Health policy

Equity in access and use of rehabilitation services in Canada

Two Canadians, equal under the law. Only one gets rehabilitation services. What gives? By Nivetha Chandran, rehabinkmag February 4, 2021 To answer this question, we must start by understanding what the Canadian healthcare system is … READ MORE

Caring for children and youth with special health care needs during the COVID-19 pandemic

As COVID-19 continues to spread, children and youth with special health care needs may be at increased risk for complications. This includes children with chronic conditions, disabilities, and those with medically complex conditions. … READ MORE

Capital funding of health care in Canada is critical, yet declined in last 20 years

Capital funding of health care, used to build new hospitals, redesign or upgrade existing facilities and invest in new technologies, has declined in Canada over the last 20 years, according to an analysis in CMAJ Canadian Medical … READ MORE

Parents caring for children with disabilities have some advice

Families share experiences of living through the pandemic and what help they still need. Melissa Alcala and her three-year-old son Gavin at their home in Alhambra, CA on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, Resolve … READ MORE

People with disabilities excluded from re-opening plans, advocates warn

People with disabilities have been shut out of the conversation as Canadians plan to return to school, work and play, further jeopardizing their health and safety in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, advocates warn. The woman in the … READ MORE

CBC asks how the pandemic is changing the workplace for people with disabilities

Join the conversation Friday at 1 pm ET on Facebook Live, hosted by CBC London’s Chris dela Torre. Today’s workplace is evolving with more people in home offices and technology playing a bigger role. What does that mean … READ MORE

A deep dive into Alberta’s COVID-19 numbers

Your pandemic questions answered in a CBC Calgary Facebook Live panel discussion. Missed the discussion? Watch our panel take your COVID-19 questions as case numbers spike in Alberta.1:01:02 CBC CBC News Calgary November 10, 2020 With … READ MORE

New research documents how COVID-19 multiplies stress and trauma for people with disabilities

The COVID-19 pandemic has induced stress in everyone this year, but for those marginalized by disabilities, and especially those already dealing with social inequity and poverty, the pandemic has dealt additional blows. Anjali … READ MORE

Schools get creative in serving preschoolers with special needs

A 3-year-old boy plays with toys as he is evaluated by Julie Patterson, a speech language pathologist, left, Dr. Kristen Warzon, a school psychologist, center, and Tracy Greulich, an early childhood special educator, during an outdoor … READ MORE

Are local shutdowns effective, or should COVID-19 lockdowns be in lockstep provincewide?

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and Education Minister Stephen Lecce, right, on July 30, 2020, before announcing the government’s plan for reopening schools in the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian Press, Nathan … READ MORE

Pandemic pushes parents of kids with special needs to breaking point

Lilian Ansari of Oakland with her husband Saied, daughter Atrina, 11, and son Ardalon, 15, on vacation before the pandemic. Life has become very stressful for the Ansaris since stay-at-home orders began and the children, who … READ MORE

Families, advocates of students with disabilities seek clarity in school reopening plans

Additional funding urged along with comprehensive plans and clear directives. Students with disabilities face extra complications heading back to school in a pandemic, including how to access support services, and parents say more … READ MORE

Why Indigenous communities seeing few cases of COVID-19

Indigenous communities have fared better than the rest of Canada in the first wave of the pandemic despite facing major challenges to infectious disease control. Canadian Medical Association Journal by Jolene Banning, Canadian Medical … READ MORE

PSW shortage stranding patients in hospital

Nearly 2 years after minor surgery, Maria Konopeskas just wants to get home. Maria Konopeskas was admitted to hospital for relatively minor surgery in November 2017. She’s still there. Jean Delisle CBC Laurie Fagan, CBC News … READ MORE

Child care after the pandemic should be more inclusive of children with disabilities

Across Canada, some provinces have either opened or are looking at opening their child-care centres again following pandemic closures. But all families do not have the same opportunity to participate in early childhood education and … READ MORE

