In December 2012, Dr. Mary Ann McColl presented on the principal lessons learned about knowledge translation for disability research from her work with the CDPA and the Actionable Nuggets project. This presentation outlined the definition of key terms such as knowledge translation, mobilization, exchange, and brokerage. Goals such as knowledge creation, selection, and products were also identified and discussed. Knowledege… Read more »
Afghanistan has seen more Canadians affected by military service-related injuries and illnesses than any time since the Korean War, yet Canada still lags behind its allies in research on military, veteran and family health. As our military personnel return from Afghanistan, there is an urgent need to understand military and veteran health. This project involves a scoping review of the… Read more »
The idea for the Canadian Disability Policy Alliance came from collaborating on a book with many of Canada’s leading disability researchers. “We enjoyed working together so much”, says Dr Mary Ann McColl of Queen’s University, “that we began to ask ourselves how we could carry the partnership on into the future.” Disability and Social Policy in Canada, by Dr. Mary… Read more »
As part of the three year evaluation mandated by the Canada Disability Savings Act (2007), Dr. Mary Ann McColl and Project Manager Mike Schaub were contracted by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada to conduct a review of international literature related to savings incentive programs for families and individuals with disabilities. The review surveyed literature from 2006 onward to discover: What the… Read more »
2012 marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms into law by Queen Elizabeth II. As part of the Constitution Act 1982, the Charter replaced the earlier Canadian Bill of Rights (1960) and gave the judiciary greater powers to challenge laws in every jurisdiction of Canada. One of those provisions was that Canadians could… Read more »
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was enacted in 2005 to ensure an accessible society for people with disabilities by 2025, including both private and public businesses and organizations. How does the Act actually work, and what difference does it make in communities in Ontario? These questions motivated a small group of citizens in Thornbury, Ontario to seek… Read more »
A new report published by CDPA Education Team co-lead Dr Gordon Porter of Inclusive Education Canada/CACL and Angèla AuCoin of Université de Moncton will be influential in shaping inclusive education practices in New Brunswick in the coming years. In December 2010, New Brunswick’s Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Jody Carr announced that Porter and AuCoin would be engaged to facilitate a… Read more »
During the summer of 2011, Max Beck of Easter Seals Canada worked with several partners from Queen’s University to conduct an online survey focused on the Access 2 Entertainment Program. The Access 2 Entertainment Card allows individuals with a disability to participate more fully in society by providing support persons with free admission to a variety of entertainment, culture and recreation facilities across… Read more »
Recent data from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (2010) shows that only 17.5% of family practices are open to new patients. Given the acknowledged shortage of family physicians in all jurisdictions, the CDPA’s third accessibility initiative was a study that investigated whether patients with disabilities had greater difficulties finding a family physician in Ontario. Primary care is especially important for… Read more »
Despite the recent focus on primary care reform, adults with physical disabilities continue to experience difficulties with access to primary care. The current initiative to improve access to Family Health Teams in Ontario for people with mobility impairments was launched jointly by the CDPA, Queen’s University Centre for Health Services & Policy Research, the Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario, and the Primary… Read more »
