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CEO's Message
ACDS sent out the" Implementation of the Outcome Based Service Delivery Contract Survey to members on February 23, 2015, the closing date was March 11, 2015. ACDS has 126 Members across the Province. There were 77 responses to the survey, a 61% response rate. This is the highest response rate we have had to a survey, and additionally the highest number of comments added to each survey question. The full raw survey results (49 pages) was tabled at the PDD Provincial Contract Advisory Committee meeting on March 13th. We have been asked to condense the summary results and ACDS will be posting the summary and the full survey with comments on our website by the end of this week.
The survey results, along with very thoughtful and instructive comments, provide a clear picture and evidence of your experiences across the province and indicate where we need to focus our efforts as a committee. The Contract Advisory Committee will be meeting again and developing a Q&A which is intended to provide clarity on key questions of implementation and interpretation. The survey will also inform our discussions with lawyer John McGee who will be providing his opinion to members on the contract again this year. The Regional Service Provider representatives will follow-up with focus group discussions in each region and PDD will also be conducting its own focus group discussions with PDD staff. The Advisory Committee SP representatives are: Diane Kotkas (South), Todd Rich (Calgary), Phil Stephan and Marilyn Conner (Central), Jim McCutcheon (Edmonton), Darrin Stubbs (NW), and Arno Birkigt (NE).
Congratulations to survey draw winner Pat Ferguson from Rocky Support Services Society in Rocky Mountain House. Pat wins a pass to our ACDS Spring conference donated by Blue Heron Enterprises in Athabasca.
The Provincial Safety Standards Committee met on March 23. We're very pleased to be able to work with the Ministry to achieve a simpler extension application process for agencies. If you do not know or are unsure what the impact of the new PDD Safety Regulations will be on your services, I would encourage you to apply for the extension. The Committee is also developing process information packages for service providers (we are recommending it for landlords as well) and Regional PDD staff will be connecting with municipal authorities. Thank you to the agencies that contacted me with examples of the requirement to implement health "outbreak protocols", I think this issue will be resolved as we now are at this provincial table.
ACDS will be releasing a Safety Standards Impact Survey which will adapt the survey ACDS released last year and the recent Calgary Service Provider Council Survey. This information will provide us with better information on the scope and impact of the new regulation. I think we can make a difference and inform policy direction. I would also encourage you to learn from and support the voice of self-advocates who are raising their concerns at different events across the province and at the legislature on April 1. Please contact me if your region or agency is interested in more information.
The Provincial Budget 2015 will be presented on March 26. Both Jamie Post and I will be attending budget briefing sessions hosted by Human Services Deputy Minister David Morhart. ACDS will also participate in a budget review and response meeting with our colleagues at CCVO the following morning. Jamie will be posting information on the Budget as it becomes available.
Ann Nicol,
CEO
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If you want to schedule time to talk to Ann or comment on something that is important to you, just send a message to acds@acds.ca
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ACDS Notes
Whole People. Whole Lives.
The Alberta Council of Disability Services invites you to attend our
29th annual spring gathering!
April 29 - May 1 | Coast Plaza Hotel and Conference Center | Calgary, Alberta
Click to download:
For more information:
Conference thread in the ACDS Community of Practice
We're fortunate to again have the participation of a number of excellent speakers and presenters, including:
David Hingsburger
David will be leading our closing plenary with an interactive session on the challenges we face in providing service to people with disabilities. Other sessions featuring David:
From Oh No! to Ah Ha!
One of the best things about being in human services is that, because of the depth and diversity or our interactions with those we support, we are required to grow. Growth comes from learning. And learning often comes from making mistakes, acknowledging them, and apologizing for them. The only really acceptable apology, as we all know, is change. This keynote will look at how Oh No! leads to Ah Ha! and how we can all put ourselves on the path to constant personal and interpersonal change.
Risky Business: an Interactive Learning Session
Moderator: David Hingsburger
Rights, policy, practice and procedures all try to capture in black-and-white how to support a person with a disability to have a full life in the community. But real life seldom fits neatly into these on-paper descriptions. Every decision and every choice comes with the potential for risk and for reward.
A panel made up of people representing a variety of perspectives will explore complex scenarios from real-life stories so we can consider, share and learn what it really means to live a full life in the community as a person with a disability.
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Biography of David Hingsburger
Dave works providing direct service to people with intellectual disabilities. He is the Director of Clinical and Educational Services for Vita Community Living Services and a primary consultant for the Sexuality Clinic at York Simcoe Behaviour Management Services. Dave also works in private practice as a consultant for schools, parents and agencies in a variety of areas regarding service provision to people with intellectual disabilities, focusing primarily on problematic sexual behaviour, understanding problem behaviour and abuse prevention .
