Contents
Access
Section 508 Best Practices Webinar: Maps for All: Building Accessible Maps
50th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act and Ensuring Access to Medical Diagnostic Equipment
50th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act and Advancing Access to Information and Communication Technology
U.S. Access Board Releases Training Videos on Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines
Live Stream Link for Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way Webinar (October 5) 
U.S. Access Board Webinar: Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way 
Notable Changes in Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines Final Rule 
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 
Press Release on Recent Meeting of United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 
Human Rights 
Steven Estey: A fierce advocate and champion for disability rights 
Canadian Human Rights Commission | STATEMENT: Pride is stronger than hate 
Medical Aid in Dying 
Important: Bill C-314 
MAiD Death Review Committee (MDRC) 
Newsletters 
Angus Reid Institute 
Communities Ending Poverty Newsletter 
Cooperation Canada 
Disability Vote Matters 
EASPD Newsletter 
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Newsletter 
Every Canadian Counts 
IIMHL and IIDL Update - 1 September 2023 
Institute for Research on Public Policy 
Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy 
Senate of Canada Newsletter 
Tamarack Institute Newsletter 
Opportunities 
Casting Call 
Conceptualizing Maternal Morbidity Research Study 
Toronto Public Library - Call for Artists + Entrepreneur in Residence Consultations and Workshops for Indigenous and Equity-Deserving Groups 
Persons with Disabilities: Self Employment Training Opportunity 

Access

Section 508 Best Practices Webinar: Maps for All: Building Accessible Maps

Click on the following link to access more information online: Maps for All: Building Accessible Maps

50th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act and Ensuring Access to Medical Diagnostic Equipment

Click on the following link to access the information online: 50th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act and Ensuring Access to Medical Diagnostic Equipment (access-board.gov)

50th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act and Advancing Access to Information and Communication Technology

Click on the following link to access the information online: 50th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act and Advancing Access to Information and Communication Technology (access-board.gov)

U.S. Access Board Releases Training Videos on Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines

The U.S. Access Board continues to provide resources and training on the recently published final rule on public right-of-way accessibility guidelines by releasing five new videos on the Board’s YouTube Channel. These videos supplement the Board’s free technical assistance on the guidelines via email at row@access-board.gov and accessibility training by request at training@access-board.gov

The first four videos offer a chapter-by-chapter review of the guidelines to better understand the accessibility requirements to make sidewalks, crosswalks, shared use paths, on-street parking, and other pedestrian facilities accessible to people with disabilities. The fifth video, “What’s New in the Final Rule Text,” highlights changes in the final rule for members of the public who are familiar with the proposed accessibility guidelines published in 2013, including the previously referenced sections of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD). The Board also posted a list of significant changes to the final rule from the version proposed in the September 1 news article “Notable Changes in Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines Final Rule.”

Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) Video Series
Chapter 1: Application and Administration
Chapter 2: Scoping Requirements
Chapter 3: Technical Requirements
Chapter 4: Supplemental Technical Requirements

What’s New in the Final Rule Text

In partnership with Great Lakes ADA Center, the Board will also provide a free webinar on the final rule on the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines on Thursday, October 5 from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. (ET). At this time, registration is full for the webinar, but a live stream of the webinar on YouTube and on Great Lakes ADA Center’s PROWAG webinar webpage are available. A recording of the session and the presentation materials will also be available in the online archives in the following week of the webinar.

Live Stream Link for Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way Webinar (October 5)

Click on the following link to access the information online: Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way (accessibilityonline.org)

U.S. Access Board Webinar: Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way 

For more information or to register, visit Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way (accessibilityonline.org)  webpage. 

Notable Changes in Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines Final Rule

Click on the following link to access the information online: Notable Changes in Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines Final Rule (access-board.gov)

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Press Release on Recent Meeting of United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Floyd Morris, PhD
September 14, 2023

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recently held its 29th meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, to evaluate the progress of countries in implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The meeting is a part of the requirements under the CRPD to conduct regular evaluation of States Parties of their efforts to implement the provisions of this global treaty. Eight countries were evaluated during this session, and these include: Germany, Andorra, Austria, Israel, Malawi, Mongolia, Mauritania and Paraguay.

