ABOUT THE INSTITUTE The National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR), founded in 1994, is an internationally recognized organization committed to reducing the human, social, and economic costs of disability. As an education, training, and research organization, NIDMAR’s primary focus is the implementation of workplace-based reintegration programs which international research has proven is the most effective way of restoring and maintaining workers’ abilities, while reducing the cost of disability for workers, employers, government and insurance carriers. NIDMAR’s success is the result of collaborative initiatives undertaken by leaders in labour, business, government, education, insurance, and rehabilitation. NIDMAR is supported by a broad-based board of directors and an international council with senior representatives from Canada, Australia, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, and the United States. As a long-term labour-management and multi-party organization committed to disability management in the workplace, NIDMAR is supported by an endowment fund created through contributions from the federal and provincial governments, major private corporations, and public organizations. 03 Message from executive director 04 NIDMAR’s 10th anniversary 06 What NIDMAR 10th anniversary speakers had to say 07 NIDMAR’s progress 08 Union perspective 09 Profile of a worker 10 NIDMAR and Government 12 Profiles of online students 14 Profile of a CDMP 15 What CDMPs had to say 16 Profile of a CRTWC 17 What CRTWCs had to say 18 NIDMAR’s CBDMA - Auditing CPR’s Toronto yard 20 Contributing to DM around the globe - Working with the ILO 21 IFDM 2002 - Canada 22 IFDM 2004 - The Netherlands 23 IFDM 2006 - Australia 24 IFDM 2008 - Germany 25 Directory & acknowledgements National Institute of Disability Management and Research 830 Shamrock Street, Suite 202, Victoria, BC V8X 2V1 Canada PO Box 512, Station B, Ottawa, ON K1P 5P6 Canada Tel: 250-386-4388 Fax: 250-386-4398 Tel: 613-260-2951 Fax: 613-260-2954 FULFILLING THE VISION MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WOLFGANG ZIMMERMANN Ten years of progress p 03 In this tenth anniversary year, I would like unions, governments, rehabilitation, education of workplace based disability management to take a moment to reflect not only on the and insurance providers in Canada and abroad becomes ever more apparent. distance we have come, but also on our roots who are proud to have contributed to a Looking to the future, we can see the global and opportunities for the future. number of developments. These include economic and labour market forces that are laying the foundation for the first-ever Code driving employers to seek maximum flexibility In the mid-1980’s, a group of dedicated of Practice for Disability Management, in their employees in an environment of ever individuals from the employer, labour and professional standards leading to educational increasing competitive pressures and we will government communities came together in developments and certification of individuals, see decreasing opportunities for meaningful an effort to challenge the approach with awards of excellence, the International workplace participation for people with which we collectively as a society had been Forum on Disability Management, the disabilities unless we are prepared to recog- dealing with disability issues and injured Consensus Based Disability Management nize that innovation, leadership and flexibility workers in Canada and elsewhere. Audit tool and many others. can remove many of the perceptual barriers Our early pioneers and leaders – Brian Payne Throughout all these landmark developments, which today limit participation of people of the CEP Union of Canada, Peter Lawrie of we have been true to our values and founding with disabilities in all aspects of society. MacMillan Bloedel, Earl Foxcroft of the IWA, principles which dictate not only the The Institute will endeavour to be a key player Henry Nedergard of the IWA, Trevor James consensus based approach, recognizing the and an instigator of creative solutions, quality of Fletcher Challenge, Andrew King of rights, needs and responsibilities of workers, assurance and collaborative leadership, which the Steelworkers, Cathy Walker of the CAW – employers and others but importantly also has been a hallmark over the past decade. are just a few of the individuals whose always trying to achieve a balance between involvement and commitment now extends economic and social outcomes. It is important to recognize first and fore- well into the second decade. most that the Institute is not one individual As we witness the embrace of consensus or the result of a single company, union These early forerunners were joined in the based disability management across an ever- or