Championing Accessibility, Celebrating Diversity

The Persons Living with Disability(ies) Advisory Work Group (PLDAWG), has been working hard this year to raise awareness and bring an active voice forward within OSSTF/FEESO. Our diverse group is comprised of 9 Federation members who live with disabilities and represent a wide array of physical and/or mental disabilities. Bringing this lived experience and abilities-focused lens to discussions, allows us to look at materials, actions, and learning within OSSTF/FEESO in a more fulsome inclusionary, equitable, and diverse way ensuring we are “Championing Accessibility, Celebrating Diversity.” Currently, we are working on the areas where the Provincial Executive has asked for our advice such as:

• OSSTF/FEESO is currently reviewing and researching potential partnerships with organizations that have a demonstrated focus on accessibility and alignment with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards;
• how OSSTF/FEESO can support the work of the AODA Alliance (https://www.aodaalliance.org/), which “is a disability consumer advocacy group that works to support the full and effective implementation of accessibility standards in Ontario”;
• exploring the work the AODA Alliance is doing to determine the value for our members; and
• the specific financial and resource costs should OSSTF/FEESO decide to become part of the AODA Alliance.

We will continue working with other historically marginalized groups to examine AODA compliance within OSSTF/FEESO as it relates to the Provincial Standing Committee and Council application process. Championing Accessibility, Celebrating Diversity Ableism is the discrimination and prejudice against individuals with disabilities, often based on the belief that non-disabled people are superior or more valuable. It’s a system of oppression that assumes non-disabled standards are the norm and that those who deviate from them are less worthy or capable. Persons Living with Disability(ies) Advisory Work Group Members (PLDAWG) The PLDAWG is made up of a diverse group of individuals who have the following disabilities below.  To highlight the beautiful array of diverse disabilities, please enjoy learning more about the disability, and see which famous Canadians are championing greater accessibility and informing fans in the process.

Disability	Famous Canadian Living With Disability
ASD	Actor Dan Aykroyd – Asperger’s diagnosis. Artist and author Benjamin Lachapelle – an autistic Canadian. Autism CanTech! Centre Manager – Jenna Gauthier Autistic Advocate Rebekah Kintzinger  The ASD Band, consisting of musicians Rawan Tuffaha, Jackson Begley, Spenser Murray, and Ron Adea
ADHD	Actor – Howie Mandel Actor and screenwriter – Patrick McKenna Other Canadians – Tazz Norris, Rick Green, Simon Rakoff, Zoe Kessler
OCD	Actor – Howie Mandel CBC Radio Host – Trevor Dineen Writer & Performer – Brendan McLeod
GAD	Actor – Ryan Reynolds Author & Social Media Personality – Kelly Oxford Supermodel – Chrissy Teigen
UAD	Actor – Michael J Fox Actor & Comedian – Jim Carrey
WSD	1st Woman Electrical Engineering Degree recipient – Elsie MacGill Business Leader – Tim Rose Actor – Dan Aykroyd
PTSD	UN Peacekeeper & Canadian Military Officer – Romeo Dallaire Olympic Figure Skater – Elizabeth Manley Retired Sniper – Sheldon Roberts
APD	CBC Journalist – Jessica Sunter  Author – Robyn Young
HOH	Actor – William Shatner Celebrity – Stephen Colbert
Deaf	Actress – Christine Lynn Firkins Actor – Leslie Nielsen
TMD (TMJ)	Canadian Broadcaster – Zoe Ball Rapper – Iggy Azalea
TN	Actor – Salman Khan Actor – George Clooney
PD	Actor – Michael J. Fox News Anchor – Knowlton Nash
LD	NHL Player – Steve Begin Actor – Keanu Reeves Comedian – Phil Hanley
MCS	Podcaster – Renu Bakshi Author – Varda Burstyn
MS	Rock Musician – Aaron Solowoniuk (Founding member of Billy Talent Band)
TBI	Singer – Kiesza Advocate – Rob Staffen Photographer – Chandra Grovers Making The Invisible Visible – 9 survivors’ stories
Neuropathy	Actor – Jerry Mathers
Brain Fog	CBC Journalist – Jennifer Moss
Migraines	Hockey Player – Nolan Patrick Singer-Songwriter – Jethro Tull Actress – Kristin Chenoweth
Aneurysms	Musician – Joni Mitchell News Personality – Roxanne Beaubien
Hemochromatosis	Champion Footballer – Andy Ross Founder of Canadian Hemochromatosis Society – Marie Warder
cirrhosis	Nursing Veteran – Khirsty Blogger – Kerry Sivia
diabetes	Country Music Star – George Canyon Endurance Athlete – Sébastien Sasseville Musician – Neil Young
keratoconus	Baseball Player – Tommy Pham Writer and playwright – Graham Isador
dupuytren’s contracture	Pianist André Gagnon NFL Legend John Elway Ex-Rangers star Ally McCoist
Mental Health	Musician – Leonard Cohen Celebrity – Howie Mandel Award Winning Journalist – Moira Farr (schizophrenia)
Cancer	Actor – James Van Der Beek (colorectal cancer) Bassist for Hedley – Tommy Mac Supermodel – Janice Dickinson (breast cancer)
Autoimmune Conditions	Actor, Writer, Director – Megan Park (rheumatoid arthritis) Lead singer of Imagine Dragons – Dan Reynolds (ankylosing spondylitis (AS))  Comedian – Kristen Johnston (lupus myelitis)