ARCH Disability Law Centre 425 Bloor St. E. Ste. 110 Toronto, Ontario M4W 3R5 Tel.: 416-482-8255 Toll-free: 1-866-482-2724 Fax: 416-482-2981 Toll-free: 1-866-881-2723 TTY: 416-482-1254 Toll-free: 1-866-482-2728 www.archdisabilitylaw.ca ARCH Alert 12 May 2008 INSIDE THIS ISSUE - ARCH's Diversity and Mental Health Project - ARCH and the Law Society Present a Symposium on UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Ontario Human Rights Commission's Draft Policy on Mental Health Discrimination and Police Record Checks - ARCH's Article on Representing Clients with Disabilities: Updated April, 2008 - Appeal Denied in "One Person, One Fare" Case - CTA Releases Fly Smart Booklet - Compliance Framework for AODA and Accessibility Standards - 2008 Ontario Budget - Ontario Child Benefit - Recent Changes to Canada Pension Plan Disability Eligibility - COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS ARCH's Diversity and Mental Health Project By Ruby Dhand, Articling Student There have been a number of studies showing that ethno-racial-cultural communities in Toronto are accessing mental health services at much lower rates than majority groups. Other studies have recognized that members of ethno-racial-cultural communities may also experience complex forms of racism as a result of the culture specific stigmatization of mental health disabilities. The studies reflect the need to provide information to the community on mental health law and rights as they pertain to consumer/survivors from various ethno-racial-cultural communities in Toronto With the support of an Access and Equity Grant from the City of Toronto, ARCH embarked on a community development project to address the need to provide legal information to the consumer/survivor community through outreach. Specifically, ARCH did background research to identify some of the systemic issues faced by consumer/survivors who were also from various ethno-racial-cultural communities in Toronto. We met with service providers and consumers who have experience and/or expertise with mental health services and individuals from ethno-racial-cultural communities. We used the results or our research and consultations to produce two plain language fact sheets aimed at providing rights information for consumer/survivors. In the process to develop these public legal education materials, ARCH worked with Sound Times, a support services initiative that has a membership of several hundred consumer/survivors. We consulted with the employees at Sound Times, who themselves are consumer/survivors, to ensure the rights information was appropriate to the community and that the information was written in plain-language. The fact sheets were reviewed by legal counsel at the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office. ARCH also held focus groups at Sound Times with consumer/survivors from the South Asian, Chinese, African-Canadian, Vietnamese and Spanish communities to ensure that the information was accessible. The first fact sheet provides information to consumers/survivors who need rights advice in other languages, or need translation services before tribunals such as the Consent and Capacity Board or the Ontario Review Board. The second fact sheet provides information about consumer/survivors rights under the Ontario Human Rights Code, Canadian Human Rights Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This document emphasizes that consumer/survivors are protected by these rights-protecting laws in the same way that people with other disabilities are protected. ARCH would like to thank all those who assisted us with this project. The participation of the community in the process resulted in fact sheets which have been well-researched and written in accessible language. In the near future, ARCH will be translating the fact sheets into the languages of the communities found to be particularly in need of such legal information. The languages include: Tamil, Punjabi, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Amharic and Portuguese. ARCH hopes that by providing relevant and useful rights information to consumer/survivors from historically disadvantaged communities, we will be assisting these individuals, their advocates and communities to access services to which they are entitled, and to understand what their fundamental human rights are. We also hope that access to this information will lead to more capacity building for marginalized communities. Through the project ARCH's staff gained a better understanding of the intersectional barriers facing people with disabilities from various ethno-racial-cultural communities. This project enhances our capacity to do public legal education in an expansive and diverse way. *** ARCH and the Law Society Present a Symposium on UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities By Lana Kerzner, Staff Lawyer The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Convention) is a new treaty which entered into force on May 3, 2008. This is a historic event in that the Convention is the first comprehensive international treaty to specifically protect the rights of people with disabilities. It promotes respect for dignity and prohibits all discrimination on the basis of disability. It provides for several specific rights, including rights relating to employment, education, health services, transportation, access to justice, access to the physical environment and the right to be free from abuse. To date, Canada has signed the Convention but not ratified it. However, on May 2, 2008, Parliament gave unanimous approval to a New Democratic Party motion calling for Canadian ratification. Until Canada ratifies the Convention, the Canadian government is not legally bound to implement it. A commemorative event for the Convention's entry into force will be held on May 