Insurance companies can make it difficult to start receiving long-term disability (LTD) benefits. The claims process is intimidating, especially for people coping with a physical or psychological disability. As an LTD lawyer who used to work for insurance companies, but now advocates for disabled individuals, I believe this is all by design. Insurers make […]

Africa, Misc., June 12 2021 The launch of the National Disability Policy by President Mnangagwa  has been hailed as a historic development in addressing the rights and welfare of persons living with disabilities. The President launched the NDP jointly with the Labour Migration Policy at the Harare International Conference Centre. Senate representative for people living […]

There’s a renewed call today for greater protections for the many British Columbians with a hidden disability. As Kylie Stanton reports, those with learning disabilities say they’re being left out simply because their condition is not as obvious.

May 30 to June 5 marks National AccessAbility Week, which acknowledges and celebrates contributions made by Canadians with disabilities, the removal of barriers to accessibly and inclusion, and the work to oppose discrimination against those with a disability. Diane Kotkas, director of DaCapo Disability Services with Lethbridge Family Services, said it’s important to see […]

COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on persons with disabilities and has shed light on the number of Canadians that continue to face barriers to being fully included in their communities and workplaces. One of the many ways the Government of Canada is taking action to break down those barriers is through funding programs like […]

There are many things in life people take for granted, such as having automatic doors open in front of you, going to a public toilet or even driving a car. Key points: The short-statured community calls for better NDIS recognition  Sydney woman Sarah Keenahan cannot modify her car without funding, but the NDIA says she’s not […]

Citing a pre-existing condition is often a way for an insurance company to try to avoid paying long-term disability benefits. Insurers rely on exclusions in policies that essentially say you cannot receive benefits if you suffer from a pre-existing condition. This is usually defined as a condition for which you previously received treatment that is […]

When Tracy Odell experienced bleeding in her stomach last summer during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, she went to hospital but vowed she would not return. “I don’t feel safe in hospitals and a lot of people with disabilities similar to mine, where you need this much assistance, don’t feel safe in […]

Having an incurable neurological disorder limits Kevin Cook’s mobility but not his aspirations. Since his diagnosis in 2009, the former surfer has become a historic preservation advocate, coauthored a book about the Cooper River, and had an essay, Finding Zen, published in Brain & Life magazine. He described rediscovering the joy he had known as […]

A New Brunswick mother whose son with disabilities went missing from his school says she is planning to file a formal complaint against the school and the district. Jacqueline Petricca of Bouctouche, N.B. says she is still shaken up over what happened to her son at Blanche-Bourgeois School last month. “It was the most […]