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United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities | | December 09, 2009 | | This paper is an EasyRead guide to the full
agreement. It is not a legal paper. You need to
look at the full agreement itself if you want to
know what exactly the agreement says, or what
countries have signed up to. | | Link: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities | For more information, please contact:
Catherine Allix [callix@peoplefirstofcanada.ca] |
| Abuse Cases at Institution in Nova Scotia – More Bad History Repeating | | September 25, 2009 | | TORONTO, ON. – Sept. 19, 2009 - The 43 cases of abuse reported in Nova Scotia this week confirm what people with intellectual disabilities already know: people aren’t safe in institutional settings. People First of Canada (PFC) and the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) have long been calling for this country to free its citizens and close all large institutions that warehouse people with disabilities. Newfoundland, British Columbia, and Ontario no longer have large scale institutions, but some provinces like Nova Scotia continue to use the outdated institutional model.
Richard Ruston, President of PFC, remarked that: “Unfortunately, many people with intellectual disabilities are not surprised at yet another series of abuse cases within a large institution. Appalled and disgusted, yes, but not surprised.”
In fact, many people with intellectual disabilities know first hand that this is generally what happens. They know because they have lived in institutions; they know because they have been abused there. They also know that an institution is no place for anyone to live.
Canadian Association for Community Living, President Bendina Miller, commented “Throughout our history CACL has rejected that institutions have a place in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. We know that institutions can never effectively safeguard against abuse. The answer isn’t improving institutions, it’s closing them so that people can live valued lives in their communities.”
John Cox, a long-time member and supporter of People First and the deinstitutionalization movement, stated “When someone else, who may not even know you, has full control of you and your life, and you’re a vulnerable person, abuse can happen. Time and time again, we hear the same stories. We have a responsibility now, to ourselves and all Canadians, to say no one, no one, should live in an institution.”
| | For more information, please contact:
Shelley Rattai, Executive Director, People First of Canada |
| Dignity and Justice for All! | | November 26, 2008 | | People First of Canada is proud to partner with Independent Living Canada on the 7th Annual United Nation’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities National Celebration and Reception, December 3, 2008 in Ottawa, Canada.
People First of Canada and Independent Living Canada, along with the national disability community envisions an inclusive and accessible society where people with disabilities are valued and participate fully. We aim to create a society whereby everyone is treated with dignity and respect – a country with opportunities for all.
People with disabilities contribute to Canadian society – as artists, employees and employers, volunteers, parents, students, and much more. However, there are still many Canadians with disabilities who want to contribute but continue to face attitudinal and environmental barriers that prevent their participation.
On December 3rd, People First of Canada and Independent Living Canada will join together to present the new powerful documentary “The Freedom Tour”. The Freedom Tour is an amazing film about a journey by people who once lived in institutions who are trying to help end the practice of institutionalization and exposing some of the shocking conditions of the past and present. It also is a riveting look at achieving dignity for people with disabilities and the challenges still faced today.
| | For more information, please contact:
People First of Canada [info@peoplefirstofcanada.ca] |
| National Community Inclusion Initiative | | April 07, 2008 | | We are pleased to say that the National Community Inclusion Initiative has been extended for an additional year, effective April 2008 until the end of March 2009. We would like to say thank you to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, and officials within the Office for Disability Issues, for the approval of this one-year extension. This approval will allow the continuation of our CI efforts toward advancing systems change and innovation across the country. | | For more information, please contact:
People First of Canada [info@peoplefirstofcanada.ca] |
| People First Freedom Tour | | August 29, 2007 | | The People First Freedom Tour is happening from August
18th to August 29th, 2007. Members of People First of Canada will travel across the Prairies to raise awareness about people still living in institutions. The RV trip leaves from Winnipeg and ends in Calgary Alberta with stops in Portage la Prairie, Dauphin, Moose Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Red Deer. With the help of a media crew, self-advocates will collect and share stories while filming this amazing journey! For more information, contact Josée Boulanger at 998-6846 or visit www.freeourpeople.ca
| | Link: People First Freedom Tour | For more information, please contact:
Josée Boulanger [freedom.tour@yahoo.ca] |
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