Moving Forward - Together Participant’s Program CASHRA Canada’s Human Rights Commissions Welcome to this National Forum – the first event of its kind in Canada. CASHRA – the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies - is pleased to have you join us for this important discussion about how we move our education system ahead with a focus on human rights, quality education and inclusion. Our nation is one that welcomes and embraces diversity. This diversity enriches our nation, our communities and our schools. The benefits are clear, our progress is clear … but not all are included. We need to work together to build solidarity of purpose and outcome for all our children. Our human rights codes cover students with mental and physical disabilities but the challenge of diversity goes much further. Our national commitment to individual rights represented by the Charter as well as provincial human rights laws is now joined by our signature on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Our future direction seems clear, but how we move ahead on this journey is not. This Forum brings together the people who can collectively provide insights into the way forward. Thus our Forum Theme: Defining A Rights Based Framework: Advancing Inclusion of Students With Disabilities. CASHRA’s partners bring to the table a range of perspectives that need to be included in a Framework to move us forward. We appreciate the efforts of the following: • The Canadian Teachers’ Federation • The Canadian Education Association • The Canadian Association for Community Living • ARCH Disability Law Centre • Ryerson University – School of Disability Studies A special thank you to Deborah Burns who has helped with all the details – big and small – as well as a number of individuals – too many to mention – who have assisted in making this event a reality. We called it a forum because we wanted to emphasize the need for a national conversation to begin in a much more substantive way than it has thus far. So let’s begin – to talk and listen – and thus shape the future together. Forum Program Thursday, September 25, 2008 Time Activity 4:00 pm Registration 7:00 Ambrosia Room pm Opening : Welcome Statement of Goals of Forum Gordon L. Porter, Forum Chair Chair, New Brunswick Human Rights Commission 7:15 Opening Remarks pm The Honourable David C. Onley, O.Ont. Lieutenant Governor of Ontario “When David C. Onley was appointed The Queen’s representative in Ontario, his concern for people with disabilities became front page news. And when he took office on 5 September 2007, Ontario’s 28th Lieutenant Governor became a highly placed champion for accessibility. “The Honourable David C. Onley has championed disability issues on many fronts and for many years. Having lived with polio and post-polio syndrome since the age of three, he has broken through social barriers and become a role model.” – From official website We are pleased to have him join us for the opening of our Forum. Keynote Address: Catherine Frazee Ryerson University Catherine Frazee is a writer, educator and researcher who draws from her own experience of disablement in entering ethical and cultural dialogues about citizenship and personhood. A Professor of Distinction in the Disability Studies program at Ryerson University and Co-director of Ryerson's Institute for Disability Studies Research and Education, she is a committed activist who has lectured and published extensively in Canada and abroad on issues related to disability rights, identity, culture and the disability experience. Her work is informed by many years of involvement in the equality struggles of disadvantaged and marginalized groups, most notably during her term as Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission from 1989 to 1992. Dr. Frazee was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of New Brunswick in October, 2002. Moderator: Mary Pat Short, President CASHRA and Chair of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Friday, September 26, 2008 8:00 am Continental Breakfast Outside Ambrosia Room 8:45 am Ambrosia Room Welcome & Program Review 9:00 am Opening General Session #1: This session will provide a framework for discussing the issue with an international perspective and the UN Convention as well as the Canadian Human Rights perspective and the National education perspective by four knowledgeable commentators. • The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities & the implications for Canada: Diane Richler, President, Inclusion International • A Critical Analysis of Human Rights Law & Education of Students with Disabilities in Canada: Ivana Petricone, Executive Director, ARCH Disability Law Centre • Canadian Human Rights Perspective: Marilou McPhedran, Principal, Global College, University of Winnipeg • Human Rights and Inclusion: A Parent Perspective: Marilyn Dolmage, Ontario Coalition for Inclusive Education Moderator: Dianne Garrels-Munro, President, Community Living Ontario 10:30 am Refreshment Break 11:00 am Workshop Sessions # 1: Theme for sessions – Exploring the diverse issues of access and accommodation of students with disabilities. Session 1.1 Room: McIntosh I From Principles to Practice: Accommodating Students with Disabilities in Schools and Classrooms Individuals who play a key role in the process of planning and accommodating students with disabilities in schools will share their experiences and perspectives. • Moderator: Christa Freiler, Director of Research, Canadian Education Association