Disability Issues

You may not have a disability now but you will probably have one eventually. That makes persons with disabilities “the minority of everyone,” says David Lepofsky.

Surveillance  is one of the tools an insurance carrier may sometimes use  in  assessing a claim for  long-term disability (LTD) benefits. This is not a new practice nor is it illegal. But did you know that the personal information  you  share  over various Internet social networks may also be use

On March 17, 2008, Peter Hughes went to vote in a federal by-election. The polling  station was located down a  long flight of stairs. The solution?

To an  individual  with  a  disability,  the workplace can sometimes seem a  hostile place.  Yet   real  gains   have  been  made in   disability-related  employment law  in recent years, through new legislation, changes to existing statutes, and individual cases that have resulted in  groundbrea

At  this  time of  year summer seems far away; but it  is  not  too  early to  start thinking  about ETFO’s  annual meeting.

Does  a  parent who  is  blind  have  the right to bring a  guide dog into school on  “meet  the  teacher” night, even  if the  teacher is  allergic to  dogs? If  an elevator will be closed for maintenance, must the board inform potential users?

There  is  no  denying  that  work-related stress is  on  the  rise  among  classroom teachers.  Ontario   Teachers’  Insurance Plan statistics show that stress and mental health illnesses make up 39 percent of all claims for long-term disability.

With the economy contracting, we are  likely  to  see  the  resurrection of the myth that accessibility is  just too costly. In  fact, most workplace barriers to full participation could be eliminated with little or no cost attached.

Members  with  disabilities  want nothing  more  than  the  opportunity to do their jobs – just like any other school board employee. It really is that  simple.