12, 2008 at the United Nations Headquarters. ARCH and the Law Society of Upper Canada also recently honoured the Convention. A panel discussion and reception was held at the Law Society on March 3, 2008 as part of the Law Society of Upper Canada and ARCH's annual law symposium to promote the rights of people with disabilities. Speakers at the event included experts on disability and human rights. Speakers emphasized the important role that people with disabilities played in the development of the Convention and the important role that we must all still play in pressuring the Canadian government to ratify it. Speakers expressed the view that the Convention is currently not binding on Canadian courts, although it is a tool that can be used and which may be helpful. The Convention's Preamble states: Recognizing that disability is an evolving concept and that disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. The Convention thus makes an important statement in that it rejects the model of disability that understands and defines disability in terms of a physical or mental defect requiring medical intervention. Rather, it articulates an understanding of the concept of disability in which disability is the outcome of the interaction of the person and their environment. This approach is often referred to as the social model of disability. The text of the Convention may be viewed at http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=12&pid=150. For more information on the Convention see http://www.un.org/disabilities/. *** Ontario Human Rights Commission's Draft Policy on Mental Health Discrimination and Police Record Checks by Lana Kerzner, Staff Lawyer Some organizations, such as employers and volunteer agencies, conduct police record checks on applicants, employees and volunteers especially when their work involves vulnerable people. These checks may reveal non-criminal information about an individual. This can include contact they have had with the police (e.g. being taken to hospital) pursuant to the Mental Health Act. Ultimately, such disclosures can prevent the individual from obtaining employment or volunteer opportunities. The Ontario Human Rights Commission (Commission) has stated in its recently released Draft Policy on Mental Health Discrimination and Police Record Checks (Draft Policy), that these record checks could have a discriminatory impact on people with disabilities. The Commission released the Draft Policy in response to inquiries it received from community organizations and government agencies about this issue. The Draft Policy was released for public consultation in February, 2008 and comments were accepted until April 8, 2008. You may view the Draft Policy on the Commission website at http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/Policies/mhdraft The Draft Policy sets out the Commission's interpretation of provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code as they relate to police record checks. It deals with issues such as when it is appropriate, from a human rights perspective, for an organization to request a police record check and how it should deal with the information it receives. It also addresses the issue of how police services should respond to record check requests. The Mental Health Police Records Check Coalition (Coalition) is a coalition of stakeholders that works to end the police's discriminatory practice of releasing non-criminal information, particularly contact with police under the Mental Health Act. In response to the Draft Policy, the Coalition made a submission to the Commission. ARCH is a Coalition member and we made our own submission to the Commission as well as supporting that of the Coalition. Based on the number of people negatively affected by police record checks and the gravity of the impact that these checks have on people's lives, ARCH believes that it is essential that a strong and comprehensive approach be taken to addressing the problem. ARCH thus welcomes the Commission's initiative with respect to police record checks, and anticipates that the final policy will move police services and organizations towards practices that are less discriminatory than is the current reality. However, police record check practices raise additional concerns beyond those relating to abuse of human rights. The debate about police record checks raises equally important privacy issues in addressing the tension between protecting the privacy of personal information on the one hand and protecting vulnerable individuals from harm on the other. Thus privacy interests, as well as human rights concerns, are both central considerations for addressing this issue. A human rights approach cannot provide a complete solution. Rather, a collaborative approach, involving other laws and agencies is necessary. For example, the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario in its role in relation to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act may also be an important player in fashioning a solution. ARCH's view on this issue differs in a fundamental respect from that of the Commission. While the Commission leaves room for the disclosure of non-criminal information when to do so would not violate the Code, ARCH, and the Coalition, state that such information should never be disclosed as part of a police record check. ARCH's experience, based on inquiries we receive, is that members of the public often do not know that their interaction with police in relation to the Mental Health Act will become part of their police record nor are they aware of their rights with respect to disclosure of their records. In order to enforce your rights, you must know the rights to which you are entitled. It is ARCH's view that informing the public should be integral to the Commission's activities regarding