Taking action

Conference set to discuss better services for the disabled

Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 12/01) - People from all over the NWT will gather in Yellowknife this month to determine how the lack of services for disabled persons can be addressed.

Entitled 'Count Me In,' the conference will be held to review a needs assessment study for those who are disabled in the NWT, which was released in November.

Facts The NWT report "Living with Disability...Living with Dignity," (statistics 1999) released in November states: - 13 per cent of the NWT population (5,453 people) is disabled - 44 per cent of disabled people have dependents - 61 per cent have less than a Grade 9 education - 16 per cent of disabled people over the age of 15 are employed - 80 per cent of working aged disabled people live on an annual income of $20,000 - 48 per cent earn less than $10,000 per year - 60 per cent of disabled individuals have more than one disability

Disabled individuals, parents, caregivers and frontline workers will gather at the Explorer Hotel Jan 25-27 to develop an action plan and identify priorities for improving programs and services in the North. It will address the needs of all disabled individuals, including those with mobility, hearing, visual and mental disabilities.

Aggie Brockman, executive director for the NWT Council for Disabled, said the conference has been organized in part to give people a chance to discuss the needs assessment study, but also to give the disabled a chance to speak out about how their needs can be met.

"We have this information now and it gives us an understanding of what it's like to live with a disability, so this conference will give the people who are most affected a chance to talk about how their lives can be improved."

The NWT Council for Disabled Persons is expecting at least 100 people from all across the NWT to participate. It is planned to be the largest conference of its kind to be held in the North.

Brockman believes that disabled individuals living in smaller communities will see the greatest benefit from this conference.

"If you're in a small community it can be a very isolating experience, so I think it will give a lot of people a chance to network with each other."

The gathering will also give direction to groups like the Council for the Disabled by helping them determine where to focus their efforts.

Those wishing to attend the conference are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Individuals outside of Yellowknife can apply for travel assistance when they register.