other organization, but is a collective effort early 1990’s by countless others whose dedi- increasing number of national jurisdictions, of key leaders amongst all stakeholder cation and commitment towards a new and driven by solid evidence-based research and groups in Canada and abroad who have innovative approach was designed through measurable results, we are faced today in recognized that our individual and collective creativity, collaboration and commitment to 2005 with the conundrum of an unprece- efforts, brought about through basic princi- achieve better outcomes for employers and dented decline in employment rates for ples of innovation and collaboration, will be workers alike. Their pioneering spirit and people with disabilities. able to achieve and contribute to measurable generous contribution of time, energy and effort and concrete outcomes benefiting disabled soon involved similarly dedicated individuals While the evidence at this stage as to its workers, employers and society. in Germany, Australia and the United States. cause is somewhat sketchy, its underlying research as evidenced by OECD and World Their collective vision and engagement led Bank Reports is quite compelling. While we to the opening and establishment of the can clearly document the economic impact Institute in October 1994. Since then, there that consensus based disability management has been involvement by an ever expanding programs can have on employers and group of participants representing employers, workers, the social impact and significance NIDMAR ANNUAL REPORT 2004 NIDMAR’ S 10TH ANNIVERSARY Celebrating a decade p 04 NIDMAR's 10th anniversary celebrations Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, In his welcoming address, Brian Payne said, included long-term as well as newer friends Ottawa, and Mike Rushby, vice president “Our challenge in the next 10 years is to really of NIDMAR. Many traveled great distances human resources, Weyerhaeuser Company, go the distance, making the difference on the to help mark this important milestone in Vancouver welcomed the many distinguished ground, giving injured and disabled workers NIDMAR’s evolution. And some were local guests. the respect and opportunity they deserve.” friends who had been there, collaborating on In his introductory comments, the Hon. David Mike Rushby said in his welcoming remarks, disability management, even before NIDMAR H. Vickers said, “What matters most is the “Given what’s been accomplished since opened its doors. impact the work of NIDMAR has had on the 1994, it's hard to imagine what we can The Hon. David H. Vickers, a Justice of the lives of disabled men and women. They are achieve in the next 10 years.” Supreme Court of BC, acted as master of no longer marginalized and left at home, but A number of speakers contributed their ceremonies for the evening and co-chairs are now included.” anniversary congratulations, and said a few Brian Payne, president, Communications, FULFILLING THE VISION p 05 words about the importance of disability Joachim Breuer, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Cameron McCullagh, CEO, Employers Mutual, management. They were: German Workers Compensation Board, Bonn, Sydney, Australia Germany and Chair, Global Commission of Don Mazankowski, Weyerhaeuser board mem- The anniversary celebration's international Industrial Accident and Occupational Disease ber, former deputy prime minister of Canada flavour was no accident; NIDMAR has grown Boards, International Social Security into a world-wide presence with collaborative Associate Minister Horst Günther, MdB (ret.), Association, Geneva, Switzerland and licensing agreements with Germany, the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Ken Neumann, Canadian national director, United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Affairs, Berlin, Germany United Steelworkers National Office, Toronto Australia and the International Labour Maryantonett Flumian, Deputy Minister of Organization of Geneva, Switzerland. As Glenn Morton, CEO, Nebraska Workers Labour, Government of Canada, Ottawa NIDMAR co-chair Mike Rushby put it, “In Compensation Board and Chair, US Federation 10 years, NIDMAR has evolved from a BC of Workers Compensation Boards, Omaha,USA forestry initiative into a truly global initiative.” NIDMAR ANNUAL REPORT 2004 p 06 WHAT NIDMAR 10TH ANNIVERSARY SPEAKERS HAD TO SAY “Disability management programs must be considered a fundamental part of a company’s culture. You can’t fake it! We’re striving for change in a complex, overlapping matrix of human behaviours.” Don Mazankowski, Weyerhaeuser board member, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada “My interest in this great institution will remain as long as I live – that I promise you.” Associate Minister Horst Günther, MdB (ret.), German