police record checks. Similarly, police services and organizations must be informed of their legal duties and reminded that discriminatory action in relation to disclosures of police records has immediate and irreversible consequences. When an individual's private mental health information has been disclosed to a potential employer, no human rights complaint or remedy will reverse the violation of privacy that has occurred. You may read the full text of ARCH's submission on our website at http://www.archdisabilitylaw.ca/publications/submissions.asp . For information about the Coalition and how to participate in its activities, refer to the website of the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office at http://www.ppao.gov.on.ca/sys-pol.html . *** ARCH's Article on Representing Clients with Disabilities: Updated April, 2008 By Lana Kerzner, Staff Lawyer Over the past several years, ARCH has been writing an article for lawyers and law students on representing clients with disabilities. It is used by the Law Society of Upper Canada's Licensing Process Skills and Professional Responsibility Program and as a resource for lawyers. ARCH updated it in April, 2008 and it can be accessed on ARCH's web site at http://www.archdisabilitylaw.ca/publications/archPapers.asp. The article contains a discussion of the concept of disability as treated by the courts and in legislation, the Law Society of Upper Canada's Rules of Professional Conduct relating to clients with disabilities, and practical considerations for representing and accommodating clients. *** Appeal Denied in "One Person, One Fare" Case By Laurie Letheren, Staff Lawyer As was reported in the February 2008 edition of ARCH Alert, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) released a decision on January 10, 2008, known as the "One Person, One Fare" case that recognizes the rights of people with disabilities to travel by air without having to pay for a second seat, for an attendant or other use, to accommodate their disability. Following the release of this decision from the CTA, Air Canada and Westjet filed an application for leave to appeal the decision to the Federal Court of Appeal. The Federal Court of Appeal recently released its decision to deny the leave to appeal. The following quotes from the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) were contained in their May 7, 2008 press release: CCD is ecstatic over the decision of the Federal Court of Appeal." said Marie White, Chair of CCD. "We knew the airlines did not have a legal argument. They were simply trying to stall implementation of the CTA decision and thus save money by continuing to discriminate against people with disabilities," said White. Canadians with disabilities have been raising this issue for over 20 years and the decision of the Federal Court of Appeal says to the airlines they must abide by the CTA decision. Finally this issue is put to rest and once again the courts have made it clear that people with disabilities must be accommodated," said Pat Danforth, Chair of CCD Transportation Committee. More information on the CCD and the work they have been doing on transportation access can be found on the CCD website at: http://www.ccdonline.ca/issues/index.htm. *** CTA Releases Fly Smart Booklet By Laurie Letheren, Staff Lawyer The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) recently released its Fly Smart booklet. The introduction to the booklet states, "To help make your flight as smooth as possible, the Canadian Transportation Agency has put together this booklet which provides helpful information and advice about flying to, from and within Canada." The booklet covers a variety of topics including insurance, travel documents, baggage, security and safety and there is a section of the booklet titled, "Travellers with Disabilities". This section of the booklet outlines the procedure for requesting an investigation or filing a complaint with the CTA to determine whether a person with a disability faced undue obstacles while travelling. The Agency may order corrective measures, the payment of compensation, or both, if it determines that an undue obstacle exists in the federally regulated transportation system. The Fly Smart booklet makes reference to a publication called "Taking Charge of the Air Travel Experience: A Guide for Persons with Disabilities" which is available from the Canadian Transportation Agency and is to complement the Fly Smart booklet. This Guide provides information on accessible features and services available to people with disabilities travelling by air. A copy of the Fly Smart booklet is available at http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/air-aerien/flysmart/index_e.html . *** Compliance Framework for AODA and Accessibility Standards By Kerri Joffe, Staff Lawyer The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) became law in 2005. It applies to every person or organization in the public and private sectors of the Province of Ontario, including the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Its purpose is to develop, implement and enforce standards for accessibility in relation to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and premises in Ontario. The AODA requires the development of accessibility standards, which will become regulations under the Act. These standards will address the identification and removal of barriers and set out a timeframe for meeting these requirements. The only standard that has become law to date is the Customer Service Standard. It sets out requirements that designated public sector organizations and people or organizations with more than one employee must fulfill in order to make services more accessible to people with disabilities. Other standards relating to transportation, information and