The following are some of the decisions emanating from the session:
• The Committee adopted concluding observations in relations to the initial reports of Andorra, Israel, Malawi, and Mauritania. It also adopted concluding observations in relations to the combined second and third periodic reports of Germany, Mongolia, Austria, and Paraguay.
• The Committee considered five individual communications submitted for its consideration under the Optional Protocol to the Convention. It found violation in three of them and discontinued two.
• The Committee held a panel discussion on deinstitutionalization and adopted a statement calling on States Parties to deepen their deinstitutionalization policies and plans in line with the Committee’s guidelines on deinstitutionalization, including in emergencies.
• The Committee decided that its 30th session will be held in Geneva from March 4-22, 2024, and would be followed by the 19th meeting of the pre-sessional working group, from 25-28 March 2024. The Committee adopted a provisional programme of work for its 30th session.
• The Committee decided to adopt a statement on the right of persons with disabilities to social protection.
• The Committee decided to continue engaging with the United Nations Office at Geneva and the Office of the

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, with a view to improving the provision of accessible conference services and reasonable accommodation to members of the Committee and participants with disabilities at Committee meetings.

All these decisions are in keeping with the effort of the Committee to advance the disability agenda and ensure that the CRPD is being efficaciously implemented.

I am urging all countries within the Caribbean that have not yet submitted their report under the CRPD, to do so with alacrity. The submission of reports to the Committee will only result in greater assistance and support for States Parties to build a participatory, inclusive, and non-discriminatory society. Trinidad and Tobago is the most recent Caribbean country to commendably submit its report.

Additionally, I am strongly encouraging States Parties within the Caribbean to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention as this will add another layer of support to persons with disabilities. We want the world to be a better place for all citizens, including persons with disabilities.

Finally, I am strongly encouraging all Caribbean countries to honour their obligations under the CRPD and establish legislation, anchored in the human rights model, to protect persons with disabilities. Six Caribbean countries, Bahamas, Jamaica, Cayman Island, Haiti, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda have established specific legislation to protect persons with disabilities. Belize, Barbados, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are in an advance stage of preparing their legislation to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. I urge these countries to continue this positive trajectory to establish specific legislation for persons with disabilities.

Floyd Morris, PhD
CARICOM’s Special Rapporteur on Disability
WhatsApp: 876 322 0301
E-mail: morrisfloyd@gmail.com

Human Rights

Steven Estey: A fierce advocate and champion for disability rights

Click on the following link to access the information online: Steven Estey: A fierce advocate and champion for disability rights (chrc-ccdp.gc.ca)

Canadian Human Rights Commission | STATEMENT: Pride is stronger than hate

Click on the following link to access the information online: Pride is stronger than hate (chrc-ccdp.gc.ca)

Medical Aid in Dying

Important: Bill C-314

September 21, 2023

Dear Stakeholder,

Canadians are rightfully concerned about expanding Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) laws to include eligibility solely for mental illness. There is no consensus within the mental health community that such a move is appropriate. Nor are most Canadians on side with these disturbing legislative developments.

Last March, without a concrete plan of action, the federal government delayed the mental illness provisions of Canada’s MAiD regime by one year. Since then, while government was supposed to have developed comprehensive guidelines and safeguards in this regard, there has been nothing but inaction. In fact, the Minister who had been the driving force behind this MAiD expansion, has been replaced as Attorney General. Last May, to address widespread public, stakeholder, and mental health community concerns, I tabled the Mental Health Protection Act, Bill C-314. This Bill “undoes” what the Senate tried to do when it inserted the mental illness provisions in Bill C-7. It effectively rescinds those provisions of C-7 that made mentally ill persons eligible for assisted suicide. It is consistent with the best advice received from mental health professionals, and respects the wishes of Canadians.

And it is a commons sense response to what has become a slippery slope for Canada’s MAiD regime. For the sake of clarity, as my bill is focused exclusively on those who suffer from mental illness,
it is not surprising that C-314 is receiving widespread support from those who might otherwise support medical assistance in dying.

My bill completed its first hour of debate at Second Reading in May, and the second hour is currently scheduled for October 5th. A vote on Second Reading would then be held after Question Period the following day (October 6th). This vote is important, since if C-314 passes Second Reading, it will then be referred to a parliamentary committee for further study, amendment, and expert witness testimony. Finally, Canadians will have an opportunity to make their voices heard on this existential life and death issue.

If you agree this is a worthwhile endeavour, I would ask you to help spread the message. Reach out to your political and media contacts to let them know this is happening, and that it’s important for Canadians to become engaged. Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or post comments of concern to social media platforms. Encourage your colleagues and supporters to reach out to Liberal, NDP, BQ and Independent Members of Parliament to ask them to vote to send C-314 to committee.

Lastly, I am grateful for all the support I have received to date. And I really appreciate all the supportive comments! I welcome any further commentary or advice you may want to provide, especially if you or your organization have positive comments that we can use with attribution. Such comments would be very helpful as I engage with Canadians (including the media).

Again, thank you for all your support on this important life and death issue.

