INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES - AUGUST 2020
ENSEMBLE MESSAGE FOR FAMILIES
|
|
Hello families!
As we are into the dog days of summer of late August , I am finding that I am ready for the fall and a return to some semblance of normalcy, what about yourselves? We are into our 5th month of restrictions due to COVID-19, and although we are finally seeing a loosening of restrictions, we still need to remain diligent for our health, the health of our family members and our community. Our family members have been especially impacted as we deal with greater challenges and more restrictions.
We were all relieved to see the long promised COVID-19 Disability payment finally approved in late July, but it is disappointing to hear that this payment will be delayed until sometime in the fall. Everyone I have spoken with feels that this is too little, too late for individuals and families. Included in this email is some information regarding advocacy that is starting as a result of this. We are also hearing from many families who have concerns about the back to school plans for their children and their safety.
At Ensemble we want to assure all of you that we will continue to provide support, information and help you to make connections, and continue to navigate through these extraordinary times.
Stay well and hopefully we will be able to connect again soon in person.
Kelly Runnalls,
Parent Consultant, Ensemble
|
|
|
COVID-19 DISABILITY PAYMENT TO BE PAID OUT IN THE FALL |
|
The federal government has finally approved the one time COVID-19 Disability payment in late July, with payment to take place this fall. Several Disability Organizations have put together fact sheets with information regarding qualifying and receiving this payment. Please check out the links below.
Canadian Association of Community Living COVID-19 Disability Payment fact sheet:
Community Living Ontario COVID-19 Disability Payment fact sheet:
Plan Institute COVID-19 Disability Payment fact sheet:
|
|
|
TIME TO UNIFY THE DISABILITY MOVEMENT
opinion article by Al Etmanski and Kathleen O'Grady from Globe and Mail, August 4, 2020
|
|
Al Etmanski is an Order of Canada recipient and co-chaired the federal COVID-19 Disability Advisory Group. His new book is The Power of Disability.
Kathleen O’Grady is a research associate at the Simone de Beauvoir Institute at Concordia University in Montreal and the chief executive officer of QUOI Media Group Inc.
A decision to issue one-time, $600 federal payments to Canadians with disabilities, in order to cover the extraordinary expenses they have incurred because of COVID-19, has finally received royal assent. But it’s too little, too late, and reaches too few.
The $600 amount is nowhere near the extra monthly costs many people with disabilities have incurred during the pandemic. It was issued four months after most other Canadians have received support and well after the country has emerged from lockdown. And it leaves around 60 per cent of Canadians with disabilities behind. Payments will also not be issued until the fall.
We could have easily prevented this from happening as we already had several factors for success in place. The federal government did whatever it took to financially support Canadians during the pandemic, we have a smart and capable minister overseeing disability inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, who has impeccable disability credentials, and we had a strong COVID-19 advisory group of seasoned advocates.
What went wrong?
As the federal COVID-19 Disability Advisory Group prepared to request assistance for Canadians with disabilities, no stone was left unturned by individuals, families and organizations to document the extent of the need. Academics offered research, statistics and analysis to support the request to financially assist those with disabilities.
Still, week after week, as every other vulnerable group of Canadians was acknowledged and supported, the largest minority group in the country was put on hold.
What caused this negligence?
Some will say the federal government has no mechanism to reach Canadians with disabilities who are poor, that this is a provincial-territorial responsibility. They will correctly point to the lack of politicians and senior public servants with personal experience with disability. They will rightly note the absence of a COVID-19 disability emergency plan. By contrast, a few weeks into the pandemic, Australia’s operational plan for persons with disabilities was implemented.
But these are all symptoms of a much deeper problem: systemic disability discrimination.
Baked into the apparatus of our institutions is the belief that disabled people are unworthy. This leads to triage thinking. Once we’ve taken care of everyone and everything else, we’ll offer you a little of what’s left. It also leads to the political miscalculation that the majority of Canadians don’t care how people with disabilities are treated.
This destructive mindset cannot be solved solely with more research, better data, stronger advocacy and policy change. It must be addressed on a scale similar to the #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter, Truth and Reconciliation and #IdleNoMore movements.
In addition to pushing for reforms, such as a national income-supplement program for Canadians with disabilities, it’s time to borrow a page from these social movements.To move forward on disability rights in Canada, we must first unify the disability movement.Movements do three things that individuals, organizations, and even coalitions can’t do on their own. They generate popular support, shift the boundaries of what is socially acceptable, and encourage political boldness.
