disability

Man in red shirt helping person sitting at table with a soldering iron

Holiday Hackathon tasks community members with hacking toys, making them accessible for children with disabilities

November 29, 2024 by Danny Nesvaderani

On November 22nd, 2024, the Neil Squire Society in collaboration with the organization’s Makers Making Change program hosted a Holiday Hackathon that tasked volunteers with adapting toys; providing them with assistive switches that would make them accessible for children with disabilities. The Neil Squire Society is a disability services and support organization based in Burnaby, BC, that utilizes innovative technology to empower the lives of Canadians with disabilities.

The event was open to all members of the public, and only required a 20-minute training session before volunteers were able to hack the toys provided.

CJSF attended this event and spoke with Chad Leaman, the Neil Squire Society’s Director of Innovation and Co-Founder of the Makers Making Change program. During our conversation, Leaman spoke on the organization’s goals for the event, how the toys used in the hackathon were decided on, and how members of the public are able to become involved with this initiative.

One on one With Conservative candidate Kiel Giddens for PG-Mackenzie riding

October 16, 2024 by Ian Gregg

CFURadio dialled in for a one on one with Kiel Giddens, the BC Conservative Party’s candidate for the Prince George–Mackenzie riding, a riding also contested by James Steidle of the Green party, the NDP’s Shar McCrory, and Rachael Weber running as an independent.

In this conversation, Giddens addressed his advocacy and lobbying for TC Energy off the bat, emphasizing the benefit of large industrial projects in our region as tax payers and drivers of economic growth. He describes a turning-point for our healthcare system, UNDRIP reform, views on disability support, and the difficulties associated with producing a costed platform as an opposition party.

This interview is a part of CFURadio’s ongoing efforts to share perspectives from as many candidates running in the three ridings overlapping Prince George – Lheidli T’enneh as possible.

A man wearing a blue suit with a white shirt and pink tie, holding a microphone in one hand and a banner reading "Accelerez la #PCPHdlci2023". He is standing on the stone pathway leading to Parliament Hill and the Centre Block is visible in the background of the image, as is the boards that have been put up to black the view of the building while construction is being undertaken..

Locally initiated petition calls for federal government to refine the Canada Disability Benefit

June 28, 2024 by Dan Kellar

On June 21st, petition e-4993, initiated by Waterloo Regional Councillor Chantal Huinink and authorized by MP Mike Morrice (MP – Kitchener Centre), closed with 3219 signatures.

The petition asks the government to revisit the terms of the Canada Disability Benefit, and give increased support to more people in a less bureaucratic manner. While MPs have left Ottawa for the summer, the petition will be presented once the House of Commons resumes activities in September.

In the 2024 budget, the federal government announced the benefit which would be a payment of $200 per month, restricted to those who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. Payouts are to start in July of 2025.

This show features interviews with Waterloo Regional Councilor Chantal Huinink and Kitchener Centre Green Party MP Mike Morrice, responding to the implementation of the Canada Disability Benefit and discussing petition e-4993.

Liberal MP Marc Serré (Nickel Belt) provided a short statement to CKMS News regarding the Canada Disability Benefit.

A poster hanging on the back of a motorized scooter reads "the CAQ says no!"

Quebecers with disabilities demand accessibility, visibility

June 5, 2024 by Jules Bugiel

Over fifty people gathered outside Premier Francois Legault’s Montreal office June 5 to call for better services for those with disabilities.

Some protestors had concrete asks – like provincial funding to make public transit more accessible. Others wanted more of a seat at the table in shaping how those with disabilities access services.

CKUT was on the scene speaking to protestors.

The Ministry for Transport did not respond to CKUT’s request for comment ahead of publication.

people hold banners on a sidewalk with trees in the background

As the end of its lease nears, an accessible community centre is fighting to stay

June 5, 2024 by Jules Bugiel

Around fifty members and allies of the Centre communautaire Radisson came out on Tuesday (June 4) in protest of a decision by the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal not to renew their lease.

The Radisson, located just steps away from Champ de Mars metro at 1101 St Dominique, is an accessible space – perfect for its members, many of whom have physical disabilities. But at year’s end, the community centre will have to vacate the premises. Radisson members say the centre may close as a result.

The CIUSSS du Centre-Sud say the Radisson has had three years to look for a new space – and the support of the CIUSS. They say they’ve already extended the lease but need the premises for new mental health facilities.

Woman in a black jacket and standing infront of "Hot Docs" sign.

Estreno Mundial de documental ‘Flying Hands’ en Hot Docs, promoviendo la concienciación y la inclusión

May 13, 2024 by Paula Videla-Rodriguez

En una reveladora conversación desde el Festival Hot Docs, Marta Gómez, co-directora de “Flying Hands”, comparte los desafíos y experiencias detrás de la realización de este documental que representa a España y Pakistán. Desde la intensa preparación previa al viaje hasta la inmersión en una cultura completamente diferente, Marta destaca la importancia de crear vínculos auténticos con la comunidad para contar historias profundamente humanas. Su compromiso con la exploración de temas universales como los derechos y la dignidad de las personas con diversidad subraya el objetivo central que ‘Flying Hands’ busca lograr: difundir, como señaló Gómez, su mensaje crucial sobre la importancia de aumentar la conciencia acerca de estos derechos.

Close up photo of a computer screen showing a pdf of the federal budget and the heading 'Launching the Canada Disability Benefit'

‘To say we’re furious is an understatement’: Fraser Valley disability advocate speaks out about federal budget

April 19, 2024 by Charles Brockman

The 2024 federal budget confirmed details for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), and some people with disabilities across the country are outraged.

The CDB will provide direct monthly payments to low-income working-age Canadians with disabilities. But a disability advocate from Chilliwack, B.C. said that what the government is proposing is not right.

In January, Mary-Jean Belanger started a petition to expedite the process of bringing the benefit into force in time for the Liberal Party of Canada’s budget. Whether her petition had an effect or not, Belanger saidbthe result is far from a success.

After more than 1,200 days since the benefit was first promised, it was announced in the federal budget that the CDB will pay those who qualify a maximum of just $200 per month, and payments won’t begin until July 2025.

“Nobody cares about [people with disabilities]. Nobody cares about us. It’s just so scary to be in Canada,” said Belanger. “It’s just a disgusting country to do this to its most vulnerable people.”

Close up photo of a computer screen showing the webpage for petition e-4777

Fraser Valley woman’s petition urges swift implementation of Disability Benefit for Canada

February 13, 2024 by Charles Brockman

A Chilliwack woman has started a petition to help expedite the process of creating a federal disability benefit.

Mary-Jean Belanger, a disability advocate, initiated Petition e-4777 at the end of January. She and over 500 signees of the petition are calling on the government of Canada to “bring the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) into force within two weeks from the date the petition is presented to the House [of Commons].”

The CDB would provide direct monthly payments to potentially millions of low-income working-age Canadians with disabilities. After achieving “royal assent” in June 2023, the CDB Act is set to wait a full year before “coming into force.” Belanger’s petition would have that date moved up three months, to March.

“I think it’s a national embarrassment that we have people with disabilities living in legislated poverty,” said Mike Morrice, the member of parliament supporting the petition.

“We’re going to continue to advocate for the federal government to follow through and deliver.”

CIVL Radio spoke with Morrice, Belanger and another B.C. disability advocate for the story of the petition and perspective on the CDB.

A woman with long black hair wearing a black blazer, and a blue shirt stands in front of a wall with Indigenous art carved and painted on it.

UNBC Professor completes whirlwind lecture tour across Canada shedding light on ableism

December 13, 2023 by Ian Gregg

Dr. Rheanna Robinnson brings multiple angles to her work exploring traditional roles of people who may have been labelled “disabled” in western culture.

She’s an Associate Professor of First Nations Studies at UNBC, member of Manitoba Metis Federation, leader of the Accessibility Ambassadors Initiative (AAI), and manages a multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

Now returned from invitations to lecture at a number of forums this Fall 2023 semester in Surrey, Winnipeg, Waterloo, Toronto, and including a date here in Prince George, Robinson is worn out after completing 2023’s circuit, but encouraged by the interest.

Robinson expresses that indigenous ways of knowing have much to teach us about inclusivity and equity. For example the word “disability” doesn’t have a direct translation in the Indigenous languages she’s studied.

People were & are engaged within various communities despite what may otherwise be described as ableist circumstances. She emphasizes, “disability in and of itself is very much a colonial and socially constructed identity.”