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This study assessed needs and outcomes for people with developmental disability (DD) to understand the socioeconomic status of this group prior to implementation of the Accessible Canada Act in June 2019. The 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) was used to analyze data for a sample of individuals with self-reported disability. Data related to employment, education, income, housing, caregivers, and use of government benefits is reported. Compared to the general Canadian public, persons with DD are less likely to: finish high-school or post-secondary education; participate in the labor force or be employed; and earn on average less/year in total income. To align with recent accessibility legislation, significant progress is needed to address disparities for people with DD.

This paper explores the connections between parental nonsupport of a young person's trans or gender diverse identity and young trans people's experiences of justiciable legal problems1 as well as access to the legal system to address these issues. Qualitative youth data were drawn from the TRANSforming JUSTICE: Trans Legal Needs Assessment Ontario (TFJ) study. The narratives of 16 young trans people (16-29 years) were analyzed to identify parental factors in relation to encountering legal problems and accessing the legal system. Five themes emerged: parental nonsupport of gender identity, identity documentation issues, accessing medical care, employment legal problems, and housing legal problems. Results indicate that parental nonsupport of a young person's trans or gender diverse identity may render a young person more vulnerable to experiencing justiciable legal problems and may also create barriers to accessing the legal system to address these issues.

Dance as an artform touches the biopsychosocial dimensions of people and as such is increasingly used as a vehicle to improve the quality of life of diverse populations in the community. Yet little is known about how dance classes are experienced by marginalized populations. The purpose of this action research was to explore the potential of dance to contribute to the recovery of women having experienced homelessness. The objectives were to describe: (1) the artistic content (the 'what') and the pedagogical approach (the 'how') of the classes; and (2) the experiences of all the people involved in the action research (women, workers at the women's home, dance facilitators and researcher). Over a three-year period, weekly classes were offered in a women's home. Data was collected through individual interviews, focus groups and observations. A thematic analysis revealed eleven categories of dance activities which were subsequently associated with indicators of recovery. The pedagogical approach was driven by a set of values clearly embedded in the classes; the facilitators deployed numerous adaptations to answers the women's needs. Sufficient evidence supports the claim that dance is a promising practice for individual women's process of recovery. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to explore the implementation of five life skill components of Brolin's (1979) Life Centered Career Education (LCCE) program in Basic Education classrooms in school districts in the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Using a case study approach (Yin, 2014), LCCE Knowledge Battery pre-test was administered to a group of students with varying severity of intellectual, social, and physical disabilities. Working with school staff, families, and the community, workshops on counting money, responsible expenditures, banking, housing, and healthy living was implemented in an attempt to improve student achievement on final examinations, student self-efficacy and self-determination, and to help students develop employability skills. Analysis of the results indicated most students improved in all five areas. The LCCE is described and analyzed and specific examples are provided to explicate the methods used in this study.

This article examines how performance-oriented arts practice with members of socially marginalised communities can be harnessed as a mode of grassroots civic participation, one that can transgress the expected norms of public communication that render some stories and speakers legitimate, and some not. The article will offer an analysis of a community-based theatre project that took place with a small group of high-rise tenants living in the mid-sized post-industrial city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The project involved bringing together participants at risk of involuntary loss of housing due to increased gentrification. With a view to advancing a theoretical understanding of how adult educators can employ artistic practice to produce critical and public facing community-based pedagogies, the article engages with contemporary discussions related to the arts, public pedagogy and urban rejuvenation.

This study investigated the educational needs and barriers for diverse African refugee students in two inner-city high schools in Manitoba. Forty African refugee students, two principals, eight teachers, four parents, and four community leaders participated in the study. Five focus groups, individual interviews, and school and classroom observations were used to collect date. Results revealed that academic, economic, and psychosocial challenges facing African refugee students adversely affected their ability to integrate and cope well in school, thereby significantly reducing their socio-economic opportunities. Policy implications and urgent reform measures such as forgiveness of refugee resettlement loans and better housing in safer neighbourhoods are suggested.

