Contents
Access 
U.S. Access Board Webinar: Vertical Access: Elevators, Lifts, and Stairs (April 4) 
Human Rights 
Joint Statement – International Women’s Day 
Newsletters 
Cooperation Canada Newsletter 
Co-Op Housing Federation BC 
EASPD Newsletter 
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition 
Public Policy Forum Newsletter 
Tax 
Filing your taxes? Check Elections Canada’s boxes 
Transportation 
All Wheels Up Supports New DOT Wheelchair Rule 
United Nations 
UNESCO GEM Report 
Opportunities 
ATTN! Seeking Inputs from LGBTIQ Activists Globally: Outright's Research on Pride Around the World 
Save the Dates - World Congress on Rehabilitation 2024 – Abu Dhabi, UAE 
Passages 
James Hicks Obituary 

Access

U.S. Access Board Webinar: Vertical Access: Elevators, Lifts, and Stairs (April 4)

Click on the following link to access the information online: Vertical Access: Elevators, Lifts, and Stairs (accessibilityonline.org)

Human Rights

Joint Statement – International Women’s Day

Click on the following link to access the information online: mailcoach.chrc-ccdp.ca/webview/campaign/117517c6-f730-434e-8b8f-5a54c7b6f587

Newsletters

Cooperation Canada Newsletter

Click on the following link to access the newsletter online: Member Insights | Aperçu des membres (mailchi.mp)

Co-Op Housing Federation BC

Click on the following link to access the newsletter online: News - CHF BC

EASPD Newsletter

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

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Click on the following link to access the information online: How many Quebec euthanasia deaths? (mailchi.mp)

Click on the following link to access the information online: 24 years ago, Jeanette Hall had terminal cancer and wanted assisted suicide. (mailchi.mp)

Public Policy Forum Newsletter

Click on the following link to access the information online: PPF Insider: From one moose to a national movement (mailchi.mp)

Tax

Filing your taxes? Check Elections Canada’s boxes

During tax season, Elections Canada partners with the Canada Revenue Agency to give Canadian citizens an easy way to update their address in the National Register of Electors. All they have to do is check “Yes” to the two questions related to Elections Canada on their tax form.

This quick and simple step helps ensure that voters receive their voter information card, which tells them where, when and the ways to vote in a federal election.

As well, Canadian citizens aged between 14 and 17 can check “Yes” on their tax form to be added to the Register of Future Electors. When they turn 18, they will be added to the National Register of Electors and will be ready to vote at the earliest opportunity.

Voting is habit forming: young people who start voting early are more likely to become lifelong voters!
Spread the word in your community

We need your help to spread the word among members of your network to make them aware of this quick and easy way to be added to the National Register of Electors and the Register of Future Electors, or update their voter information.

Get the message out by any means available: email, newsletter, social media, posters, workshops (e.g. about taxes)—even informal discussions! We have prepared a few tools for this purpose. If you think of any other forms of communication, please do not hesitate to share your thoughts and tips.

Thank you for your continued support. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Elections Canada

Transportation

All Wheels Up Supports New DOT Wheelchair Rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 5, 2024

All Wheels Up Supports Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Proposed Rule to Increase Protections of Air Travelers Who Use Wheelchairs

The proposed rule, called Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs, would put more responsibility on airlines and airports for safely, properly, and respectfully assisting air travelers who use wheelchairs—as well as handling their wheelchairs.

FRISCO, TX – After continued collaboration among All Wheels Up, the United States DOT, and other stakeholders, the DOT introduced a proposal Thursday that would significantly benefit commercial air passengers who travel with wheelchairs. The new rule would:

1. Mandate annual, hands-on training for airline staff and contractors who physically assist passengers and who handle passengers’ wheelchairs. A passenger in a wheelchair cannot enter the plane in their own wheelchair due to the very narrow plane aisles. The passenger needs to be transferred (usually by two employees of the airport assistance service working together) into a narrow “aisle wheelchair” (provided by the airport) to enter the plane. Once aboard, the passenger again needs to be transferred from the aisle wheelchair to their seat. The baggage handlers move the passenger’s personal wheelchair to store it below the plane with the luggage.

2. Allow a wheelchair traveler to choose the company that will repair or replace their wheelchair if it’s mishandled, with the airline covering the costs. Travelers do not currently have control over their wheelchair repair process. When a wheelchair is damaged during loading and unloading, the regulations do not specify how a person is compensated for damage. Damaged or destroyed wheelchairs, especially when a passenger is out of town, can leave users literally stranded. The new rule will permit DOT to “more easily penalize airlines and hold them accountable when a passenger’s mobility device is damaged.”

3. Clarify that airlines must provide prompt, safe, and dignified assistance to all passengers with disabilities. This is not currently stated in legislation.

DOT notes that if airlines fall short of any of these standards or mishandle a passenger’s wheelchair, the proposal—if finalized—would make it easier for DOT to hold airlines accountable for failing passengers who use a wheelchair. Any violation would count as an automatic violation of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) when a wheelchair is mishandled.

