From Compassion to Action 12 Report and Action Plan Turning Compassion into Action ...at 10,000 feet From Compassion to Action This milestone report — and a video of my tandem skydive — are available on our website; where you will also find the plain English and academic versions of the Ile a la Crosse Park Rangers (summer employment program) case study. Follow our activities as we turn compassion into action... Report and Action Plan September 11 & 12, 2009 www.garytinker.ca La Ronge, Saskatchewan, Canada From Compassion to Action From Compassion to Action 2 Report and Action Plan Report and Action Plan 11 Table of Contents Conference Sponsors What We Do 3 Areva Resources Canada Inc. Overview of the Session 5 Cameco Corporation Summary of the Conference 6 Theme from the North 7 Lac La Ronge Indian Band Delclaration from the North 7 Mamawetan Churchill River Regional Health Vision of the North 7 Tens Steps Toward a Brighter Future 8 Metis Nations Council Recommendations and Next Steps 9 Ministry of Advanced Education Employment & Labour Attendees 10 Sponsors 11 Ministry of First Nations and Metis Relations Gary’s Skydive 12 Ministry of Social Services Appendix Center Pull-out Northern Lights Community Dev Corporation Northlands College SIGA – Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority Transwest Air ort! r supp or you you f Thank The Gary Tinker Federation for the Disabled Inc. 408 La Ronge Avenue, La Ronge, SK (306) 425-6612 • Toll Free: 1-866-365-5508 Box 135, La Ronge, SK S0J 1L0 From Compassion to Action Report and Action Plan 3 The Gary Tinker Federation is a community based organization open to northern persons with a disability. It strives to make long term improvements in the lives of disabled persons residing in the north. Services offered expand opportunities for members to achieve vocational skills & job training What We Do • Identify the special needs of northern people with a disability and then create awareness everywhere. • Help establish self-help groups in local communities & affect community action. • Help establish a peer support network for people with disabilities. • Work with government and non-government agencies regarding service provision for northern people with disabilities. • To expand opportunities for disabled people to achieve vocational skills and job training • The Gary Tinker Federation for the Disabled Inc’s main goal is to make long term improvements in the lives of disabled persons that reside in northern Saskatchewan. • The Gary Tinker Federation for the Disabled Inc (G.T.F.) is a non-profit organization established in 1989 to identify and address the needs of disabled persons in northern Saskatchewan. We publish a quarterly newsetter. The Gary Tinker Federation is a Member of: The Northern Labour Market Committee (NLMC) Northern Human Services Partnership (NHSP) Supported Employment Training Initiative (SETI) Cognitive Disabilities Strategy (CDS) Disability Income Support Coalition (DISC) Affiliate member of Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres (SARC) Saskatchewan Mental Health Coalition (Saskatchewan Mental Health Association) Program Implementation Advisory Team for Ministry of Social Services Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability Membership: Regular membership in the Federation is open to northern persons with a disability (18 yrs and over). Only members of the Federation have the right to hold office and the right to vote. From Compassion to Action 4 Report and Action Plan From Compassion to Action Report and Action Plan Available on-line at www.garytinker.ca From Compassion to Action Report and Action Plan 5 Overview of the Session The gathering was held in La Ronge and was designed to bring together people with disabilities (from across Northern Saskatchewan) to discuss current realities, identify strengths and limitations and to establish an action plan to move forward together. Number of People in Attendance: 74 (37 persons with a disability and 6 family members; 10 disability sector services providers; one participating elder; 11 facilitators and scribes; four speakers, presenters and observers; three support staff) Hopes from the Gary Tinker Federation The Gary Tinker Federation wanted to provide the opportunity and encouragement for individuals to speak for themselves with a focus on their personal stories and interests. It was also a Celebration A celebration of the 20th anniversary of Gary’s walk was a central feature of the gathering and set the stage around positive actions and optimism while keeping in mind that there is still a long way to go to get from compassion to action. Facilitator Flo Frank – Common Ground Consulting Inc., Meacham SK From Compassion to Action 6 Report and Action Plan Summary of the Conference This was the first gathering of its kind, where the vast majority of participants (80%) represented themselves as northern people with disabilities. It was a very enthusiastic group with a large contingent