Preparing For Climate Change: Were You Consulted? 

By Frank B. Edwards 

The dangers to Canadians threatened by climate change are not restricted to any particular group.  

Last summer across Canada, wildfires consumed trophy homes and trailer parks alike — and blanketed the whole country with breathtaking levels of smog regardless of the distance from burning forests.  

Derechos, tornadoes, and floods triggered by extreme weather have become more common and struck suburban and rural communities in the National Capital Region multiple times in recent years. Ice storms and heat waves seem to be on the increase. 

But is anyone looking out for the concerns of Ottawa’s disabled population? Or the rest of Canada? Dr. Sebastien Jodoin, a law professor at McGill University, says no! 

He believes that people with disabilities are being ignored in programs aimed at dealing with climate change. 

As the director of the Disability-Inclusive Climate Action Research Program (DICARP), Dr. Jodoin oversaw a 2023 analysis of disability rights in Canadian climate policies. And he didn’t like what his team found.

There was little evidence that any level of government is taking concrete measures to include people with disabilities in their climate change planning or policy making. No one is taking special measures to ensure their safety. 

In a wide-ranging interview with Australian disabled rights activist Liv Mullan on her Remarkable Insights Podcast, Dr. Jodoin pushes back against the exclusion of disability from the climate change discussion. 

“At the domestic level, we are seeing that people with disabilities are being systemically neglected in the design of adaptation measures,” he told Ms Mullan, who has cerebral palsy. 

As a lawyer with an interest in climate policy, Dr. Jodoin became much more aware of the plight of people with disabilities when he discovered he had multiple sclerosis as he joined McGill’s law school faculty in 2015. Suddenly he became a climate change specialist who also had a disability, and he became hyper aware of the challenges that 15% of the world’s population faces every day. 

His MS makes him sensitive to extreme heat and he was dismayed by experts’ advice to shelter in air-conditioned spaces. As an avid cyclist and parent of an active child, he didn’t want to stay indoors. Research into how Disney World characters in heavy costumes cope in Florida’s hottest months introduced him to cooling vests that reduce body heat for several hours at a time. 

“People with disabilities are constantly having to come up with solutions… they are masters of resilience,” he says in the podcast, emphasizing that the disabled community is uniquely qualified to help cope with the world’s climate crisis. “We have to navigate a world that has not been designed for us and find all of these tips and tricks to get through life.” 

Dr. Jodoin is critical of Canada’s record on offering concrete help in the face of climate challenges, pointing out that “India has had fewer deaths in heatwaves than Canada. We’re asking why?” 

He also cautions climate activists to consider the disabled community in their advocacy work. Personally, he finds long summertime protest events exhausting even without the mobility challenges other participants have.  

“A lot of climate eco-strategies are not available to the disabled,” he says, pointing to the limitations of climate mitigation activities like cycling and local gardening. 

“If you’re thinking about this from a design perspective, you kind of accept that mistakes will happen. You accept that what’s most important is to consult and co-build… and continuously improve. You won’t get things perfect, right away, but I find that [inclusion] removes some of the anxiety that people have.” 

Dr. Jodoin points out that some climate-inspired “solutions” create unexpected problems that would be obvious to the people who are affected due to their disabilities. The ban on plastic straws made good headlines but created serious problems for people who rely on them to eat. Electric cars that don’t emit sound and rapid bicycle lanes are dangerous to the blind. Undependable transit systems complicate mobility problems. 

Until members of the disabled community are included at all levels of the climate change discussion, Dr. Jodoin believes that missteps will continue. “Sometimes I get pull-back about the cost or the burden of including yet another group,” he told Ms. Mullan.” But there is already a model for bringing in neglected groups – [the inclusion of] gender and indigenous people.” 

He may be relatively new to the disability rights movement, but Dr. Jodoin has come to accept that no one is going to invite him to the table. 

“You have to just show up and ask for a seat,” he advises. 

Transcript of Remarkable Insights episode Season 1, Episode 4. 

