Accessibility

New Program Aimed at Increasing Access to Supports and Services for Children with Disabilities

Tuesday, November 2, 2021 By Susanne Raab

When you have a child that requires increased supports and services to get through each day, the struggle to access these services can seem overwhelming. This is especially true when you live outside of a large urban centre.

New Program Aimed at Increasing Access to Supports and Services for Children with Disabilities

To help ease this struggle, the British Columbia government has announced a plan for a new program for children and youth with disabilities (birth to 19 years of age). The vision for the new program is a one-stop local hub where families can coordinate the support and services they need based on their child’s requirements. A unique and welcome difference of this program is that the services will not require the family to wait for a definitive diagnosis, but instead will offer the support the child and family require as they need it.

While the program will not be fully implemented across British Columbia until 2025, the first hubs will open in the Northeast and central Okanagan by 2023. Even while there is a delay in the initiation of this program as one parent with a child with disabilities said, it is a welcome “paradigm shift where services become part of the social fabric”.

If you are struggling to access supports and services for your child, please reach out to us at Pacific Medical Law or review these resources on our website.

Canadian Athletes Head to Tokyo for 2020 Paralympic Games

Wednesday, August 18, 2021 By Lindsay McGivern

The long awaited Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games have finally arrived. The Paralympics will run from August 24 to September 5, 2021. During that time, approximately 4,400 athletes will compete in the Games. Among them will be 128 Canadian athletes competing in a variety of sports.

The Summer Paralympic Games showcase 22 sports in 539 medal events. Paralympic sports include archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, canoe, cycling, equestrian, football 5-a-side, goalball, judo, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis. Most of these sports are parallel sports to those featured in the Olympic Games with adapted rules or equipment. Sport classifications are based on type of impairment with a wide range of sporting opportunities available for different impairment types. Individuals competing in the Paralympic Games have overcome impairments caused by cerebral palsy, brain injury, amputation, spinal cord injury, visual impairment and more to represent their countries at the highest level of sporting competition.

Boccia is one of two Paralympic sports without an Olympic equivalent. It is the Paralympic version of Bocce. Like lawn bowling or curling, it is a sport that requires a high degree of precision and accuracy. Competition can be individual, pairs or team play. It is played by athletes with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and related disabilities. Canadians to keep an eye on in Tokyo include Alison Levine and Danik Allard. Levine was recruited into the sport from a sporting history of horseback riding, wheelchair basketball, sledge hockey and wheelchair rugby. She goes into the Paralympics ranked No. 1 in the world. Allard is the youngest member

of the Canadian boccia team. He was the 2019 NextGen star of the year with a goal of reaching the 2024 Paralympics. His recent successes led to him being named to the team for this year.

One of the highlights of the Paralympics is the opportunity for Paralympians to show the world that sport is not solely the domain of able-bodied athletes. The athletes representing Canada will be role models for Canadian youth, particularly for those with their own visual or motor impairments who may not have previously known about the level of competitive sport available to them. Patrick Anderson, for example, is a wheelchair basketball legend, widely considered one of the greatest of all time in the sport. He lost both legs below the knee at the age of 9 and went on to participate in four (Tokyo will be five) Paralymics, winning three gold medals and one silver. Amy Burk, a veteran of the Canadian goalball team, having attended three previous Paralympic Games, was born with albinism and a visual impairment. Renee Foessel, born with cerebral palsy that affects movement in the right side of her body, recently set a world record in F38 discus. She will be looking to medal in Tokyo after narrowly missing the podium with a fourth place finish in Rio. Also in the hunt for a medal will be swimmer Abi Tripp. Tripp lives with dystonic cerebral palsy affecting all four limbs. She made the finals in three swimming events in Rio when she was only 15 years of age. Rob Shaw suffered a spinal cord injury in a diving accident as a young adult resulting in incomplete quadriplegia. He made history when he won a gold medal at the Parapan American Games, becoming the first Canadian to win a singles competition tennis medal (standing or wheelchair tennis) in a multi-sport event.

Best of luck to all the Canadian athletes participating in the Tokyo Paralympic Games!

Resources:

Boccia Canada

Boccia | SportAbility (sportabilitybc.ca)

Paralympic.ca

Kingston swimmer headed to Tokyo Paralympic Games – Kingston News (kingstonist.com)

“Employable Me” – Breaking Down the Barriers of Employability

Friday, July 16, 2021 By Aidan Ponton

The economic impact of COVID-19 is far reaching and will not be fully calculated for a number of years. Thousands of people have experienced job loss in Canada; however, individuals living with a physical or neurological disability have been disproportionally affected because of the pandemic. According to Statistics Canada, 36% of people living with a disability reported experiencing a temporary or permanent job loss or reduced hours since March 2020.[1] Comparatively, the national unemployment rate in March 2021 is 7.5%[2]. One of the biggest factors leading to the discrepancy in employment rates between disabled and non-disabled people is due to the stigma surrounding individuals living with cognitive and physical disabilities. The show “Employable Me,” which has recently been renewed for its fourth season, is a documentary series that focuses on job seekers living with a cognitive or physical disability and the challenges they face searching for employment.

Each episode tells the story of two individuals and their journey through finding employment. Season 4 focuses on 12 new people and highlights their strengths in their desired fields and showcases their unique approach to tackling challenges The trailer for the current season, which premiered on June 9, can be viewed here, and season 4 can be watched in its entirety here.

