February 2018
Inclusion Matters_ News from CACL
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February is National Inclusive Education Month!

By IEC Director, Gordon L. Porter.

For more than a decade, Inclusive Education Canada has promoted February as National Inclusive Education Month.

We are pleased once again this year to share commentaries from individuals who are active as teachers, researchers, lawyers, association staff, as well as parents and family members to share their perspectives and stories about inclusive education within their communities.

PRESS RELEASE: Proposed Opportunities Act Would Have Positive Effects for Persons with an Intellectual Disability
 
CACL commends the recent introduction of The Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities Act (Bill C-395) in the House of Commons. 
The Opportunities Act would ensure that persons with disabilities never lose more in benefits and taxation than they gain as a result of earning increased employment income.
CACL in Action!
Highlights of our recent national and international work.

  • Inclusive Education Canada Director Gordon L. Porter, in partnership with the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS), is organizing a full day workshop on inclusive education at CDSS's annual conference in Hamilton, ON on May 17, 2018.
     
  • CACL is planning its second all partners meeting in Toronto on February 28th as part of our Securing Legal Capacity and Supports in Decision Making for Canadians with Disabilities initiative. The project is developing evidence-based direction to inform laws, policies, and practices to address implementation of Article 12 of the CRPD in Canada.
     
  • Krista Carr, CACL EVP, attended the New Brunswick Association for Community Living's Inclusive Education Awards Ceremony at the Government House. The seven recipients of this year's awards represent the continuum of inclusion throughout the educational cycle, including teachers and owners of child care centres.  
     
  • Michael Bach, Managing Director of IRIS, gave expert testimony on February 13 on the Nova Scotia human rights case on forced institutionalization of people with an intellectual disability.

Ready, Willing & Able Extended Until June 2018

We are pleased to announce that the federal government has extended the Ready, Willing & Able (RWA) initiative until the end of June 2018. 

During this extension period, RWA will be putting in a formal proposal for another 3-year project which - if approved - would enable a 'RWA Phase 2' to begin as early as July 2018. 

VPS Submits Input to the Federal Minister of Health on MAiD

Advisors of the Vulnerable Persons Standard (VPS) submitted input to the Federal Minister of Health on the proposed regulations for the monitoring of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) on behalf of the VPS community. The submission titled, "Towards a More Robust Monitoring Regime for Medical Assistance in Dying" has been prepared collaboratively by a working group of ten VPS Advisors, bringing together expertise from medicine, palliative care, law, ethics, public policy, research and disability studies.

Research Study: Ontario's Education System is Failing Students with Disabilities

As part of February's National Inclusive Education Month, a research partnership involving Community Living Ontario, Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education, University of Western Ontario, Brock University, ARCH Disability Law Centre, Brockville and District Association for Community Involvement, and Inclusive Education Canada released some of the preliminary results of a research study recently undertaken to, among other things, assess the effectiveness of Ontario's education system for students with disabilities.

Upcoming Dates and Events  
February - National Inclusive Education Month! Learn more at www.inclusiveeducation.ca.
February 19  - Family Day in Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. CACL offices are closed.
March 16 - Community Living Ontario Policy Forum at Ryerson University in Toronto.
  April 13 - 14  - Inclusion Alberta's Family Conference in Edmonton, AB.
 May 24 - 26 - Rise Up! Inclusion BC's Annual Learning Event in Kelowna, BC.
Save the Date  - Inclusion International is hosting the 17th Annual World Congress taking place in Birmingham, UK on May 30 - June 1. Registration now open!

CACL in the News  

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