On April 1, 1983, thirteen "enthusiastic, daring, creative and resourceful" (Landstrom, 1993, p. 113) Canadian distance educators who were attending an international conference on telecourses gathered in a hotel room in Washington DC to socialize. They left that evening with a dream: a Canadian distance education association. Now, after the memberships of both CADE and the Association for Media and Technology in Education in Canada (AMTEC) have voted to create a new national bilingual organization based on a reformulated vision, CADE is once again moving forward into a new and exciting future. And so, it seems timely to reflect upon where we have been as we envision where we might go. In February 2006, the Board of Directors commissioned a paper celebrating and documenting CADE's past using a combination of interview and document research techniques. The paper describes CADE's evolution in five sections: (1) mandate and services, (2) organization and finances, (3) Francophone perspectives, (4) CADE internationally, and (5) The future. In one sense, CADE has succeeded beyond the wildest dreams of that visionary band who met in a hotel room in Washington DC in 1983. Blended learning is now seen as conventional, accepted practice by many stakeholders. In another sense, blended and flexible learning are perceived as becoming so dominant that the need for, and values of, distance educators are being lost. We join many quoted in this paper in cautioning that adopting DE practice in an a historical context can mean failure not success, especially if values and practice are not aligned. (Contains 7 tables.)

This article presents the development of a new simulation activity, the Game of Social Life. The activity introduces students to concepts of social stratification based on multiple dimensions of poverty, including inequalities related to housing, education, occupational status, social power, and health outcomes. The game was administered to students enrolled in a social psychology course at a small, private, liberal arts university located in the midwestern United States. Qualitative analysis of 25 students' written reactions revealed that the game was engaging and successful in motivating students to adopt a new perspective, acknowledge inequality and explanations for poverty, self-reflect about privilege and oppression, and consider solutions to these problems. The activity was also assessed as a training exercise with 16 staff members at a nonprofit agency located in an urban area in southeastern Canada. These assessments indicate that the activity can be used in a variety of contexts.

Using results from a formative evaluation, this article describes the transitional rehabilitation housing pilot (TRHP) program located in two metropolitan Canadian cities. TRHP is an innovative community mental health service, created to support hospitalized forensic patients in their transition to living independently in the community. The evaluation used a multimethod, multi-informant approach to describe TRHP services and assess their quality. Results suggest that TRHP is serving the intended population and generally being implemented as planned. Stakeholders identified numerous strengths and weaknesses of the program. Findings are discussed in the context of previous research and their implications for future program development. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

The concept of sense of place has received considerable attention by social scientists in recent years. Research has indicated that a person's sense of place is influenced by a number of factors including the built environment, socio-economic status (SES), well-being and health. Relatively few studies have examined sense of place at the neighbourhood level, particularly among communities exhibiting different levels of SES. This article investigates sense of place among three neighbourhood groups in Hamilton, Ontario representing areas of low, mixed and high SES. It analyses data from a 16-point sense of place scale derived from the Hamilton Household Quality of Life Survey carried out in 2010-2011 among 1,002 respondents. The paper found that sense of place was highest among residents of the high SES neighbourhood group as well as among home owners, people residing in single-detached homes, retired residents and those living in their neighbourhood for more than 10 years. From a health perspective, the paper found that a strong association existed between sense of place and self-perceived mental health across the three neighbourhood groups. Furthermore, by way of regression modeling, the paper examined the factors influencing health-related sense of place. Among the sample of respondents, a strong connection was found between housing, particularly home ownership, and high levels of health-related sense of place. (Contains 5 tables and 1 footnote.)

This paper examines perceptions of quality of life in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada from the perspective of residents and key community stakeholders. A series of eight focus groups were conducted. Six sessions were held with residents of neighbourhood "hubs", areas characterized by high levels of poverty. The following themes were highlighted as significant to neighbourhood quality of life: (1) housing quality and affordability; (2) diversity and cultural integration; (3) crime and safety; (4) community engagement and recreation; (5) green space and the physical environment; and (6) transportation. Two focus groups were then conducted with key informants who provided recommendations for improving quality of life and discussed relevant policy issues such as employment and income security. The findings of the focus groups resonate with local research and policy action in Hamilton, including a new Neighbourhood Development Strategy for the City. This research advocates for decision-makers to support and work alongside context-based, resident-led community development efforts. The hub model, as well as Hamilton's broader neighbourhood-based research and community development approach may assist social researchers, civic leaders and various levels of government across Canada as they work to improve quality of life in their communities.