Panelists: • Nancy Baldree, Executive Assistant Professional Services/Professional Development, Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario • Fran Marinic-Jaffer, Parent, Educator, Advocate, Doctoral Candidate, OISE, University of Toronto • Audrey Lampert, Vice Principal, Queen Elizabeth School, Moncton, NB and Commissioner, NB Human Rights Commission Session 1.2 Room: McIntosh II How do Human Rights Commissions deal with complaints regarding disabilities? The Ontario and New Brunswick Human Rights Commissions have “Guidelines” on this area. Session Focus: What they say; What they mean; What effect they can have. • Moderator: Orville Endicott, Legal Counsel, Community Living Ontario Panel: • Cherie Robertson, Senior Policy Analyst, Ontario Human Rights Commission • Francis Young, Human Rights Officer, N.B. Human Rights Commission Session 1.3 Room: Golden Access & Advocacy: Legal options for assuring students’ rights to be accommodated in schools. The workshop will explore a range of options, including advocacy with the school/school board and human rights complaints. The workshop will also deal with key issues that arise, including what kinds of evidence are critical to resolve a human rights complaint in education, how this evidence is different from other kinds of human rights complaints, and what constitutes an appropriate evidentiary record. • Moderator: Krista Daley, CEO, Director, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission Panel: • Catherine Knox, Lawyer, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan • Reva Schafer, Resource Parent, Toronto Family Network • Martha Mackinnon, Executive Director, Justice for Children and Youth, Toronto Session 1.4 Room: Spartan Student Well-being: Degree of Inclusion and Results for Canadian Children and Adults with Disabilities. Brand New Research: A session reviewing recent research on students with disabilities and the effects of inclusive education based on the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS) Data from Statistics Canada. • Moderator: Gordon Kyle, Director of Social Policy and Government Relations, Community Living Ontario • Cameron Crawford, Director, Research & Knowledge Management, Canadian Association for Community Living, Toronto • Vianne Timmons, President, University of Regina Session 1.5 Ambrosia Room I - – Simultaneous Translation En Français: L’inclusion en classe ordinaire des élèves présentant une déficience intellectuelle - Proposition d’un cadre organisationnel “Inclusion of Students with an Intellectual Disability in Regular Classrooms: Issues & Analysis”. In December 2007, the CDPDJ adopted a statement entitled -(Inclusion of students with an intellectual disability in regular classrooms – Proposed organizational structure). The goal of the presentation is to outline the main thrusts of the statement, which analyzes the conditions of possibility of the inclusion of students with an intellectual disability in regular classrooms in the Quebec education system. The basic objective of this document is to identify organizational parameters that would promote the integration of all students with special needs (not only students with an intellectual disability) into regular Quebec classrooms.) • Moderator: Lorraine Doucet, L'Association du Québec pour l'intégration sociale (AQIS) • Daniel Ducharme, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse du Québec/ Officer & Researcher, Quebec Human Rights Commission Session 1.6 Ambrosia Room II Post-Secondary Education for Students with Disabilities: Issues & Access • Moderator: Susan Butterfield, Director, N. B. Human Rights Commission Panel: • Rabia Khedr, Principal Consultant, diversityworX, Mississauga, Ont. • Stephanie Marinich, Coordinator, Access Centre, Ryerson University • Hélène Martin, Manager of Services for Students with Disabilities, New Brunswick Community College Session 1.7 Room: Northern Spy Inclusion, Disability & Aboriginal Students: The Barriers, Challenges and Opportunities A discussion of the unique challenges faced by children of Aboriginal background who also have disabilities. • Moderator & Panelist: Jerry Woods, Chair, Manitoba Human Rights Commission Panel: • Darren McKee, Assistant Deputy Minister of Education, Saskatchewan • Genevieve Fox, Coordinator, Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre, First Nations Adult and Higher Education Consortium, Calgary • Don Shackel, FAS Wellness Specialist The Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC) 1:30 pm Ambrosia Room General Session #2 Exploring the Educational Dimensions of the Challenge of Diversity and Disability in our Schools: This session will deal with some of specific issues that face teachers and school systems. • Canadian Education Perspective: Vianne Timmons, President of University of Regina • Teachers and the Challenge of Student Diversity and Inclusion: Myles Ellis, Director, Economic & Member Services, Canadian Teachers’ Federation • Human Rights and Practice: The Review in NB and more … : Wayne MacKay, Professor, Dalhousie University, School of Law Moderator: Bendina Miller, President, Canadian Association for Community Living, Superintendent of Schools, School District #6 (Rocky Mountain), British Columbia 2:45 pm Discussion Session # 1 Several Open ended questions – on issue of inclusion and segregation in Canadian education and the effect of human rights law and process. Example: “What are the facts?” “What needs to be done?” “What actions are possible? By who?” Groups of 10-15 