Unique resort for people with disabilities deserves to be protected

Tracy Hurlbert (sitting right) and her mother Connie Hurlbert
(standing left) spend time at the Wilderness Discovery
Resort (WDR). (Credit: Tracy Hurlbert.)

For people struggling with disabilities, the Wilderness Discovery Resort (WDR) is a dream come true. A picturesque resort located in Lake Shebandowan, Ontario, Canada, the WDR provides all of the accommodations that people with disabilities need, giving much-needed relief to them and their families. Unfortunately, the WDR is at risk of being closed down, with plans to sell off the land. Now, every effort must be made to save the WDR.

It is a scenario that should not be allowed to happen--a barrier-free camp designed for people with disabilities being forced to shut down, all to please a faceless millionaire. The fact that any type of public land could be sold off just to please a wealthy person without knowing all the details is insulting; to allow this private sale to take place on land that is designated for people with disabilities makes this possibility even more outrageous. However, one person is willing to fight for the WDR.

Kevin Johnson, an American citizen, has been advocating to save the WDR. He, his wife, and his father, Kirk, a disabled former U.S. Navy service member, often travel to the WDR to accommodate to his father's needs. In the past, Johnson and his family had thoroughly researched other facilities that are supposed to help people with disabilities, but they had discovered that many "accessible" areas often do not live up to their claims of being truly barrier-free. Johnson believes so strongly in the WDR that he has launched a Change.org petition to help keep it open.

If only people in positions of power would demonstrate the same type of leadership as Johnson when it comes to saving the WDR. Many people deserve to be blamed for the WDR's uncertain future, and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is one of them. Wynne has spent so much money on the Toronto 2015 Pan Am & Parapan Am Games to try and make Toronto look like a world-class city, yet will not provide appropriate funding for the WDR. While the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games temporarily brought attention to people with disabilities, keeping the WDR open with new funding would provide a barrier-free facility for years to come, helping people with disabilities in the long term. Wynne has also refused to renew the lease for the WDR, showing that her commitment to helping people with disabilities is nothing but empty lip service.

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario (LAO) are also to blame for being oblivious about the WDR. In a June 30, 2015 petition update, Johnson observed that the LAO did nothing to save the WDR, despite an impending summer recess at the time. Johnson also mentioned that the LAO had received several requests from him and his supporters to extend the deadline before the WDR is sold off, but their concerns have been ignored. The LAO deserves to be publicly shamed for brushing aside the needs of the disability community, and for showing such disinterest in saving the WDR.

David Shannon, Executive Director for the Handicapped Action Group Incorporated (HAGI), which runs the WDR, must face the harshest criticism for mismanagement. According to an April 4, 2015 update on Johnson's petition, it was revealed that Shannon wanted the WDR closed. In the same update, Johnson also noted that since the creation of his petition, Shannon did not comment on the future of the WDR at the time. In another April 29, 2015 petition update, Johnson recalled that Shannon, as well as HAGI's Board of Directors, failed to attend a public meeting held on April 25, 2015 to save the WDR.

The scandals involving David Shannon do not end there. An additional May 3, 2015 petition update disclosed that Shannon refused to sign Johnson's petition. Shannon has also made questionable claims about having no money to maintain the WDR, but somehow finding money to fund an arts program. With so much hypocrisy coming from Shannon regarding the WDR, it is obvious that he should be removed from his position as Executive Director.

It is sad to see that the people who have the most power to save the WDR are the least willing to take action on the issue. However, this situation must strengthen our resolve to ensure that the WDR remains a part of the Lake Shebandowan community. We must follow Kevin Johnson's lead and do whatever it takes to save the WDR. When Premier Kathleen Wynne, the LAO, and David Shannon see that people care about the WDR, they will have no choice but to act on the issue. Allowing the WDR to be shut down and failing people with disabilities is not a legacy we want to be responsible for.

Advocating for immigrant rights in Canada: An interview with Leila Heidari

Photo of Leila Heidari's mother, Khadijeh, a day after she had

taken a bad fall on June 4, 2013. (Credits: Leila Heidari/Make
it Right for Khadijeh Facebook page.)

For over 20 years, Leila Heidari has had to deal with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) denying permanent Canadian status to her 92-year-old mother, Khadijeh, who is also known as "Essie." After years of having her concerns ignored by CIC and local Members of Parliament (MPs), Leila Heidari launched a petition telling CIC to grant permanent Canadian status to Khadijeh. Here, Leila Heidari provides an update regarding Khadijeh's circumstances. At the time of this writing, Khadijeh still hasn't been granted permanent Canadian status.

 

1. What kind of a treatment facility was Khadijeh taken into in November 2013?

Leila Heidari (LH): Khadijeh is in a multi-care facility for the elderly. It has a nursing home, various hospitals and clinics, and a research centre. Khadijeh is being cared for at the research facility. She is being treated for a massive head injury that she developed after taking a bad fall in June 2013. She is also being treated for an ear infection that she developed in November 2013. Both the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and I cover the housing costs--the ODSP pays $1,000 a month, and I pay $250 a month. The treatment is covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).

2. What condition (related to Khadijeh's head injury) have they diagnosed her with?

LH: I think Khadijeh has dementia, but they don't know what she has. The treatment is ongoing. When they find out what's wrong with her, she will be sent to a nursing home.

3. How did the treatment facility finally allow your mother to get help?

LH: The ODSP suggested that I contact the facility to get help for Khadijeh. My mother was accepted in early October 2013. For the past 10 years, I have been in touch with ODSP. In spring 2012, ODSP cut health benefits. Before that, Khadijeh received partial health coverage from Interim Health in 1995 when she came to Ontario. The only time Khadijeh received full health coverage was from 1993--1995, when she first resided in Quebec, and she was covered through their provincial health care system.

4. What did you have to go through before finding the facility?

LH: We have been ignored by CIC and local MPs. A week after I had launched my petition, a woman from CIC contacted me, saying that she would like to meet me. A week later, she never shows up for our meeting. We were also turned away by various clinics before finding the facility that is currently providing care for her. I tried calling a clinic in Scarborough, but they were only open from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My mother had a gash in her head which was bleeding, but I could not take her to emergency because she doesn't have permanent Canadian status.

In addition, Khadijeh only received temporary residency on June 21, 2013, and didn't start receiving OHIP until September 21, 2013. While I'm grateful that she is now receiving help, I'm upset that it's taken so long. It's not just about my family either--I'm worried about the people who are in a similar situation. What if someone doesn't have Canadian citizenship, and that person is alone with no access to social media and he or she develops a chronic disease? What is that person supposed to do?

5. How has this situation taken a toll on your family?

 

LH: We are struggling financially, emotionally, and every other way that you can think of. I'm worried about my mother, and I'm struggling to take care of my 19-year-old daughter who has severe autism. My daughter is in diapers and cannot speak, and she had to be hospitalized last year because of her autism--she was screaming all the time and banging her head against the wall. I could not see my daughter because I was trying to take care of my mother, so my husband had to look after our daughter. I could not work, because I was trying to look after my mother, which was very hard.

I would like to thank Leila Heidari for sharing her story, and for advocating for better treatment of immigrants in Canada.