This article investigates the association between sense of community belonging and health among settlements of different size and across the urban to rural continuum in Canada. Using data from the recent 2007/08 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), the objective is to identify the major health, social and geographic determinants of sense of community belonging and to consider policy options aimed at improving sense of belonging among certain segments of the population. The research found a significant and consistent association between sense of belonging and health, particularly mental health, even when controlling for geography and socio-economic status. At the same time, sense of community belonging improved progressively across the urban to rural continuum with remarkably high levels of belonging evident in the outer most regions of Canada. Despite the health deficit that exists in rural and small-town Canada, the paper postulates that these communities are able to overcome health challenges to create conditions conducive to a positive sense of belonging. Overall, sense of belonging was also found to be highest among seniors, people residing in single-detached homes and among couples with children and was lowest among youth, residents of high-rise apartments and among single-parents. Finally, in the context of addressing deficiencies in sense of belonging, the paper examines several recent policy developments aimed at improving mental health services in Canada.

Homeless young women experience high levels of stress, challenges to mental health, substance use and abuse, and a lack of housing or of secure housing. This article explores one of the findings from a longitudinal qualitative study designed to follow homeless young women for a 2-year period as they make efforts to transition out of homelessness. Our objective was to determine the assets used by these young women as they survived on the street and to transition out of homelessness. The authors found that one of the primary reasons discussed for leaving homelessness was becoming pregnant and having a baby. However, most of the mothers reported increasing levels of stress as the baby became a toddler. They described themselves as using "soft drugs" as a mode of coping with this stress.

This longitudinal study examined psychological integration of women who were homeless at the study's outset. Participants (N = 101) were recruited at homeless shelters and participated in 2 in-person interviews, approximately 2 years apart. A predictive model identifying factors associated with having a psychological sense of community within one's neighbourhood was developed from previous empirical research and tested. Having dependent children, living in higher quality housing, and having more positive contact with neighbours predicted higher levels of psychological integration. Counter to predictions, living in one's current housing for longer predicted lower levels of psychological integration in this sample. The findings suggest the importance of providing high-quality, affordable housing in disadvantaged neighbourhoods to facilitate psychological reintegration into the community. In addition, providing opportunities for positive contact with neighbours might contribute to helping women who have experienced homelessness become psychologically integrated in their communities. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

This article explores the loss of social justice reported by individuals living in the environs of industrial wind turbines (IWTs). References indicate that some individuals residing in proximity to IWT facilities experience adverse health effects. These adverse health effects are severe enough that some families have abandoned their homes. Individuals report they welcomed IWTs into their community and the negative consequences were unexpected. Expressions of grief are exacerbated by the emotional and physical toll of individuals' symptoms, loss of enjoyment of homes and property, disturbed living conditions, financial loss, and the lack of society's recognition of their situation. The author has investigated the reported loss of social justice through a review of literature, personal interviews with, and communications from, those reporting adverse health effects. The author's intention is to create awareness that loss of social justice is being associated with IWT development. This loss of justice arises from a number of factors, including the lack of fair process, the loss of rights, and associated disempowerment. These societal themes require further investigation. Research by health professionals and social scientists is urgently needed to address the health and social impacts of IWTs operating near family homes.

Research Findings: The purpose of this study was to investigate how neighborhoods and neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage impact school readiness over time. School readiness was measured using the Early Development Instrument (EDI) for 3 populations of kindergartners in 2001, 2003, and 2005 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. EDI results revealed that mean scores for the EDI domains of (a) physical health and well-being and (b) communication and general knowledge have been decreasing over time, although this varied according to neighborhood. A derived summary measure of socioeconomic disadvantage at the neighborhood level was significantly associated with declining scores in the EDI domain of physical health and well-being. Practice or Policy: These findings suggest a need for policy and programs that address the underlying determinants of poor school readiness scores, such as socioeconomic disadvantage at the neighborhood level. (Contains 8 tables, 4 footnotes, and 4 figures.)

