MOU Signed with CIESS for Promotion of Disability Management to its Members

In late January, a MOU was signed between the Inter-American Center for Social Security Studies (CIESS) and the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) and the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR).

The CIESS, headquartered in Mexico City has developed programs of activities that address priority aspects of social security for their region which encompasses the Americas and the Caribbean, covering 36 countries and a membership of more than 80 institutions.

The MOU creates the opportunity for the adoption of educational programming and the best practice professional and program standards in Return to Work and Disability Management for the member organizations of the CIESS, and expands the global membership in the International Disability Management Standards Council (IDMSC) to 64 countries.

It is hoped that the further adoption of best practice standards in Disability Management and Return to Work will help change the narrative with regard to detrimental outcomes when an individual with a disability does not have a return to work option and is forced into poverty, homelessness, addiction or potentially worse scenarios.

We congratulate the CIESS on their leadership.
More Information

New Board of Directors of CSPDM Holds First Meeting

The newly selected Board of the Canadian Society of Professionals in Disability Management (CSPDM) held its first Board meeting in Toronto at the offices of the WSIB, under the leadership of CSPDM Board Chair, Evie DoCouto, WSIB Vice-President for Return-to-Work.

Recognized in the International Social Security Association’s Best Practice Guidelines on Return-to-Work as the gold standard in professional competence, CDMPs and CRTWCs now reflect a global professional community of over 4,000 individuals in 13 countries across all continents and expanding at a brisk pace.
More Information

International Forum on Disability Management – Towards IFDM 2020 – Brussels

During the conclusion of IFDM 2018 held in Vancouver, Canada, October 15-17, attended by 400 delegates from 30 countries, organized by the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS), the handover took place to Brussels, site of the 10th International Biennial Congress on Disability Management and Return to Work – IFDM 2020 – to be hosted by the Belgium Federal Social Security Organization, INAMI.

Attached please find the bulletin with further details with regard to the IFDMs going forward.

Over 80 Presentations were delivered by experts from 20 countries during the conference. These have been uploaded to the IFDM 2018 website. Please click on the tab marked Program on the website and click on the links provided in the titles of the Plenary presentations as well as of the Concurrent Workshop presentation titles.

To view the Gallery of Photos taken at IFDM 2018, please visit the IFDM 2018 website and click on the tab marked Gallery of Photos.

To view the Welcome videos from Federal Ministers Carla Qualtrough and Patty Hajdu and BC Premier John Horgan, please click on the tab marked Video Library on the website.

IFDM 2018 Canada Declaration

Following the Kuala Lumpur Joint Statement on Disability Management issued at IFDM 2016 in Malaysia, which set out a framework of values, at IFDM 2018 held in Vancouver, Canada, October 15-17, 2018, the Canada Declaration was put forth as a practical agenda leading to demonstrable improvements, clarifying the duties of governments, employers, unions and other relevant stakeholders, providing support where needed, and putting government money to work in ways that reduce poverty and unemployment of workers with a disability.

It identifies barriers that still face workers with a disability and sets out Goals going forward.

To read the full text of the IFDM 2018 Canada Declaration, please click on the following link:
IFDM 2018 Canada Declaration

International Forum on Disability Management – IFDM 2018 Third Update

We are extremely pleased to advise that an agreement has been reached, and will be signed during the Opening Session of IFDM 2018, between the International Social Security Organization (ISSA) a UN affiliated, Geneva based organization, with over 330 members in more than 150 countries, and Canada’s National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR), effecting the legal transfer of IFDM associated intellectual property, currently held by NIDMAR to ISSA.
For further details, please see the attached Third Update

IFDM 2018 – Second Update

Keynote Address: Bill C-81, An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada

We are pleased to announce that Ms. Yazmine Laroche, Deputy Minister, Public Service Accessibility, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, will be the opening keynote speaker taking place on Monday, October 15, 9:00 am – 10:00 am. Ms. Laroche was appointed to this position by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on August 7, 2018 with a mandate to lead the Government’s public service accessibility agenda. For further details, please see the attached Second Update

International Forum on Disability Management – IFDM 2018 – Update

We are pleased to confirm the participants for the IFDM Plenary Panel taking place Tuesday, October 16, at 8:45 am – 10:15 am in the Plenary entitled:
The Disappearing Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities for Workers Compensation Systems

This distinguished Panel will be chaired by Dr. Joachim Breuer, Director General of the German Federal Workers Compensation System – DGUV of Berlin, and President of the International Social Security Association – ISSA of Geneva.

For details regarding the Panel members, please see the attached Update.

Honourable Kirsty Duncan announces funding for IFDM 2018

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Canada’s Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, announced funding for the International Forum on Disability Management – IFDM 2018 – through the Disability Component of the Social Development Partnerships Program, at a news event held April 12 in Victoria.

Also attending the event was BC’s Minister for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, the Honourable Scott Fraser who is MLA, Mid Island-Pacific Rim, in the riding where the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) and NIDMAR are located.

The IFDM is designed to promote innovation, leadership and practical policy and program solutions, and will provide knowledge and tools on an integrated approach to disability management in the workplace. For further details on IFDM 2018, please visit the website: IFDM 2018

To view the news release, please click on the link below.
More Information