News and Events
News - Province Wide
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) 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
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”.
CPA is currently exploring a potential renaming of the organization to best reflect the individuals whom we serve across Canada. 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 is 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.
You have been selected by your provincial CPA to complete an online survey regarding the potential name change. The purpose of this survey is to provide feedback on whether changing the name of CPA is something that you deem to be important and whether you think should CPA move forward in this direction.
Receiving input 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 is 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.
The questionnaire is completed online via a secure website called Survey Monkey. Your personalized and confidential link to complete the survey is:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S65V5P6
This private, online tool assures anonymity, so please be honest and forthright. This process is being done for the best interests of CPA as a national organization. Your name will not appear anywhere on the final report provided by the national office. All responses will be grouped into confidential results without names attached.
Each questionnaire will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.
Please complete the questionnaire as soon as possible to allow time for processing the report.
All responses must be submitted by 5:00pm EST on Wednesday, August 31st, 2011.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this process, or require the link resent, 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 in advance for your assistance in this important initiative.
Adrienne Gowing
National Coordinator
613-723-1913 x228
Bobby White
CPA National Executive Director
613-723-1913 x234
Teren Clarke
CPA (Alberta) Executive Director
780-424-6312
Statistics Canada 2011 National Household Survey - Your participation is needed!
Statistics Canada has announced the new National Household Survey (NHS) will take place in June 2011.
On behalf of Statistics Canada, CPA Alberta encourages our readers to ensure they complete this important survey as NHS data are vital to helping foster a healthy community, as they are used to support government planning and program delivery, including family services, housing, roads, public transportation, and skills training for employment. The data is also used to help support government programs directed at target populations, such as visible minorities, lone-parent families and seniors.
For more information on the National Household Survey, please click here
Enhancements to Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
Statistics Canada has announced the new National Household Survey (NHS) will take place in June 2011.
On behalf of Statistics Canada, CPA Alberta encourages our readers to ensure they complete this important survey as NHS data are vital to helping foster a healthy community, as they are used to support government planning and program delivery, including family services, housing, roads, public transportation, and skills training for employment. The data is also used to help support government programs directed at target populations, such as visible minorities, lone-parent families and seniors.
For more information on the National Household Survey, please click here
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 example:
Elevating, tilting stove that provides access to the oven and stove top controls, power chair that is able to go faster for longer because of a battery boost auxiliary battery and solar panel, on-board charger, 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/Send your ideas to: clements.brad@gmail.com or nicola.birchall@cpa-ab.org
Websites that may be of Interest to Farmers with Disabilities
Canadian Farmers with Disabilities Registry
Farmers with Disabilities
http://www.abilitiescouncil.sk.ca/html/life/farmers_with_disabilities/index.cfm
(Page includes links to Handi-farmer Newsletter and Changing Gear Machinery Modifications Catalogue)
Events and News in Your Community
Calgary 2011 Peer Events
Edmonton 2011 Peer Events
Enhanced 9-1-1 Service
As of February 1st, all mobile service providers will have enhanced 9-1-1 accessibility, but not in all cities. At Stage 1, the 9-1-1 service provider can obtain your phone number and narrow down your location to the closest tower. Stage Two will allow the 9-1-1 service provider to find your exact location from your phone. Click here for break down of each phone company and their accessibility to the enhanced 9-1-1 service.
Celebrate National Aboriginal Day - June 26, 2011!
Be sure to celebrate National Aboriginal Day on June 26, 2011 in Grande Prairie! Click here for further information
Get in Motion
Get in Motion is a nation-wide physical activity counseling service for Canadians with spinal cord injury. This FREE service is designed to provide the participant with the information, and support they may need to meet personal physical activity goals, or just a little motivation to get started with a physically active lifestyle.
To participate or receive more information from a physical activity counselor, please call the voicemail line at 1-866-678-1966, or email motion@mcmaster.ca or visit www.sciactioncanada.ca.
Push to Open Nature Dialogues
Be a part of the vision for inclusion for persons with disabilities in Alberta Provincial Parks
Employment / Education
Student Funding Information for Students with a Permanent Disability
Click here for updated information on how to apply for funding as a student with a permanent disability It has been posted on the Students Finance section on the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website www.alis.alberta.ca/studentsfinance under the Applying Online tab, under the Before you Apply tab, and under Forms and Resources. It will be also be posted shortly on the disabilities page of ALIS under the Before you Apply tab, and under Forms and Resources. It will be also be posted shortly on the disabilities page of ALIS at: www.alis.alberta.ca/disabilities