Sincerely,
Hon. Ed Fast, PC, KC
Member of Parliament (Abbotsford)

MAiD Death Review Committee (MDRC)

Ministry of the Solicitor General 
Office of the Chief
25 Morton Shulman Avenue Toronto ON M3M 0B1
Telephone: (416) 314-4000
Facsimile: (416) 314-4030 

Sent on behalf of Dr. Dirk Huyer, Chief Coroner

We have received a lot of interest in the MAiD Death Review Committee being developed by the Office of the Chief Coroner. There have been a number of questions following the announcement on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Attached is the MAiD Death Review Committee (MDRC) - Frequently Asked Questions document to provide further clarification for those who are considering applying.

The application deadline is October 6, 2023. Should you have any further questions regarding the committee or application process, please forward them via email to occ.maid@ontario.ca.

Thank you for your ongoing support for this new initiative to improve the oversight of MAiD in Ontario.

Dirk

Frequently Asked Questions

Are applicants required to be a resident of Ontario?
While we are not restricting to Ontario residents, preference will be given to applicants with knowledge of Ontario’s legislative oversight system and MAiD practice contexts.

How will committee meetings be conducted? Where will in-person meetings be held? Will travel be reimbursed?
There will be an inaugural meeting with in-person attendance required. A hybrid approach (virtual/in-person) for subsequent meetings will be most common.
In person meetings will be held at the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OCC/OFPS) at 25 Morton Shulman Drive, Toronto, ON.
Costs of travel and accommodations will be reimbursed as outlined in the MAiD Death Review Committee Membership Agreement.

How often will meetings be held? Will meetings be held during business hours? What is the process for managing a scheduling conflict?
We will aim to conduct 10 MDRC meetings per year. An annual schedule will be established in collaboration with committee members. Meetings will be conducted during regular business hours.
We expect members to attend all meetings. In special circumstances, scheduling conflicts can be discussed with the Chairperson.

How will members be compensated?
Renumeration will be approximately $100 per hour of meeting*. Members will be compensated $750 for the preparation and completion of a report.
*Note: This is a correction from the “Call for Members”.

What preparation is required prior to attendance at a meeting?
Committee members will receive relevant case documents for review prior to a meeting. For most cases, a review summary completed by a MAiD Coroner Investigator will also be included. Committee members will be expected to complete and submit a case review template prior to the meeting.

How many reports do committee members typically prepare per year? What is the expected level of contribution to reports?
The number of reports generated per year is dependent on the number and scope of cases selected for review. We anticipate a review of approximately 25 cases per year.
We will endeavor for rotational and equitable assignments of report authorship responsibilities. Contributions will also be dependent on the alignment of committee member expertise with the circumstances of the case.
A standard report template will be provided to support report completion.

How will committee member contributions be reflected in a report? How will reports be shared? Are committee members involved in the process that follows?
Recommendations and key decisions will be informed by committee consensus. The Chief Coroner will request responses to the recommendations formed by the committee. Responses will be shared with committee members. Implementation of recommendations is at the discretion of the recommendation recipient.
Annual and ad-hoc reports will be shared with the general public. Topic-specific reports will be shared, as indicated, with identified organizations or other stakeholders.

When will applicants be contacted? When does the position begin?
Only applicants selected to move forward in the process will be contacted. We expect to communicate with potential members by the end-of-October.

We anticipate the first committee meeting to be scheduled in January of 2024.

Newsletters

Angus Reid Institute

Click on the following link to access the information online: Canadians & Class: Strong belief in Canada as a meritocracy, but plurality identify as the same social class as their parents (mailchi.mp)

Communities Ending Poverty Newsletter

Click on the following link to access the newsletter online: Communities Ending Poverty Newsletter September 2023 (tamarackcommunity.ca)

Cooperation Canada

Click on the following link to access the information online: Member Insights | Aperçu des membres (mailchi.mp)
Click on the following link to access the information online: ARC Hub Fall Newsletter | Infolettre d'automne du Centre de l'ARC (mailchi.mp)
Click on the following link to access the information online: Cooperation Canada's AGM Documentation | Documentation de l'AGA de Coopération Canada (mailchi.mp)

Disability Vote Matters

Click on the following link to access the newsletter online: Happening this week: DMVote update September 22 (mailchi.mp)

EASPD Newsletter

Click on the following link to access the newsletter online: EASPD Newsletter

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Newsletter

Click on the following link to access the information online: Click on the following link to access the information online: Death Care is pushing out Health Care (mailchi.mp)
Click on the following link to access the information online: Berlin Memorial to the victims of the T4 euthanasia program (mailchi.mp)
Click on the following link to access the information online: Belgian doctor "completes" euthanasia with a pillow (mailchi.mp)
Click on the following link to access the information online: Canadian stories change the euthanasia debate. (mailchi.mp)
Click on the following link to access the information online: Quebec: Natural deaths is being replaced by assisted death. (mailchi.mp)

