Open House -World Down Syndrome Day 2018
March 21, 2018-World Down Syndrome Day OPEN HOUSE
The Down Syndrome Association of Hamilton welcomed members, professionals and the community at large to celebrate the contributions and impact that people who have Down syndrome have had in our community.
We thank Lisa Tullet (http://lisatullettphotography.com/) for your talent, passion, keen eye for detail. We think you will agree after seeing these awesome photos. You are welcome download copies for you to use as you wish. They are high resolution and should be good for printing copies.
We thank The Hamilton Spectator (https://www.thespec.com/) for promoting our event -many visitors came to our Open House because they read about it in the newspaper!
We thank Cristina’s Tortina Shop (http://www.cristinastortinashop.com/) for the amazing treats – you continue to showcase capabilities and we are a proud supporter of the work you do!
A great thank you goes out to Gaby Urech and Cindy Urech and the members of the GLEE Club for showcasing their hard work and signing for us at the Open House.
We thank the many volunteers who made this afternoon of celebration possible.
Our families are thriving in a community that promotes acceptance and inclusion. Let’s continue the conversation beyond 3.21 and socks – let’s continue to work so that the future for our children and adults with Down syndrome include equal access to all aspects of society.
#proudtobeme
2018 CDSS Conference Vendor Opportunities
The CDSS Conference 2018 Vendor package contains 3 documents. Please make sure to download all 3 PDF documents below:
Guidelines for DSAH Financial Support CDSS Conference 2018
Guidelines for DSAH Financial Support
This post presents the guidelines that the Down Syndrome Association of Hamilton (DSAH) will implement to provide financial support (National Conference Bursary) to members interested in attending the National Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS) Conference in HAMILTON, Ontario, in 2018.
The conference will run from May 18 to 20, 2018. The CDSS Early Bird registration prices will end on April 30th, 2018. The deadline to express your interest in attending the conference is April 20th, 2018 provided there are bursaries remaining until then.
Please note that while you are welcome to register at any time, you are not guaranteed a bursary until you have been notified via email by DSAH.
Member Qualifications
To qualify for the National Conference Bursary, members must:
- Have a current and in good standing (paid) membership with DSAH and
- Be an active member, that is you participate in functions of DSAH regularly.
NOTES:
- Your DSAH membership is a “Joint Membership” making you a member of CDSS -use the Members Rate.
- Memberships fees (2017-18) must be paid before approval of the bursary to be eligible for this financial support (due date is January 1st).
- If you want to know the status of your membership, whether it is up-to-date or requires renewal, please email Alyson Kowalchyk, Membership Director, at membership@dsah.ca
National Conference Bursary – Family Membership
The Down Syndrome Association of Hamilton will cover only the cost of the CDSS Early Bird Member Registration Rate for 10 members (one per family). Members must pay for their registration and provide a receipt to be reimbursed.
NOTE: Up-front funds can be made available for members who have a legitimate concern or are unable to pay for the registration themselves. Please consult with us.
National Conference Bursary – Self Advocate Membership
A separate SELF ADVOCATE BURSARY is available for members with
Down syndrome age 18+ wishing to attend the conference. Please note that given the conference is in Hamilton and that there is programming available for the self-advocate group, the cost of a support person will not be covered by DSAH. However, this should NOT stop a parent/caregiver (who is a member) from accessing one of the 10 Family Membership Bursaries.
There is no limit to the number of Self Advocate Bursaries that DSAH will give out for the conference in 2018. Please note that ONLY the cost of CDSS EARLY BIRD MEMBER RATE will be covered by the Self Advocate Conference Bursary.
Also, the programming for self-advocates during the conference fills up VERY quickly so we suggest registration as soon as it is possible.
DEADLINE to apply for the National Conference Bursary 2017
To be considered for either of the above bursaries, you must send an email confirming your interest to Jennifer Crowson, DSAH Chair, by emailing jencrowson2@gmail.com no later than April 20th, 2018.
The first 10 eligible families who express their interest will receive a note back confirming their eligibility for the bursary. Any self advocate wishing to participate will be covered for the EARLY BIRD MEMBER RATE so long as an email is received no later than April 20th, 2018.
While you are welcome to register at any time, you are not guaranteed a bursary until you have been notified via email. In the spirit of fairness and inclusion, preference for bursaries may be given to those families who have not used the National Conference bursary in the past.