All Wheels Up was instrumental in the process of crafting and structuring the Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs proposal. For the past two months, Erwin and others from All Wheels Up spent several days on Capitol Hill detailing the hurdles of air travel for people with disabilities, devising solutions, and identifying partners for change. The rule will remain in the federal register for 60 days so that lawmakers and members of the public can submit formal comments on it. All Wheels Up calls for government and public support of this proposal and encourages individuals within the disability community to comment.

“While All Wheel’s Up’s ultimate goal is to ensure a future where travelers can fly while sitting in their own wheelchairs in dedicated wheelchair spots, these regulations would make flying a safer and more equitable experience for wheelchair users,” said Michele Erwin, the president and founder of All Wheels Up. “These steps also call attention to the difficulties travelers with disabilities, like my son, face when flying.”

While those without disabilities may assume that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guarantees many of the protections outlined in this proposal, air travel instead falls under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) of 1986. The new regulation will build on and directly bolster the ACAA.

This step forward comes as All Wheels Up not only continues advocacy but conducts crash-test research with universities and organizations like the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). More studies will likely be published in the coming months. This year could see additional improvements for air travelers with disabilities with other proposed bills including the bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration.

All Wheels Up acknowledges and appreciates the bipartisan support it has received from lawmakers as well as from Secretary Buttigieg and the DOT.

About All Wheels Up

Established in 2011, All Wheels Up (AWU) is the first not-for-profit organization in the world to fund research and development for a “wheelchair spot” on commercial aircraft. The not-for-profit organization works with airline carriers, aircraft manufacturers, and lawmakers to make airplanes wheelchair accessible for the millions of people who depend on them for mobility and safe seating. AWU’s mission is to forge a future with safer and more dignified accessible air travel through research, advocacy, and community outreach.

United Nations

UNESCO GEM Report

Click on the following link to access the information: UNESCO

Opportunities

ATTN! Seeking Inputs from LGBTIQ Activists Globally: Outright's Research on Pride Around the World 

Outright International is doing a survey on Pride events.

The survey is currently available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Polish.  However, people can choose to answer in any language they are comfortable with.

They would love to hear from activists and communities about their experiences of participating in and organising Pride events. They are especially keen to learn about first time prides, prides organised outside capitals and big metropolises, prides with focus on inclusion of queer people from marginalised groups and communities such as people with disabilities; racial, ethnic, and religious minorities; LGBTIQ refugees and migrants; intersex prides, trans prides, and so on.

They have received very few responses from Asia and would be grateful if you could share this in your networks and fill out the survey.

For more information you can reach out to Madhura Chakraborty (They/Them),
Senior Global Researcher, Outright International at
mchakraborty@outrightinternational.org.

Save the Dates - World Congress on Rehabilitation 2024 – Abu Dhabi, UAE

Greetings,
Hope this email finds you well.

On behalf of our host and our valuable RI Member, Zayed Higher Organization - I am pleased to invite you all to the World Congress on Rehabilitation 2024 will take place on September 23 to 25, 2024, in the vibrant city of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - under the patronage of His Royal Highness Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The WCR 2024 is three-day program being jointly organized by Rehabilitation International (RI) & International Social Security Association (ISSA) and hosted by Zayed Higher Organization (ZHO) in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) the multi-award-winning venue, that has hosted some of the world’s leading events in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The overall theme of our World Congress on Rehabilitation 2024 is “Work &Employment”. Our goal is to address the challenges and barriers that people with disabilities face on the job market as well as to build awareness of the broad array of career opportunities available to persons with disabilities worldwide. Driven by our strong belief in human potential and equality “Embracing Inclusion” is the slogan that we choose for our World Congress on Rehabilitation 2024.

Over three days, participants can look forward to an exciting and inspiring mix of professional presentations (Key Notes, Plenary Sessions, Master Classes, Posters, Workshops etc.), practical examples, guided tours, study visits, cultural events and much more.

For more information on how to registrar please visit the WCR 2024 website by clicking the link below:
https://wcri2024ad.com/

The Call for Abstracts is now open, for more information on how to submit your abstracts please click the link below:
https://wcri2024ad.com/abstract-submission/

Kindly note that the final deadline for submitting your abstracts is: April 25th, 2024.
The World Congress on Rehabilitation 2024 is a unique opportunity to support and build networks and to cooperate on long term activities which may inspire national and international rehabilitation agendas. That’s the reason we see this World Congress on Rehabilitation 2024 as one of the most important events for the international disability community.

Mark your calendars for September 22 – 25, 2024, and we are looking forward to welcoming you all to attend our World Congress on Rehabilitation 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Please do not hesitate to contact me, or our host at their email address: info@wcri2024ad.com
Please spread the word with your network and invite them also to attend our WRC 2024.
Warm Regards and so looking forward to meeting you all in Abu Dhabi this September.
Teuta Rexhepi
Secretary General
Rehabilitation International
866 United Nation Plaza, Suite 422
New York, NY, 10017
P.+1 212-420-1500
Teuta.Rexhepi@riglobal.org
www.riglobal.org

Passages

James Hicks Obituary

Click on the following link to access the information online: James H. Hicks Obituary 2024 - Basic Funerals and Cremation Choices

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