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Although some 80% of persons with disabilities (PWDs) live in developing countries of the global south, Critical Disability Studies scholarship has been primarily a Northern discipline. The talk brings into central focus the socioeconomic situation of PWDs in the English-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Using available quantitative and qualitative data, the disability and inequality nexus evident in the marginalised socio-cultural disability identity, as well as poorer educational, and labour market outcomes of PWDs compared with persons without disabilities, are presented. The intersectionality of disability with gender, age, urban/rural location, type and severity of disability is underscored. The Transnationalism of disability as human rights development therefore demands the evidence-based policy-making and programming. The Southern-derived Framework of Key Determinants for Political and Socioeconomic Inclusion of PWDs is thus recommended, in context of CARICOM’s commitments to disability policies and/or legislation, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the global agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals. The talk will therefore contribute to crafting a more inclusive scholarship agenda for Critical Disability Studies.

Where:

Zoom. You will be required to download the Zoom client.

For instructions on how to set up Zoom, follow this link.

Accessibility Information:

ASL interpretation and live captioning will be provided.

The talk will be held online and recorded over Zoom.

Please email [email protected] to discuss any access needs or inquiries.

Guaranteeing Access to Disability Supports for People who have and Intellectual Disability

When the Ministry of Community and Social Services outlined the policy objectives for transformation of supports and services in its 2006 document Opportunities and Actions, it described four key objectives for improved services: fairness, flexibility, streamlined access and sustainability. Community Living Ontario argued at the time that adequacy should be included as one of the objectives. We argued that funding should aim to ensure that the supports and services provided were adequate to meet the needs of all those requiring support in a timely fashion.

Despite the introduction of new Developmental Services legislation, an extensive exploration of the sector by the Ombudsman and a Select Committee of the Legislature and an unprecedented multi-year investment of new support funding, more people than ever are waiting for the supports and services they need to live in the community.

On March 16, Community Living Ontario in collaboration with Ryerson University School of Disability Studies is hosting this year’s policy forum which will look at what it would take to introduce a new government policy mandating disability supports for people who have an intellectual disability and ensuring people are guaranteed access to the support they require without unreasonable delay.

The day will explore:

• What a system of mandated services might look like;
• What are the range of supports and services that people might expect under such a system;
• What safeguards would need to be in place;
• Legal obligations that currently exist for government to implement a system of mandated service;
• How should such a mechanism be integrated into other entitlement systems such as employment income and health services;
• What models currently exist in Canada and internationally that we might learn from and adapt for use in Ontario.

Who Should Attend? The event is open to anyone interested in being part of this policy/law reform discussion. We welcome members of Community Living Ontario, students and faculty of Ryerson University and all others who support community inclusion, including people who have a disability, family members, volunteers, service providers, policy makers, etc.

Special Considerations - The room is wheelchair accessible and there are accessible washrooms close by in the building. If there is any specific accommodation that you require to participate in this event including any dietary restrictions please send an email with the information to [email protected]. If possible, let us know about any accommodation requirements 2-3 weeks in advance of the event.

The Reclaiming Our Bodies & Minds Conference is a three-day conference held on Friday, March 1 till Sunday, March 3, 2018. The conference will be held at the Ryerson Student Campus Centre.

Find the full schedule at www.reclaimingourbodiesandminds.com.

Our Theme: Nothing About Us Without Us

Originating out of disability activism, the term “Nothing About Us Without Us” was born out of disability justice movements that were frustrated, angry and ready for change around disability policies. The term has since been used as a source of empowerment and self-autonomy for the people who are most affected by ableist policies, and stating explicitly: You will not create in our name, we will create for ourselves.

The Reclaiming Our Bodies & Minds Conference needs to consistently reflect on the meaning behind the concept of “Nothing About Us Without Us.” As a conference based out of a university and college setting, we run the risk of continuing to privilege and prioritize the voices that historically and currently dominate the conversation around disabled spaces.

Our spaces have and continue to be defined by settler colonialism, cis-hetero-patriarchy and white supremacy. We aim to centre those who have been historically marginalized through these systems of oppression at our conference.