Keep an eye on the numbers – COVID-19 in Alberta

Here are the latest COVID-19 statistics for Alberta — and what they mean. ‘I don’t want to die yet. I’d like to live to be 100,’ says Louise Smyth, 97. She received her first COVID-19 vaccine in Calgary in March. AHS … READ MORE

Pandemic upends the lives of people with disabilities — and of their caregivers

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Stacy Ellingen, 34, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, lost two of the three caregivers she depends on to dress, shower, eat and use the bathroom. The caregivers — both University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh students … READ MORE

The military provides health care to its members, but not their families

Many health care providers are unaware that military families are divided in the way they access health care—that is to say, each family is divided. Caring for Military Families in the Patient’s Medical Home, PDF © The College of … READ MORE

What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta – May 2020 Archive

AHS phone line staffed by occupational therapists and physiotherapists. A new advice line set up to help Albertans with physical disabilities and injuries connect with rehabilitation advice during the pandemic is believed to be the … READ MORE

Calgary mother worries some disabled Albertans are being overlooked during pandemic

Alberta’s single site restriction doesn’t apply to health-care aides working in people’s homes. Laverne Bissky and her husband made the decision years ago to take care of their 24-year-old daughter Kasenya Bissky, … READ MORE

Kids with disabilities face health risks and marginalization under COVID-19

COVID-19 has been disruptive to all families, a McMaster University professor says, but the effects of school closures, medical equipment shortages and social distancing are further amplified for families of children with … READ MORE

Disabled people marginalised by paperwork and programmes which aim to help them

Disabled people face being marginalised by the very programmes that are designed to help them. Research shows disabled people face being marginalized by the very programs that are designed to help them. Projects and welfare systems … READ MORE

In Canada, Albertans wary of ‘big brother’ with use of COVID-19 digital-tracing app

More users needed: Lessons from Alberta’s coronavirus contact tracing app. Alberta released its contact tracing app, ABTraceTogether, last week. But early uptake figures and a key design quirk show how challenging it will be for … READ MORE

Staff restrictions, lack of PPE endangering Albertans with disabilities

Help accessing personal protective equipment is on the way, says Alberta Health Services. ‘We feel forgotten’: Disability community overlooked during COVID-19, families say. Government of Alberta says its working with … READ MORE

What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta – April 2020 Archive

Beltline urges city to make walking ‘safe and comfortable’ with physical distancing. Beltline residents say walking with physical distancing at peak times is difficult. Helen Pike CBC CBC News Calgary April 30, 2020 ▽ … READ MORE

Malcolm Gladwell has no doubt science will lead us out of pandemic, but worries about ‘the human part’

COVID-19 could be ‘shock to the system’ that leads to social change: author. Author Malcom Gladwell says we don’t all have ‘the same stake’ in the pandemic, and it’s important we recognize the vulnerable … READ MORE

Funding flexibility offered for Alberta children with special needs during COVID-19

Routine changes have been especially challenging for families of children with special needs. Angela Bladon said it’s been a struggle to provide the proper supports to her two special needs children since in-school classes were … READ MORE

What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta – March 2020 Archive

A man uses a hand sanitizer station at the Eaton Centre amid coronavirus fears spreading in Toronto on Saturday, March 14, 2020. Carlos Osorio, Canadian Press CBC News Calgary March 31, 2020 ▽ Table of Contents Keep an eye on the … READ MORE

It can be very taxing on families: New study reflects unmet needs of Canadian caregivers

1 in 4 Canadians provide care to a family member or friend – StatsCan report. Of those surveyed by Statistics Canada for a report released in January 2020, nearly 70 per cent of caregivers who had received some type of support … READ MORE

New smartphone app gives Albertans access to virtual health care during COVID-19 pandemic

Babylon mobile app allows you to check symptoms, consult with doctors. Using Babylon, an app developed by Telus Health, patients can have one-to-one video consultations with doctors, with the cost of those virtual visits covered by … READ MORE

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