of deaf/hard of hearing individuals who were active and engaged throughout the event. They, as a result of the opportunity to meet together, have formed a new association (the Northern Aboriginal Association for the Deaf) and intend to stay connected through technology and other means. The total group formed a bond and made a commitment to work together on issues and to help each other with areas of need related to the action plan in this document. Everyone was grateful for the opportunity to get together and talk together about things that matter in their daily lives. The conference overall presented a wide range of topics that were discussed, personal stories of hope and challenges that were shared, and a growing sense of collaboration and optimism began to take shape. There is a strong sense that the people in the room can and will work toward improving the north for those with disabilities and those who care for, work with and love them. From Compassion to Action Report and Action Plan 7 Theme from the North Voiced by many, agreed upon by all, endorsed by the group There is a desire to work together as a group to improve conditions in the north and to establish a plan for action NOW and for the future. Each person here is committed to continuing with this direction and we all support the goals and priorities that are highlighted in this document. Declaration from the North Together we can make a difference — from compassion to action we are all in it together and we are ready, willing, and able to help ourselves and others to a better future. A future in which people with disabilities enjoy the same quality of life as everyone else and a standard of living that is equal to that of others. A Vision for the North In northern Saskatchewan, people with disabilities will be more visible, better understood, more integrated and welcome in mainstream society. Our basic needs will be met and we will have a high quality of life. Our families will not be afraid for our futures. We will be more empowered to find solutions to issues, to take advantage of opportunities for participation and our voices will be heard as united We need to do things in the north for the north – and be our own advocates. Together we can make things happen and build on this work we have done. The issue will be to maintain momentum and continuity to the process and we are hoping that the Gary Tinker Federation and all our partners will help to keep things going. From Compassion to Action 8 Report and Action Plan Ten Steps Toward a Brighter Future The following are concrete goals and priorities that form the basis of an action plan for the north, for people with disabilities. 1. Establish a “centralized resource centre “( a resource hub or central clearing house) for information, resources, service and connections for people with disabilities – a one stop service centre with a training and capacity building mandate 2. Seek additional funding for more human resources – helpers, interpreters, care givers and respite workers and for technology to help reduce isolation and disconnections 3. Develop and implement a public awareness campaign related to perceptions and acceptance of people with disabilities (how to include people with disabilities into mainstream life) – and provide more training to improve relationships 4. Provide more treatment services including lifeskills for people with disabilities (many have other issues including addictions and depression in addition to their disability) 5. Increase and coordinate the northern “voice” – develop an advocacy agenda to help people with disabilities to speak up for themselves on matters that will improve our quality of life and standard of living 6. Determine way to improve employment opportunities and encourage employers to hire people with disabilities 7. Improve current conditions related to housing, transportation and health issues and develop an evaluation framework to measure progress and results in these areas 8. Reduce violence and abuse of people with disabilities – zero tolerance 9. Develop a data base of people with disabilities and use it to maintain a constant source of connection and input for people with disabilities (interactive web-sites) 10. Provide support for the newly formed Northern Association for Deaf that was formed at the conference and has started its work as a team From Compassion to Action Report and Action Plan 9 Recommendations and Next Steps • Based on th e mandate given to proceed, review the notes and determine how an overall strategy might be developed (An Action Strategy for the North for People with Disabilities). • Refine the goals and priorities above and turn them into an concrete Action Plan include the details provided in the action plan basics (table talk discussions) in the notes below as well as the visions drawn on the colored sheets. • Form committees to work on the various action items and develop a Terms of Reference for each committee in order to keep moving forward.