DRPI Canada Project Status Update

Presentation Summary

This presentation, by Marcia Rioux (D.R.P.I. Project Director) and Miha Dinca (D.R.P.I. Canada Project Co-ordinator) outlines D.R.P.I. Canada's holistic, four-themed approach to disability rights monitoring and provides information on the progress made in each of the four themes of the project.

Note: The slides for this presentation are available for download in PDF format at the end of this page, but since some of the slides are not accessible to some users, efforts have been made to outline the substance of the presention and discussions on this page.

D.R.P.I. Canada's Holistic Framework

D.R.P.I. Canada takes a holistic approach to monitoring disability rights by coordinating work in four inter-connected themes:

1. Monitoring Individual Experiences
2. Monitoring Media
3. Monitoring Law and Policy
4. Monitoring Survey Datasets

It is important to note that the four themes are interrelated in the sense that theme-specific methodologies, tools, and data are connected to those of the other themes. This approach has a synergistic effect on knowledge production as the whole of the knowledge produced will be greater than the sum of the four theme areas.

Current Status of Monitoring Individual Experiences (Theme 1) Activities

Theme 1 Highlights

The current goals of this theme involve:

• data collection and analysis of human rights stories from four sites across Canada (Toronto, Quebec City, St. Johns and Vancouver)
• fostering sustainability in disability rights monitoring beyond the life of the project

Completed and Ongoing Activities

• The Theme 1 Work Plan is completed
• Training manuals and interview guides have been developed in collaboration with D.R.P.I. International
• A training seminar has been held to train monitors from Toronto and Quebec City
• Data collection has occured at two sites

Activities Planned

In the near future, D.R.P.I. Canada will focus on the following:

• Liaison with local organizations at the other two monitoring sites (St. John’s and Vancouver)
• Conduct local training seminars in St. John's and Vancouver
• Start data collection in St. John's and Vancouver
• Dissemination of collected data through community-based fact sheets, community and academic articles and press releases

Current Status of Monitoring Media (Theme 2) Activities

Theme 2 Highlights

This theme involves an analysis of the coverage and depictions of disability and people with disabilities in print media.

Completed and Ongoing Activities

• TheTheme 2 Work Plan is completed
• Ongoing collaboration with a panel of media experts
• Continuing to refine the Theme 2 research design

Activities Planned

In the near future, D.R.P.I. Canada will focus on the following:

• Complete data collection and analysis
• Disseminate data through reports, community-based fact sheets, community and academic articles and press releases

Current Status of Monitoring Policy and Law (Theme 3) Activities

Theme 3 Highlights

The current goals of this theme involve:

• An analysis of legislation, disability rights policy and case law at federal and provincial levels
• Identification of the changes required to existing legal frameworks to improve the lives of Canadians with disabilities

Completed and Ongoing Activities

• The Theme 3 Work Plan is completed
• A law and policy assessment template has been developed with D.R.P.I. International
• A methodology to collect data based on the template has been developed

Activities Planned

In the near future, D.R.P.I. Canada will focus on the following:

• Complete data collection and analysis
• Conducting interviews with key informants
• Dissemination of data through community-based fact sheets, community and academic articles and policy and legal briefs

Current Status of Monitoring Survey Datasets (Theme 4) Activities

Theme 4 Highlights

The current goals of this theme involve:

• An analysis of existing population surveys in relation to disability rights
• The identification of ways to improve the frameworks of existing surveys to advance disability rights

Completed and Ongoing Activities

• The Theme 4 Work Plan has been developed
• A survey assessment matrix has been developed in connection with the law and policy template
• The methodology used to collect data based on the matrix has been developed

Activities Planned

In the near future, D.R.P.I. Canada will focus on the following:

• Data collection and analysis
• Dissemination of data through community-based fact sheets, community and academic articles and policy briefs

Current Status of Cross-Theme Activities

Cross-Theme Highlights

The cross-theme stream involves the communication and dissemination of integrated project outputs to different groups including the general public, community organizations, media and policy makers.

Completed and Ongoing Activities

• A master work plan for the whole project has been developed
• A knowledge dissemination and mobilization strategy has been developed which involves the D.R.P.I. Canada website and the development of the Virtual Knowledge Network component

Activities Planned

In the near future, D.R.P.I. Canada will focus on the following:

• Refining the Virtual Knowledge Network internal components and developing the external components
• Cross-theme dissemination of data throught press releases, e-newsletters, community and academic articles, and events aimed at academic & non-academic audiences

View the Project Status Update presentation (PDF - 272 KB)