A Human Rights Based Strategy to Address Homelessness and Housing

Responding to public concern over homelessness and housing affordability expressed by the public in the Strategic Plan Environics Survey Council directed an Affordable Housing Strategy be completed by 2020 in collaboration with the Region of Waterloo community groups and development industry. Housing For All is the City of Kitchener's comprehensive strategy to realize the right to housing and help make housing affordable using the tools and resources available to a local municipality.

Click here to read the Housing For All Strategy report.

My name is Tetyana Ali, I am graduate student from Wilfrid Laurier University in the department of Kinesiology and Physical Education. I am currently exploring the lived experiences of caregivers and service providers of developmental disability in Ontario. I am also exploring disability policy and caregiver policy and how it affects caregivers in Ontario.

To achieve this, I hope to conduct one-on-one semi-structured interviews with primary informal caregivers, as well as executive directors of disability organizations/networks. If this is something you are interested in participating in, please let me know!

Due to the pandemic, the interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams or over the telephone. The interviews may take between 60-90 minutes to complete.

Executive Director Criteria:

• Currently employed by an organization that provides supports for individuals with developmental disabilities (ages 4-25)
• Must have experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities for at least 12 months

Caregiver Criteria:

• Caregivers of children/young adults with developmental disabilities
• Could range anywhere from ASD, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Spina bifida, FASD, muscular dystrophy, intellectual disabilities, anything that has to with development can be included!
• Caregivers must be primary
• Those who are responsible for majority of care duties
• Currently live or have lived with their care recipient within the last 12 months
• Must have lived with the care recipient for at least a year
• Caregiver must be informal
• Unpaid for the care they provide
• The caregiver must live within Ontario

Progression of the study and approximate time commitment:

• Fill out a background questionnaire (approx. 5-10 min)
• Fill out an informed consent form (approx. 5-10 min)
• One-on-one semi-structured interview (approx. 60-90 min) over either MicrosoftTeams or over the telephone
• All you need for MicrosoftTeams is google chrome and a webcam, I will send over more instructions if you choose to participate
• If you allow it, the interview will be audio-recorded. This will allow me to transcribe the interview afterward for my analysis. I will be the only one to have access to this recording
• You may still participate in the study if you decline audio-recording
• Transcription check: after about 2 weeks' time I will send over a transcript of your interview for you to look over (approx. 10-15 min)
• Here you will be able to change, add, or remove any information from the interview that you would like. I will not keep anything you wish to remove
• Analysis check (OPTIONAL) around March 2021, I will send over the findings to you, if you wish you will be able to review these and give your opinion as well

For Research poster, click here.

Are you a therapy client or therapist that self identifies as a person of colour?

Would you like to discuss your experiences in a research study?

Very little is known about the experiences of people of colour in psychotherapy practices in Canada. In this qualitative study, we will explore the experiences of therapy clients & therapist (RP & MSW) who identify as people of colour.

For more details on the study, click here.

Researchers at the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management at UBC Okanagan have teamed up with Ontario-based Abilities Centre to launch a national COVID-19 disability survey. 

So, what makes this survey different from everyone else’s survey happening right now? The disability community will have access to the information from these surveys. This survey is not a snapshot in time, or used for any purposes other than to identify the needs of our community. The information collected will help develop meaningful advocacy, strategies and actions that will work towards meeting these needs. This survey will address needs over the long term, and questions will be informed directly by our disability community.

All Canadians who have a disability, or have a child or family member living with a disability in their household, are asked to share their unique experiences and concerns while navigating COVID-19. The survey is fully accessible. 

The information collected from the survey will directly impact policymakers, businesses and organizations across Canada as they develop accessible and inclusive policies, processes and services. 

To participate in the COVID-19 Disability Survey, visit abilitiescentre.org/disabilitysurvey. 

For more information, contact: disabilitysurvey@abilitiescentre.org or call 1 866 639 1858. 

The Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Survey and attached report was developed from a partnership between Autism Speaks Canada, the McMaster Autism Research Team (MacART) and the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance (CASDA). This partnership was built on a strong history of successful collaborations, and common guiding principles.

