[ANSELMO]: Hello! This is DeafDots, 11 November 2022.
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[ANSELMO]: On October 23, Wissam Constantin announced in a vlog
his resignation as president of Canada Association of the Deaf (CAD).
This is one year since DeafDots reported October of last year, 2021 that
Wissam had moved up from vice-president to become CAD president.
In his vlog, Wissam cited a number of conflicts as the reason for resigning.
I would like to share with you that the recent year was challenging for CAD-ASC
as there were several issues internally.
My role as president was conflicted and limited.
I was not allowed to operate properly.
That was challenging for me as it conflicted with my vision, goals,
and my contributions for the association and Deaf community.
[ANSELMO]: It has been a rough year since Wissam became CAD president.
Earlier this year, CAD hired Richard Belzile, a hearing person to
become CAD's executive director replacing Jim Roots.
Then CAD was reported to be embroiled in a legal case involving
the parents of Carter Churchill.
DeafDots was unable to confirm more details but these legal proceedings held
CAD back from participating in the Saskatchewan Human Rights Board of
Inquiry case against Newfoundland and Labrador English School District.
[ANSELMO]: In DeafDots June 24th report, we cited reports that
Deaf Wireless Canada Committee (DWCC) which became an ad-hoc committee endorsed
by the CAD were embroiled in a dispute and had decided to dissolve
this relationship.
DeafDots is still unable to verify their current status and Lisa Anderson,
then-Chair of DWCC is still not responding to DeafDots media inquiry emails.
We haven't decided whether to cut ties with CAD.
We're still waiting for a response to the open letter we sent about 4 months ago,
expressing our concerns.
If they actually respond, OAD will definitely get together to deliberate whether
or not we should renew our affiliated membership with them.
[ANSELMO]: Last August, DeafDots reported that both the Ontario Association of
the Deaf and Deafness Advocacy Association Nova Scotia, DAANS did not renew
their affiliation memberships.
The work with federal government departments was pure of joy as
I always enjoyed the collaborations and working for the better quality of life
for Deaf community.
Those issues that keep persisting over and over through the year
have got me distracted.
These issues have nothing to do with improving of quality of life of
the Deaf community.
The work with the federal government has big impact on everyone.
For these reasons, after long thoughts and lot of courage,
I decided to resign.
[ANSELMO]: What does this mean for the Deaf Canadian community?
DeafDots asked two community representatives.
It is important that CAD board, CAD members, and CAD delegates select
the right president of CAD to continue its stability, a representative
who can bring together clubs, organisations and agencies to collaborate together
in the best interests of the Deaf community across Canada.
I hope his resignation does not impact CAD-ASC's advocacy on the national level.
[ANSELMO]: Richard Belzile, CAD executive director says the CAD board has not yet
met since Wissam's resignation to select his replacement.
In a DeafDots report on "Deaf Leadership Crisis"
in October 2021, we interviewed representative of organisations who shared their struggles
with filling board positions.
People are not willing to volunteer their time.
With mainstreaming, Deaf youth are not participating.
We extended to DYC, youth to pick someone, not CAD.
We are waiting for them to pick someone.
There is a bit of a struggle.
As founder of CDGM, we started slowly and grew as we recruited
people but all positions aren't filled yet.
We are still searching, still...
[ANSELMO]: Last month, Canada Deaf Grassroots Movement (CDGM) partnered with
Toronto Association of the Deaf in an online discussion
"The Deaf Community and You"
with Edmonton Association of the Deaf, London Club of the Deaf (LCD)
and ASL Community of Niagara (ASLCN).
Discussion also focused on impact of COVID and Deaf people having
more access to technology and communication and finding
less reason to travel to meet other Deaf people or attend Deaf events.
What will become the future of the Deaf Canadian community?
[ANSELMO]: On 11 December 2020, DeafDots did a story about
the parents of a Deaf son, Carter Churchill who had
attempted four meditation sessions
with the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District (NLESD).
The mediator stated that the parents need to work with the School District first.
The parents have since escalated their complaint to a formal hearing with
the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission
[ANSELMO]: Carter's parents Todd and Kimberly Churchill have been fighting for
equal access to education since 2016.
Carter is Deaf and also has Cerebral palsy.
Dr. James MacDougall, who testified as expert witness for NLESD testified that
"Canada does have an active national organization of educators of the Deaf,
The Canadian Association of Educators of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing.
Because of how small the numbers of teachers are, influence on policy is limited."
[ANSELMO]: DeafDots asked Travis Morgan, a mainstreamed Deaf advocate in Ontario
who followed the case, how a signing environment could have been
beneficial to him.
My experience as a mainstreamed student was challenging.
One resource I was missing was interactions with other Deaf people who signed
in ASL My years as a student, I was the only Deaf student and wished to
have had more in my classes.
[ANSELMO]: During the court hearing, Dr. MacDougall testifying for NLESD said
the only certifying body for Deaf Education teachers is oral-based.
There are no teaching certifications to teach Deaf children in ASL.
Do I know any universities in Canada that provide Deaf Education training in ASL?
Yes, I know one university called York University in Toronto.
They have their own challenges.
There are two cohorts one is for Oral Education and the other is for ASL.
The ASL program is tougher to get into.
[ANSELMO]: Carter's parents are fighting for their son's rights
and access to education.