Dave has published over 30 books, has lost count of the number of articles he has had published in magazines, newspapers and journals. He has appeared a number of times on television as a "talking head" regarding disability issues. Dave wrote and narrated the controversial radio documentary "Life, Death and Disability" for the CBC. Dave lectures extensively. He has given keynote presentations nationally and internationally.
Educationally, Dave earned his B.A. in psychology at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, a certificate in Human Relations from Ryerson in Toronto, and his M.Ed. from the University of Toronto.
In the fall of 2009, Dave was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame.
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PDD Safety Standards
ACDS' comprehensive report on the PDD Safety Standards and relevant legislation is still available through the members-only section on ACDS' website.
We've also prepared a summary document highlighting key points, which can be widely circulated to families, self-advocates and other interested parties.
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The Political Scene
Budget 2015/16
Budget 2015 will be released on March 26th. The process for the Legislature to approve the budget takes approximately one month and will presumably be interrupted or immediately followed this year by a spring election. Watch your inboxes following the budget's release for more information as it becomes available to us.
Government of Alberta, budget webpage - You'll be available to find budget documents here as they're released.
Human Services Political Forum
Held in January, the forum was a joint effort of:
- The Alberta Council of Disability Services
- Alberta Association of Services for Children and Families
- Alberta Council of Women's Shelters
- Public Interest Alberta
- Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organization
- Alberta Home Visitation Network
Moderator: Graham Thomson, Political Affairs columnist for the Edmonton Journal
Speakers: David Eggen (MLA Edmonton-Calder), Dr. Raj Sherman (MLA Edmonton-Meadowlark), Will Munsey (President, Alberta Party)
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Community of Practice
Naming Contest - Extended until March 27th
In January 2015, ACDS officially launched its online Community of Practice. A forum for:
- Disability workers and agency leaders
- Families and self-advocates
- Students and educators
- Interested individuals
To discuss:
- Sector news
- Accreditation and other standards
- Professional and leadership development
- Education and training
- Upcoming events
- Best practices
- Workforce issues and more.
Our question to you:
What should we call our community?
Are you up for the challenge?
Contest Details:
- Submit your entries to jamie@acds.ca by Friday, March 27th! A winner will be chosen the following week.
- The winning name should resonate with the disability services community and make our online community easily identifiable.
- ACDS reserves the right:
- To modify the winning submission
- To use any submission in whole or in part
- To not choose any of the submissions and possibly re-run the contest at a later date.
- The winning submission will receive a free, three-day registration to the ACDS 2015 Spring Conference!
www.acds.ca/community
Latest Discussions
Conference guide and discussion
"The 'Yelp' for people with a disabilities" - A crowdsourced accessible map
An app to find and highlight Edmonton's inclusive employers
An inclusive community, or segregation?
Discussing a Globe & Mail article on finding inclusive employment in Alberta
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News, Links and Events
MLAs visit one of St. Paul Abilities Network Shared Living Homes
"There were over 50 people present at the Lethbridge Library. There were five presenters and part way through the presentation we were joined by Tim Weinkauf, PDD Program Branch."
People with severe disabilities won't be kicked out of non-compliant homes
New safety requirements 'completely unreasonable', say those forced to pay for renovations
"This is about people with disabilities having the right to choose where they live," she said.
The government said agencies will be able to apply for a temporary extension to allow them to work with the government and inspection authorities, and if required, to help them find funding so they can comply with the new rules.
CBC News
Technology opens doors to faster developmental diagnosis
A new project virtually connecting the Camrose Pediatric Specialty Clinic to the Glenrose Hospital in Edmonton is now in place to help Camrose and area children with developmental disabilities find a faster path to diagnosis.
Camrose Canadian
SACLA - Director of Operations
The Southern Alberta Community Living Association is seeking a Director of Operations.
Applications will be considered until April 2, 2015. Inquiries and/or applications for this position should be directed in confidence to Sue Manery CEO at sue.manery@sacla.ca.
We Belong - Highlighting inclusive employers
Edmonton's Gateway Association has launched a mobile application to find and nominate the city's inclusive employers.
CTV News
Cash Mob - Supporting inclusive employers
Working wisdom: How workers with disabilities give companies an edge
More than two million Canadian adults, or 11 per cent of the population, have some sort of disability and only about half of them participate in the labour force. Of those who do look for work, the jobless rate is 40 per cent or more for some groups. Underemployment is higher and even if they hold a job, incomes among adults with disabilities are typically far lower than the rest of the population.
Invincible shares inspirational stories of disabled people's adventures
"I'm trying to motivate people to get out of their comfort zone," said Ennett, a second-year psychology student at the University of Alberta. "Disabled people, it shows them what options they have for various activities."
Accessible Dental, Eye Care and Pharmacy Services - Research Study
The Alberta Committee of Citizens with Disabilities (ACCD) has initiated a research study on Accessible Dental, Eye Care and Pharmacy Services in Alberta, and we are collecting data using focus groups, accessibility surveys and questionnaires.