communications, the built environment and employment are being developed. The Accessibility Directorate of Ontario (ADO) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the AODA. The ADO is currently developing a compliance assurance framework, which will determine how the AODA is administered and enforced. On April 4, 2008 ARCH and a number of disability organizations attended a meeting organized by the ADO to discuss the proposed compliance framework. ARCH learned that the ADO plans to implement the AODA through public education and outreach, compliance assistance, creating a self-reporting system and inspection. Public Education and Outreach - The ADO is mandated to provide education and outreach to raise awareness about the AODA and the accessibility standards. One aspect of the ADO's public education is the accessibility posters that were recently displayed in subway stations and trains. The ADO also plans to distribute information to the public through stakeholder groups. Compliance Assistance - The ADO intends to provide compliance assistance to organizations by providing plain language guides to help organizations understand their obligations and file accessibility reports. Compliance assistance resources will be provided on the Ministry of Community and Social Services and AccessON websites. The ADO also plans to create a contact centre to address general inquiries, technical questions and complaints. This is an important point. The AODA does not create a mechanism by which individuals can complain if an organization has not complied with an accessibility standard. However, individuals can call the contact centre. The centre will track the number of complaints received about a specific organization and this information will be used by the ADO in deciding whether to investigate that organization. Self-reporting System - The AODA requires public sector organizations and private sector organizations with 20 or more employees to file annual accessibility reports and make these reports available to the public. According to the ADO these reports will consist of a checklist that organizations must complete and file electronically. Through these reports organizations will be required to assess their own state of compliance with the accessibility standards. Inspection - The AODA requires the government to appoint one or more inspectors who are able to investigate whether organizations have taken the steps required by the standards. The AODA also requires the appointment of directors who can order people or organizations to comply with an accessibility standard, file an accessibility report within a specified time, or pay a fine for contravening a standard. The ADO plans to conduct random inspections of organizations. The inspections will target organizations that did not file reports, organizations whose reports were problematic, and organizations that have a pattern of public complaints. At the meeting, ARCH made several suggestions to the ADO. We stated that the ADO needs to make its educational materials available in accessible formats. We also pointed out that while websites are a useful way of receiving information for some people, many do not have access to the internet. The ADO should make its information available to everyone. We supported the statement made by Gary Malkowski of the Canadian Hearing Society that even though organizations do not have to comply with the Customer Service Standard until 2010 or 2012, the Human Rights Code places a duty to accommodate on service providers now. This duty will continue to apply after organizations have complied with the accessibility standards. So, even if an organization has fulfilled all of its requirements under the AODA and accessibility standards, it may still have breached its human rights obligations. The ADO should ensure that organizations are aware of this. More information on the AODA, the Customer Service Standard, and the status of the development of other accessibility standards can be found at: www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/pillars/accessibilityOntario and at www.accesson.ca. *** 2008 Ontario Budget By Laurie Letheren, Staff Lawyer On March 25, 2008, Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan delivered the Ontario government's 2008 budget. In the budget, the Ontario government has proposed a 2% increase in social assistance rates in the coming year as an "early initiative" towards poverty reduction, with a view to developing "a focused poverty reduction strategy with measures, indicators and reasonable targets by the end of 2008". In response to the 2% increase announced in the budget, the ODSP Action Coalition issued a press release containing the following statements: While the Coalition is encouraged that the government is developing a Poverty Reduction Strategy this year, and has taken measures to address some of the issues affecting poor children, they are disappointed that people with disabilities have been barely mentioned. Eighty-six percent of people who receive ODSP do not have dependent children. Single people with disabilities need to be able to eat nutritiously, maintain adequate housing, and cover all of the other necessities of life too. A significant increase to ODSP income support in this budget would have been a strong indicator that the government is truly committed to lifting people out of poverty. "People with disabilities disproportionately live in poverty compared to other Ontarians. We call on the provincial government to clearly indicate that it will include people with disabilities and the organizations that work with them, in their consultations on the Poverty Reduction Strategy", says Nancy Vander Plaats, chair of the ODSP Action Coalition. The Coalition calls on the government to implement an independent Social Assistance Rates