Our conference needs to better represent and reflect the community around us, and recognize that many in our community have been left alone to fend for themselves. Accessibility, community and capacity building of disability justice movements cannot be an afterthought of our conference, nor our movement.

This year’s Reclaiming Our Bodies & Minds Conference is about taking a new direction based on an old principle that we all deserve to be part of the conversation about our bodies and minds. We hope that the Conference will be an opportunity for engagement and action that starts within our communities. Then we can start to build a conference that does not just talk about accessibility and inclusivity but actively reflects it in our structures, discussions and implementation.

We invite you to join the planning committee by emailing [email protected]. 

Accommodations:

When you fill out the registration forms you will be given opportunities to indicate any dietary restrictions, access needs and accomodations. Please feel free to email: [email protected] with any questions or comments.

Ryerson’s student centre isn’t accessible for students with disabilities, advocate says

A publicly funded building that opened two years ago is inaccessible to people with disabilities and is another example of how weak provincial regulations are failing to ensure new buildings can be used by everyone, says a Toronto lawyer.

Ryerson University’s $112-million Student Learning Centre poses safety risks for people with disabilities, advocate David Lepofsky says. Continue Reading

 

Call for Submissions: Canadian Disability Studies Association - Association Canadienne des Études sur l’Incapacité (CDSA-ACEI) 2017 Conference 

“From Far and Wide: The Next 150” Wednesday, May 31 – Friday, June 2, 2017 Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada - 

This conference is organized as part of the 2017 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. ** special call for: SDS Strand Sessions** 

DEADLINE FOR SDS Strand Sessions SUBMISSIONS: January 16, 2017 (midnight) 

send submissions to: [email protected] -- Please Title your email SUBMISSION or QUESTIONS 

The Society for Disability Studies (SDS) is collaborating with the Canadian Disability Studies Association (CDSA) to create 4-5 “strands” of sessions running during the CDSA conference. For SDS related strand-sessions we encourage you to focus especially on 3 of the 5 general themes laid out by the CDSA: Necropolitics This subtheme explores how sovereignty turns on the politics of death, or the power to control mortality (see Mbembe, 2003). We welcome submissions on the topic of disability, D/deaf, and mad death as they relate to: *assisted dying laws; *war, imperialism, and debility; *death in institutions and by caregivers; *police brutality; *aging, palliative care, and support. Imagining Our Future In this subtheme the future will be reimagined to include and anticipate disability, Deafhood, and madness. We welcome submissions on the topic of the future as they relate to: *the current status and possibilities, potentialities, future for SDS overall; *the problem with cure-seeking; *science fiction writing and the utopic impulse; *reproductive futurity; *restructuring physical and cultural spaces *ageing into the future. 

Community Planning 

This subtheme is interested in activist, community-based, and artistic projects invested in making space for disability, Deafhood, and madness. We welcome submission on the topic of community building for disability, Deafhood, and madness as they relate to: *the current status and possibilities, potentialities, future for SDS overall; *involvement in legal and policy initiatives; *critical approaches to care/care-collectives; *grassroots advocacy work; *intersectional activisms; *community arts projects. To submit to the SDS Strand, please use the general CDSA instructions, but send them to [email protected]. Please use this address for any questions. 

SDS Strand Submission Guidelines: 

Submit a completed submission template form below, including a 50 word description of what the presentation is about and an anonymized abstract with title on a separate WORD document enclosed via email attachments to [email protected] by January 16, 2017. Abstract Guidelines: Session formats are 60-90 minutes in length. There will be 3-4 papers per session and each paper will be 15-20 minutes in length, depending upon the number of papers within the session. Please indicate on your submission if you require an accommodation for more presentation time. Authors can submit multiple abstracts, but only one individual paper in which the author is listed as first author will be accepted for inclusion in the conference program. If more than one abstract for an individual paper is accepted that lists an individual as first author the author will be informed and asked to choose which one will be included. 