The success of our research study largely depends on the responses that we receive from the community in regard to filling out the questionnaires. We would be extremely appreciative if you would send this email to your contacts in order that we may solicit more participation with filling out the questionnaires.
If you have any comments, please feel free to contact programmgr@accd.net. Together, we can improve accessibility in Dental, Eye Care and Pharmacy services for Albertans with disabilities.
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Is there a news story from your region, or something you've spotted that would be interesting to ACDS members? If so, please forward it to jamie@acds.ca.
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Training and Development Update
Foundations in Community Disability Studies
Our online program has over one hundred and fifty active learners and is growing in number thanks to the Canada-Alberta Job grant. We have made some changes to the structure and layout of the online materials to accommodate our growing numbers and provide a more user-friendly environment. Starting April 1st 2015, all foundations learners will be using this new integrated delivery approach.
What this means to Foundations online learners:
- Learners have the same online facilitator for three months at a time.
- In the new user friendly online setup learners can upload assignments and skills checklists online. (Submissions will still be accepted by email/fax during the transition period.)
- Learners will be enrolled in a section (five modules) at a time. Learners are expected to complete at least one module per month but can move at a faster pace if they wish to.
- Learners will receive an email when their facilitator has given them feedback on their assignments and learners can view facilitator's feedback online as well.
- Only minor changes were made to the content but foundations online will be undergoing a rewrite later in the year to keep the information current.
- To streamline the accounting processes we will be transitioning over to a per Section invoicing method, instead of a per module system. This will mean only three invoices instead of 15 invoices for your organization. We thank you for working with us as we transition all learners over to this system. All module numbers included in the sections will be listed, as per usual on the back of the invoice.
There is a tip sheet available to help learners adjust to the new version which includes: how to log on for the first time, how to submit your assignment and skills checklist online. Please email foundationsonline@acds.ca if you would like a tip sheet on the new version.
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Workforce Update
The spring career fair season is in full swing. Workforce would like to remind members of the value of promoting the sector at career events and getting people thinking about a future in Community Disability Services. The future of the sector depends on young people pursuing disability services as a career, be sure to participate in career events aimed at high school students who are just beginning to think about their futures. If you require information to give away at such events be sure to contact
workforce@acds.ca and request a career fair kit. Brochures, career wheels and a variety of promotional items are available to supplement your organizations own promotional materials.
Tip for a Successful Career Fair
1. Draw people in with an attractive display
Banners and table runners can bring attention to your exhibit. If you do not have such items just making sure you have plenty of information neatly displayed can bring people in.
2. Small giveaways have a big impact
Your budget may not be able to accommodate promotional giveaways like pens and highlighters but there are other options. Inexpensive items such as hard candy can bring people to your table creating the opportunity to educate them about the field.
3. Know what positions you have currently available
Career fair attendees will want to know what positions are available at your organizations and what qualifications are necessary. Simply referring them to a website may result in your organization being forgotten about by the time they have left the fair. The more information you can provide the better the odds of finding your new staff member.
4. Get to know the other exhibitors
Career fairs are a great place to learn about other organizations in your community. Arrive early to ensure you will have time to network with other exhibitors without leaving your booth unattended during the event.
5. Bring water
Talking to career fair attendees can quickly leave you dry. Make sure you have plenty on hand to drink at the event.
6. Wear comfortable shoes
You will be spending most of your time at the career fair standing on your feet so plan ahead. Choose footwear you will be comfortable standing in for the duration of the event.
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Accreditation Update
Invitation to Participate on the ACDS Standards Review Committee
ACDS has had much positive feedback on its 2013 version of the CET Accreditation Standards, but we have also taken note of your critiques, suggestions for improvement, and thoughts around current and future areas of focus. The next step is to incorporate your expertise and foresight, plus best practices in the field, into the 2016 version of the CET Standards.
To be part of the ACDS Standards Review Committee, contact us at accred@acds.ca .
The first teleconference meeting will take place between 10 am and noon on Thursday, April 23, 2015.
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The ACDS Umbrella is a publication of the
Alberta Council of Disability Services
Bay 19, 3220 - 5 Avenue NE
Calgary, Alberta, T2A 5N1
Phone: 403-250-9495 * Fax: 403-291-9864
© 2014 Alberta Council of Disability Services
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The ACDS Umbrella or any of its content?
Permission to Reprint: Is there an article or news item in this or any other ACDS Umbrella newsletter that you would like to reprint in your own newsletter or other information circular? Please contact us at
acds@acds.ca, attention Communications and Marketing, and include the title of the article, the issue date (e.g., February 2013), and a brief summary of how the material will be used.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in The ACDS Umbrella is for your information only and links are provided for your convenience. ACDS is not responsible for the content, change in content, accuracy, relevancy, copyright compliance, or legality of the material on external websites.
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