Celebrating the Abilities Festival -
When it comes to thinking outside the box, people with disabilities usually have the title, hands down. Maybe that is why we see such an array of rich creative works emerging from disability culture. ...
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As It Was In the Beginning
Non-Profits Providing Advocacy -
"We have long recognized that governments of all persuasions are heading towards a financial crisis and our decision to privatize was made in direct response to this fact. We also recognize that ...
- Assistant Deputy Ministers’ Committeeon Disability Issues, British Columbia
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SENIOR GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE NEW B.C. STRATEGY FOR COORDINATING DISABILITY ISSUES Recent issues of ABILITIES have described the introduction of the Strategy ...
- Associations Gain New Clout As Governments Seek Power Partners
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The April/May 1993 issue of Association Magazine quotes Chris LeClair, director of research for the Study on the Role of Associations commissioned by Industry, Science and Technology Canada: ...
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Awards Up For Grabs
Your Organization could be the Next Winner -
Do you know what bugs Tom Hanks? He has never been eligible to win a CMCS Innovations Award. Scoff if you will, but our Hollywood sources tell us that Mr. Hanks would trade his fame, his fortune ...
- Back to Nature in New Brunswick
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The 58-kilometre Dobson Trail that winds through wilderness from Riverview, New Brunswick, to Fundy National Park is a popular backpacking destination. It has been over 40 years since the rugged ...
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Be a Friend
The Ontario March of Dimes Befriending Program -
Most people with a physical disability are anxious to achieve the greatest possible level of independence. For some, the everyday tasks that many other people do without much thought can become a ...
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Be a Smart Shopper!
Choosing Back-to-Work Services -
You’ve decided that you want to return to work. Now what? You probably know that a few refresher courses are in order, and if you’ve been out of the work force for a while, you may need ...
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Best Buddies
A National Program which Matches University Students with Adults who Have Intellectual Disabilities -
Loree Verbeem and Tanya Milberg are Best Buddies. They chat about their new hair styles, play bingo, watch videos and paint together. Loree teaches Tanya sign language. Tanya gives Loree ...
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Binding Us Together to Repair the World
Thoughts on Citizenship and Disability -
It was six months after my brother was born that the diagnosis of profound mental and physical disability was pronounced. My parents were urged to put their new baby in an institution. The sooner the ...
- Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime?
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Here we are, sixty issues after ABILITIES began. The Canadian Abilities Foundation has grown, fulfilling its mission in a variety of ways. But while demand is constantly increasing for our services, ...
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Budget 2000 and People with Disabilities
The Issues for Presentation -
The annual Finance Minister’s budget speech in February, is the occasion when the federal government varies its resource allocations -- when it adds to, establishes or cuts programs. The ...
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Building on Ontario’s Strong Tradition of Local Action on Accessibility
A Message from the Minister -
Many "Abilities" readers read of my appointment as Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship six months ago. What many of you may not know is that I have held elected office at both the provincial ...
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Call For Nominations
The 1999 CMCS Innovation Awards Celebrate Success -
The robins who live in the tree outside my kitchen window have returned from their Florida vacation. The words "March break" are on the mouths of every student from four to twenty-four. And ...
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Call for Submissions
2004 Community Learning Awards -
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Calling for Action
An Interview with David Lepofsky, Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee -
Last issue we heard from Ontario’s minister responsible for equal opportunity and disability access on the possibility of an Ontarians with Disabilities Act. This issue, the editor-in-chief of ...
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Calling for an Ontarians with Disabilities Act
Will the Cycle of Exclusion Become a Circle of Inclusion? -
A group of Ontario residents with disabilities believe that a barrier-free society is possible by the year 2000. And they’re advocating to make it happen. The dire need for that legislation was ...
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Can You Use the Phone?
Disability and Telecommunications in Canada -
While Canadians are known to talk a lot on the phone, for people with disabilities this fundamental social interaction is fraught with ...
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Catalyst for Change
The Toronto 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Bid -
Hallmark events such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games challenge athletes to chase their dreams and reach for their potential. They also challenge the host cities to live up to ideals of Olympic ...
- Catalyst for Change
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Changing the course of public policy is about as difficult as turning the great ship Queen Mary around, it’s often been said. Yet, that is the daunting task the Premier’s Council on the Status of ...
