Cuts to the Early Literacy Support Program reveal how the educational establishment in Nova Scotia no longer believes in equal opportunity and inclusion, writes Nancy Spina, a former teacher and a parent of kids with disabilities.
“It’s a good thing this is a practice exam, otherwise Canada would get an F.” Warren (Gus) Reed writes on the interim report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the status of persons with disabilities in Nova Scotia.
I attended a town hall on the state of public education in Nova Scotia. What emerged was a system still very much in crisis, but with teachers and parents demonstrating a real desire to listen and learn from one another.
Nova Scotia Parents for Public Education, along with the group Educators for Social Justice, is kicking off a series of Town Hall meetings across the province with an event for residents of Halifax Regional Municipality to hear from parents, caregivers, educators and the public.
Alex Kronstein writes about the use of electroshocks as a disciplinary device at an institution in the States, and how a textbook used at the NSCC that appears to endorse it.
Ever since the Wortley report came out almost all the discussion has focused on street checks and whether to ban or regulate them.
What about rampant racism among the force as reported in Wortley’s community meetings? What about classism, sexism and ableism we continue to hear about? And why do we think the same old and tired recommendations are going to work this time?
Recently Erica Lewis considered applying for membership in the National Advisory Council on Poverty. This is a group consisting of people with lived experience of poverty, who are tasked with providing input on the federal government’s poverty reduction strategy.
When Erica found out it wasn’t for her because of the nature and severity of her health issues, she wrote to the Feds.
“If you really want a diverse group of people giving input, you should
accommodate those who, because of illness, rarely leave their homes,” she writes.
Here is a short video, recently released by the Disability Rights Coalition, that presents the case for community living in Nova Scotia in a powerful way. The video contains strong language and some violence.
Many Nova Scotians with intellectual and physical disabilities continue to live in large institutions against their will, while others are being taken care of by ageing and senior parents. Affected people are saying enough is enough. We went to today’s press conference at Province House, and transcribed in full the powerful statements by Jeannie Whidden of People First Nova Scotia, and Jen Powley, of No More Warehousing.
Laura Shepherd, reflecting on the Transgender Day of Visibility and inspired by the wisdom of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, writes about being an older trans woman, allyship, friendship, and all the complexities that entails.
“That I and my trans peers harbour our own private doubts about the extent of the allyship we enjoy even among our closest friends underscores Miss Major’s assertion that it is time for “The people who care about us, who are involved in our lives, and who know us… to become more visible.”