Provides Consultation and Advice on Human Rights-Related Issues

HRES Contact Us HRES Office of Human Rights & Equity Services ------▪ Works in partnership to actively Milé Komlen, Director, Approaches to promote an environment free Ext. 23641 Email: [email protected] from sexism, racism, Disability heterosexism, discrimination Vilma Rossi, Program Coordinator, against people with disabilities Ext. 24235 and all other forms of harassment E-mail: [email protected] and discrimination Denise Maraj, Human Rights Officer, ▪ Is responsible for administering Ext. 24067 McMaster’s Anti-Discrimination E-mail: [email protected] Policy, the Sexual Harassment Policy and the Accessibility Policy Jewel Amoah, Human Rights Officer, Ext. 21867 ▪ Provides consultation and advice E-mail: [email protected] on human rights-related issues Michelle Poirier, Human Rights Specialist, ▪ Engages in informal dispute Ext. 27581 resolution E-mail: [email protected]

▪ Provides consultation and advice Raihanna Hirji-Khalfan, on the prevention, identification Accessibility Specialist, and removal of barriers within the Ext. 24644 University’s systems, structures Email: [email protected] and policies

▪ Provides awareness-raising and education on harassment, discrimination, accommodation, We are located in: and other human rights related www.mcmaster.ca/hres McMaster University Student Centre issues (MUSC), Room 212

www.mcmaster.ca/hres Telephone: (905) 525-9140 Ext. 27581 Fax: (905) 522-7102 Human Rights Medical Model Social Model Approach

▪ Focus is on the individual and ▪ Differentiates between an impair- ▪ Views disability as a human rights their impairment ment and a disability issue ▪ People are made disabled by the ▪ The active identification, removal, ▪ The ‘problem’ is the functional barriers that exist in a community and prevention of barriers high- limitation which prevents individu- or society lighted in the social model is a als from living a ‘normal’ life matter of right, not as sympathy ▪ Disablement occurs when a func- or charity tional limitation encounters phys- ▪ Having a disability is a negative ical, attitudinal or systemic barri- ▪ Disability has social causes as state of being which requires ers the level of disablement depends medical intervention or rehabilita- on how society is organized Examples of barriers include: tion in order to be ‘normal’ again ▪ stairs without lifts, information un- ▪ End goals are freedom from dis- available in alternative formats, crimination and equality of oppor- people’s negative attitudes and tunity to participate fully in the life ▪ Persons with disabilities are con- discriminatory practices embed- of the community. i.e., accessibil- sidered less than whole and need ded into polices and programs ity for all to be ‘fixed’ ▪ Persons with disabilities are active rights holders, not passive re- cipients of welfare