WEBVTT

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Hello! This is DeafDots, 
10 May 2024. 

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Bringing alerts & news reports at 
intervals for all Deaf Canadians. 

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Don’t forget to subscribe, 
like, and follow 

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DeafDots to get 
new video updates! 

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[ANSELMO]: In the new federal budget
 for 2024, advocacy groups across Canada 

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are disappointed 
with the maximum benefit 

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of the new Canada Disability Benefit 
being set at $2,400 per year.

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We, the CDGM team have been
 keeping close eye on progress 

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with the Canada Disability Benefit 
(CDB). We looked to CDB and 

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its progress being proposed and 
dropped then resubmitted again, 

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and the many meetings with different 
consultants, with different 

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MPs across Canada discussing it. 
We saw it get approved with delight 

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only not to be satisfied. We are not happy. 
Along with many other 

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disability advocacy groups, 
the sentiment being the same among all ... 

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are not 100% satisfied or happy. 
The reasons being that it would 

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first start for those with disabilities 
who are already receiving 

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Disabled Tax Credit (DTC) who
 will automatically qualify and 

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will get the money. So that 
would be based on their income. 

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They calculate on average is 
broken down is $2,400 per year. 

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Meaning it breaks down over 
12 months to $200 per month. 

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Those who make good money 
would get less like $45 a month or 

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some upwards of $60. Overall 
average of $45 to $200 a month. 

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[ANSELMO]: That person you saw is 
Michael Prince, professor of social policy 

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at University of Victoria who was on Canada 
Disabilities Minister Kamal Khera's 

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advisory group. He submitted his letter
 of resignation saying the amount 

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of funding for the benefit in the
 new federal budget is "too small, 

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covers too few people and is 
too complicated to access."

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DeafDots checked with Christopher 
Sutton, CEO of Wavefront Centre 

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in Vancouver BC who was part of the 
group advocating for the Canada 

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Disability Benefit and following
 its latest development. 

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He says they are pleased that the 
government has made a commitment 

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to funding the benefit but 
really need more information 

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which we anticipate will be
 over the next few months. 

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I'm Andrea representing DWP - 
Disability Without Poverty. 

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The recent federal 
government 2024 budget. 

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With 1.4 million disabled 
people living in poverty, 

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we at DWP are very disappointed 
with the announcement. 

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We have much more to do, and 
will continue to advocate the government. 

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That $200 a month, that's like 
$6 a day. That's a big slap 

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in the face for many people
 living with a disability.

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 I can only emphasize 
nothing about us without us. 

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 We want the government to include us.

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Really the bottom line 
is are we satisfied? No. 

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Disabled people feel they 
are putting us through hardships and 

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suffering having waited and 
waited for the progress to unravel 

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slowly and dragging on. 
You know what the process has been 

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that we have to go through
 with CDB. Now look at... 

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if you will remember during COVID, 
CERB money when people 

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couldn't work and had
 to stay home. Instead they could apply 

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and everyone could get payments
 every two weeks, get like $500... 

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the amounts varied. Suppose $500 
as example, every two weeks... 

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it was immediate, why couldn't it 
be the same for disabled people, 

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you know disabled people need 
that money to support their living, 

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their extra expenses for example
 we Deaf people need equipment 

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that meets our accessibility
 needs that are not covered 

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by the government that we have
 to pay out of our pockets. 

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For blind DeafBlind people could 
use that money to buy braille 

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equipment and all that. 
$2,400, is that enough? No. 

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[ANSELMO]: To qualify 
for Canada Disability Benefit, 

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you should register 
for Disability Tax Credit (DTC). 

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The Canada Disability Benefit 
is expected to start in July 2025 

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if the regulatory process
 and consultations 

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with persons with disabilities 
are successful. 

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 In DeafDots March 26, 2021 
report we reported that 

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Advanced Accessibility Standards 
Research had awarded a research grant 

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to Canadian Association of the Deaf 
(CAD) for $757,938 and 

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that CAD hired Wyatt
 Scott to lead this project. 