- Celebrating 50 Issues
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ABILITIES magazine has come a long way since it was first produced in Calgary in 1986. We’re celebrating our 50th issue! Read about the treasure hunt and great prizes we’ve organized to help everyone ...
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Charities Reap the Benefits
Charity.ca Proves an Effective Tool for Increasing Donor Base -
Are you a donor looking for an easy way to find, research and donate online to Canadian registered charities? Are you a charity looking to increase your donor base as well as provide your existing ...
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Charting New Territory
Activism Reaches the Far North as Nunavut is Formed -
Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay), in the Northwest Territories, is probably the most unlikely site in the country for a conference on disability rights. Located on the eastern shores of Baffin ...
- Choice and Opportunity
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After 10 Months of Demonstration, Are Processes Being Examined by the Choice & Opportunity Project Providing Persons with an Intellectual Disability with Increased Power and Choice? First ...
- CIAP is Welcomed
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The Community Information Access Project (CIAP) on EnableLink was officially launched this summer. Read about this event, as well as upcoming features and publications you will soon find added to our ...
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Closing the Knowledge Gaps
Supporting Two New Research Initiatives -
Injury is the leading cause of death and disability of Canadians under 44 years of age. Of all types of injury neurotrauma, injury to the spinal cord (SCI) and/or brain (TBI) is the most serious, ...
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Collaboration Works
When You Work Together, One Plus One Can Equal Three -
One of the most difficult tasks is to bring different people and organizations together to work towards a common goal. But the simple truth is that -- beyond the various skills, interests and ...
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Committed to the Vision
An Open Letter from the Ontario Minister of Citizenship -
Dear Friends, Someone once said that while there are countless ways of moving forward, there is only one way of standing still. When Premier Eves honoured me with the job as Minister of ...
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Community Action Award
Dave Harshaw is Honoured for 2001 -
Ontario March of Dimes volunteer Dave Harshaw was one of only 11 volunteers in Ontario to be presented with the prestigious 2001 Community Action Award by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the ...
- Consumer Driven... Consumer Directed...
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"Consumer driven...consumer directed...consumer managed..." What’s all this about, anyway? I’ve made no secret of my stance regarding the fact that people with disabilities are ...
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Creating Community
Finding Answers in the Disability Movement -
November 30, 2002, was the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada’s (MDAC) "Count Me In" Day, thanks to the generosity of The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. Here are the words of ...
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Creating Independence
The Ontario March of Dimes AGM -
The theme, "Creating Independence," of Ontario March of Dimes’ Annual General Meeting on September 28, 1996, was highlighted by the volunteer awards presentation. Each of the nine ...
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Dave Shannon
A New Spin on an Old Road -
This far into the tour, is it all worth it? "Yeah, yeah, no question." Over the telephone, I can hear the weariness in his voice. Dave Shannon would be hard to miss, moving along ...
- Dear Reader
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Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation Minister 6th Floor 77 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON M7A 2R9 Tel: (416) 325-6200 Fax: (416) 325-6195 Dear Reader, The Government of Ontario ...
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Destination Montreal
A City Rich in History and Culture -
Whether you’re soaking up history in Old Montreal, checking out the museums, exploring nature at the Biodome or Insectarium, or celebrating in one of the city’s many festivals, you can’t help but ...
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Dime Design Based on Marching Mothers
Royal Canadian Mint Honours International Year of Volunteers -
March of Dimes celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, which coincides with the United Nations declaration of the International Year of Volunteers. In recognition of the International Year of ...
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Effecting Change
The Story of a Successful Rally -
Read about one woman’s eight-month struggle to reform legislation in her province. With determination and careful planning, people with disabilities can effect change, both in their local ...
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Emerging Realities
The Case For Community Living – The Case Against Segregation -
“As long as there is one institution in (my province), there is a risk that my son will land up there, so I have to keep fighting.” An unprecedented $1,000,000 in damages was awarded to former ...
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Employment Supports
The Next Success Story Could Be You! -
Do you have a disability and want to work? Can’t find work? Then you should take a look at the Ontario Disability Support Program — Employment Supports. If you qualify, Employment Supports ...
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Empowering B.C. Citizens
Independent Living Movement Grows Stronger -
The B.C. Network of Independent Living Centres is hoping soon to welcome a new member into its fold. The Richmond Committee on Disability has been working hard to reconfirm the need to establish ...
