Dear Mayor Tory, I write to you as a concerned citizen of Ward 6 Etobicoke-Lakeshore, and the City of Toronto, to request your support to continue with some accessible buses on the 501 streetcar line and other streetcar lines, and for shuttle bus service for major elevator disruptions, and that these items be reflected in … Continue reading My Letter to Mayor Tory regarding Accessibility for the TTC in the 2018 Budget
Canada
“We Need Not Remake the Past” – The Future of the Disability Movement
Presentation at the Canadian Disability Studies Association Conference 2017 Thank you to my fellow organizers and panelists. Before I get started, I’d like to identify myself within this conversation, as a white, employed person with a physical disability that is easily identified with, and the privilege that comes with those things. I also identify as … Continue reading “We Need Not Remake the Past” – The Future of the Disability Movement
Trudeau’s ‘accessible Canada’ includes unpaid work
Back in 2015, before the Canadian federal election, a movement of disabled people was building across the country. The call for a barrier-free Canada was built in that time by a small, dedicated group of people who reinforced their message daily through social media and on the ground action. Their methods were so effective, that … Continue reading Trudeau’s ‘accessible Canada’ includes unpaid work
Have your say on the future of the Canadians with Disabilities Act
The Federal Government will be hosting a public forum to get input from the public on what the promised Canadians with Disabilities Act should include. where and when this takes place: When: Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 Time: 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm Where: Chelsea Hotel Toronto - Churchill Ballroom, 33 Gerrard Street West, Toronto, ON … Continue reading Have your say on the future of the Canadians with Disabilities Act
Disability Rights and Physician-Assisted Dying – Saturday April 23rd
Saturday, April 23rd 2016 | 4:15 p.m. Multifaith Centre | 569 Spadina Ave (north of College) Speakers Melissa Graham Fighter for social justice, public speaker, writer, researcher, and proud disabled woman working with youth, women, & other disabled people in Toronto. One of the organizers and founder of the Toronto Disability Pride March. Maureen Aslin , Facilitator … Continue reading Disability Rights and Physician-Assisted Dying – Saturday April 23rd
Life, death, dignity, and the state
Originally posted at Socialist.ca Note: Since this article was originally posted April 13th, the text of Bill C-14 has since been released. It is still in it's preliminary form, and will likely change before it becomes law. The right to choose when and how we die, on its surface, may seem like something the government … Continue reading Life, death, dignity, and the state
Wheelchairs are Not Suitcases: a great opportunity for some #RealChange
Sign the Petition. Every time I fly I make a silent apology to my wheelchair. I leave the chair at the gate, fingers crossed, as I’m transported to the cushy seat on the plain with a small screen in front to distract me from what’s happening to my wheelchair in the cargo hold. For my wheelchair this … Continue reading Wheelchairs are Not Suitcases: a great opportunity for some #RealChange
Voting not for our pocketbooks, but for our future
There’s been a lot of talk in this election about what we don’t want, but what about the kind of country we want for our future. I promised a post about this election, but it’s been challenging to wade through the bitterness, anger, and shameful outbursts of hate to find something worth writing about. For … Continue reading Voting not for our pocketbooks, but for our future
“Here in Canada, we won’t see your disability”…unless we can profit from it.
The Parapan Am Games, August 2015. I was at the Torch Relay a few weeks ago, and one of the speakers, a well-known member of the disability community, and founder of a disability organization said, “Here in Canada, we won’t see your disability”. My jaw dropped. I wanted to believe that he hadn’t just said … Continue reading “Here in Canada, we won’t see your disability”…unless we can profit from it.
This election, it’s time for an Canadian Disabilities Act
This election, it's time for an Canadian Disabilities Act*. From coast-to-coast across Canada, disabled people and organization have been breaking down barriers without the support of or federal government, the individualized "solutions" miss the mark; access to society and quality of life is not created through tax breaks and savings plans. Now is a time … Continue reading This election, it’s time for an Canadian Disabilities Act
Sit Down, Fight Back 