Despite barriers in the labour market, there are Canadians with disabilities who have been successful in obtaining employment and progressing in their chosen careers.  If this describes your work experience, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) wants to hear from you about what has contributed to your employment success. 

CCD plans to publish an anthology which will share information about what has made a difference in the working lives of Canadians with disabilities.  CCD will launch this new publication at End Exclusion 2012, which is a forum for the exchange of ideas between people with disabilities, government representatives, academics and members of the public.

Employment is a priority for the Federal Government, particularly Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Diane Finley.  The government often seeks new information on best practices.  Through this publication, people with disabilities will have the opportunity to share their experiential knowledge about best practices that contribute to finding, securing and advancing a career path.

Through introductory and concluding chapters, CCD will provide context which will assist the reader of the anthology to also gain an understanding of the public policies that either advance or hinder the employment of people with disabilities.  CCD will also share some recommendations on needed new policies to remedy barriers in the employment system that impede the employment of people with disabilities.

If you are a person with a disability who has had a successful employment experience, consider writing about it for CCD’s new publication. Email them to april@ccdonline.ca by 31 July 2012.  Please keep your submissions to one single-spaced page.  Some points and questions to guide your submission are as follows:

• ·        A brief description of your job and you as a worker.
• ·        What barriers had to be eliminated for you to be employed?
• ·        What accommodations did you use to eliminate barriers?
• ·        What have been your experiences with training and promotion?
• ·        What has been the key to your success?
• ·        What really made a positive difference for you in the area of employment?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2012

Groups oppose TransLink’s Plan To Eliminate TaxiSaver Program for HandyDART Users

Vancouver: TransLink’s Board has voted to eliminate the Taxi Saver Program which provides people who are registered HandyDART users a 50% subsidy for taxi rides. While timelines have yet to be finalized it appears that TaxiSaver coupons will not be accepted after June 2013 and that registrants after July 2012 will not be able to purchase them.

The Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC (COSCO) and the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities (BCCPD) are extremely disappointed that the program is slated to end. “This will definitely have a negative impact on seniors living on low income and frail seniors who use taxi savers,” said Lorraine Logan Vice President of COSCO.

BC Transit’s website explains that TaxiSavers “provide registered handyDART clients with greater convenience for spontaneous travel when HandyDART cannot accommodate their travel needs.” But at a meeting this week, TransLink representatives told COSCO, BCCPD and other stakeholders that it wants to eliminate the program and apply the savings to HandyDART so that it can provide more rides. TransLink said savings can be made because its records show that only 13% of TaxiSaver users ride on HandyDART.

Stakeholders pointed out that the decision does not make financial sense: people who use TaxiSavers pay half their taxi fare. By taking away the subsidy many will only use HandyDART which per ride is a more expensive option than taxis.

Lilo Ljubisic, a totally blind Paralympian said, “TaxiSavers are an essential lifeline that bridge the gap when regular transit and HandyDART can’t provide the support I need. I use TaxiSavers as a last resort as part of a blended approach for my transit needs. Eliminating this program will limit my independence and impact my confidence about getting around because knowing I can call a taxi when I need one makes me feel safe.”

“Many people with disabilities and seniors live in poverty,” said the BCCPD’s Jane Dyson. “We’re concerned that they will have less access to the community and that their quality of life will suffer. We are urging TransLink to re-think this cut.”

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For more information please contact:

Jane Dyson – 604-875-0188