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EnableLink
Access Guide Canada - Get Involved! -
From accessibility information across Canada to online chats to monthly newsletters, there are many ways for you to get involved in the activities of EnableLink, the Canadian Abilities Foundation’s ...
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EnableLink
A Growing Community -
As EnableLink continues to expand, we can report a great response to the first edition of our e-newsletter, growing resources and content, and more participation than ever before on our ...
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EnableLink
Community Information Access Project -
Calling community volunteers! A new EnableLink project will provide detailed accessibility information on individual cities and towns, assisting people with disabilities in their travel plans -- or ...
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Enabling Change, Enabling Accessibility
Changing the Way People Think about Accessibility -
John Lambe didn’t set out to become an entrepreneur, but he’s not complaining. "When I came out of school, no one would hire me," says the legally blind owner of a highly successful Toronto ...
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Enhancing Participation
Federal Support for Research on Integration -
How can the participation of persons with disabilities in Canada’s economic and social life be enhanced? Human Resources Development Canada is supporting six new research projects that will ...
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Expect the World!
Toronto Bid Unveils Paralympic Game Plan -
Toronto is bidding to host the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The final decision will be made in July, 2001, when Toronto, Beijing, Istanbul, Osaka or Paris will be selected as the winning ...
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Experments in Philia
Binding Ourselves Together in Caring -
She was the first neighbour we met when we moved into the run-down apartment building in the middle of Vancouver. David found her clearing weeds along the fence, an older woman with wild red hair who ...
- Fashion Cares about HIV/AIDS
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On May 29, Fashion Cares celebrated its 18th year of fundraising in support of the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) by throwing a no holds-barred ...
- Federal Budget 1995
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In the 1995 budget, The Hon. Paul Martin and the Liberal government have set a new course for social service development in Canada. The federal government will no longer be the champion and protector ...
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Fulfilling the Vision
The Rick Hansen Institute’s Mission -
The Rick Hansen Institute’s (RHI) vision is a world in which people with spinal cord injury can return to full physical function. We offer hope for this vision by focusing on our mission to ...
- Full Access Transit the Goal in T.O.
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People with disabilities and seniors will increasingly be able to move through Canada’s largest city -- using public transit. "Our goal is to serve all Metropolitan Toronto residents ...
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Funding for the Future
New Initiatives in Neurotrauma in Ontario -
It is estimated that neurotrauma (spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries) is one of the single most costly types of injury in Ontario’s health system. Since its inception in 1998, the ...
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Giving Providers Knowledge and Skills
Supporting Cross-Training in TBI and Substance Abuse -
Although the links between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and substance abuse are well documented, significant barriers to appropriate care continue to exist in our health care system for individuals ...
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Greater Mobility For Ontarians
The Home and Vehicle Modification Program -
Ontarians with physical disabilities are now able to call one toll-free number 1-877-369-HVMP (4867) to apply for up to $15,000 of assistance in making modifications to their home or vehicle. The ...
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Happy Birthday, March of Dimes
Honouring the Individuals Who Have Worked so Hard -
We have just celebrated -- or survived, depending on your perspective -- one of the more significant dates in our lifetimes. The recent global millennium preoccupation is the best example of our need ...
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Here We Go Again!
CCRW Continues to Struggle for Funds -
Last year around this time, the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW) and just about every other organization that receives money from Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) were ...
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Home and Vehicle Modification Program
Government Ups Funding to Expand Service -
The Home and Vehicle Modification Program, operated by Ontario March of Dimes, is about to become even more accessible for people with physical disabilities. The program – which provides up to ...
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Honours for OMOD Volunteer
Glenda Tennyson Receives the Community Action Award -
Ontario March of Dimes Volunteer Glenda Tennyson recently received the Ontario Government’s 2000 Community Action Award. Each year, the Province of Ontario presents the Community Action Awards ...
- Housing Initiatives in New Brunswick
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A joint committee of non-profit housing groups, federal and provincial government housing departments, and disability advocacy groups have been moving forward in New Brunswick with ideas to help ...
- I Figure That Over the Last Three Years, ABILITIES has Served Canada Pretty Well...