The Weather Channel’s Pattrn show interviews Dr. Jodoin. 2022. 

Who Is Doing What?

City of Ottawa’s Climate Change Masterplan has one reference to “persons with disabilities” in Table 6, including them with older adults, persons with limited access to social support systems and persons with chronic illnesses. (Automatic pdf download.)

City of Ottawa’s emergency preparedness webpage for “vulnerable people” simply suggests persons with disabilities carry: extra batteries for wheelchairs and other personal care equipment; oxygen; medication; catheters; food for guide or service dogs.

Province of Ontario has a webpage entitled Emergency Preparedness for Disabled People that is a modification of its generic emergency preparedness webpage.

Prepared British Columbia offers a booklet, Resources for People with Disabilities along with a range of other publications aimed at the general public and for specific types of natural emergencies. (Automatic pdf download.)

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Coalition of People with Disabilities offers Shared Responsibility: An Inclusive Emergency Planning Guide for first responders and community leaders dealing with people with disabilities during emergencies. (Automatic pdf download.)

Calgary Emergency Management Agency offers a booklet entitled Persons with Disabilities Guide. (Automatic pdf download.)

Introducing Nick Korhonen, the newly appointed President of the ABLE2

By Rick Burns, ABLE2 Board member

I had the pleasure of chatting with Nick Korhonen, the newly appointed President of the ABLE2, not too long ago via Zoom.

This was not the first time I had met Nick virtually. He is longstanding member of the Board, holding the role of Treasurer right up until his recent appointment. It was my first opportunity, however, to speak with him one-on-one. Unbeknownst to Nick, he had already left a great first impression on me – I was already familiar with his pleasant demeanor and infectious energy during previous Board meetings.

After some introductory pleasantries, I went on to pepper Nick with questions, true interview style.

Nick comes to Ottawa via North Bay, graduating with a Bachelor of Commence from Carleton University. He then went on to earn his Chartered Professional Accounting designation, which is not all that surprising as I think back on how effectively and confidently he spoke about all financial and accounting matters of ABLE2. After a decade working at both local and large national accounting firms post-graduation, he assumed the role as Chief Financial Officer at a start up company. And, if Nick did not have his hands full enough, he is also proud father of two youngsters, 6 month old boy, Julien, and 3 year old girl, Beatrice.

I threw out classic question: what made you want to get involved with ABLE2 in the first place? Without hesitation, he indicated that he has always recognized the importance of giving back to the community. And then, after chance meeting with the former Executive Director of ABLE2, the rest is history, as they say - Nick joined the Board of Directors, eventually becoming Treasurer.

The transition this year to President is a natural progression for Nick. After serving many years on the Board, he was already well aware of ABLE2’s business and all of the great work it does in the community. He is equally familiar with the challenges and opportunities facing a small (but mighty) community-based charitable organization like ABLE2.

When asked about what he considers to be the top priority for ABLE2 in the coming years, he pointed to the importance of fundraising, especially in the current economic context. He spoke of his desire to further stabilize ABLE’s resource base over the longer term with a view a achieving more independence for the organization while staying true to its mission: supporting and empowering persons of all ages across the disability spectrum and their families to build lives of meaning and joy as valued members of our community.

As the final question (one I typically like to ask): what would you say to someone thinking of getting involved with ABLE2? His answer was quick and decisive: reach out and talk to us! ABLE2 does such good in serving the community, making so much out of so little. There are so many ways to get involved. From donations, to being coat check person at a holiday party, to serving as a member of the Board, to being actively matched as part of supportive network - there are countless ways one can become involved. And you may even have fun!

Overall, it was great to touch base with Nick. I look forward to seeing him at the Board meetings and of course all of the great ABLE2 events. I can say with certainty that ABLE2 is in good hands! 

The ABLE2 Holiday Dinner & Dance is here and tickets are moving fast!

When: December 10, 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Ticket Price: $25 per person

Where: Hellenic Centre, 1315 Prince of Wales Dr. Ottawa, ON K2C 1N2