Board to make recommendations on social assistance rates which would be adequate to pay for the average costs of shelter, nutritious food, transportation and other necessities. ODSP recipients who are able to work should also have access to the kinds of employment supports they need to overcome the barriers they face in the labour market. Those who are able to work should be allowed to keep all of their earnings, at least until they reach the poverty line. The budget also indicates that the Ontario government plans to spend $497 million for public transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area for Metrolinx projects and other transit priorities. The budget document states "Effective and expanded public transit will reduce traffic congestion and make it easier and faster to move people and goods, cut smog and provide cleaner air to breathe, help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and support sustainable urban development, which lead to stronger communities and a higher quality of life." The itemized breakdown of how the $497 million is to be spent does not provide any indication that the costs of improving access to transit for people with disabilities would be covered. The government proposed to spend $100 million for infrastructure investments to rehabilitate existing social housing units, including energy-efficiency improvements. Although the budget states that "Progress is well underway on the Province's plan to create more affordable housing options for families and individuals across Ontario" no new money beyond the $301 million the province committed under the 2005 Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program is promised in this budget. The budget also indicates that the government is to invest $30 million in one-time funding for capital projects to support community agencies that provide services to children and vulnerable populations, including families that require child care services; women experiencing abuse; adults and children with developmental disabilities; and youth with emotional or behavioural problems. Examples of how this money will be spent include expansions of women's shelters and children's treatment centres, and upgrades to improve accessibility. However, given the number of agencies who will be applying for this funding, it will likely be spread thinly among a wide range of community agencies. The budget also announced that the Ontario Government is investing $67 million in special needs funding in the 2008-09 school year through the Grants for Student Needs (GSN). This investment is to support the continuing reform of special education, enhance school boards' capacity to serve students with special education needs, and improve student achievement. The government is to provide $24 million in additional targeted funding outside the GSN to support students with special needs. Full budget document can be found at http://ontariobudget.ca/english/papers_all.html. *** Ontario Child Benefit By Laurie Letheren, Staff Lawyer The Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) was announced in the 2007 provincial budget. It is a new benefit that will be payable to low income families whether they are working or receiving Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Plan benefits or Canada Pension Plan benefits and who have children under 18 years of age. In order to receive the benefit the family must be living in Ontario, their children must be registered for the Canada Child Tax Benefit, the family must have filed a 2007 tax return and the family must meet the income criteria of the benefit. In July 2007, families received a nontaxable, onetime payment of a maximum of $250 for each child under 18. Beginning in July 2008, the OCB will be paid monthly and will be received as payment on the same cheque as the family receives the Canada Child Tax Benefit and the National Child Benefit Supplement. The OCB will be phased in over five years. The maximum amount of the OCB will increase between 2007 and 2011. The Ontario Child Benefit is exempt income under the Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Plan income rules. The amount of OCB a family will receive is dependent on their adjusted family net income and the number of children in the family. Adjusted family net income is a term defined under the Income Tax Act. Families with adjusted family net income that was less than $20,000 in 2006 received the full $250 per child in July 2007. Families with adjusted family net income that was more than $20,000 in 2006 had OCB payments for each child reduced by 3.4 cents for every dollar of adjusted family net income that was greater than $20,000. From July 2008 onwards, OCB payments will be reduced by 8 cents for every dollar of adjusted family net income that is greater than $20,000. To calculate the amount of your Ontario Child Benefit payment, go to: http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2007/ocb/calc.html Starting in July 2008, the amount of benefits received through Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program for families with children will be restructured to take into account the new OCB. If a family is no longer in receipt of Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program benefits, they may continue to receive OCB depending on their family income. Staring in July 2008, the Back to School allowance and the Winter Clothing allowance the recipients currently receive through Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program will no longer be paid. These allowances are to be incorporated into the Ontario Child Benefit. The family members will continue to receive basic dental and drug coverage and other benefits they currently receive. You can find more information about the Ontario Child Benefit on the Income Security