Disability Issues

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.

If you are reading this, you probably have a job. But in Canada, for the 2,457,350 potential labour force participants with disabilities (ages  15  to  64),  employment  is  fraught  with  barriers and uncertainties.

Every day, millions of Canadians board a plane, train, bus or subway car. Yet for people with disabilities, the lack of accessible transportation has long been a flashpoint.

From time to time, an ETFO member on long-term disability will be approached by the insurance company with an offer of a one-time lump sum payment in settlement of her or his ongoing claim for monthly LTD benefits.  This  may seem like an enticing offer, and you may want to leap at the

Though an ETFO member living with multiple sclerosis or depression may beg to differ, there are signs that as a society our collective awareness of disability issues has  risen. One reason is the simple fact that we have far better information today than we did a decade ago.

1. Current practice

Every now and then, the long journey toward an inclusive Ontario gets just a bit shorter, and the following story illustrates how that can happen. It features two  protagonists, and at first glance the power imbalance  between  the two appears insurmountable.

As the  2007–08  federation  year  gets  into  full swing, both the provincial office and ETFO locals will begin planning and holding numerous conferences and meetings.