Affiliates menu

Monitoring Individual Experiences (Theme 1) Presentations

Note: The slides for this presentation are available for download 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.

Toronto Site

Current Status

  • Fourteen interviews have been completed so far
  • It is important to get a diversity of perspectives from across Toronto, therefore efforts are being made to recruit interviewees from:
    • a broad spectrum of groups and communities
    • people with wide range of disabilities
    • aged 20 - 60 years

Toronto Monitors’ Experiences

Monitors have shared that the process of training and interviewing has been positive. The training was valuable as it lead to monitors being comfortable with interview process and increased their understanding of the project. Overall, it was reported that the interview process has been positive for both monitors and interviewees and that most interviewees were very enthusiastic about participating in the project.

Monitors have been able to access interviewees' experiences of mental health issues. Homeless individuals also became involved with the study during visits to local community and drop-in centres. Securing trust was identified as an issue of utmost importance in regards to these populations.

Quebec Site

Current Status

  • Data collection began in January and lasted for two months. Overall, 45 interviews were completed.
  • Profile of interviewees (32 total):
    • Composed of 18 men, 14 women
    • Mainly physical (the majority had motor disabilities) and intellectual disabilities
    • The majority of participants were older (27 were between 41 - 70 years of age while only 5 were between 18 and 40 years of age)
    • Education level around high school
    • 9 interviewees were employed, most were either unemployed (13) or retired (8)
    • Most lived alone and did not own their residence
    • Most interviewees had high school education and 14 had postseconday education
    • Most (19) interviewees lived alone, although a significant number (10) lived with partners (and some of the latter lived with children)

Quebec Monitors’ Experiences

Although the seminar was at times very intensive, monitors felt very positive about the training seminar. Monitors particularly enjoyed the guest speakers who imparted perspectives on disability which contextualized the project within broader struggles for human rights. Monitors felt that the training was adequate, appreciated the exchanges with the other seminar participants as well as the opportunity to practice interviewing techniques.

The Quebec City monitors held team meetings which were felt to be beneficial and necessary since they allowed monitors to share experiences about the interview process. The role of the local co-ordinator was seen as very important, in terms of organization and having someone to help with ethical and other issues that arise during the process of interviewing.

Toronto and Quebec Site Conclusions

  • Overall the experiences of monitors and interviewees has been positive
  • The training seminar was identified as very useful and important, although monitors emphasized the need for more practice with interviewing.
  • The support of local coordinators very important especially for questions regarding ethical issues. Team meetings are also important since they provide opportunities to share experiences.
  • Ensuring privacy is considered very important to project participants. Informed consent and confidentiality agreements were a precondition of all interviews and seemed to be helpful in reassuring interviewees concerning their privacy concerns.

View the Theme 1 - Toronto presentation (PDF - 54 KB)

View the Theme 1 - Quebec City presentation (PDF - 2,110 KB)