There is paucity of research investigating opinions and attitudes of seniors 55 years of age and older in relation to housing accommodation and services sensitive to the needs of the senior population. We describe the results of a cross-sectional survey soliciting opinions and attitudes of seniors with respect to a variety of housing issues including home ownership and home modifications. The objectives of the survey were to improve our understanding of older adults' views and concerns about housing, and to collect information intended to provide policy makers with recommendations regarding housing services, improved access, and safety for older adults as indicated by the individual residents. Most respondents indicated a strong desire to stay and age in their own homes, and continue owning their homes. There was general agreement among those surveyed that other forms of accommodations such as seniors' housing, congregate homes, small self-contained houses placed on the same lot as the home of a close family member, and residential care facilities were alternative housing options that are less preferred. Winter weather conditions in northern British Columbia were reported to be an important impediment for safety, community participation, and access to facilities and services. Policy implications related to housing tenure and housing conditions as important social determinants of health for seniors are discussed.

Rural gentrification, which is linked in particular to the migration and permanent settlement in the countryside of middle-class or affluent urbanites, is increasingly affecting contemporary rural communities. Despite the significance of this trend, the complex and many-sided phenomenon of rural gentrification has hardly been explored in scholarly research in Quebec (Canada), in contrast to the abundant research that exists on this topic in the United Kingdom. Accordingly, the present article will explore different representations by and of the various actors involved vis-a-vis the emergence and polymorphous effects of the gentrification of two regional county municipalities (RCMs) in the province of Quebec: Brome-Missisquoi and Arthabaska. Based on the results of qualitative interviews with the four types of actors (newcomers, long-time residents, directors of local and regional community organizations, and municipal officials), it shows the complexity of rural gentrification at various levels: 1) socio-demographically; 2) in terms of housing and economic impacts; 3) on the community and cultural levels; 4) on the physical, environmental and political levels. The findings demonstrate, among other things, the need to go further than simply portraying gentrifiers and, to this end, we have augmented our analysis with representations provided by other actors affected by rural gentrification. The article also stresses the importance of examining the overall effects of the phenomenon, both negative and positive, with a view to improving our understanding of it. (Contains 1 table.)

This chapter presents a discussion of impediments, obstacles, and immobilities. It draws heavily on a prior study of queer street-involved youth, a "needs analysis" that was supposed to precede the establishment of dedicated housing for homeless "queer and questioning" youth. The purpose of this chapter is to identify and consider several specific "blockages" that study brought to light, often in the voices of the participants themselves, and to try to say something useful about what these blockages might mean for reconceiving the ways, means, and ends of education in general, and learning in particular. (Contains 1 figure.)

Extending the dialogue on community engagement, this article examines the potential of a new programming area for university continuing education (UCE) that blends professional development and social change: the investment of university capital in community projects. Increasing interest in applying social and environmental, as well as financial, criteria to the investment of university capital assets has been paralleled by the growth and diversity of community-university engagement across Canada. New social-finance instruments can be used to expand affordable housing, social infrastructure, renewable energy, and Aboriginal economic development. This article suggests that UCE units consider combining professional development programs with research and incubation partnerships in this emerging area. Participants in such activities could include university administrators, fund trustees, investment professionals, union leaders, civic leaders, and community activists. (Contains 1 table.)

Background: Adults with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) require support to be part of the community; however, most have few supports other than family and friends. The purpose of this study was to assess caregiver perceptions of community integration of adults with FASD living in British Columbia. Method: The Assimilation, Integration, Marginalization and Segregation (AIMS) Interview and Functional Assessment were used to assess community integration and the level of support needed respectively. Results: Scores on the AIMS indicated that most of the adults with FASD were integrated (i.e. disability related needs were identified and supported) in the following domains: medical, dental and housing; however, a large percentage were marginalized in other domains. Living with a caregiver had the greatest positive impact on integration while a history of incarceration or confinement had a negative impact. Conclusion: Although most of the adults with FASD had achieved community integration in some areas; this was, to some extent, because of the support of family and friends.