Advocacy Centre's website at: http://www.incomesecurity.org/campaigns/OntarioChildBenefit.html or on the website of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services at: http://www.gov.on.ca/children/english/programs/ocb/ocbfaq/index.html *** Recent Changes to Canada Pension Plan Disability Eligibility By Laurie Letheren, Staff Lawyer On March 3, 2008, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development announced changes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability eligibility criteria. CPP Disability benefits provide a monthly taxable benefit to those who have made sufficient contributors and who meet the test of "disabled" defined in the CPP Act. Under the current requirements applicants must have made valid contributions in four of the six years prior to applying. With the change to the Act, CPP Disability applicants with 25 years or more of CPP contributions will require valid contributions in three of the last six years, instead of the current requirement of four of the last six years. Medical eligibility requirements for CPP disability benefits will remain the same. Although these changes may benefit some people with disabilities who have had periods when they have been unable to work over the last years, the changes do not address the significant barriers that people with disabilities face in accessing CPP disability benefits. *** COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Out from Under: Disability, History and Things to Remember Where: The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) When: April 17, 2008 to July 13, 2008 Description: A display of 13 diverse objects reveals a rich and nuanced history that pays tribute to the resilience, creativity, and the civic and cultural contributions of Canadians with disabilities. The first of its kind in Canada, Out from Under was produced in collaboration with students, scholars and alumni from Ryerson University. Out from Under is curated by faculty members from Ryerson University's School of Disability Studies. Their work was supported by the RBC Foundation through the Ryerson - RBC Institute for Disabilities Studies Research and Education. The curatorial team, Associate Professor Kathryn Church, Professor of Distinction Catherine Frazee, and Director Melanie Panitch, launched a new special topic seminar designed to uncover the hidden history of disability. Students were invited to identify an object representing a particular era or moment in Canadian disability history and explore its significance Blindness at the Museum Featuring Georgina Kleege Where: Eaton Theatre, Royal Ontario Museum; South Entrance, 100 Queen's Park Circle When: Saturday, May 24, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Visitors are welcome to tour Out from Under at the ROM after the lecture. Ontario Families invited to respond to inadequate Passport Program Christine Elliot, M.P.P. Whitby-Oshawa and Sylvia Jones, M.P.P. of Dufferin-Calendon and opposition critic, will raise issues of the inadequacies of the Passport Program with questions during the morning session of the Ontario Legislature on Monday May 26, 2008. There will be a press release prior to the session to inform the broader community of the crisis of the Program and to encourage public support. Families are invited to come to Queens Park on May 26, 2008 at 10:00AM to fill the gallery at the Ontario Legislature and support Christine and Sylvia in raising questions about the issues related to the Passport Program. Please RSVP your attendance at Queens Park by May 19th. RSVP to: Cindy Mitchell Passport Funding Action Group (905) 723-8111 x 2222 E-mail cmitchellworks@rogers.com Helen Dionne Durham Family Network (905) 436-2500 E-mail hdionne@dafrs.com Provincial Government Consultations on Poverty Reduction The Cabinet committee on poverty reduction is to hold roundtable discussions on poverty reduction in Ontario. Where: 13 Communities across Ontario When: spring and summer 2008 (all dates not yet announced) More information available at http://www.growingstronger.ca/en/index.html *** ARCH ALERT is published by ARCH Disability Law Centre. It is distributed free via e-mail or mail to ARCH member groups, community legal clinics, and others with an interest in disability issues. ARCH is a non-profit community legal clinic, which defends and promotes the equality rights of persons with disabilities through litigation, law/policy reform and legal education. ARCH is governed by a Board of Directors elected by representatives of member groups reflecting the disability community. The goal of ARCH ALERT is to provide concise information, so that people are aware of important developments and resources. Articles may be copied or reprinted to share with others provided that they are reproduced in their entirety and that the appropriate credit is given. We encourage those who receive it to assist with distribution of information in this way. We do ask that both Word and Text Formats are distributed to ensure accessibility. Charitable Reg. #118777994RR01. Editor: Laurie Letheren Production & Circulation: Theresa Sciberras We welcome your comments and questions, as well as submissions. We will endeavour to include all information of general interest to the community of persons with disabilities and their organizations, but reserve the right to edit or reject material if necessary. We will advise you if your submission is to be edited or rejected. Please assist us in your submissions by being brief and factual. Please address communications regarding ARCH ALERT to: Theresa Sciberras, Program Assistant, ARCH Disability Law Centre, 425 Bloor St. E., Suite 110, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3R5, fax: 416-482-2981, TTY: 416- 482-1254, e-mail: scibert@lao.on.ca Website: http://www.archdisabilitylaw.ca/