January 2021 Quarterly Newsletter
Happy New Year! We hope you had a safe and happy holiday season. Please see below for important updates and resources from Integration Action for Inclusion and our allies. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @InclusionOnt and visit our news page for more information.
Letter to the Ministry of the Attorney General
Integration Action for Inclusion recently wrote a letter to the Ministry of the Attorney General regarding the proposal to amend the definition of “child” under the Children’s Law Reform Act. Click here to read the letter.
Collaboration
As part of our 2021initiative we are currently seeking to team up with other inclusion allies with a focus on organizations who support BIPOC communities in Ontario. These partnerships will allow us to expand our reach to collaborate with allies and groups who are currently working on disability related schooling issues in BIPOC communities. If you know of any connections we ought to have, please email inclusionontario@gmail.comwith contact details so we can reach out!
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
As we move into 2021, IAI continues to work with our Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) representatives and allies, working on initiatives to best support families in their strive for inclusive education in Ontario. We are continuing with our quarterly meetings with IAI Reps and other SEAC allies to continue the dialogue with everyone regarding inclusive practices throughout various locales.
Form a Local Chapter
In 2021,we hope to create new chapters across Ontario to foster leadership a support local communities. A minimum of two IAI members can form a local IAI chapter – if you are interested please contact us. For more information on Local Chapters please visit our website.
Online Workshop: The Southern Ontario Training Group with the co-sponsorship of Community Living Ontario present “Inclusive Post-Secondary Education: Learning from the Albertan Experience”. The four two-hour sessions on Zoom will explore the life-changing opportunity of inclusive post-secondary education for adult learners with intellectual disabilities. Using the foundation and history of Alberta’s inclusive post-secondary education initiatives these workshops will explore such subjects as Normative Pathways, Supporting Students and Families to Create a Vision for an Inclusive Life, Career and Employment and more. The course fee is $80 – for more information please see the workshop flyer and registration form.
Online Courses: Microboards Ontario is offering a series of winter 2021 courses in the months of January, February and March. Courses include an Introduction to Microboards, The Role of Support Circles/Networks and more. Click here to view the full course descriptions and registration link.
Online Webinar Series: Extend a Family is offering a FREE two-part virtual series titled “Inclusion is NOT Cancelled” for families and community partners that will explore how to stay socially connected while physically distanced. In the first session (January 19), presenter Lisa Drennan will explore the Top Ten Inclusion Tips to support people with disabilities and each other to engage in social interaction while physically distancing. During the second session (January 21), Lisa will break down the word inclusion through reviewing inclusion principles, different models of participation and strategies on supporting people with disabilities to successfully access community recreation. Click here to register.
Video: Community Living Ontariovideo highlighting youth activism through Re:Action4Inclusion. This youth-led movement challenges the negative perceptions and assumptions that impact the lives of people who have an intellectual disability in communities across Ontario.
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