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The grant was for four years 
and CAD says they submitted 

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the final report “Advancing 
Accessibility Standards for Deaf, 

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Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing 
Canadians” in October 2023.

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[ANSELMO]: Richard Belzile, executive 
director of CAD says the report 

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has over 62 recommendations
 on different areas of accessibility 

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listed under the Accessibility Canada Act:

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[ANSELMO]: Richard explains that 
according to Accessibility Standards Canada 

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is responsible to develop accessibility
 standards and recommend these 

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standards to the Minister responsible
 for Accessibility the Honourable 

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Minister Kamal Khera. Four groups
 are involved in developing these standards: 

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the board members of Accessibility 
Standards Canada, the technical committees, 

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Accessibility Standards Canada staff 
and diverse disability communities. 

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We asked Wyatt Scott how
 important is it for Deaf people 

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to serve on these committees 
and in what ways?

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Yes, it’s important to have diversity
 of the Deaf Community all over Canada - 

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ASL, LSQ, people of color, Deaf, 
hard of hearing, late-deafened, 

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hearing aid users, signers and
 non-signers, indigenous, women, 

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immigrants, refugees and so 
on want to be heard of their perspectives 

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of what should be included
 in the Accessible Standards report. 

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Not to miss those in different 
parts of their needs on the West, 

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Central, North and East part 
of the country represented 

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on the committee, a wide range 
of diversity. For example 

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the Indigenous group was 
composed fully by Indigenous peoples. 

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I feel we have
 succeeded in doing it.  

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[ANSELMO]: How would the reports 
from these committees and final report 

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submitted to ASC/ACA assist 
them in developing standards? 

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It is my understanding that ASC 
has its own committees with some 

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or little Deaf representation
 on them. As an individual 

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do you foresee the final report 
assisting or guiding ASC 

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in its development of standards?

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I would think the report helps to clarify
 our concerns and our passion, 

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it has many different topics
 in it including Indigenous topics, 

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communication issues, technical issues, 
work issues, built environment 

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issues, and everything is in it. 
We listed and listed everything 

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that meets our Deaf needs. The ACA
 group obtained information and 

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feedback from diverse groups
 with disabilities. Our report deals 

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specifically with Deaf perspective 
and would help strengthen 

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our accessibility standards
 for all Canadians.

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Based on your experience and 
knowledge, are the Deaf Community 

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well represented and their concerns
 or requests for accessibility 

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being incorporated
 in ACA standards?

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I feel that a lot of our 
concerns are being included. 

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We hosted a lot of different Town Hall 
meetings on each topic across Canada. 

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We listened to a wide range of inputs, 
ideas and stories of their 

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experiences and listed them. 
I feel that we have done 

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a lot to understand a clear
 picture and incorporate it 

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in Accessibility Standards
 for the future across Canada 

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to be ready by 2040. I feel 
this report will help a lot.

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Kimberly Wood, a Deaf leader
 in Edmonton, expressed concern 

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that ASC may not fully understand the
 issues that Deaf people experience 

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in everyday life. She shared 
her experience of serving 

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on committees that put 
together reports for ACS.

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I am here on behalf of myself 
on my personal time as Kim, 

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not in role with CDGM, Canada 
Deaf Grassroots Movement. 

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[ANSELMO]: You had some concern 
with progress with ACA or 

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Accessibility Standards Canada 
and if they are doing enough 

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to involve Deaf people in policy formulation
 and development of standards?

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ACS is absolutely important to us. 
It is important that we all provide 

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information to the federal government
 with full and complete information 

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in report on all barriers and 
overcoming them, breaking them 

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down listing particulars. We need
 to make recommendations 

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on how to address them 
and look onwards to the future.

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Right and what makes you concerned?

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As an individual, I am afraid that 
the federal government is not getting 

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the full picture with all our
 life experiences and barriers. 

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Why do I say that? They are not getting
 all our recommendations. 

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Why do I say that? 
I am on two different committees. 

