** Learning Disabilities Info ** "The only disability in life is a bad attitude." -- Scott Hamilton -- ***************************** Note from Visions Employment: Visions Employment is a non-profit community based Employment Corporation serving individuals with developmental disabilities. The objective is to seek employment for individuals with developmental disabilities in occupations suitable to their interests and abilities, utilizing a team approach in an effort to meet the employment needs of individuals with developmental disabilities. Visions Employment is now offering a Youth Employment Program that will service high school students with developmental disabilities who are interested in summer as well as year
round part time, after school and weekend employment. For more information contact: Jenelle Fitzpatrick, B. Comm.(Co-op) Career Development Specialist Visions Employment Inc. Tel: (709) 364-4607 Fax: (709) 364-4700 ***************************** Employability Assistance for Persons with Disabilities - Newfoundland & Labrador This program is designed to assist individuals with a disability acquire the skills, experience and support necessary to successfully prepare for, enter or remain in the work force. Services include employment counselling and assessment, employment planning, pre-employment training, post-secondary education, skills training, technical aids and other supports to assist individuals obtain access to job opportunities and training. This program is cost-shared with Human Resources Social Development Canada. Who Does it Serve? The Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities (LMAPD) is for people with a disability and demonstrated challenges in accessing education or employment. Description Current Programs funded under LMAPD which are delivered by the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment include: Training and Employment Services: offers support to individuals in obtaining their first post- secondary degree, diploma or certificate and/or employment
staff work with individuals to develop and implement their employment plan. individuals wishing to access
these services should contact HRLE individuals completing Level 3 High School or ABE should contact HRLE in January of the year they will be graduating. Job Trainer Support: eligible individuals who have a developmental disability may avail of this support to help them obtain employment. individuals wishing to access this support should contact HRLE community groups (usually employment corporations), work in a particular community to develop jobs for eligible participants. Community Partnerships: The Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment provides funding to community agencies across Newfoundland and Labrador to deliver employment support services for eligible clients of the department.
For the names of agencies offering this service in your area please contact the Human Resources, Labour and Employment office in your area. How to Access? For information, contact the HRLE office in your area: Avalon Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment Toll-free: 1-877-729-7888 TTY: 1-888-380-2299 Central Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment Toll-free: 1-888-632-4555 TTY: 1-877-292-4205 Western Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment Toll-free: 1-866-417-4753 TTY: 1-888-445-8585 Labrador Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment Toll-free: 1-866-449-3144 TTY: 1-866-443-4046 Or Labour Market and Career Information Hotline Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment Toll-free: 1-800-563-6600 St. John's area: 729-6600 TTY: 1-866-729-4685 Fax: 1-709-729-1129 Email: LMCIHotline@gov.nl.ca Adobe® Acrobat® Reader software can be used for viewing PDF documents. Download Acrobat® Reader for free  .Main Menu Quick Links Last Updated: June 23, 2010 The following websites also offer some helpful information; as well, please check out the **Latest News ** section at the bottom of the page from time to time for any updated info. Learning Disabilities: Student Guide: LD Self-Advocacy Manual: Centre for ADD/ADHD Advocacy – Canada: Ability Online: Glenn Roy Blunden Center - Disability Services at MUN: Disability Services – College of the North Atlantic (CNA): Independent Living Resource Center: **Latest News ** **************************************** September 7, 2010 Government of NL: Provincial Government Announces Consultations to Develop a Strategy for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities As part of its ongoing commitment to ensure equal opportunities for all members of society, the Provincial Government has announced consultations to develop a strategy for the inclusion of persons with disabilities. "I am extremely pleased to announce these sessions and encourage input into the development of this very important strategy," said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities. "These consultations will focus on how best to remove existing barriers and how to prevent new ones. The community has done extensive research to identify barriers and our government is ready to focus on addressing them." Consultations will take place in the form of public meetings throughout the province. Direct input is also invited through written submissions, phone and TTY. Public meetings will take place in 18 communities throughout the province – St. John’s, Carbonear, Clarenville, Marystown, Bonavista, Conne River, Harbour Breton, Gander, Lewisporte, Grand Falls-Windsor, Deer Lake, Corner Brook, Stephenville, Port aux Basques, St. Anthony, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador City and Hopedale. Please see the backgrounder below for details of the scheduled meetings. ...continued **************************************** June 10, 2010 Canadian city sees success with inclusion pilot program A two-year pilot program at 16 public schools in Edmonton, Alberta, has students with disabilities integrated into mainstream classrooms. Educators and parents at one school that has adopted the inclusion program say it is helping students with disabilities become more independent and less isolated, while students without disabilities are learning empathy and understanding. "Everyone just sees that everyone is on their own path," the school's principal said. The Edmonton Journal (Alberta) (6/8) **************************************** March 2010 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - An Overview The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is international law that instructs countries about how to meet the human rights of persons with disabilities. It was not meant to provide new rights but to recognize that protections within existing international treaties have not been extended to people with disabilities. The CRPD interprets existing rights within the context of disability, providing instructive guidance on how rights can be achieved. The CRPD has over 30 articles that describe legal obligations on counties to promote and protect the rights of people with disbailities, including the right to accessible information, housing, employment, education, personal mobility, legal capacty, to live independently, to be free from violence and abuse, and to participate in political and social activities. The CRPD also has an Optional Protocol which provides a way for individuals and groups to have claims of discrimination heard by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The CRPD is unique because it was developed in close partnership with people who have disabilities and it was drafted in record time. Canada ratified the Convention on March 11, 2010 after consulting with the provinces, territories and people who have disabilities. Overview The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is the latest UN convention regarding the international protection of rights. It came into force in May 2008. The CRPD gives advice on how to implement existing rights within the context of disability, as opposed to providing new rights for persons with disabilities.~ It guides countries on how to make sure the rights that are protected in existing treaties are also protected for people with disabilities. Existing treaties include Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The CRPD requires that countries move towards greater access to public programs and services on an equal basis with people who do not have disabilities. This is called progressive realization. The CRPD is unique because it was developed by governments and the community of people with disabilities working closely together. Consultations The federal government consulted Provincial and Territorial Governments through a committee called the Continuing Committee on Human Rights (CCOHR). The Department of Justice provides the Newfoundland and Labrador representative to this committee. Provinces and territories consulted with their departments about what the CRPD would mean for their services and operations. The federal government consulted with the national community of persons with disabilities through a roundtable and on-line consultations in 2009. Status/Activity All provinces and territories are in support of Canada’s ratification. Provinces and territories were concerned about two pieces of the Convention. These are about ‘legal capacity (article 12) and monitoring (article 32). The federal government will attach a document to their ratification to describe how it will interpret these two areas. People with disabilities and their organizations throughout this province and the country have called for Canada to ratify the CRPD without further delay. Canada ratified the CRPD at the United Nations in New York City on March 11, 2010. Canada was the 82nd country to have ratified the CRPD. 51 countries have ratified the Optional Protocol as of March 11, 2010. Canada is not considering the Optional Protocol at this time. For additional information on the CRPD: _____________________________________________________________________________ “It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.” - Erma Bombeck - |