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I figure that over the last three years ABILITIES has served Canada pretty well. We’ve provided reliable information, occassional(dare I say it) inspiration and a great many opportunities to ...
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If you provide Employment Services
10 Tips for Surviving Ontario’s New Employment Support Regulations -
Do you belong to an organization that provides employment services to people who have a disability? Get ready for some big changes. Say goodbye to the agency that provides a myriad of employment ...
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Impossible Dream?
Roughing it in the Rockies -
Have you ever dreamed of experiencing for yourself the incredible beauty and the bracing mountain air of the Canadian Rockies, only to dismiss the idea as impossible because of your disability? ...
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In Conversation with Sam Sullivan
Raymond Cohen Talks to Vancouver's Mayor About Politics, Disability Issues and the 2010 Paralympic -
Raymond Cohen Talks to Vancouver's Mayor About Politics, Disability Issues and the 2010 Paralympic ...
- In the Mix
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In an effort to include more people with disabilities in community life, several staff members of Community Living Toronto started The Mix Community ...
- In this Issue of Abilities...
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In this issue of ABILITIES, the discerning eye (or ear, for you audio-cassette subscribers) may note the fact that there is a little reference with each member of our Board of Directors on the ...
- Including Volunteers with Disabilities
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The Volunteer Centre of Toronto, in partnership with the Government of Ontario (Ministry of Citizenship) and the Ontario Network of Independent Living Centres, is working on a project entitled Ready ...
- Inclusion
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People with disabilities and their organizations are no longer willing to accept the economic, educational, vocational and social inequities with which they have lived for so ...
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Inclusive Opportunities
Project Will Promote Effective Volunteerism -
Volunteering is a big part of Bernadette Derry’s life. The Halifax woman and wheelchair user had already helped out at a military family resource centre and the eye care centre of a local hospital. ...
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Independence and Opportunity
Ontario’s Commitment to Persons with Disabilities -
This issue of ABILITIES includes a special insert on the Ontario provincial government’s proposed legislation to ensure the rights of people with disabilities. Contents include Ontario’s ...
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Independent Living in Quebec
Consumers in Montreal Committed to Their Vision -
People with disabilities in Montreal have been organizing themselves and moving forward with their plans to develop an Independent Living Resource Centre (ILRC) in their community. This small but ...
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Infusing the Philia Spirit
The Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion -
"I helped": Most of us can utter these two words truthfully and without much fanfare. It means we made a contribution. We made a difference. Some people have never in their lives been able ...
- Introducing the Abilities Forum
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When Issue 1, Number 1 of ABILITIES rolled off the presses in Calgary back in 1986, it made an immediate splash in the disability community. The goal of the publication -- to provide Information, ...
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Introducing the Council
The New Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario -
The Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA) is designed to increase independence and opportunities for people with disabilities. The act, which passed in the Ontario legislature in December 2001, ...
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Investing in Neurotrauma Research
Announcing 2001 Funding Awards for Ontario Researchers -
"Our efforts in knowledge creation, knowledge transfer and research capacity building are more than an investment in improving the quality of life for persons living with neurotrauma. They are ...
- It Takes Money…
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The Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) is no different from any other national sport organization (NSO) when it comes to funding. Without exception, all NSOs are facing difficult times ...
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Knowledge Mobilization and the Consumer
“Whatever Happened to the Research You Funded?” -
As Chairperson of the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF), a spinal cord injury consumer and someone invested in strategically positioning research funding within a national granting council, I have ...
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Landmark Legislation
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2004 -
Every Ontarian should have the opportunity to learn, work and play to their fullest potential in our province. That is why, on October 12, the McGuinty government introduced landmark legislation ...
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Let Your Wheels Squeak
Get Disability Rights on the Public’s Agenda -
All three political parties in Ontario - the Progressive Conservatives, the Liberals and the New Democrats - support the introduction and enactment of an "Ontarians with Disabilities Act" ...
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Little Mountain
A Mother’s Story -
I was born here in Vernon, British Columbia. My mom and dad are both from Okanagan in Band One; my grandparents are also from here. When Little Mountain first came home from the hospital, she ...
- Make Your Mark
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Volunteering is profoundly rewarding and brings out the best in all of us. Perhaps you’re already out there, giving the gift of you. If you’re not, what’s stopping you? Volunteers with and without ...