The outcome of this Human Rights case could impact Deaf education
in the province and possibly across Canada.
The Canada Deaf Grassroots Movement (CDGM) posted on social media asking
Deaf people to share their personal education experiences as Deaf students.
Many people who are hard of hearing, Deaf, DeafPlus, who have gone through
this same experience as a mainstream student, are infuriated by
what's happening to Carter.
They are contacting CDGM because they are feeling like the systemic oppression
is still going on.
The impact is not only in Newfoundland, but all over Canada in all provinces.
[ANSELMO]: In Canada, after a teacher graduates there is no Deaf Education
certification to show they are qualified to teach Deaf children in ASL.
Many Deaf children fall behind in school without proper access to language.
[ANSELMO]: Service Canada has announced that as of September 2022,
all 340 Service Canada Centres and Passport Offices across Canada now offer
VRI services in both ASL and LSQ to Deaf clients.
What led to this decision?
Jordan tells us more about it.
[JORDAN]: A Service Canada representative cites the Accessible Canada Act (ACA)
which requires federal agencies including Service Canada to increase
the inclusion and participation of Canadians with disabilities
and promote equality by removing barriers for people with disabilities that
led to Service Canada recognizing that people who are Deaf or have hearing loss
need immediate access to a sign language interpreter when they visit
any Service Canada Centre or Passport Offices in person.
They added that ACA also recognizes ASL and LSQ which increased the urgency to
provide communication.
[ANSELMO]: What services does Service Canada provide?
[JORDAN]: Service Canada is a single point of access for heavily used services
offered by the Government of Canada.
These services include Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan,
Canada Pension Plan for Disability (CPP-D), Old Age security, GST/HST and Passports.
[ANSELMO]: So now a Deaf person can enter any Service Canada and communicate with
their staff through on-demand access to an ASL or LSQ interpreter right away?
How does it work?
[JORDAN]: The Service Canada spokesperson DeafDots spoke with says in addition to
a communications campaign on various social media platforms to
promote availability of VRI services in their in-person offices.
[JORDAN]: They also show posters in their offices for Deaf clients to point to,
and also advertise availability of VRI services on their digital displays.
[ANSELMO]: How does the Service Canada staff know about VRI?
[JORDAN]: The spokesperson says all staff has been provided with
detailed procedures and guidance on how to use the VRI service.
They have access to tools, including user manuals, signage,
and printed communication cards to inform the client of next steps.
[ANSELMO]: It is great to see a federal agency recognize and accommodate
the needs of Deaf Canadians as a result of the Accessible Canada Act.
The Accessible Canada Act was passed in 2019 to
make Canada barrier-free by January 1, 2040.
[ANSELMO]: The CRTC requires that all telecommunication service providers that
make $10 million or more must pay contributions to
the National Contribution Fund (NCF).
That money is used to fund Canada VRS.
Every year, the Canadian Administrator of Video Relay Service (CAV) must submit
their budget request for the following year by July 31 to the NCF for approval.
[ANSELMO]: Back in 2021, DHH Coalition, a group of three organizations representing
OAD, NLAD, and DAANS submitted a request for the budget to be shown
in ASL/LSQ for accessibility.
CAV did not include ASL video as supporting material in their budget request until 2022.
CRTC has agreed to provide both ASL and LSQ video translations so Deaf people can
know more participate in the budget process and increase transparency.
[ANSELMO]: Their budget has six categories: Board, Administration,
Marketing - Education and Outreach, Professional services,
Operations, and Wages.
[ANSELMO]: The DHH Coalition is most interested in knowing how the budget is
broken down in "Operations" as it is the largest expense category
and includes many contracts.
The first contract is IVeS for their platform.
Northern911 which manages VRS calls to 911.
SLIAO and Convo Canada which provides English and ASL video interpreters.
Sivet and Interpretation Signes et Parole provides French
and LSQ video interpreters.
[ANSELMO]: The DHH Coalition and CDGM in their submission to CRTC also asked that
more details be shared on the "Operational Costs" expense category.
They felt that more information was needed in order to better understand the budget.
[ANSELMO]: That chart you saw was from the 2023 budget proposal
where they left out "Operations" amounts which makes it impossible for
consumers to see how much is being spent in specific areas such as the VRS platform.
[ANSELMO]: CAV says that information should remain confidential, as it could affect
their ability to negotiate rates on contracts if it becomes public information.
Another concern the DHH Coalition and CDGM also had was related to including 988
funding in the budget.
Elliott shared with DeafDots a little bit about what concerns about how the budget
is written out.
Both CAV and DHH Coalition strongly believe that VRS users must be able to access
the 988 hotline.
No problem there.
The issue is how it should be paid for.
Way back in 2014, CRTC mandated the establishment of VRS with a maximum
funding of $30 million.
DHH Coalition's position is that the funding for 988 which could be up to
$1 million should be separate from that $30 million funding.
[ANSELMO]: Why is funding for 988 Hotline a big issue?
No. CAV basically replied "leave it to us - we know what's best for VRS users."
We don't know exactly how or where funding will come from to permit
VRS calls to new services.
[ANSELMO]: In CAV's 2022 budget request, they shared that detailed costs of
Professional Services and Operations Costs both be kept confidential.
It is the community's responsibility to review the budget annually
and send in statements to the government of their concerns or questions.
Thank you for watching DeafDots.
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