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Both committees worked hard 
to collect all feedback from across 

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Canada Deaf Communities including 
Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing. 

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We compiled an extensive list 
of recommendations and yet all 

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are not there on the report that 
CAD-ASC submitted. Information is missing. 

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The report is not complete, 
information is missing.

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[ANSELMO]: Do you think the
 Deaf community is doing enough?

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Do I feel the Deaf community
 is doing enough? I hesitate... 

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if little information is being given
 to them and we already submitted 

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a huge list to CAD-ASC and they 
extract only some of it in their report 

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and the bulk of it is not included, 
I have a feeling that it may hurt us 

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in the long run. Will they fully 
understand 100% of our barriers?

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 What we face in daily life. 
In that report, I fear not.

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[ANSELMO]: CAD also got a second
 grant of $249,175 for one year. 

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Under “Built Environment Standards", 
ASC funded CAD-ASC 

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for the Quiet Waves project. This study
 included the virtual environment 

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in the Built Environment 
and interviewed Deaf, 

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Deaf-blind and Hard of hearing
 people who sign, face to 

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face without any written surveys 
or pre-taped ASL or LSQ translation 

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of a written survey. This study 
will identify best practices 

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in communication that help remove
 barriers faced by the Deaf community. 

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It will also include a review
 of technology-based solutions and 

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look at both policy-based 
and cost-sharing solutions. 

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Richard at CAD says Anna Wren, 
who is project director, 

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is compiling and 
completing this project. 

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I expect this to 
be out by the summer.”

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[ANSELMO]: Valerie Ho, a member 
of the Queen's University ASL Club 

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announced the second annual National 
Conference for Deaf Awareness 

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which was held on April 20th. 
What is it? We asked Robyn Mackie, 

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our DeafDots street reporter 
to tell us more about it.

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[ROBYN]: This was a zoom event 
and their goal is to “bring together students 

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and people across Canada to
 learn about Deaf experiences and 

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how to help create a more inclusive 
and collaborative future for all.” 

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The theme was “Deaf 
Education and Technology”. 

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Sixty people participated
 in three different events.

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How does AI technology benefit 
Deaf students in the education system? 

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In what manners would
 it benefit the deaf students? 

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My response is that AI, 
Artificial Intelligence has the potential 

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to help solve the challenges 
that are currently faced by individuals 

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with hearing loss. There are
 three areas it can help improve: 

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in the classroom. Outside 
the classroom, when you engage 

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in peer learning activities. Apart 
from school at home it helps 

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with self-learning, when 
you're doing it by yourself. 

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The challenge for people 
with hearing loss is communication. 

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I see the potential where AI would 
help support and improve communication.

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 That speaker, Eyra Abraham 
who is hard of hearing, 

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is founder of Lisnen, a startup 
company developing an app 

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that alerts to critical sounds 
in the environment like a fire alarm 

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or siren, using their smart devices. 
The second speaker was Saryn Lathan, 

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a certified Deaf ASL 
instructor and ASL coach.

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For technology, people may not be 
necessarily aware of the technology 

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that's available. Using technology, 
for example to make doctor appointments 

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or for meetings at work and so on. 
How to make contact, call workers 

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to come in, most people 
are not aware and don't even try. 

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Now here in Canada, we have like, 
for example Canada VRS - 

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Canada Video Relay Service. 
I can talk a little bit about how 

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that service works, it's really easy. 
A lot of people may assume 

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they need to call to schedule 
an appointment and then they call 

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the Deaf person or the hearing person. 
It doesn't work that way, 

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it's a lot more easier and I think it's 
important when you look 

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at hiring more people from the
 Deaf community to just know that 

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this access is available and
 it benefits both when they 

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have good workers
 and they have jobs.

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The third speaker
 was Richard Martell who is 

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a Deaf interpreter and 
sign language instructor. 

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Richard talked about mouth 
morphemes when communicating in ASL.

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Morphemes have grammatical 
rules which are an important part of ASL. 