By coming together, we hope to achieve 3 shared goals:

• To provide a mechanism (the survey) for Autistic people and their families to share their experiences of how they have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To inform service organizations of what services and supports are most needed and helpful for Autistic people and families during this time.
• To inform government of the need for increased supports for the autism community in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and future emergency situations.

Our survey was the first survey of the COVID-19 pandemic capturing the unique impact on the autism community in Canada. We are proud to have had 1,066 Canadians take part with 21% of respondents identifying as autistic.

Overall respondents shared:

• Mental health implication of the pandemic
• Impacts on their daily lives
• Information about accessing supports and services

We are grateful to the dedicated participants of the respondents and for their input during these unprecedented times as we strive to amplify their voices.

Read the report here.

Since March of this year, families have had the challenge of providing education at home in a time of a pandemic. For families who have children with disabilities, this has been an even more challenging time, with many families seeing their regular, IEP-mandated supports stopped or dramatically changed. Families may have also seen differences in interactions with teachers and other school personnel. Now, as students begin to return to school in the fall, it is critically important for families to share their needs to support their child with a disability to be successful.

Researchers from Queen’s University have partnered with the Family Alliance of Ontario to develop a short online survey (approx. 20 minutes to complete) to gather family perspectives about partnership with teachers in a time of COVID-19. They are looking for volunteers to participate in this survey – you are eligible if you are a caregiver of a child with a disability who is in the Ontario K-12 public school system.

In order to capture experiences that will occur as students resume school in various formats this month, we have extended the window to complete this survey until September 30, 2020. Results will then be compiled and shared with families and school stakeholders (school boards and the provincial government) to help inform and improve partnership with families in the 2020/2021 school year.

In appreciation of your time, you will be entered into a draw to win one of thirty $15 Amazon.ca gift certificates.

Click on this link to learn more and participate.  https://gmucehd.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6PhSPzCtXdiCeFL

For more information about the survey, contact Heather Aldersey: hma@queensu.ca

Check out this timely child and youth well-being data released by the Children and Youth Planning Table Youth Impact Survey – Data Briefs surrounding mental and emotional health and belonging are now available.

The University of Waterloo is conducting as online study regarding a robot that facilitiates play between children regardless of special phyiscal needs. 

To get more information, click here.

The Centre of Family Medicine, Mobiliy Clinic and McMaster University are conducting a study for transitional youth with physical disabilities in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Youth individuals with special healthcare needs often lose the quality of care they received as children once they turn 18 years old and must transition to the adult healthcare system.

This study will assess the need for a local program that would aim to help youth individuals with physical disability make the transfer from specialized pediatric care to adult care.

Click here for study advertisment.

Click here for transitional alumnus consent.

Click here for youth & caregiver consent.

Click here for youth under 16 years old consent.

Information Gathering from those who have a Microboard, Aroha or Self-Directed Support Organization

Microboards Ontario provides leadership in the development of Microboards through education, advocacy and support to people and communities across Ontario. Our vision is that any person within Ontario who wants a Microboard is supported to have one.  

Currently, we are interested in finding out as much as we can about the experience of people with disabilities, their families and/or loved ones who have already established their own supportive not-for profit organization. This type of organization may be referred to as a Microboard, Aroha or Self-Directed Support Organization.

If you know someone in Ontario who has already created a Microboard, Aroha or Self-Directed Support Organization please pass this survey along by sending the link.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=qKW2b52U0sxY66hyAem8mHncEyFIlbZzAOAmpjz3ICo_3D

Note: This survey is completely anonymous. The data that we collect will inform our understanding and therefore Microboards Ontario’s strategic direction over the next few years.

If you are interested in having contact with Microboards Ontario for information and /or if you would like to share your story and insights with MBO, please contact us by emailing our Provincial Consultant, Judith McGill at jlmcgill11@gmail.com or calling at (416) 997-3311

Visit our website at www.microboardsontario.com.