DJNO Assistive Devices Library Catalogue is now open!

Background colours are purple and light blue. At the top, the text reads Assistive Devices Library Catalogue, after first round of donations. There 6 small circles in the colours orange and pink. Each circle has an image and text of an assistive device. The first circle is glucose monitors, the second is wheelchairs and tilt wheelchairs, the third is walkers, the fourth is white canes, the fifth is crutches, and the sixth is ankle braces/boots.

Our Assistive Devices Library is now open for rentals! Browse through our catalogue and email info@djno.ca with the subject line: Assistive Devices Rental Request to book a time to pick up your equipment. All equipment has been sanitized, and we ask that you return it in the same condition it was borrowed with. All rentals are for 6 weeks with renewal upon request. To donate equipment to the library, email info@djno.ca with the subject line: Equipment Donation.

Background colours are purple and light blue. At the top, the text reads Assistive Devices Library Catalogue, Wheelchairs/Tilt Wheelchairs. There are three Maple Leaf Tilt Wheelchairs and specifications are listed as follows: -450 of infinite tilt -14” to 18” Seat Width -16” to 18” Seat Depth -13” to 18.25” Seat to Floor height -Available pin or plug-in style footrests -Anti-Tippers & Adjustable Stroller Handle There is one Blue Streak Wheelchair and specifications are listed as follows: -Actual Product Weight: 41.25 lbs. -Seat Depth: 16" -Seat Width: 16" -Overall Product Height: 36" -Overall Product Length: 42" -Overall Product Width: 23" -Folded Dimensions: 42" x 12.5" x 36" There is one unknown model/brand of wheelchair. The picture shows the wheelchair as manual and standard size.

Wheelchairs and Tilt Chairs

Maple Leaf Tilt Chairs (3 in stock)

Dimensions: 450 of infinite tilt

14” to 18” Seat Width

16” to 18” Seat Depth

13” to 18.25” Seat to Floor height

Available pin or plug-in style footrests

Anti-Tippers & Adjustable Stroller Handle

Blue Streak Wheel Chair (1 in stock)

Dimensions: Actual Product Weight: 41.25 lbs.

Seat Depth: 16"

Seat Width: 16"

Overall Product Height: 36"

Overall Product Length: 42"

Overall Product Width: 23"

Folded Dimensions: 42" x 12.5" x 36"

Unknown Model (Manual Wheelchair) (1 in stock)

Dimensions: unknown, call for site visit

Background colours are purple and light blue. At the top, the text reads Assistive Devices Library Catalogue, Crutches and Ankle Boots. There is an image of Guardian crutches and text that says there is 14 available and specifications are standard. There is an image of an ankle brace/boot and text that says there is 7 available in the following sizes: -1 xsmall -1 small -3 medium -2 large There is an image of an iWalk Hands Free Crutch and a picture of a person modelling them. Specifications are listed as the following: -1 size fits from 4'10" to 6'6" -Adapts for Left or Right leg in seconds without tools

Crutches and Ankle Boots:

Guardian Crutches Dimensions (14 pairs in stock)

Ankle Boots (7 pairs in stock)

Sizes:

1 x-small set

1 small sets

3 medium sets

2 large sets

iWalk Hands- Free Crutch 2.0 (1 in stock)

Dimensions:

1 size fits from 4'10" to 6'6"

Adapts for Left or Right leg in seconds without tools

Background colours are purple and light blue. At the top, the text reads Assistive Devices Library Catalogue, Walkers and Canes. There is a picture of a nexus rollator and text that says there are 4 available in standard sizing. There is a picture of an unknown brand walker with text that says there are 4 available in standard sizing. There is a picture of a cane with text that says there are 8 available in adjustable sizing.

Walkers and Canes:

Nexus Rollator(4 pairs in stock)

Dimensions:

Standard Size

Nexus Rollator(4 pairs in stock)

Dimensions:

Standard Size

Adjustable Canes (8 pairs in stock)

Dimensions:

Standard Size

White Canes (2 pairs in stock)

Size: 40 inches

White Canes (2 pairs in stock)

Size: 60 inches

Background colours are purple and light blue. At the top, the text reads Assistive Devices Library Catalogue, Glucose Monitors + Strips/Sensors and White Canes. There is a picture of a Freestyle Libre monitor and sensor with text that reads only one package available. The sensors expire on May 31st, 2022. There is a picture of Freestyle Lite Monitor and testing strips with text that reads only one package available. The testing strips expire in August 2023. There is a picture of a White Cane with text that reads there are two 40inches available and two 60 inches available.

Glucose Monitors and Strips:

Freestyle Libre Monitor + Sensors (1 pair in stock)

Sensor Expiration: May 31st, 2022

Freestyle Libre Monitor + Sensors (1 pair in stock)

x1 Freestyle Lite Monitor + Strips

Strips Expiration: August 2023

Virtual Town Hall on Home Care, Elder Care and Community Care - March 10, 6 to 8 PM

Image description: poster includes an illustration of a woman sitting on a sofa chair, reading a book. There is a cat beside her, and the woman is covered in a pink blanket. On the coffee table in front of her there is a cup of steaming coffee. Beside her chair is a stack of books. The poster reads: Town Hall on Changes Needed in Home Care and Community Care, Thursday March 10th 2022, 6-8 PM, Featuring Dr. Ameil Joseph, Sarah Jama, Megan Linton, Peter Clutterbuck, and Kim Martin. On the right side of the poster the logos of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario, the Social Planning and Research Council, and the Seniors for Social Action Ontario are stacked.

Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO), the Seniors for Social Action Ontario (SSAO), and the Social Planning and Research Council (SPRC) are hosting a Town Hall on the state of Home Care and Community Care ahead of the next provincial election!

WHERE: Virtual, over Zoom

WHEN: Thursday March 10, 6-8 PM

There is currently much concern about the state of eldercare and disability care, especially in light of the horrific COVID-19 related death toll and family suffering caused by our Long Term Care (LTC) facilities. This pandemic exposed high infection and death rates for disabled people and seniors, as well as inadequate living conditions in long term care institutions province-wide.

Many senior and disability groups have spoken up about proven models of care and support that are viable alternatives to institutional residential care. Despite this, home care, palliative care, health care, assistive devices, and over all community care continues to be deeply underfunded in Ontario.

As preparations begin for the provincial election, the debate on the future of elder care and disability care in Ontario must directly include the voices of people on the ground in communities across Ontario.

Speakers include:

• Dr. Ameil Joseph of McMaster University

• Megan Linton of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario

• Sarah Jama of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario

• Kim Martin of Social Planning and Research Council- Hamilton

• Peter Clutterbuck of the Seniors for Social Action Ontario

This town hall is hosted by the Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO), the Seniors for Social Action Ontario (SSAO), and the Social Planning and Research Council (SPRC). ASL and captioning will be provided. For other access needs, please email info@djno.ca

REGISTER HERE

Local Accessibility Policy Asks in Collaboration with the Hamilton Encampment Support Network (HESN)

Today, the Hamilton Encampment Support Network released a statement with policy asks, relating to housing in Hamilton. This is in response to the court ruling today, which deemed that homelessness is a choice, therefore allowing the legal dismantling of encampments in public parks.

We know through our work on the ground that a significant amount of folks in Hamilton who experience homelessness have some sort of visible or invisible disability.

The Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO) supported in the development of HESN accessibility policy requests below:

"As we’ve stated before, the encampment protocol was never a solution for encampment residents and our houseless community members. It is disheartening that members of our Hamilton community have spent time before the winter months to dispute and restructure a protocol that was never a solution, a protocol that was ultimately committed to harassing and evicting encampment residents. Winter poses the most imminent threat to our community members, and a protocol, in any form, that does not guarantee access to free, adequate, accessible and safe housing, does not ensure encampment members will survive the winter months.

We call upon the City of Hamilton to immediately take action to ensure encampment members have the means to survive the winter. This includes making available additional beds, public warming and respite centres, and ensuring accessibility limitations to shelter beds and spaces are removed. Some suggestions* that will work to support the survival of our community members during the winter include:

*These policy suggestions are adapted propositions from the wonderful Emergency Winter and Shelter Support and Infrastructure Plan released Shelter and Housing Justice Network of Toronto.

Accessibility Policies in Shelters

1. Shelters systems are reactive measures to systemic failure of governments to offer housing to all members of the public. Shelter systems are spaces where members of our community are subjected to strict qualification requirements and can even be banned from accessing shelter spaces. Shelter systems, like other systems which seek to criminalize members of the public rather than prioritize alternatives, must be abolished.

2. Establishment of a Shelter Advisory Committee of present and past shelter residents advise on improving shelter operations and appropriate housing options. Consultations should include discussions about accessibility, vaccine uptake, and general administration.

3. Pending the access of all to safe, dignified housing, the City of Hamilton will unilaterally adopt accessibility policies around harm reduction, including but not limited to:

4. Policy around the right to exist in shelter space as you are, including but not limited to allowing use of drugs in shelters

5. Identifying shelters friendly to drug users

6. Funding shelters to permanently hire staff trained in safe consumption

7. Collaborate with shelter residents who use drugs to determine and help implement what harm reduction policies, programs and practices work best for the residents at the sites where they reside.

8. Shelter systems are spaces where members of our community are subjected to strict qualification requirements and can even be banned from accessing shelter spaces due to what is often called disruptive behaviour. The labelling of disability related and mental health related symptoms as disruptive is ableist, and this practice must end.

9. Only two accessible women's shelters exist in Hamilton. The City of Hamilton must build more.

10. There is no housing standard through the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, though disability activists at the AODA alliance have pushed for this for years. The City of Hamilton must be in compliance with AODA, but also work beyond AODA to ensure these policies centre accessibility

11. The City of Hamilton will secure accessible temporary housing options specifically for people with disabilities immediately.

12. Keep shelter bed access transparent. The City of Hamilton must publicize daily Wrap-up Code data (no suitable bed available at time of call) and Service Queue Daily Close-out (no bed provided by 4 AM), information made online for access by all."

The full HESN statement can be viewed here: