Disability Hall of Fame Honours Human Rights Advocate Frank Folino

July 27, 2021 | For Immediate Release

Frank Folino is one of the newest members of the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame. The Hall recognized Mr. Folino as an Achiever for his advocacy to have the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) recognize sign language as the language of Deaf people in Canada. “Mr. Folino was one of the most active campaigners for the ACA and never missed an opportunity to reinforce how the Act should ensure that American Sign Language, Quebec Sign Language and Indigenous sign languages are recognized as the primary languages for communication by deaf persons in Canada,” states Jewelles Smith, CCD Communications and Government Relations Coordinator. Mr. Folino has also worked tirelessly in support of Canadian implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Hon. Carla Qualtrough, M.P., P.C., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, and Vivian Berkeley, an athlete, were also inducted by the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame this year.

Mr. Folino has been the President of the Canadian Association of the Deaf -Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC).  CAD-ASC appointed Mr. Folino to the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), which elected him to its Executive Committee as a Member-at-Large.

“CCD celebrates the addition of Frank Folino to the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame, as he is a strong and principled leader who has been advocating for the rights of Deaf people and people with disabilities both in Canada and globally,” states Roxana Jahani Aval CCD Chairperson.  “He has been assisting CCD to become more inclusive and welcoming of people with disabilities from communities that have been pushed to the margins and whose perspective has been missing from our Council,” states Heather Walkus, 1st Vice Chair.

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For more information contact:

Jewelles Smith, CCD Communications and Government Relations Coordinator jewelles@ccdonline.ca or Heather Walkus, CCD 1st Vice Chair heather@ccdonline.ca.

About the Council of Canadians with Disabilities

CCD is a national human rights organization of people with disabilities working for an inclusive and accessible Canada.

Mission

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) is a social justice organization of people with all disabilities that champions the voices of people with disabilities, advocating an inclusive and accessible Canada, where people with disabilities have full realization of their human rights, as described in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Mandate

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) unites advocacy organizations of people with disabilities to defend and extend human rights for persons with disabilities through public education, advocacy, intervention in litigation, research, consultation and partnerships.  CCD amplifies the expertise of our partners by acting as a convening body and consensus builder.