- Manufacturing Backlash
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(Chair of PUSH’s Central Regional Council and serving on a multitude of employment-related committees, Eric Schryer is the coordinator of Disabled People for Employment Equity (DPEE), a ...
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Measuring Up
A 2020 Vision for Inclusive Cities -
The concepts of social inclusion and inclusive cities are gaining currency in policy ...
- Montreal Health Services Violate Rights
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The rights of people with mental health disabilities on the island of Montreal are being violated by health service providers, according to the defense-of-rights group Project PAL (Alternative ...
- My Place Is in the Community...With You!
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The Canadian Association for Community Living has launched a national Public Awareness Campaign in support of people with intellectual disabilities. The Association for Community Living is a ...
- My Word!
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Welcome to the Winter edition of ABILITIES. With every issue, we seem to pass another milestone, or realize another goal we have set for ourselves. Last issue marked our inaugural presence on the ...
- My Word!
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Welcome to the National Access Awareness Week (NAAW) edition of ABILITIES. As in previous years, you will find lots of NAAW-related information and schedules of events across the country. This year, ...
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National Access Awareness Week
What Does the Future Hold? -
National Access Awareness Week occurs this year from May 27 to June 2, 1996. The partnership that is NAAW continues to encourage Canadians to share information, and create and support a future with ...
- New Funding Program Helps First of Many
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Like most mothers, North Bay resident Lucette Selin would move mountains for her children. Her daughter Sherry was born with a disability, making it difficult for her to use the stairs in the ...
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Oh, Canada!
A Nationwide Travel Resource -
Every seasoned Canadian traveller knows that you don’t necessarily need to go abroad for adventure. Exciting destinations can be experienced without leaving your own country. With thousands of ...
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On My Own
A Resource Guide for Living Independently -
Moving out on your own can feel very intimidating -- especially if you don t feel totally confident that you can handle it. And youth with disabilities who are about to move out into their own place ...
- On the Road to Regeneration
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John Ryan of BC, has spent the summer handcycling across Canada. His vision for the tour is to raise enough money to give Canadian spinal cord regeneration research an injection of capital that ...
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Opening the Gateway to Diversity
An equal opportunity website rich in resources for employers, employees and job seekers. -
As of November 19, new Ontario Equal Opportunity services are available, thanks to a partnership initiative with employers and employees, facilitated by the Government of Ontario Ministry of ...
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Opportunities for All
Groundbreaking Research On Supported Volunteering -
When Deborah Bailey graduated from high school, she had hoped to keep busy by volunteering, but her options were limited because of her disability. Deborah’s parents, Sandy and Don Bailey, ...
- Out with the Old…?
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How about that last Millennium, eh? Well, to be honest, it’s only the last decade that seems relevant to this page -- but what a decade it’s been! ABILITIES Magazine began on a wing and a prayer ...
- Outdoor Recreation in Nova Scotia
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In 1986, the Leese family of Westville, Nova Scotia, opened North America’s first fully accessible recreational wilderness park designed specifically for people with disabilities and seniors. ...
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Outstanding Volunteers
Ontario March of Dimes Annual General Meeting -
Volunteers from across Ontario were honoured at Ontario March of Dimes’ 2001 Annual General Meeting. Master of Ceremonies David Onley presented 10 individuals and businesses with awards for their ...
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Paving the Road to Opportunity
CCRW Seeks National Support -
Since 1976, the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work has been paving the road to opportunity for Canadian work seekers with disabilities. Through its projects and services, CCRW has made great ...
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Poetry in Motion?
An Agency Profile -
There once was a large agency / But the stakeholders fought mercilessly / Then through the mess / Came cmcs / And now everyone is happy. Well, that might not be exactly the way it happens, but ...
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Power in Numbers
Partnership Pays off for Non-Profits -
Your funding has been cut back! Most of your revenue comes from government, so of course your funding has been cut back. Being a non-profit without charitable status feels like being at the end of ...
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Priorities, Productivity & Partnerships
Pursuing our Vision in the New Economy -
For months now, Statistics Canada and other respected forecasters and economists have reported that the recession is over. However, there has been so little positive economic news during the same ...