Every Canadian Counts

Click on the following link to access the newsletter online: link.whc.ca/v/443/e198c6597164de282a4256fd73c2a8aab12ffeb066f761df

IIMHL and IIDL Update - 1 September 2023

Click on the following link to access the newsletter online: IIMHL and IIDL Update - 1 September 2023 (mailchi.mp)

Institute for Research on Public Policy

Click on the following link to access the newsletter online: REMINDER - Webinar | "Qui a compétence sur l’intelligence artificielle ?"  | October 5, 2023 (mailchi.mp)

Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

Click on the following link to access the newsletter online: News and Views: Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (mailchi.mp)

Senate of Canada Newsletter

Click on the following link to access the information online: Summertime committee work | Les travaux des comités de cet été (campaigner.com)

Seniors for Social Action

Click on the following link to access the newsletter online: ZOOM EVENT - BUILDING NATURAL SUPPORTS AND ENHANCING RELATIONSHIPS TO PREVENT INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF ELDERS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (mailchi.mp)

Tamarack Institute Newsletter

Click on the following link to access the newsletter online: Following up on Tamarack Institute's equity, diversity, and inclusion journey (tamarackcommunity.ca)

Opportunities

Casting Call

Greetings,

I am writing from Maxime Giroux Casting, a film and television casting agency in Montreal. For an upcoming feature film, we are currently looking to cast two performers (25-35 years old) who use wheelchairs. A casting call with further details is attached.

I realize this may seem like an odd message to receive, but we are making every effort to reach performers who have been systemically excluded from the usual lines of communication in our industry. We are hoping, therefore, that you and your community partners might share this casting call through your listservs, websites/blogs, and social media. If there are other people or organizations with whom we should be in contact, please do let us know.
The PDF of the casting call can also be found on our Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/p/CxfvvTKLz_f/. It contains all the relevant information, but please don’t hesitate to get back to me if you have any questions.

Best,
David Szanto
Casting Assistant

Maxime Giroux Casting

CASTING CALL | For two roles in an upcoming film project, we are looking for one MALE and one FEMALE performer who are wheelchair users.

Shooting dates to be determined (between November 2023 and end of March 2024).
Synopsis: The film will be directed by Jason DaSilva, who is paraplegic. It tells the story of Billy, a young quadriplegic man from Montreal, living with multiple sclerosis (MS). He learns from a New York specialist that he will lose his sight in less than 3 months if he can’t get a stem cell transplant. To quickly raise funds for the private medical procedure, he smuggles MS medications from Canada to sell in the US. Tess, who is an American singer and also in a wheelchair, is Billy’s US sales contact.

CHARACTERS (BOTH MUST BE ENGLISH SPEAKING):

Billy: male, 25–35 years old, wheelchair user
- Before our story starts, Billy was able to walk. After falling down a flight of stairs, he became
quadriplegic. During an MRI scan after his fall, the doctors discovered his MS.
- Billy is very smart, always thinking 12 steps ahead in his medication smuggling plan. He is
self-centered and slightly manipulative.
- Billy can be of any ethnicity.

Tess: female, 25-35 years old, wheelchair user
- Tess is American and sings jazz with a trio in New York. She also has MS and uses a
wheelchair, but has full function of her arms.
- Tess and Billy met at an MS conference before the story begins. She helps friends in the MS community to find low-cost medications.
- Tess can be of any ethnicity.
- The actor playing Tess does not have to be a singer but should indicate any singing ability in the application.
For either role, please send the following to info@maximegirouxcasting.com:
- your full name, age, and 1 or 2 pictures of yourself
- your email address and phone number (where we can reach you)
- a short description of your disability
- your CV, showing any professional acting experience

We are open to charismatic amateurs and can provide acting coaching.

If you are already represented by an artists’ agency, please do not send us your application directly and instead have your agent contact us.

Please respond promptly. Applications will be reviewed as they are received
Maxime Giroux maximegirouxcasting@gmail.com

Conceptualizing Maternal Morbidity Research Study

My name is Esha Bhutkar and I am a researcher from McMaster University working under FLOURISH (FamiLy-Oriented and service-User-centred Research In Supporting Healthy pregnancies) Group https://dsouzalab.healthsci.mcmaster.ca at McMaster University.

We are conducting a study to better understand how women and gender-diverse people with lived experience of pregnancy perceive pregnancy-related morbidity (adverse events). 

