Human Resources, Labour and
Employment
November 27, 2009
Minister Announces
Appointments to the Provincial Advisory Council
for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
The Honourable Susan
Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and
Employment, today announced appointments to the newly
established Provincial Advisory Council for the
Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.
"As minister responsible
for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, I am
excited to lead groundbreaking initiatives like the
establishment of a Provincial Advisory Council for the
Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities," said Minister
Sullivan. "The first council is comprised of 17 members
with cross-disability representation from all regions of
the province. Members of the council have demonstrated
leadership in the advancement of people with
disabilities and will be instrumental in achieving
inclusion in all aspects of society in the province."
The following individuals
have been appointed to the council: Len Baker, Carmel
Casey, Elizabeth Chaulk, Delia Connell, Sheryl (Sherry)
Gamin-Walsh, Dennis Gill, Lynn Green, Oswald Gould, Joan
Karmazyn, Joanne MacDonald, Raymond McIssac, Leon Mills,
Ian Murley, Myles Murphy, Karen Ann Parsons, Susan
Ralph, and Karen Westcott.
Joanne MacDonald has been
named chair of the new Provincial Advisory Council. Ms.
MacDonald is a member of the Order of Newfoundland and
Labrador and an officer of the Order of Canada. She has
established national and world records in wheelchair
sports and has over 25 years experience as a community
activist promoting equality for people with
disabilities.
"I am delighted to accept
the appointment as chair of the Provincial Advisory
Council for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities,�
said Ms. MacDonald. �I look forward to working with
council members from across the province, and
collectively providing advice on how our province can
become truly inclusive. By working together, this
council, the minister responsible, the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador and its public service, has
the capacity and opportunity to make a real difference
for people who have disabilities and our communities."
The Provincial Advisory
Council will advise and inform the minister responsible
for the Status of Persons with Disabilities on important
matters relating to persons with disabilities. The
council will also advise the Provincial Government as it
develops policies, programs, strategies and
recommendations to advance the inclusion of persons with
disabilities. In addition, the council will work in
consultation with persons with disabilities, their
advocates, educational institutions, employers and all
levels of government. The first meeting of the council
will take place early in the new year.
�The community is really
pleased to see this initiative move forward,� said Susan
Ralph, chair of the Coalition of Persons with
Disabilities. �It is a truly important initiative and we
look forward to working with the new council.�
�Having access to a
variety of perspectives from the community of persons
with disabilities is essential as we develop
comprehensive strategies to address barriers and achieve
inclusion throughout government programs, policies and
initiatives," noted Minister Sullivan. "I strongly
believe this new Provincial Advisory Council will affect
positive change and build a stronger relationship
between the Provincial Government and citizens with
disabilities."
- 30 -
Media contacts:
Jennifer Collingwood
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and
Employment
709-729-0753, 690-2498
jennifercollingwood@gov.nl.ca
|
Joanne MacDonald
Chair, Provincial Advisory Council for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
709-576-0303
jmacdonald@nl.rogers.com
|
Susan Ralph
Chair
Coalition of Persons with Disabilities
709-683-0257 |
|
BACKGROUNDER
Appointments to the Provincial Advisory Council for
the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
The Provincial Advisory
Council for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
is comprised of 17 community leaders from across the
province. The council is cross-disability. Appointments
include Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who have
disabilities, including mobility, sensory (vision,
hearing), intellectual, mental health and people with
multiple disabilities. It also includes family members
and others who have expertise in the area of inclusion.
The council's membership
reflects a balance of women and men who live in rural
and urban locations throughout the province.
Joanne MacDonald,
Chair
Joanne MacDonald is a member of the Order of
Newfoundland and Labrador and an officer of the Order of
Canada. She has established national and world records
in wheelchair sports and has over 25 years experience as
a community activist promoting equality for people with
disabilities.
Len Baker
Len Baker is the executive director of the Canadian
National Institute for the Blind with 18 years
experience in the vision loss field. He is chair of the
Provincial Vision Health and Rehabilitation Committees,
current member of the Buildings Accessibility Advisory
Board and past member of the College of the North
Atlantic Advisory Committee.
Carmel Casey
Carmel Casey is a family doctor and is active with
Special Olympics and the Victorian Order of Nurses
Broadening Horizons program.
Elizabeth Chaulk
Elizabeth Chaulk is the associate vice-president and
responsible for Disability Services of the College of
the North Atlantic. She is also past chair and current
member of both the Newfoundland and Labrador Regional
Economic Development Association and Red Ochre Regional
Economic Development Board, a well as a member of the
provincial Conservation Corps Board.
Delia Connell
Delia Connell is a social worker and is active with the
Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Community
Living. She is vice-president of Children�s and
Community Services with Labrador Grenfell Health and has
worked with a variety of community groups with close to
30 years experience working with individuals with
disabilities.
Sheryl (Sherry)
Gamin-Walsh
Sherry Gamin-Walsh is a registered nurse and member of
the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community
Living. She is also a board member of both provincial
and national autism societies, and other local community
boards.
Dennis Gill
Dennis Gill is a retired high school administrator and
is active with numerous community initiatives.
Lynn Green
Lynn Green is chair of the Learning Disabilities
Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, national chair
of the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, a
board member of the Community Services Council, and is
on the College of the North Atlantic Advisory Committee.
Oswald Gould
Oswald Gould is a retired special needs teacher and is
active with the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of
Community Living.
Joan Karmazyn
Joan Karmazyn has 35 years experience working in the
mental health field and is active with provincial and
national organizations for mental health as a consumer
advocate.
Raymond McIsaac
Raymond McIsaac is past chair of the Newfoundland and
Labrador Association for Community Living and is active
with numerous local, provincial and national initiatives
for inclusion.
Leon Mills
Leon Mills has worked in the hard of hearing sector for
15 years. He is the executive director of the Canadian
Hard of Hearing Association Newfoundland and Labrador,
co-chair of Marine Atlantic�s Accessibility Committee,
chair of the College of North Atlantic Disability
Services Committee and co-chair of the Appeals Board for
Accessibility.
Ian Murley
Ian Murley is a recent business graduate and is
vice-president internal (Newfoundland and Labrador
representative) with the National Educational
Associations of Disabled Students.
Myles Murphy
Myles Murphy is active with local provincial and
national associations for the deaf as well as the
Independent Living Resource Centre, Coalition of Persons
with Disabilities-Newfoundland and Labrador, and the
Mayor�s Advisory Committee.
Karen Ann Parsons
Karen Ann Parsons is executive director of the
Consumers� Health Awareness Network Newfoundland and
Labrador and is active with advisory committees for both
Western and Eastern Health Boards, as well as other
community boards focusing on mental health.
Susan Ralph
Susan Ralph has 16 years experience in the disability
community and is the current chairperson of the
Coalition of Persons with Disabilities-Newfoundland and
Labrador, a member at large on the executive committee
of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, and past
chair of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Karen Westcott
Karen Westcott is active with local, provincial and
national organizations including the Independent Living
Resource Centre, People First, Newfoundland and Labrador
Association for Community Living, and Coalition of
Persons with Disabilities-Newfoundland and Labrador.
2009 11 27
9:15 a.m.
|