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Canadian Athletes Head to Tokyo for 2020 Paralympic Games

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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

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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?

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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.

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month

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Brain injuries can happen for a multitude of reasons such as strokes, car accidents, sports or other health-related situations. Each year in Canada, more than 20,000 people are hospitalized for traumatic brain injuries, and about 6,500 people in British Columbia suffer strokes each year. Many brain injuries are not visible, but they can have a serious effect on an individual’s ability to live a healthy life. Although living with a brain injury brings monumental challenges, the month of June is designated to bring awareness to the effects and prevalence of brain injuries as well as the support available to people who may need it.

The goal of the British Columbia Brain injury Association (BCBIA) is to improve the lives of people living with an acquired brain injury as well as to help educate people without an injury as how best to support brain injury survivors. BCBIA has partnered with many foundations all over BC, so finding resources close to you is an easier process.

The Stroke Recovery Association of British Columbia (SRABC) focusses specifically on supporting people who have had a stroke and they offer programs and resources for people throughout the province. SRABC has continued to operate throughout the Covid-19 pandemic by moving many of its programs online, with plans to move back to in-person programs eventually. In addition to programs to improve mobility and language recovery following a stroke, SRABC offers social support and strives to empower survivors to live fulfilling lives post-stroke.  

Another valuable resource is March of Dimes Canada’s Brain Injury Services operating out of BC, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. March of Dimes is a non-profit organization whose aim is to help individuals “regain their purpose and become as independent as possible.”[1] The organization’s Brain Injury Services provides rehabilitation and social support services tailored to the needs of the individual and include physical rehabilitation, community outreach services that tackle task specific activities of daily living, and adult day programs that help address the social, cognitive, physical and emotional skills that may have been affected by a brain injury.

Recovering from a brain injury can be a lengthy and slow process but it doesn’t need to happen alone. The resources mentioned above are only some of the services available in BC as well as the rest of Canada. We can all do our part and become more informed about supporting those who have experienced a brain injury.

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

[1] https://www.marchofdimes.ca/en-ca/programs/abi

ICORD – Advancing Research in Spinal Cord Injuries

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Did you know that British Columbia has a world leading research centre focussing on spinal cord injuries?   ICORD, the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, is located in the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre at Vancouver General Hospital. ICORD’s mission is to conduct research and training to promote prevention, functional recovery, and improved quality of life after spinal cord injury (SCI).

You Can Participate in Research

People with spinal cord injuries are invited to participate in the many research projects underway through ICORD.  Some of the studies involve physical activity. For example one study is looking at the effect of following international exercise guidelines for six months. Other studies involve medical treatments or procedures, like the study investigating the impact of intermittent catheterization on the health of people with SCI, specifically related to urinary tract infections and episodes of autonomic dysreflexia. A lot of the research done through ICORD is survey-based, so you don’t even have to be in the Lower Mainland to participate. Researchers are looking for input on a variety of issues from both people with spinal cord injuries as well as from family caregivers.

Check out the ICORD website through the link below to find out what studies are underway, and which ones you might be able to participate in.  Each study includes a description that lets you know the goals of the study and who is eligible to participate. Why should you get involved in research? By contributing to research, you can help make the world a better place for everybody with a spinal cord injury.  But don’t take our word for it.  Five people who have participated in ICORD research studies were interviewed about their experiences. Most of these people have participated in multiple studies, in some cases so many that they can’t remember them all. You can view that video on the ICORD website, or through the link below.

Keep Informed

Through the ICORD website you can keep up with the latest research and developments about spinal cord injuries. You can subscribe to the ICORDian, the quarterly community newsletter that highlights topics of interest to those with SCI and their loved ones.

In addition to the newsletter, the ICORD Resource Centre publishes easy-to-understand summaries of ICORD scientific papers on the SCInfo blog.  This blog translates scientific literature on various SCI related topics into easy-to-understand summaries for those of us without a science background. Each summary captures the main ideas from research articles published by investigators at ICORD or elsewhere.

Contact us

At Pacific Medical Law, we are committed to helping those who have suffered life-altering injuries. 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.

ICORD Links:

Listen to study participants: https://youtu.be/T5XB9ysI4cI

Find a study:  Participate in a Study | ICORD

Subscribe to the newsletter: Newsletters | ICORD

Keep up-to-date with the SCInfo blog:  SCInfo

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