Individual Papers – 

Individual presentations will be placed alongside 2-3 other panelists who share a similar focus. A submission must include a paper title and a 250 word abstract; the abstract should consist of the following: stated purpose and relevance to one or more of the conference themes significance of the proposal to the field include relevant literature to support your abstract explicit use of disability studies theory, perspective or concepts describe how the work was done contributions to research, theory, activism, advocacy or social change 4 or 5 key words that describe your abstract details of audiovisual needs (e.g., DVD, LCD projection and/or VHS) Panels (3-4 persons) 

People submitting a panel abstract are asked to identify and submit proposals around a central topic, theme or approach. The abstract should include the following: all information as stated in the Individual Paper section as appropriate a panel title and a 100 word abstract that illustrates the coherence between each of the panel presentations individual presentation titles and 250 word abstracts for each individual presentation Workshops – Interactive sessions organized around a central theme. People submitting workshops should include: all information as stated in the Individual Paper section as appropriate workshop title and a 250 word abstract; the description of the workshop’s objectives and content should be as specific as possible Posters – People may specify they wish their work to be considered as a poster submission, or may be asked to present their work in poster format. A submission should include: all information as stated in the Individual Paper section as appropriate 

Performances – 

This may include poetry reading, dance, a viewing or an installation (art work, poetry, zine, etc.). We will do our best to provide a suitable space but please be prepared to improvise! Abstract should include: all information as stated in the Individual Paper section as appropriate a performance title and a 250 word abstract; the description of the performance content should be as specific as possible For more information email: [email protected] Submission Template Author(s) name(s): Affiliation(s)/Organization(s): Email(s): Address(es): Biographical Note(s) (100-150 words per author): Thematic Stream: Format: (1) Individual Paper; (2) Panel; (3) Workshop; (4) Performance; (5) Podcast Title of Presentation(s): 50 word description of what the presentation is about (abbreviated abstract): Language of Presentation (ENG/FRE/ASL/LSQ). 

About Congress 




Unrivaled in scope and impact, the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is the convergence of over 70 scholarly associations, each holding their annual conference under one umbrella. Now in its 86th year, this flagship event is much more than Canada’s largest gathering of scholars. Congress brings together academics, researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners to share findings, refine ideas, and build partnerships that will help shape the Canada of tomorrow. 

Typically spanning seven days in late May and early June, and attracting over 8,000 attendees, Congress is organized by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences and hosted by a different Canadian university each year. The Federation, host university, scholarly associations and partners develop a full week of presentations, workshops, panels, public lectures, cultural events and receptions. It also features Canada’s largest academic trade show. The result? Luminaries, researchers, practitioners, policy-makers and students from across Canada and abroad meet, share ideas and engage in discussions that have direct importance for Canada and the lives of Canadians. 

Congress programming is open to attendees, academics and non-academic audiences. From theatre research, literature studies and history to education, sociology and communications, Congress represents a unique showcase of scholarly excellence, creativity, and leadership. 

Congress 2017 is being hosted by Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario. The theme for this year’s Congress is “The Next 150, On Indigenous Lands.” 

About Ryerson University 

Ryerson is Canada's leader in innovative, career-focused education and a university clearly on the move. It is distinctly urban with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship; a mission to serve societal need; and a long-standing commitment to engaging its community. 

Ryerson offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. Culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to 38,950 students, including 2,300 master's and PhD students, nearly 2,700 faculty and staff, and more than 170,000 alumni worldwide. Research at Ryerson is on a trajectory of success and growth: externally-funded research has doubled in the past four years. The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada's leading provider of university-based adult education. The university's focus on innovation and entrepreneurship is represented most distinctly by the DMZ, a place for students to collaborate and bring their digital ideas to the marketplace. 

For more information, please visit ryerson.ca. 

About the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences 

The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences promotes research and teaching for the advancement of an inclusive, democratic and prosperous society. With a membership now comprising over 160 universities, colleges and scholarly associations, the Federation represents a diverse community of 91,000 researchers and graduate students across Canada. The Federation organizes Canada’s largest academic gathering, the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, bringing together more than 8,000 participants each year. 

For more information about the Federation, visit www.ideas-idees.ca. 


http://english.cdsa-acei.ca/conference/call-for-papers/