with Facilitator and Recorder Moderator: Gordon L. Porter, Forum Chair 3:45 pm Refreshment Break Ambrosia Room 4:00 pm General Session – Feedback and Discussion Discussion among participants on issues, themes and reflections from the day. Moderator: Gordon L. Porter, Forum Chair 4:45 pm Ambrosia Room Wrap Up session 5:00 pm Adjournment Saturday, September 27, 2008 8:00 am Continental Breakfast Outside Ambrosia Room 8:45 am Ambrosia Room Review & Goal for the Day 9:00 am General Session # 3 This session will focus on political, policy and practical aspects of achieving an inclusive school system in Canada – an examination of obstacles and opportunities. Moderator: Penny Milton, CEO, Canadian Education Association 1. Hon. Kelly Lamrock, Minister of Education, Province of New Brunswick and Chair of Council of Ministers of Education Canada. 2. Dr. Michael Bach, Executive Vice President, Canadian Association for Community Living 3. Additional Panelist – To Be Confirmed. 10:15 Refreshment Break am 10:30 am Workshop Sessions # 2 Theme for the Sessions: Perspectives on Achieving and Advancing Inclusion of Students with Disabilities Session 2.1 Room: McIntosh I Legal Perspectives: From ARCH Disability Law Centre A session to explore concepts critical to the development of human rights law as it applies to education. The workshop will focus on an understanding of the duty to accommodate and the concept of undue hardship in the education context. Examples will be discussed, including the exclusion of students with disabilities from schools for safety reasons. Moderator: Marlene Munn, President, N.B. Association for Community Living . Robert Lattanzio, Lawyer . Kerri Joffe, Lawyer Session 2.2 Room: McIntosh II From Principles to Practice: Accommodating Students with Disabilities in Schools and Classrooms In this session, CEO’s/Superintendents of local school authorities and others who play a key role in the process of planning and accommodating students with disabilities in schools will share their experiences and perspectives. Moderator: Bendina Miller, President, CACL; Superintendent, SD #6, BC • Bob Mills, Director General, L. B. Pearson School Bd, Montreal • Alex Dingwall, Superintendent, School District 18, Fredericton, NB • Catherine Montreuil, Superintendent of Education, Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board, Hanover, Ontario Session 2.3 Room: Golden Perspective From the School and Classroom: Teacher Leader’s Share their Views - What the “duty to accommodate” means for teachers. Moderator: Mary Pat Short, President CASHRA • Phyllis Horne, President, Prince Edward Island Teachers’ Federation, • Dianne Woloschuk, President, Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation Session 2.4 Session Room: Spartan Invisible Disabilities: The Challenge of Accommodating Environmental Illness and Allergies Moderator: Richard Montigny, Chairperson, Prince Edward Island Human Rights Commission Panel: • Maurice Brenner, Human Rights Advocate, Ontario • Zoe Watson, Superintendent. School District 6, Rothesay, NB 2.5 Ambrosia Room – Simultaneous Translation En Français - French Language Session : A Session Addressing Inclusion and Human Rights from a Francophone Perspectives . How can the Human Rights Commission contribute to successful school inclusion here in Quebec? . “In 2003, the proportion of integrated students shows stunning disparities between school boards and some have even reduced their rate rather than moving in the direction of the ministerial objectives.” (Report of the Auditor-General of the National Assembly, 2003-2004) Moderator: Dany Desjardin, Inclusive Education Coordinator, NB Association for Community Living • Lorraine Doucet, L'Association du Québec pour l'intégration sociale (AQIS) Session 2.6 11:45 Room: Northern Spy Moving Forward with Post Secondary Education in Canada: Issues and Opportunities Moderator: Tyler Hnatuk, Policy Analyst, Community Living Ontario • Zuhy Sayeed, Past President, Canadian Association for Community Living • Krista Carr, Executive Director, New Brunswick Association for Community Living • Students, Ryerson University pm Discussion Session # 2 Groups of 10-15 with Facilitator and Recorder “Moving from issues and possibilities to priorities.” - Developing a National Action Plan – with possible priorities for action by major stakeholders. Moderator: Melanie Panitch, Director, School of Disability Studies, Ryerson University, and Gordon Porter, Forum Chair 12:30 pm 1:45 LUNCH pm Ambrosia Room General Session – Feedback and Discussion “Moving from issues and possibilities to priorities.” Feedback from Discussion Groups Moderator: Melanie Panitch, Director, School of Disability Studies, Ryerson University, and Gordon Porter, Forum Chair Ambrosia Room “Setting Priorities and Moving Forward” 2:30 pm Representatives from Forum Partners will offer their observations on the issue as we move forward. Moderator: Gordon L. Porter, Forum Chair • Emily Noble, President, Canadian Teachers’ Federation • Penny Milton, CEO, Canadian Education Association • Ivana Petricone, Executive Director, ARCH Disability Law Centre • Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission • Michael Bach, Executive Vice President, Canadian Association for Community Living 3:30 pm Ambrosia Room Wrap Up Comments … Dr. Gordon L. Porter, Chair, NB Human Rights Commission Forum Chair & Final Words from … Mary Pat Short, President CASHRA and Chair of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission 3:45 pm Adjournment