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Ralph Klein’s Bad "Political Sense" Day
The Rights that Were Almost Removed -
Between 1928 and 1972, 2,844 child and adult Albertans were forcibly sterilized under legislation called the Sexual Sterilization Act. Leilani Muir was a former resident of Red Deer’s Provincial ...
- RCMP Constable Funds New Scholarship
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Moved by a lifelong interest in helping people with disabilities, Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable Allen Rodgers decided to start a scholarship at the University of Toronto that would enable ...
- Reflections On Being Thrown Out of Parliament
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(John Feld is one activist who is not afraid of taking a little personal risk, so long as the cause is right. On Wednesday, September 9th, he and a group of people with disabilities from Ontario made ...
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Rethinking "Community"
Why Civic Values Matter -
Relationships between people and groups in most modern societies are guided by two kinds of belief and value systems that exist side by side - both of which are needed. The first kind consists of ...
- Safe Schools Act
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Some of Ontario’s most vulnerable students are being shut out, thanks to an act of legislation meant to protect students, not harass ...
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Serenity on Mersey River
The Mersey River Chalets and Kejimkujik National Park -
“There are no boundaries here,” says the manager of an all-season wheelchair accessible resort in the wilderness of Nova Scotia. You are welcome to tag along on this travel tale, enjoying the beauty ...
- Small Grants Program Announced
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The Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (CCDS) Research Committee is pleased to announce a Small Grants Program to fund community-based, disability-related research. The application deadline is ...
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So, Here We Are!
Issue Number 20 of ABILITIES and Still Going Strong… -
So, here we are! Issue Number 20 of ABILITIES and still going strong ... In December of 1988, there was no "Disability Network" on national television, no Ability magazine out of ...
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Social Well-Being
A Modest but Radical Proposal -
For the last 40 or 50 years, people with disabilities have been collectively knocking on the door of mainstream society and asking to be let in, with only moderate success. Sometimes, to help us gain ...
- Speak Out to Build an Inclusive and Accessible Canada
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Our goal is to create AN INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE CANADA. You can be a part of ...
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Spirit of the Sea
Halifax is Canada’s Ocean Playground -
As the largest city on the east coast, Halifax is a key centre for business, travel and tourism. The Nova Scotia capital, with the second largest natural harbour in the world, is steeped in history. ...
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Spring!
A Time of Renewal, Fresh Life, Optimism? -
Spring -- a time of renewal, fresh life, optimism? These words might strike a rather cynical chord in the hearts of some of our readers. After all, in this age of government cutbacks, increasing ...
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Stargazing
Look to the Skies on Manitoulin Island -
Manitoulin Island is a nature lover's dream and boasts a plethora of outdoor activities, including its famous star ...
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Strengthening Our Communities
The Philia Project: A Dialogue on Citizenship -
"We’re going down!" I shouted as the flimsy ultralight aircraft I was taking off in started to free-fall. I pulled up even harder on the control stick, but the plane was out of ...
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Student Attitudes -- Making Friends, or Making Fun?
Special Ed versus an Inclusive Approach in School -
A team of researchers finds that children with disabilities in inclusive school settings have more friendships and are subjected to less teasing compared to their peers in special education settings. ...
- Support Our Mission!
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A peek at the activities of the Canadian Abilities Foundation, the non-profit organization that brings you ABILITIES magazine. Read about the range of our projects and publications, and the mission ...
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Supporting the Next Generation of Researchers
Building Research Capacity in Neurotrauma -
Injury to the brain and/or spinal cord (neurotrauma) is one of the most catastrophic and costly occurrences in our health system. A recent report funded by ONF to examine the cost of neurotrauma in ...
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Telling Our Story
Volunteer Awards -
At the Annual General Meeting and Volunteer Awards Presentation on September 17, 1999, many voices told the stories of Ontario March of Dimes and its outstanding volunteers. In total, seven awards ...
- Thanks for the Feedback
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Thanks for the feedback! I’m glad that you’re finding the information in ABILITIES useful. I was particularly pleased at the extent of interest in our interview with Dr. Bruce Halliday and the ...
- Thanks to Our Survey Respondents
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Our heartfelt thanks to the many readers who took the time to complete the Readership Survey included in our Summer 1998 issue. We received your numerous surveys by mail, fax and e-mail. Your ...
