Let your voices be heard — advice on advocating for yourself and others

 There’s been an increase in people protesting and speaking out against injustices. I’ve personally attended rallies for Black Lives Matter, Violence Against Women, and for ODSP, and many others. I’ve also organized a few rallies for better service for Para Transpo users. Through Social Media, it’s become easier for others

Equality for persons with disabilities on the line in new assisted dying legislation

 By Catherine Frazee A consequential law is proceeding swiftly in Parliament, but mostly under the radar of Canadians with a lot on our minds these days. Bill C7 will amend our current medical assistance in dying (MAiD) law by creating a separate pathway to assisted death for persons who are

Advice on looking after your mental health during the winter in the age of Covid

 As we move closer to Winter, many people may feel depressed and isolated. This is particularly true this year due to Covid-19. For people with disabilities, the Winter months can affect us in a multitude of ways. During the Winter season, many PWD stay home. This is due to cold

There is no need to make things awkward

 In a previous column, I briefly mentioned that people are often awkward around people with disabilities. This week, I’ll be looking at just some of the things that people have said and done that were very awkward. I hope that this will give some of my readers an idea of

While healthcare advances, PWD’s are left behind

 Most of us have been to a Hospital at one point or another. I’m willing to bet that at least some of you have had bad experiences while being in a hospital or being seen by a health care professional. Now, what happens if you’re a person with a disability.

Persons with disabilities deserve a basic income

 By Evelyn Forget and Sheila Regehr Will the newly announced Canadian Disability Benefit get us there? Last month’s Throne Speech committed to the creation of a new Canadian Disability Benefit for persons with disabilities – that’s good news. The details remain vague, but some disability advocates have long championed a

Travelling off the beaten path

 I’ve been fortunate to be able to travel a bit. As of this writing, I’ve been to Toronto several times, Montreal, Kingston, and London, Ontario. All of these places have one thing in common. They’re all big cities. What happens when a person with a disability wants to travel to

Dating tips for PWD and that anyone can use

 In a previous column, I talked about some of the challenges that many PWD face regarding dating and relationships. Shortly after I wrote that, I began thinking that I should also add some positivity to the subject, or at the very least, offer some tips on how to meet that

Children with disabilities disproportionately affected during COVID-19

 By Lucyna Lach and Donna Thomson New study offers families parent training for children affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. The global pandemic has been hard on Canadians, but it has hit families affected by disability disproportionately, particularly young families. School-aged children with disabilities were suddenly without supports of any kind.  Schools were shuttered in

A look back at when I ran for Mayor in 2018

 October 22nd, 2020, will mark two years since the 2018 Ottawa Municipal Election was held. For those that may not be aware, I was one of the candidates that ran for Mayor. With the anniversary coming up, I figured that I would take the opportunity to talk about my experiences

Shining a positive light on Personal Support Workers

 As I sit here and write this, it’s Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada. I figured that it would be the perfect time for me to discuss one of the things that I’m very thankful for. This week, I’ll be talking about Personal Support Workers. The short form, and the term that

Perceptions & misconceptions part two: Love shouldn’t disable us

 Dating, in general, can be difficult. It can be incredibly challenging if you’re a person with a disability. This week, in part two of my two-part series about perceptions and misconceptions regarding people with disabilities (PWD), we’re going to talk about dating, relationships, and some of the misconceptions people have

Perceptions & misconceptions: We may be different, but we’re just like you

 What’s your first thought when you come across a person using a wheelchair or another mobility device? Do you think of us as just another person, or do you view us as less or more of a person only because we appear and do things differently? In part one of

Becoming wheelchair accessible — some assembly NOT required

 Above: Bank Street businesses that have integrated accessible entrances by creating a slopping incline from the sidewalk to the doorway. When I was younger, most of my weekends consisted of going to bars and nightclubs. Ottawa’s long-time residents may remember such places as Grand Central, Zaphod Beeblebrox, On Tap, and