Human Rights

People with episodic disabilities in Canada: Who are they and what supports do they need to obtain and retain employment?

• November 12, 2017
• BakerLaw
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The research study entitled, Episodic Disabilities in Canada – People with episodic disabilities in Canada: Who are they and what supports do they need to obtain and retain employment?,  provides important analysis and research to assist people with episodic disabilities in pursuing human rights applications. » Read the rest

David Baker’s Words of Caution for Applicant Counsel

• November 12, 2017
• David Baker
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On November 13, 2017, David Baker will be presenting his paper, “Words of Caution for Applicant Counsel” at the Ontario Bar Association’s program, Your First Application Before the Human Rights Tribunal. Among the critical pieces of advice discussed, is the following:

Applicant counsel owes a duty to their clients to advise them that the HRTO is increasingly denying Applicants accessible justice, particularly in large or systemic cases. » Read the rest

New federal legislation promises support for caregivers of people with disabilities

• October 25, 2017
• BakerLaw
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The federal minister responsible for crafting Canada’s first national accessibility legislation, Kent Hehr, says the new law should be ready by Spring 2018, and should benefit not only people with disabilities, but their caregivers as well.

Read the full article, Canada’s first national accessibility law should be ready by next spring: Hehr, by Michelle McGuigge of the Canadian Press HERE (link). » Read the rest

David Baker reviews the new book, “Disabling Barriers: Social Movements, Disability History, and the Law”, edited by Ravi Malhotra and Benjamin Isitt

• October 20, 2017
• David Baker
• Comments Off on David Baker reviews the new book, “Disabling Barriers: Social Movements, Disability History, and the Law”, edited by Ravi Malhotra and Benjamin Isitt

Review (click HERE for the PDF version)

Disabling Barriers: Social Movements, Disability History, and the Law, ed. Ravi Malhotra and Benjamin Isitt

UBC Press, $32.95

The two editors of this valuable new addition to the small but growing literature on the law, history and politics of disability in Canada is most welcome. » Read the rest

McCreath v. Victoria Taxi (1987) Ltd., 2017 BCCA 342 – Blind British Columbia man loses discrimination case against taxi company

• October 16, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on McCreath v. Victoria Taxi (1987) Ltd., 2017 BCCA 342 – Blind British Columbia man loses discrimination case against taxi company

In a unanimous ruling on October 6, 2017, a panel of the British Columbia Court of Appeal held that Graeme McCreath, a blind man, was not discriminated against when he and his guide dog, Adrienne, were refused a taxi ride in 2014. » Read the rest

New OHRC policy statement explains the duty to accommodate under Ontario’s Human Rights Code

• October 16, 2017
• BakerLaw
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On October 12, 2017, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released a new policy statement explaining the purpose and importance of the duty to accommodate under the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code). Read the full statement here (link).

Ontario family launches human rights complaint over access to therapy for son with autism

• October 16, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Ontario family launches human rights complaint over access to therapy for son with autism

Bakerlaw attended the first two days of hearing at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario on October 12-13, 2017 on behalf of the Skrt family, advocating for Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) for students with autism in publicly funded schools.

The Applicant’s Opening Statement is available here (link). » Read the rest

ABA in Ontario Schools Case Continues

• September 13, 2017
• BakerLaw
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Bakerlaw is gearing up for a hearing on October 12th regarding our client’s case against a local school board. Our client requires ABA in order to access his education and is not receiving it. You can read more about the case here (link). » Read the rest

Update: Fighting to Support Children with Autism in Ontario Schools

• August 21, 2017
• Kimberly Srivastava
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Since 2016, Bakerlaw has been fighting to have Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) provided in Ontario schools on behalf of our young client, Jack.

Jack is a five year old boy with Autism. Like many other students with Autism, Jack needs ABA teaching methods in order to meaningfully access his education. » Read the rest

Technological Accessibility: The Future Begins with Federal Government Websites

• August 16, 2017
• BakerLaw
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In June 2017, the University of Pennsylvania Press published Disability, Human Rights, and Information Technology, edited by Jonathan Lazar and Michael Ashley Stein. The work is a collection of essays discussing barriers and accommodations for persons with disabilities in an increasingly technologically-driven world. » Read the rest