- The Abilities Survey
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When the Canadian Abilities Foundation (CAF) Board of Directors reconvenes this summer, high on its list of objectives will be a critical examination of our mission -- and just how close we come to ...
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The Ability Program
Consider the Possibilities! -
(The following is the first in a series of four articles profiling the activities of Health and Welfare Canada under the National Strategy for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities.) On ...
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The Advocacy Act
Ontario’s New Act to Empower Consumers -
In December, 1992 the Government of Ontario passed a comprehensive legislative package to allow all Ontarians to make decisions about their own lives and health, and to have those decisions respected ...
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The BC Network of Disability Resource Centres for Independent Living
Promoting Independent Living in the Province of British Columbia -
British Columbia's Disability Resource Centres (DRCs), also known as Independent Living Resource Centres (ILRCs) in other parts of Canada, have a long history of delivering high-quality supports and ...
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The Blame Game
Competing with the Private Sector -
The message is clear. Governments will not give more money to community agencies that assist people with disabilities. Why? Because these agencies aren t making the best use of the money governments ...
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The Co-Op Program
Hands-On Learning -
As I am used to regular school hours, going from class to class and having to ask permission to use the bathroom, co-op has definitely given me the opportunity to be responsible as well as ...
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The Community Has a Voice
In Conversation with Elaine Ziemba, Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship -
RC: In the recently tabled budget for the province of Ontario, conspicuous by its absence was any direct reference to disability issues. Are there initiatives included that will directly or ...
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The Exhilaration of Success
Chronicling the First 20 Years of Canada’s Oldest ILRC -
The stories that can be told of the early days of the Independent Living movement and the development of Independent Living Resource Centres (ILRCs) are fascinating. As the Independent Living Centre ...
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The Gift of Time
Allowing Our Resilience to Resurface -
"Still -- in a way -- nobody sees a flower -- really -- it is so small -- we haven’t time -- and it takes time, like to have friends takes time." -- Georgia O’Keeffe "To everything ...
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The Heart of Our Story
Ontario March of Dimes Archives -
The heart of the Ontario March of Dimes’ memory is in its records. In order to document the organization’s history, it is essential to save the original letters, minutes, reports, photographs, ...
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The HRDC Audit
There are No Winners! -
"The aftermath of last year’s audit of some grants and contribution programs at Human Resources Development Canada is an example of a wind from which no good has come. All those involved ...
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The Ontarians with Disabilities Act
The Process Has Begun -
As early as its election campaign three years ago, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government pledged to bring into law an Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA). This year, the Government of ...
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The Ontario Building Code
Eliminating Barriers, or One Itself? -
The latest edition of the Ontario Building Code (OBC) has recently come into force, and at first glance it appears that the cause for celebration is that ground wasn’t lost. Not a ringing endorsement ...
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The Paul Martin Sr. Society
Honouring the Inspiration and Legacy of a Great Canadian -
The contribution of every donor and volunteer is important to Ontario March of Dimes. Yet occasionally there are outstanding individuals. One such person was Paul Martin Sr. who was a highly ...
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The Power of Partnership
Access 2 Entertainment -
Easter Seals is delighted to have played a role in building an exciting partnership with the disability community and the movie theatre ...
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The Rick Hansen Neurotrauma Initiative
Man in Motion Announces $7.5 Million for Neurotrauma Projects -
A lasting legacy of the original Rick Hansen Man in Motion World Tour has been the facilitation of research to find a cure for spinal cord injury and to improve the quality of life of people living ...
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The Rick Hansen Neurotrauma Initiative
Man in Motion Announces $6.8 Million for Neurotrauma Projects -
Rick Hansen announced in June that 166 of Canada’s top spinal cord and brain injury researchers, rehabilitation specialists and injury prevention experts will share more than $6.8 million in ...
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The Senators Alumni Challenge Wheelchair Relay
The Ottawa Senators Alumni have traded in their skates and are ready to roll! -
The Canadian Paraplegic Association’s Eastern Ontario chapter is excited to announce that they have joined forces with the Ottawa Senators Alumni and will be hosting the Senators’ Alumni Challenge ...
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The Standing Spirit Project
Adventure on the West Coast Trail -
The author, who has quadriplegia, recounts his amazing journey on British Columbia's West Coast ...
