The Human Rights Commission reports that a board of inquiry will commence on Monday, July 29, 2002, into a complaint filed with the commission against the Department of Health and Community Services.

Gloria Sparkes of St. John�s filed a complaint with the commission in October 2000 alleging discrimination in the provision of a service on the basis of mental disability. Mrs. Sparkes filed the complaint on behalf of her grandson, Brandon Sparkes, who was diagnosed with autism in September 2000. In her complaint, Mrs. Sparkes says Brandon was referred for the Applied Behavioural Analysis Program. The treating physician advised that this was the program of preference and that early intervention was critical. When Mrs. Sparkes approached the respondent to have her grandson enrolled in the program, she was advised the program was full and there were several people on the wait list ahead of her grandson. Mrs. Sparkes alleged this denial of services constituted discrimination contrary to the Human Rights Code.

The complaint was not resolved during the investigation and on March 29, 2001, the commission ordered the appointment of a board of inquiry. While Brandon Sparkes has since been accepted into the Applied Behavioural Analysis Program, the complainant is of the opinion that the wait constituted discrimination and the commission agreed to proceed with the board of inquiry.

The hearing into this complaint, which is open to the public, is scheduled to commence at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, July 29, at the Airport Plaza Hotel, Airport Road, St. John�s. Valerie Marshall, adjudicator, will hear the complaint. Barry Fleming will present the complaint on behalf of the commission.

Media contact:

Gladys Vivian
Executive Director
Human Rights Commission
P. O. Box 8700
St. John�s, Newfoundland
A1B 4J6
Phone: (709) 729-2709
Toll Free: 1-800-563-5808

2002 07 26                               11:05 a.m.