Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Minutes of the November 8^th, 2006, BC-PSAC HRC Meeting

• Chair: Carol Pegura
• Minutes: Kim Forster
• Food: Tracey
• Staff Rep: Monica Urrutia
• In Attendance: Tracey, Rhonda, Carol, Deanna, Kim, Craig, Vicki [Hugo], Joanne, Marshall, Ethel, Diane, Linda, Sanda, Floyd (on teleconference).
• Guest Speakers: Harry Monk - Director BC Region of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Rhonda Brain - PSAC member,Paul Tubbe - City of Vancouver Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Continue reading below, or download BC Human Rights Committee minutes, Nomember 8 2006 (.pdf)

Speakers on Disability Issues

1. Harry Monk

Introduced himself as the long standing Director of the BC branch of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. He spoke very candidly and with a very positive attitude about his personal journey having been born blind. His early years were based in Winnipeg with his family and on reaching school age he was sent to Ontario to attend a residential school for the blind and visually impaired. Although he describes his years at residential school as a “good experience” he said that he did not escape the psychological scars that came from limited socialization and interaction. At that time it was difficult to get material in a format which was readable. This has become an ongoing challenge for Harry throughout his life. Accessible resources always seemed to be an afterthought which required activism and requests in order for its production. Harry developed his social, business, and communication expertise primarily through work with his family’s business. He pursued advanced education in the early 1990s which meant hiring a reader and a researcher to do what a sighted person would take for granted. In 1996 he returned to the CHRC in Vancouver and has been either Acting Director or Director ever since.

Today there is good news and bad news for the blind and visually impaired. The good news is all of the technological advances in software, hardware and internet access which brings unprecedented access to information. The bad news is that technicians continue to build without contemplating universal access initially. It continues to be incumbent on the blind or visually impaired person to advocate on their own behalf when it should be an automatic consideration as new technology is advanced.

Harry left us with some insight into Canadian attitudes on blindness and visual impairment and it is interesting to hear that losing one’s sight is one of the most dreaded challenges facing people today.

Harry’s speech was a very informative, candid, and educational presentation which left us all much more aware of the challenges and the possibilities for the blind and the visually impaired. We now know that we must all advocate for universal access to information and tech advances to provide an inclusive world.

2. Rhonda Brain

Rhonda spoke to us as a person with a learning disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], amongst other unspecified disabilities. Rhonda is an excellent speaker about her journey living with these challenges. She has faced adversity and met it head on with a positive spirit and attitude. Many co-workers and people in general don’t know how to approach or interact with Rhonda and her uniqueness but as Rhonda has stated this is not her problem it is the other person’s problem. People who see and hear beyond the initial contact find that Rhonda just processes information in her mind in a different manner. Her insight, knowledge and research skills are very deep and when the employer matches the job tasks with the skills base it is a good, productive outcome for both.

Rhonda was very candid about her own experience at her current employer. When she first went there from another federal government department she was treated in a very inhumane, insensitive and unprofessional manner. The employer failed to see the value and skills that Rhonda brought with her. They refused to accommodate the different learning methods. Rhonda was forced to file a human rights complaint with the CHRC and she demonstrated her great strength of character and ability by seeing that complaint all the way through to a successful conclusion. The pursuit of this complaint has forced her employer to become well informed about their legal duties to accommodate disabilities. Through Rhonda’s perseverance she has improved the workplace for all other employees with disabilities who require accommodation. The years it took for her complaint to go through its process were challenging, sometimes frightening and character building for Rhonda. She has taught the employer and many employees that treating employees with humanity and understanding is the proven method for success in the workplace.

Rhonda offered to other PSAC members that they could contact her for support and or guidance with their challenges with accommodation which is very much appreciated.

Contact: kokeas@shaw.ca

3. Paul Tubbe

Paul presented a very insightful and thought provoking presentation. He spoke to us as an inspirational speaker who happens to be mobility impaired [wheelchair] and a person of first nations in Central America descent. Paul spoke about his belief about disability in the community and the workplace. He believes in a holistic approach to social interaction which should be extended into the workplace. The work has to be done but it should be done in a fair, compassionate and inclusive manner.

Model of key beliefs: (please refer to .pdf version of minutes for chart)

The ideal is the purposeful interdependence being the most inclusive, fair and respectful community. Interdependence being mutual interest without control. In the workplace this would translate into everyone working towards getting the job done in a cooperative, inclusive and respectful manner.

Paul’s presentation was very insightful, progressive and inclusive.

Business Portion of Meeting

1] Jennie announced that the December 8^th meeting on Diversity will be held at the Maritime Labour Centre starting at 5:15 - 5:30. There will be speakers and a traditional Turkey dinner served. Tickets are $18 per person and open to all staff or members of the PSAC.

2] Tracey moved that the BC-PSC HRC contribute $400 towards the Human Rights Event which would pay for the HRC members attending.

Kim seconded. Approved.

3] The January 9^th meeting will be a planning meeting for the year. Kay Sinclair will be attending to present her vision for the Region for 2007.

Adjourned