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The World We Want
A Community Dialogue on Citizenship, Belonging and Contribution -
In November, 2003, Philia co-sponsored a pair of dialogues in Calgary and Edmonton on the topic of building a more inclusive model of citizenship. The keynote speaker at both events was Mark ...
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The Writing is on the Wall
Understanding and Addressing Social Policy Reform in Nova Scotia -
It is difficult to know where to start sometimes. There are so many concerns we must address and deal with daily -- like a harrowing nightmare that won’t go away. These are ongoing, crucial ...
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Tourism Toronto Goes Accessible
Anouncing an Initiative to Become a Barrier-Free City -
Tourism Toronto is the official destination, sales and marketing arm of the City of Toronto. It focuses on promoting and selling the city as a destination for tourists, convention delegates and ...
- Two Services in Western Canada
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Two British Columbia organizations have something to celebrate. One has just opened its doors; the other is celebrating 10 years in operation. Both offer opportunities to people with disabilities ...
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Unleashing the Force of Caring
Martha Has Not Left the Neighbourhood -
The shades of the small room with the parking-lot view were drawn, and the stale air of the nursing home stopped me in my tracks at the doorway. I looked at the familiar knickknacks that godmother ...
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Update on the Ontarians with Disabilities Act
An Interview with Minister Cam Jackson -
As the Ontarians with Disabilities Act receives final approval, the Ontario Minister of Citizenship expresses his satisfaction at producing this landmark legislation, and responds to the concerns and ...
- Volunteering a Secret Ingredient for Healthy Aging
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A report published by Dr. Neena Chappell of the Centre on Aging at the University of Victoria shows that people who spend time helping others are in better health, physically and emotionally, as they ...
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Volunteering: Reap the Rewards
Special Volunteerism Feature -
An estimated 6.5 million Canadians provide volunteer service within the non-profit sector. That’s five times the number of paid staff. In this special feature, discover the many rewards that are ...
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Volunteerism 2000
Launch of the Volunteer Development Department -
Ontario March of Dimes (OMOD) operates in more than 60 locations, employs more than 1,200 people and serves thousands of adults with disabilities annually. It encourages and assists adults with ...
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Waiting to Serve You!
Valuable Assistance for Individuals and Businesses -
Whether you are a person with a disability looking for support and services, or a business wanting to hire qualified candidates or have worksite assessments conducted, CPA Ontario is here for ...
- Want A Job? Take Control!
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There’s no doubt about it. Getting back into the workplace after a lengthy hiatus can be difficult. But for people who are discouraged or have given up because of a disability, it’s time ...
- Welcome People to Your Community
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Over 1,000 individuals in communities across Canada have made contributions, one listing at a time, to build Access Guide Canada (AGC), our online guide to accessible places. Now it is your turn to ...
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Western Splendour
Calgary and Its Mountain Neighbours -
From the sights and sounds of culturally rich Calgary to the pine-scented air of Banff to the glory of Lake Louise, this region of Alberta has loads to offer travellers, including accessibility. Find ...
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What Keeps People Safe?
The Care Between Citizens -
The recent events in New York and Washington raise the question of what keeps people safe. The conventional means for ensuring safety is to hire police officers, deploy the army, and use other ...
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Where Charity Begins Online
Connecting Canadians to Causes -
Charities seeking to expand their donor base need look no further for fundraising solutions. Recognizing the Internet as a successful communication tool, philanthropist and businessman Richard ...
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Where Do We Go from Here?
CCRW in Crisis -
Over the past four years, the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW) has discussed funding with Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC). The vision of the organization is to enter ...
- World’s Elite Athletes Competeat Metro Totonto Wheelchair Challenge
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The seventh edition of the Metro Toronto Wheelchair Challenge was held at Etobicoke Centennial Stadium from June 23-25, 1995. In total, 139 athletes from 18 countries competed, featuring some of the ...
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Young Caring Citizens
Philia Dialogue Youth Strategy Inspires Connections -
In September of 2002 I was asked to explore whether there was a place and a welcoming for young people with disabilities in the “youth movement.” What contributions could they make to youth-led ...
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Zero-Budget Fundraising
Royal Bank of Canada Helps to Develop Fundraising Expertise -
To meet increased program demands, fundraising has been a critical issue for Independent Living Resource Centres (ILRCs) across Canada. In an effort to equip local boards of directors and empower ...
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