As seen from our previous blog, potential employees with disabilities represent an untapped market. People living with a disability may not fit with the traditional employee model; however, the drive to excel is always there. Further, studies have shown people living with a disability are more likely to stay at the same company as compared to their counterparts without a disability. For an employer, there is no downside to hiring someone who is willing to work hard and isn’t as likely to leave after being trained. With all these factors, now is the time for employers to consider alternative hiring practices which are open to all potential employees.

Pacific Medical Law is committed to inclusivity. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury that you believe may be due to medical negligence, contact Pacific Medical Law. We have extensive experience in these types of cases and are committed to helping those who have suffered serious injuries maximize their recovery and reach their full potential.

[1] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/200827/dq200827c-eng.htm

[2] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/210409/dq210409a-eng.htm

Looking for Options for Accessible Tourism in the Okanagan?

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 By Aidan Ponton

With the summer months upon us and easing of COVID-19 restrictions, people are starting to travel again within British Columbia and take part in outdoor activities. For an individual with a disability, outdoor activities can present challenges an able-bodied person might not face. The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) in conjunction with Spinal Cord Injury BC are trying to bridge that gap and promote inclusive community and tourism experiences in the Thompson Okanagan Region. They are doing this by working with local companies who specialise in adaptive activities and adventures and by providing support and awareness so the barriers to travel are reduced or removed completely.

One of TOTA’s accessibility partners is Access Revolution who are based out of Vernon and specialise in paddle boarding and day hiking for people living with a disability. They have the expertise to create an outdoor event for groups of all sizes and abilities, or they can organize day hikes and paddles that can be catered to specific needs. With over 50 lakes in the Okanagan Region everyone should be able to enjoy an adventure on the water or a day by the lake in the summer heat.

Another company in the Okanagan Region promoting inclusivity is Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association. They are focused on adaptive mountain biking and have half, full or multi-day rentals. With numerous trails in the surrounding region, it is the perfect way for mountain bike enthusiasts to get out on the trails. As can be seen in our previous blog Trails for all – BC is a leader in adaptive mountain biking, adaptive mountain biking is becoming increasingly popular and is the perfect way to let everyone get out into the sunshine and explore part of what BC has to offer.

Finally, Community Recreational Initiatives Society (CRIS) is a company based out of Kelowna that is promoting inclusive tourism by offering adaptable hiking, paddling, or cycling adventures in the summer, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. They offer single or multi-day fully guided adventures. With their expertise, having an excursion in the mountains or on the trail has never been so inclusive and easy.

The goal of TOTA and their partnering companies is to reduce the barriers of tourism, both physical and financial. Everyone should have the ability to enjoy the beauty BC has to offer and with the help of the community and the companies described above, we can reduce barriers to travel and improve inclusivity for all. At Pacific Medical Law, we believe inclusivity is a right and everyone should have the ability to take some time and recharge their mind and body. We are committed to helping those who have suffered life-altering injuries access their ability to travel and take part in outdoor activities. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury or other injury that may have been caused or worsened by medical negligence, please contact us to discuss your concerns. We will provide you with our opinion on your legal rights and options, for no charge.

Stroke and Depression – What Patients and Caregivers Should Know

Thursday, June 17, 2021 By Andrea Donaldson

A stroke is a medical condition which occurs when blood stops flowing to part of the brain, damaging brain cells. The effects of stroke depend on the part of brain that was damaged and the amount of damage done. If identified and treated promptly, a stroke can often have only mild consequences. However, people who have debilitating strokes can experience physical, cognitive and speech deficits.

Many patients who have suffered a stroke experience post stroke depression, or PSD, which affects about 1/3 of stroke survivors and can occur any time following a stroke. People with PSD are at higher risk for suboptimal recovery, recurrent strokes, poor quality of life, and mortality. PSD also may make the rehabilitation process more difficult for survivors to do the hard work that is required.

PSD is likely caused by a combination of biological and psychosocial factors, but the pathophysiology is complex. Some studies have found that PSD may have an underlying biological cause, with proposed biological factors including lesion location, genetic susceptibility, and inflammation. Other studies have revealed an association between PSD and physical and cognitive deficits, suggesting that PSD may be a psychological reaction to these deficits. More research is needed to better understand the cause of PSD with an aim to develop targeted interventions for prevention and treatment.

Emotional signs of PSD can include:

Feeling sad, anxious, nervous, guilty, irritable, or hopeless

No longer being interested in things you used to enjoy

Difficulty focussing, remembering, or making decisions

Constant thoughts of death

Physical signs of PSD can include:

Changes in sleep pattern (sleeping less or sleeping more than normal)

Changes in appetite

Weight gain or loss

Feeling tired, loss of energy

Restlessness

Persistent headaches

Chronic pain

Digestive problems (stomach aches, nausea, constipation, diarrhea)

You should contact your doctor if you have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks so that you can get treatment. Treatment can involve therapy by speaking to a trained mental health professional, taking medication, or both.

As difficult as it may be, sharing your feelings is a step toward meeting your recovery goals. This can include speaking to family, friends, or other stroke survivors or members of your healthcare team. You may also wish to join or start a support group. However, if any of your feelings become overwhelming, talk with your doctor right away.

If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke which you believe may be due to medical negligence, contact Pacific Medical Law. We have extensive experience in stroke cases and are committed to helping those who have suffered a stroke or other brain injury maximize their recovery.