Coming up on its 30^th anniversary, the United Nations proclaimed December 3 as International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) to affirm the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities, and increase awareness of the challenges persons with disabilities encounter from the every day to the larger political, social and cultural.

This year’s theme for IDPD is: “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.” An important aspect of realizing this theme is talking about and understanding ableism.
 

The Impact of Ableism on Persons with Disabilities

To kick off IDPD at Holland Bloorview, Holland Bloorview’s executive lead of equity, diversity and inclusion, and co-chair, inclusion, diversity, equity & accessibility (IDEA) Taskforce, Meenu Sikand, and clinical bioethicist, vice-chair, research ethics board, and lead, youth engagement strategy, Dolly Menna-Dack are hosting “The Impact of Ableism on Persons with Disabilities” – a virtual lunch and learn about ableism in the workplace and career development alongside a panel of disability rights advocates. 

Date: December 3, 2021
Time: 1:00-2:00 P.M. ET
Format: Join us on Zoom

No registration required! Please reach out to idea@hollandbloorview.ca if you require any accommodations or assistance to participate.

Earlier this year, Holland Bloorview launched the fifth iteration of our Dear Everybody campaign with powerful conversation starters, inspired by the kids and youth we serve, in an effort to talk about and #EndAbleism. In a society that predominantly favours those who don’t live with a disability, it’s important we start talking about it to pave the way for a more inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world as highlighted in this year’s IDPD theme.

“It’s important on this day and every day to engage in conversations that help promote inclusion and accessibility for all people with disabilities and remove stigma,” says Meenu Sikand. “Our government has come a long way in establishing laws and human rights codes fortifying their determination to make this country one that is more accessible to all. However, unless society’s attitude changes as to how disability is viewed using an ableism lens, our dream of creating an inclusive and accessible world will never become a reality.”

Get to know our speakers

Tim Rose, Senior Consultant, Accessibility, CIBC Client Experience Team

Tim Rose was born with spastic quadriplegia and grew up going to Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Over 20 years later, he’s now the Senior Consultant of the Client Experience Team at CIBC, with a focus on accessibility. He is able to give back through the hospital’s Capes for Kids campaign, a fundraiser that rallies thousands together to wear their capes across the city and raise funds for kids and youth with disabilities.

Ahsan Musavi, Holland Bloorview alumni and foundation development officer, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation

Ahsan is an athlete with a disability who has been a soccer player for the past 15 years. He followed his love and passion for sports in his education and is a graduate from Brock University Sports Management program. Ahsan has experience delivering inclusive programs to athletes of all abilities with Special Olympics Ontario and Jays Care Foundation. More recently, he is the stewardship officer at the Holland Bloorview Foundation. Ahsan shares his knowledge as an athletes with a disability, reflecting on ableism at his school, soccer pitch and in his workplace.

Jeffrey Man, inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) coordinator and Holland Bloorview alumni

Jeffrey is a former Holland Bloorview client and currently works on the IDEA team. He has supported projects related to policy development, professional education and external advocacy. In addition to his work at the hospital, Jeffrey serves on the Special Education Advisory Committee at the York Catholic District School Board and on the Board of Directors at Easter Seals Ontario.

In his spare time, Jeffrey likes to read, watch documentaries, and hop on the latest Toronto sports bandwagon.