The dollar, once one of the world's strongest currencies, has fallen dramatically in recent years--a development impacting attitudes from corporate boardrooms to the sets of music videos where artists are choosing to flash the euro over American cash. When measured against a collection of other leading worldwide currencies--like the European euro, the Japanese yen and the Canadian dollar--the U.S. dollar has lost a quarter of its value over the last five years, according to the "Economist" magazine. The dollar is losing value because of several factors: the federal deficit, the trade deficit and most recently, the weakening economy due to the housing and mortgage crunches. (Contains 4 online resources.)

The aim of this descriptive study was to compare the report profiles of Caucasian, Aboriginal, and other visible minority children whose cases were assessed by child protective services in Canada. The results show that children of Aboriginal ancestry and from visible minority groups are selected for investigation by child protective services 1.77 times more frequently than are children in the general population. Physical abuse is reported and substantiated more often for Asian children, whereas neglect is chiefly an issue with Aboriginal and black children. Child vulnerability factors and parental and housing risk factors alone cannot explain the higher substantiation percentages, except for Aboriginal children, for whom the risks are higher than for the other groups. The individual and family profiles of Asian and black children appear to be significantly less of a burden than those of Aboriginals and Caucasians. These results may reflect a certain degree of racial bias in the identification and reporting of maltreatment cases to child protective services and in decisions about the substantiation of maltreatment. (Contains 4 tables.)

Following an ecological framework, the primary purpose of this study was to examine the adjustment needs of international students within their academic and social communities. Focus group interviews revealed that students are more in need during their initial transition after arrival to the U.S. and that they experience a number of barriers in their attempts to adjust. Some of these barriers were related to academic life, health insurance, living on or off campus, social interactions, transportation, and discrimination. The implications of these findings are discussed. Recommendations are made for how higher education institutions can help facilitate these students' integration into their communities.

In this article, the author discusses the real solutions to the problems of Aboriginal children in Canada that seem so numerous--impacts of residential school, poverty, poor housing, racism, and over-representation in child welfare care. These are complex issues, but the author has come to believe that the most promising responses, at least in child welfare, are the simple ones: (1) Redress the deficits in resource access for Aboriginal children and families; (2) Affirm Aboriginal people as the best decision makers for their own children; and (3) Organize national and provincial responses--not as programs but rather around a set of principles called "reconciliation touchstones", self-determination for Aboriginal people, respect for culture and language, structural interventions, holism and non-discrimination. These principles were developed by Indigenous and non Indigenous experts working together at a gathering in the territory of Six Nations of the Grand River in October of 2005 and entitled "Reconciliation in Child Welfare: Touchstones of Hope for Indigenous Children". Rather than presuming to be "the solution", these principles are intended to guide Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people alike in designing and implementing practical local solutions to ensure child safety. (Contains 5 notes.)

The Canadian population is aging and becoming more ethnically diverse. This paper focuses on South Asian immigrant seniors and examines differences in housing and living arrangements among seniors who immigrated at different life stages. We interviewed a convenience sample of 161 immigrant seniors of South Asian descent in Edmonton, Alberta, to assess type of living arrangement, type of housing and "dwelling density" (measured in persons per room), activity in the neighbourhood, and means of transportation. Overall, those seniors who came to Canada before the end of mid-life were more likely than those who came at an older age to drive a car and, if married, to live in a one- or two-generation family. Women were more likely than men to be widowed, have poorer English-language skills, or live with a three-generation family if unmarried, and less likely to drive a car. Most respondents were satisfied with their living arrangements, housing, and perceived safety at home and in their neighbourhood. Theoretical implications are discussed.

This paper reports on a short-term ethnographic participatory action research project that engaged urban Canadian, street-involved "queer and questioning" youth in a multi-media enabled inquiry into peer housing and support needs. The "Pridehouse Project" (http://www.sfu.ca/pridehouse) was initiated by, and accountable to, a community-based housing support group. These responsibilities raised central critical questions about education, epistemology, and ethics in identity-based, socially activist, research. The dual role of ethnography as both research and pedagogy is here illustrated, and the educational value of productive activity-based learning in non-formal settings, particularly for youth inhabiting the margins of mainstream social life, is argued for. (Contains 16 notes.)

Describes the tasks undertaken in the cycle of evaluation of housing programs by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation prior to 1997 and analyzes the major evaluation projects in terms of the similarity of constituent tasks. Introduces combinatorial methods and new research applications. (SLD)