Some exceptions to the above guidelines may be made to the discretion of the Executive Board.
Please contact Jennifer Crowson at jencrowson2@gmail.com if you have any concerns.
Registration Information
You can find information regarding the registration for the upcoming conference by clicking the link below:
Contact us if you have any questions or concerns!
Your DSAH Team.
Hamilton Family Matters -LEGAL MATTERS
The Hamilton Family Engagement Committee invites you to the follow-up session on “legal matters”
which will be held on Monday, June 19, 2017, from 7 – 9 p.m.
at the new Rygiel Office, located at 220 Cranbrook Drive, Hamilton.
This session is a continuation of the session held in March and will provide for the unanswered questions you may have had that night.
Mr. Brendon Pooran, lawyer, will speak on topics such as housing trusts, legal decision-making matters, RDSP, Henson trusts, estate planning and more.
Please see the attached flyer for details and to RSVP.
If you are interested in joining us online, please see the attached flyer.
Thank you
Mary Vasilak, Secretary, Hamilton Family Network.
Update of the OHRC’s Guidelines on Accessible Education
The Down Syndrome Association of Ontario, our Provincial representation for all issues dealing with Down syndrome, is looking for feedback. See the notes below. If you have any comments to make, please pass them along to info@dsao.ca
The Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code) prohibits discrimination and harassment against students with disabilities in educational services. This protection encompasses primary, secondary and post-secondary education in both the public and private sectors. In its Strategic Plan, Putting People and Their Rights at the Centre: Building Human Rights Accountability, 2017-2022, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (the OHRC) articulated its vision, mission and values for the next five years. Integral to the Strategic Plan are the OHRC’s identified Strategic Focus Areas, one of which is to “promote a human rights culture through education.”
In 2004, the OHRC published its Guidelines on Accessible Education (Guidelines). The Guidelines set out the OHRC’s interpretation of how the Code applies to the provision of educational services for students with disabilities. They outline steps in the accommodation process and clarify a number of issues including: principles of accommodation, creating a welcoming environment, guidance on determining the most appropriate accommodation for students with disabilities, benefits of accommodation planning, and roles and responsibilities of parties to the accommodation process. They offer the OHRC’s best advice on how education-providers should act to ensure that they are fulfilling their responsibilities under the Code.
Since the release of the Guidelines in 2004, there have been numerous important developments in the area of disability law and studies. For example, there have been several important legal decisions, notably from the Supreme Court of Canada, with respect to the ground of disability and the duty to accommodate. These decisions have assisted the OHRC in its evolving understanding of equality for people with disabilities. In 2016, the OHRC released its Policy on Ableism and Discrimination Based on Disability which addresses disability discrimination across all of the “social areas” covered by the Code. The OHRC is now undertaking to update its Guidelines to reflect these developments, and to consider their relevance and application with regard to disability and the duty to accommodate students in the education sector.
We are writing to you to request your input on human rights issues affecting students with disabilities. Information received from submissions and during the consultation process will inform and guide the OHRC as it embarks on this initiative, and may be quoted in the OHRC’s work.
In addition to updating the content of the 2004 Guidelines, the OHRC is also considering new and emerging disability issues, including:
- Recent developments in how “disability” is defined, and how, in some cases, the definition has expanded.
- The type of medical information a student requesting accommodation is required to provide to an education-provider. Is a medical diagnosis (as distinct from medical information outlining a person’s needs and limitations) ever required?
- The duty of education-providers, in some cases, to inquire about a student’s disability-related accommodation needs, even where the student has not made a formal accommodation request.
- How the ground of disability “intersects” with other Code grounds, and how this intersection influences the way that a student may experience discrimination and harassment.
- When, if ever, the right to accommodation must be balanced with the rights of other people (e.g. other students, or employees in the educational community)
If you have any comments to make, please pass them along to info@dsao.ca
Proposed Changes – DSAH By-laws
The 2016-2017 Board of Directors is recommending improvements to the Roles & Responsibilities for the Board of Directors. The improvements are presented in the latest copy of the DSAH By-Laws. To access the document, and to print for your information, please click the link below.
Constitution & By-Laws Down Syndrome Association of Hamilton-May2017