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When we sign every day, 
a lot of the times it could lead 

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to misconceptions and misunderstandings. 
Sometimes people think 

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it could connect to sexism or racism. 
Actually that's not true, 

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it has its own grammatical 
features and language use, 

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its part of the language
 itself, and they convey their 

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own individual meanings depending 
on the signs that are used.

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[ROBYN]: Sixty people participated
 in this second annual National Conference 

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for Deaf Awareness (NCDA) is co-hosted 
by Queen's American Sign Language (QASL) 

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in Kingston, Ontario and Dalhousie ASL 
Society (DalASL) at Dalhousie University 

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in Nova Scotia, Canada. 
It was founded by Sarah Corbell, 

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a hearing student who found very 
little ASL resources when she arrived 

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at Queen's University in 2018 
and decided to launch QASL.

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[ANSELMO]: It is great to see
 hearing ASL students involved 

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in ASL Clubs and hosting ASL events. 
They are recruiting representatives 

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of the Deaf community or Deaf 
professionals to make presentations. 

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Hopefully they are also enlisting 
Deaf people to serve as advisors 

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to ensure all activities
 are conducted appropriately.

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[ANSELMO]: In May, Omineca 
Arts Centre in Prince George, 

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British Columbia is hosting 
"Same, Same but Different Language, 

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Culture & Art" Exhibit
 in 30 languages including ASL. 

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Among the participants are CDGM 
and the Speak Write Academy 

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in Prince George, British Columbia. 
According to Speak Write Academy's 

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Facebook page, they "teach
 language in a non-traditional, 

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fun and immersive way to promote
 intercultural communication." 

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DeafDots interviewed their founder.

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As an immigrant from Singapore, 
after my son was born, 

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I was worried that he wouldn’t be
 interested to know his mother tongue 

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or to know his roots. So, as a second 
language teacher, I have decided 

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to set up Speak Write Academy so that
 I can lead by example to show 

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him that it is ok and it is normal
 to speak a language that is different 

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from English in Canada, and to also
 inspire him to learn about his culture 

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and his identity. I believe that 
learning a language is not just 

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about learning from books. So, 
I always strive to make sure that 

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my students also learn about the 
history and the culture behind it, 

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to give them a better
 understanding of the language.

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[ANSELMO]: How did Speak Write 
Academy get the idea or get involved 

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in American Sign Language? 
Is there a connection to someone 

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who is Deaf or is there a connection?

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00:30:30.898 --> 00:30:35.314
I believe to fight racism and 
discrimination, we have to achieve good 

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intercultural communication and 
trust, and the way to achieve that 

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is to have different groups 
of people from different backgrounds 

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come together, work, play 
and learn about each other. 

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00:30:49.089 --> 00:30:53.637
So, through my events that I have 
organized via Speak Write Academy, 

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I have always strived to have
 it as accessible as possible, 

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which includes ASL interpretation 
and Blind Accessibility set up. 

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This gives the opportunity for groups 
of people from all backgrounds 

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to come together to learn, 
and learn about each other, 

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and to enjoy themselves together.

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00:31:16.246 --> 00:31:22.623
What are the goals of Speak 
Write Academy and future plans?

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00:31:23.788 --> 00:31:29.784
I hope Speak Write Academy can 
continue to roll out community events 

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00:31:29.784 --> 00:31:35.780
which promote linguistic, cultural
 diversity and also inclusion. 

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I hope to make them as 
highly accessible as possible, 

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including ASL and Blind Accessibility. 
Also, Indigenous Language 

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Revitalization, as I strongly believe
 that the language is closely tied 

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to identity, history and culture. I hope that 
my events would help people 

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to reflect on their identity and 
inspire them on ways of how they 

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could help one another achieve
 intercultural trust and communication.

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Thank you for watching DeafDots. 

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00:32:13.596 --> 00:32:25.798
Please send your news suggestions
 through our website www.DeafDots.ca 

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00:32:25.798 --> 00:32:33.347
or email to news@deafdots.ca.

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00:32:33.347 --> 00:32:37.258
 Don’t forget to subscribe, 
like, and follow 

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