The disability movement in Canada is not as united as it could be. Like all movements, ego, territoriality, overlapping mandates and competition for scarce resources cause unnecessary division. Grassroots voices are too often overshadowed by large agencies. Sometimes our strategies divide us.
In order to bring the full force of our social, political, moral, cultural and economic power to bear, the disability movement must reconcile its differences and unite behind a common vision.
Secondly, the disability movement must also engage with the general public.
CBC’s radio program White Coat, Black Art devoted a recent episode to a common fear held by people with disabilities – that they’re being forgotten. After the show was aired, host Brian Goldman tweeted: “The muted reaction to our show confirms that they’re right.” The reality is that the general public is not engaged beyond the occasional feel-good story or exposé of desperate living conditions.
The public doesn’t realize the extent of the neglect and indifference persons with disabilities face daily. When asked, the majority of Canadians support accessible and inclusive initiatives.
It’s time those affected by disability and their allies take their concerns and solutions directly to the public, do their own public opinion polling, and connect to celebrities, authorities and personalities who can amplify the message to their constituencies and audiences.
Canadians with disabilities, their families and supporters may not yet be able to influence decisions in cabinet or the Prime Minister’s Office. We can, however, create conditions that ensure there is a political price to pay for continued discrimination.
article link,
|
|
|
HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR THE $200-$250 PER CHILD BENEFIT FOM THE PROVINCE? |
|
Have you applied for the Support for Families Benefit from the province? This benefit was introduced in the spring for families with school aged children for a one time payment of $200 for each child under 12, or $250 for each child under 21 with a disability. It is a one time payment. If you have not applied yet, the deadline to apply is August 31, 2020, and information can be found at, https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-families. |
|
|
 |
Let's talk with Dave Hingsburger: Unfairness, Injustice and Inequality
How your area DSO can help you transition from youth to adult services
Developmental Services Ontario (DSO), Tuesday, August 25, 7 pm,
Back to School Workshop,
Introduction to the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
Person Directed Planning: for all ages and stages
Inspiring Families: Join DSO Housing Navigators Discussion with 4 families who have created innovative housing plans
Introduction to the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
|
|
|
|
DIGITAL PARENTING IN THE AGE OF COVID-19 WEBINAR SERIES FROM YOUTH DIVERSION OF WINDSOR-ESSEX TECH ALLIANCE |
|
Whether it’s social media, mobile technology or the “Internet of Things,” connected technologies bring us enormous advantages, along with some challenges. Youth Diversion wants to help parents help their kids get the most from technology while managing the risks, encouraging both innovation and responsible use.
#parentingunplugged is a series of webinars and podcasts hosted by Youth Diversion that is using the beauty of technology to provide parents with unlimited access to expert advice.
The #parentingunplugged webinar series is supported by the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund and WindsorEssex Community Foundation and The Solcz Family Foundation.
|
|
|
BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION |
|
There has been a lot of information that has come out regarding back to school guidelines in the last few weeks, and plans have been updated this week in response to the concerns of parents, families and educators. The latest information for each local board is below:
|
|
|
FAMILY ALLIANCE ONTARIO TO HOST MONTHLY FAMILY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS AS WELL AS KNOWLEDGE SHARE EVENTS |
|
Starting September 10th, and continuing on the second Thursday of each month, Family Alliance Ontario will host monthly Family Engagement Meetings to connect with families. Details to follow soon.
Starting September 30th, and continuing on the last Wednesday of each month, they will also host a Family Knowledge Share meeting. Details to follow.
|
|
|
THE OAK PARK FAMILY GROUP HOUSING GROUP |
|
The Oak Park Family Gorup Housing proect is based in Toronto and works to provide innovative housing options for individuals with disabilities on their own in the community. Their website is https://wearethecommunity.org/ and they have an information video at, |
|
|
DESIGNING A RDSP HOME OWNERSHIP PLAN FROM MY HOME,MY COMMUNITY |
|
My Home, My Community has developed resources to help with home ownership for those with disabities. Their information is at, http://www.myhomemycommunity.ca/ and they have a resource for using an RDSP to set up a home ownership plan,
|
|
|
RECENT WEBINARS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING |
|
WINDSOR-ESSEX COMMUNITY INFORMATION |
|
Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB)
The Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) is a monthly housing allowance paid directly to a person or household. The COHB is provided to low-income households to assist with housing costs. The housing benefit payment is not tied to a physical housing unit or a specific address, it is attached to the person or household, unlike other forms of housing benefit. For further information ,
|
|
|
OTHER RESOURCES AND INFORMATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