For the current phase of this study, we are focussing on individuals with prior pregnancy experience that are 
Living with disabilities 
Those belong to the 2SLGBTQ+ community and 
Refugees and new immigrants to Canada

We would like your help in recruiting women and gender-diverse people with lived experience of pregnancy, (are living with disabilities/ belong to the 2SLGBTQ+/ are refugees and new immigrants to Canada) to attend focus groups or one-on-one interviews with a member of our research team. 

This study has received approval from the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (HiREB) – approval letter attached.   

The interviews will be conducted using the Zoom platform or in-person, and participants will be compensated for their time. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind Regards,
Esha Bhutkar <bhutkare@mcmaster.ca>

Toronto Public Library - Call for Artists + Entrepreneur in Residence Consultations and Workshops for Indigenous and Equity-Deserving Groups

Hello community contacts, colleagues, and friends:
Information sharing from Toronto Public Library. Please feel free to share with your community as appropriate.

1. Toronto Public Library Art Exhibit Space - Call for artists!
Submit your work for the library's 2024 art exhibit season. If selected, your work will be on display at one of several branches across the city. We'll consider works prepared for hanging in all media, including photography. (No sculptures, please.)
Submission deadline: September 30, 2023.
Website: tpl.ca/exhibitspace
For questions, contact: email artexhibits@tpl.ca or phone 416-394-1063.

2. Toronto Public Library Entrepreneur in Residence – Consultations and Workshops
Get your business questions answered with a 1-on-1 appointment with an experienced professional. Book an appointment with Joëlle Jacqueline, founder of Couler Consulting, and Toronto Public Library's Entrepreneur in Residence. During your consultation, you'll be able to ask for advice about your business or business idea. Appointments are 50 minutes and no cost. Joëlle will also offer group workshops that guide aspiring entrepreneurs through the business startup process. This program aims to support entrepreneurs who are members of Indigenous and equity-deserving groups.

Dates: October 5 to November 22, 2023.

Location: North York Central Library, 4th floor, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto, M2N 5N9.

Website: tpl.ca/eir

Book a 1-on-1 appointment: 1) Complete the Intake Form 2) Book an appointment on the online calendar.

For more information or support with booking, email eir@tpl.ca or call 416-395-5613.

Thank you,

Winona
Toronto Public Library Accessibility Services.
Email: accessibleservices@tpl.ca
Phone: 416 393 7099
Web: tpl.ca/accessibility

Persons with Disabilities: Self Employment Training Opportunity

I was wondering if you could share this info on this valuable entrepreneur training program with members of your organizations to help spread the work about training available for persons with disabilities or other barriers to employment.

Warm regards
Amy

Do you know someone with an exceptional gift waiting to be monetized?

Unlock the entrepreneurial potential of individuals with extraordinary talents!  Time is of the essence! CETP is gearing up for an exciting journey this fall in 2023, and we're searching for students ready to embark on their entrepreneurial adventure.

CETP is on a mission to empower students and harness their unique abilities to create thriving businesses. The program is delivered online, so it’s open to anyone in Canada. We encourage interested participants to connect with us today!

Please contact:
Amy Woermke, Instructor, Vancouver Island University
Phone: 403.988.5599
Email: Amy.Woermke@viu.ca

WHAT IS CETP??
Learn business skills online
The Co-operative Entrepreneur Training program (CETP) gives you the support you need to learn the essentials of running your own business. CETP supports people with diverse abilities to achieve their business dreams through business planning, securing funding, mentorship and building community support.

Who can take part in CETP?
This program is for anyone over the age of 17 with a learning or physical challenge or other barrier to employment. To enter the program, you do not need a documented disability. You can self-identify a barrier to regular employment. If you have a documented disability, you may be eligible for grants to cover program costs.
You should have an idea of what business you want to start before you enter the program.
The program is delivered online, so it’s open to anyone in Canada.

What you learn in CETP
In CETP courses you learn:
entrepreneurial thinking
business strategy
financial literacy
digital and traditional marketing
You also get to practice skills like
creating and presenting a business pitch
writing a business plan
business management through mentorship and connecting to community
Work with a mentor
In the program you’re paired with a mentor who runs a business similar to the business you want to run. They’ll give you advice on how to make your business a success.
Get help paying for this program
Our advisors can help you access funding for this course after you have applied.

For more info on CETP: https://acp.viu.ca/co-operative-entrepreneur-training-program
Facebook: viuniversity
Instagram: @viuniversity
Twitter: @viuniversity

Matter Here
The VIU community acknowledges and thanks the Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun and Tla’Amin, on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live and share knowledge.