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RBC Insurance Proud Sponsor of the Canadian Paralympic Committee 2012-13 Recruitment Program Fund

New grants now available to help people with a disability get involved in sport

OTTAWA, January 25, 2012 – The Canadian Paralympic Committee is pleased to announce that RBC Insurance will sponsor the 2012-13 Recruitment Program Fund.

The Recruitment Program Fund (RPF), also supported by the Government of Canada, awards grants of up to $10,000 to sports organizations to financially support the creation of a new sports program, or the expansion of an existing successful program that provides a positive introductory sports experience for participants with a disability. Funds may be used towards enhancing program options, such as facility rental space, coaching, volunteer training and more.

“RBC Insurance is thrilled to join the Canadian Paralympic Committee in helping grow the Paralympic Movement in Canada and enabling more people with a disability to become involved in sport,” said Neil Skelding, president and CEO, RBC Insurance. “Since many grassroots sports programs have limited resources and rely on volunteer contributions, this Fund will help increase those resources to offer quality introductory sports programming for Canadians with a disability.”

Applications for the 2012-13 RPF will be accepted starting January 25, 2012 and remain open until February 29, 2012. For more information or to apply, go to Paralympic.ca/funding.

Disability Organizations React to Misleading Statements on Vehicle Conversions in National Media

http://prn.to/w47q3O

On a Roll and on the Right Track

The Alberta Spinal Cord Injury Initiative

As an active partner in the Alberta Spinal Cord Injury Initiative, the Canadian Paraplegic Association (Alberta) plans to make available copies of On a Roll and on the Right Track - the Alberta Spinal Cord Injury Initiative Action Strategy. This document is the culmination of many months of consultation and planning involving nearly 150 individuals, including consumers with SCI, and other community stakeholders. The strategy outlines a broad vision for improvements to the quality of life of Albertans with SCI, as well eight tangible action plans that directly address problems in housing, home care/attendant care, and adaptive equipment/devices. The action plans are being implemented now, with some reaching completion. They are described in more detail in On a Roll. You can access an electronic copy of the report here or contact CPA (Alberta) for a hard copy to be sent by mail.

On a Roll is a project of the Alberta Spinal Cord Injury Initiative, a collaborative effort by Albertans with SCI, service providers, researchers and decision-makers committed to improving the lives of people affected by SCI and similar physical disabilities. We gratefully acknowledge the Government of Alberta and the departments of Health and Wellness, Seniors and Community Supports, and Culture and Community Spirit, who recognize the value of the vision for the Alberta SCI community, and provided financial support to make this vision a reality.

CPA Name Change Survey

CPA recently explored a potential renaming of the organization to best reflect the individuals whom we serve across Canada. Thank you to all those who completed the online survey.

The Canadian Paraplegic Association’s (CPA) mission is “To assist persons with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities achieve independence, self-reliance and full community participation.”

There are four organizational names that have been identified internally as possible replacements for Canadian Paraplegic Association. They are:

Ø Spinal Cord Injury Canada

Ø Canadian Spinal Cord Association

Ø Spinal Cord Canada

Ø Canadian Paralysis Association

The purpose of this survey was to gather input from our members, consumers, sponsors, funders and community partners about renaming. Please note that we are proposing to change the name only; the logo and colours will remain the same.

Input received from people involved with CPA across the country will give a clear and significant representation of people’s opinions that will allow CPA National Board of Directors to make an informed decision.

Completion of this survey was very important as it will be used to determine: 1) Whether a name change is necessary 2) What new name is favoured by CPA stakeholders.

Data will first be compiled on a provincial basis, in order to assess answers posed by each province, then collected and compiled nationally.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this process, please do not hesitate to contact Adrienne Gowing. Should you have questions regarding the context of this assessment or validity of the process, please contact Bobby White.

Thank you for your assistance in this important initiative.

Adrienne Gowing

National Coordinator

agowing@canparaplegic.org

613-723-1913 x228

Bobby White

CPA National Executive Director

bwhite@canparaplegic.org

613-723-1913 x234

Teren Clarke

CPA (Alberta) Executive Director

teren.clarke@cpa-ab.org

780-424-6312

CPA (Alberta) introduces Outdoor Adventure Program in Edmonton

A brand new program to CPA (Alberta) Edmonton is the Outdoor Adventures program! This program features 4 exciting activities, handcycling, rock climbing, canoe/kayaking, and trail running with the trail rider. The programs all started in June and allow participants to build skills, fitness and meet like minded individuals. For more information please see the CPA Outdoor Adventures Brochure or contact Amy at amy.mackinnon@cpa-ab.org or 780-424-6312 ext. 2231.

Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults with Spinal Cord Injury.

Click here for more information. Now available for download online at www.sciactioncanada.ca/guidelines.

Enhancements to Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

On March 4, 2010, the Government of Canada, through its Budget 2010, announced two enhancements to the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), grant and bond. Legislation to enact these changes received Royal Assent on December 15, 2010. The ‘carry forward’ and ‘roll over’ provisions will provide Canadians with disabilities and their families with more flexibility when saving for the future. Click here for more information.

For more information about the RDSP, grant and bond, please visit www.disabilitysavings.gc.ca or call 1 800 O-Canada (1 800-622-6232). TTY users may call 1-800-926-9105. A detailed brochure – available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, audio cassette, CD, DAISY, and computer diskette – is also available by calling these numbers.

Should you wish to make an inquiry by e-mail, please send your message to rdsp-orgs-reei@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.

2010 Federal Disability Report

The 2010 Federal Disability Report, released by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada can be accessed in HTML or PDF format at: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/disability_issues/reports/fdr/2010/page00.shtml

Print and alternate formats (Large Print, Braille, Audio Cassette, Audio CD, e-Text Diskette, e-Text CD or DAISY) can be ordered by phone, TTY, fax, mail or online. Phone: 1 800 O Canada (1 800 622 6232)

TTY: 1 800 926 9105. Fax: 819-953-7260 (long distance charges will apply. Mail: Publications Services, HRSDC, 140 Promenade du Portage, Phase IV, 12th Floor, Gatineau, QC, K1A 0J9 Online: http://www12.hrsdc.gc.ca

Incidence and Prevalence of Spinal Cord Injury in Canada

We are pleased to share with you a new report commissioned by the Rick Hansen Institute estimating the incidence and prevalence of spinal cord injury (SCI) in Canada, a baseline measurement of the extent of SCI in Canada that was previously unknown.

The report, The Incidence and Prevalence of Spinal Cord Injury in Canada: Overview and Estimates Based on Current Evidence, jointly released on December 15, 2010 by the RHI and the Urban Futures Institute, has found that close to 86,000 Canadians are currently living with spinal cord injury; 44,000 of whom are living with SCI as a result of traumatic causes.

The report further notes that of the estimated 4,300 new cases of spinal cord injury that occur in Canada each year, about 1,785 are the result of traumatic injury from causes such as car accidents.

Click here to view the report, press release, and backgrounders on this milestone report about the scope, scale, and impact of SCI in Canada.

Alberta Supports

On December 15, 2010 the Alberta government officially announced the Alberta Supports website and contact centre. For the first time, Albertans can access information on more than 30 social based assistance programs and more than 100 services by visiting a single website or calling just one phone number.

The Alberta Supports website is online at www.albertasupports.ca, and the contact centre toll-free number is 1-877-644-9992. In Edmonton, call 780-644-9992.

For more information, read the news release at www.seniors.alberta.ca/albertasupports.

Share your ideas!

The Tetra Society of North America is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 that recruits skilled volunteers to create customized assistive devices for persons with physical disabilities.

Tetra is now collecting 30 of the best ideas, big or small, of things you think would enable yourself and/or others with physical disabilities to be more independent.

You come up with the idea(s)...they try to make it work. How great is that?

For instance:

An elevating, tilting stove that provides access to the oven and stove top control.
A power chair that is able to go faster for longer because of a battery boost auxiliary battery and solar panel, on-board charge
A portable inflatable curb/step leveler that could be used by a person in a manual chair power chair or scooter to navigate up or down a curb or step when there is no curb cut.

For more information/or send your ideas to: clements.brad@gmail.com or nicola.birchall@cpa-ab.org

Fine increase for Accessible Parking Violations

On May 12, Edmonton City Council approved a motion that as of June 1, 2010, the fine for an accessible parking stall violation increases from $150 to $250. If you have a physical disability and require a parking placard to use accessible stalls, you can go to any registry office to obtain an application form that you can then take to your doctor for completion.