Paladin Advocacy League Meeting Saturday May 29 Vancouver BC

Are these words true for you?

Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

- Section 15(1) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Lack of effective public policy and political will has allowed Canadian institutions at all levels to deny Canadians with disabilities equal access to full citizenship as guaranteed in our Charter. Despite what our politicians tell us and the rest of the world, systemic discrimination is an everyday reality in Canada for most of us living with a disability. 

The way to right this wrong is through real advocacy, political will and law.

The Paladin Advocacy League ( PAL ) is a recently formed, not-for-profit society which advocates for public policy changes which will provide Canadians with disabilities equal access to the equality provisions of our Charter. Actions speak louder than words.

We intend to put our founding principles into action by advocating for:

1. Public policy changes which will put the equality provisions of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into practical force and effect for all British Columbians with a disability.

2. Portable, consumer-driven, individualized funding for British Columbians with disabilities.

3. Government-funded legal counsel for test cases.

Canadians with disabilities are also Canadian citizens with the responsibility to vote and make clear to our politicians and public servants that it is nothing more than reasonable to expect equal rights in Canada in the 21st century.

We want to meet with you to talk, listen, discuss, plan, laugh and, of course, eat cookies! Coffee will also be served. Everyone is welcome, particularly Canadians with disabilities, their families and supporters. Please meet with the Board of PAL on:

Saturday May 29th, 2010 from 1:30 to 3:30pm

COLLINGWOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE

Multi-purpose room, 1st floor

5288 JOYCE STREET

Vancouver, BC

RSVP

To: palsharks@yahoo.ca

Or call Paul Caune (604-928-1644)

Or Visit our Facebook Group Page: Pal the Paladin Advocacy League

Medicare for Autism Now Rally March 2 - Burnaby

"Medicare for Autism Now!" Rally

Sunday, March 2^nd, 2008

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

6450 Deer Lake Avenue

Burnaby

Why should you attend?

Despite a decade of lobbying, collaborating and litigating – autism treatment is still excluded from our universal health care system. Canadian families are still bankrupting themselves in order to provide treatment for their autistic children.

The current and limited funding provided through the provincial government’s social services ministries could evaporate tomorrow with the stroke of a bureaucrat’s pen. No legislation exists within these ministries to protect or enshrine our children’s medically necessary treatment.

In 30 years of "advocacy", the only two initiatives which have achieved ANY success for our children and families has been litigation, and more recently, focused political action. Both were brought by the members of FEAT of BC – a 100% volunteer organization.

Autism is an epidemic of staggering proportions, it now afflicts one in every 150 children in North America, one in every 94 boys. It is time for the Federal Government to act! We need to let those who govern and those who wish to govern that they are going to be held accountable at the ballot box in the next federal election.

Who should attend?

You - and every fair-minded Canadian you know!

Children with autism suffer from political indifference. It will take the sustained energy and dedication of EVERY CANADIAN who desires a just society to correct this injustice. For our children’s sakes, and the sake of future generations, we urge you to attend this rally. Please bring friends, family, anyone and everyone you know who is appalled by the gross injustice done to our children every day by the governments of Canada and its provinces.

Featured speakers will include:

Dr. Sabrina Freeman – Executive Director, FEAT of BC and parent

Jean Lewis – Director, FEAT of BC and parent

David Chan – Director, Autism Society of BC, FEAT of BC and parent

Dubravka Skrijelj – FEAT of BC member and parent

Dr. Glen Davies – Clinical Director - ABLE Developmental Clinic

Beverley Sharpe – FEAT of BC member and parent

Louise Witt – Director, Autism Society of BC, FEAT of BC and parent

David Marley – FEAT of BC member and Political Strategist

Please RSVP to www. featbc.org and forward this notice to anyone you think will be interested.

FEAT of BC: " To see justice is done"

autism

Blogging Beautiful New Brunswick

I am very happy to live in New Brunswick. For many reasons.

The fight for advances for autistic children and adults is a difficult one at the best of times but civility, as is keeping with life in New Brunswick, almost always prevails. Another valuable part of living in New Brunswick is the sheer beauty of our province. The New Brunswick Blog Roll lists several photo sites which focus on New Brunswick's beauty and they are always worth taking time to view. In no particular order, some of these sites which I visit are:

Bay of Fundy Blog http://bayoffundy.blogspot.com/

Photos: Varying Seasons http://varyingseasons.blogspot.com/

New Brunswick Photos http://photosofnb.blogspot.com/

Oromocto Watershed http://oromoctowatershed.blogspot.com/

ERIC CARR photography http://eric-carr-photography.blogspot.com/

Nature Tales and Camera Trails http://naturetales.blogspot.com/

A few of my amateur photos from the Fredericton area, Nashwaaksis actually, are set out above. (Click to enlarge)