News

International CDMP-E Recipients Recognized in Edinburgh

Congratulations to four individuals who achieved the CDMP-E designation and were awarded their certificates during IFDM 2026 in September in Edinburgh:
  • Dr. Azlan Darus, Head of Prevention, Medical, and Rehabilitation Division, PERKESO (Social Security Organization Malaysia)
  • Graham Halsey, Founder of Well Working Matters, UK
  • Gustav Pruß, Executive Director, VDiMa e.V., Germany
  • Gayathri Vadivel, Head of Employment Services Division, PERKESO (Social Security Organization Malaysia)
Also attending the presentation of the CDMP-E certificates were four Board Members of NIDMAR and PCU-WHS: Prof. Dr. Herbert Biggs (Chief Academic Officer, Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences), Bert Blundon (President, National Union of Public and General Employees of Canada), Prof. Dr. Joachim Breuer (Fr. President, International Social Security Association), and Sari Sairanen (Executive Assistant to the National Secretary-Treasurer, Unifor, Canada).
“This designation recognizes leaders who have the vision and capability to strengthen capacity, influence policy and advance disability management as a strategic priority. I strongly recommend the CDMP-E to leaders committed to creating better outcomes for individuals, organizations and society.”
– Dr. Azman, Chief Executive officer of PERKESO, Social Security Organization, Malaysia
L to R: Prof. Dr. Herbert Biggs, Bert Blundon, Sari Sarianen, Gayathri Vadivel, Dr. Joachim Breuer, Dr. Mohamed Azman
L to R: Prof. Dr. Herbert Biggs, Bert Blundon, Sari Sarianen, Dr. Azlan Darus, Dr. Joachim Breuer, Dr. Mohamed Azman
L to R: Prof. Dr. Herbert Biggs, Bert Blundon, Sari Sarianen, Graham Halsey, Dr. Joachim Breuer, Dr. Mohamed Azman
L to R: Prof. Dr. Herbert Biggs, Bert Blundon, Sari Sarianen, Gustav Pruß, Dr. Joachim Breuer, Dr. Mohamed Azman

NIDMAR and PERKESO Renew and Expand International Education & Certification Partnership

During the recent International Forum on Disability Management (IFDM) 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland, NIDMAR was pleased to finalize its renewed and expanded education and certification agreement with PERKESO, Malaysia’s Federal Social Security Agency.

The agreement extends the partnership through 2031 and broadens its reach to include Japan, China, and Tanzania, in addition to the ASEAN countries already served under the collaboration.

To mark this significant milestone, Dr. Mohamed Azman, CEO of PERKESO, travelled from Kuala Lumpur for a brief but impactful 24-hour visit to attend the signing ceremony and deliver a presentation highlighting Malaysia’s leadership in advancing Return to Work (RTW) and Disability Management (DM) outcomes. Over the past two decades, Malaysia has established itself as a global leader in this field, with 723 Certified Disability Management Professionals (CDMPs) working across a wide range of sectors and industries.

As a leading force in Disability Management across Southeast Asia and beyond, PERKESO continues to strengthen capacity throughout the region. Through its Disability Management Education and Certification Centre at the University of Malaya, CDMP examinations have been successfully delivered to candidates from China, Australia, the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore, and most recently, Cambodia. Indonesia alone is now home to nearly 70 CDMPs.

Malaysia’s success demonstrates the value of recognizing Disability Management education and certification as a critical workforce skill. By investing in qualified professionals and implementing early intervention, Return to Work, and Disability Management policies and practices, organizations can reduce claim durations and disability-related costs while improving productivity, workforce participation, and organizational competitiveness. Most importantly, these efforts help ensure that workers experiencing physical or mental health impairments have the best possible opportunity to remain active participants in both the workplace and their communities.

The Malaysian experience illustrates how visionary leadership and sustained investment in Disability Management can deliver meaningful economic and social outcomes for workers, employers, and society as a whole.

NIDMAR extends its sincere appreciation to the four Board members who attended IFDM 2026 and helped support this important occasion. Their participation contributed to a milestone achievement that will further strengthen Disability Management education and certification across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Pictured Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Dr. Herbert Biggs, Bert Blundon, Dr. Joachim Breuer, Sari Sairanen, Wolfgang Zimmermann, Dr. Mohamed Azman

Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) Launches Canada’s First Course on Measuring the True Economic Impact of Disability Management

New Program Equips Professionals to Quantify Fiscal, Policy, and Social Returns with Credible, Customized Metrics

PORT ALBERNI, BC, Sept. 11, 2026 /CNW/ — For the first time in Canada, disability management professionals can access a dedicated course that teaches them how to walk into a boardroom, government briefing, or stakeholder meeting and present hard numbers not just stories that prove exactly how their programs deliver value.

 

Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) is proud to introduce DMCS 735: Economics of Disability Management – Measuring Value and Impact Across Multiple Levels, the first-ever course of its kind in the country.

Running online from October 5–25, 2026, this intensive program gives professionals the tools to move beyond vague claims and generic averages to customized, research-backed metrics that demonstrate impact at personal, organizational, and societal levels.

The need is urgent. Workplace injuries cost Canadian businesses approximately $29 billion each year. Poor mental health alone carries an estimated $180 billion annual price tag for the Canadian economy, with employers shouldering more than $100 billion of that burden through disability claims, benefits, accommodations, and related costs.

Many disability management programs remain underfunded or misunderstood simply because their true returns are never measured properly. This groundbreaking course changes that.

Upon completion, learners will be able to measure DM impacts across multiple levels, build compelling evidence-based arguments, select the most relevant metrics for different contexts, and design customized key metrics tailored to real workplaces. The course delivers practical, applied learning designed for professionals who need to influence budget holders, policymakers, and organizational strategy.

“Most individuals who have acquired a mental or physical health impairment expect to continue being equitably employed following onset of a health impairment. As someone who suffered a major spinal cord injury in an industrial accident many decades ago, being extremely fortunate to continue being accommodated resulted in not getting pushed to the margins of society and all its potentially negative consequences. This new program highlights and articulates the many economic, social, and individual benefits arising from a successful accommodation for the injured/disabled worker, the employer and society at large” says Wolfgang Zimmermann, OBC, who is the President of the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences and the Executive Director of the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR).

36 Continuing Education Credits are available for Certified Disability Management Professionals (CDMPs) and Certified Return to Work Coordinators (CRTWCs).

The course is designed and delivered by Dr. Emile Tompa, one of Canada’s leading experts in labour and health economics. A Senior Scientist at the Institute for Work & Health with academic appointments at McMaster University and the University of Toronto, Dr. Tompa’s research has significantly advanced understanding of the economic impacts of workplace health, disability, and return-to-work programs including landmark estimates of the economic benefits of full inclusion. His unique combination of expertise in economics, public policy, occupational health, and disability management makes this a rare opportunity to learn from a foremost authority in the field.

“For too long, disability management has had to make the case for its value using stories, averages, or broad estimates rather than evidence tailored to the decisions leaders actually have to make. This course is about changing that. We’re giving professionals the tools to measure what their programs mean in dollars, workforce participation, organizational performance, and social impact—and to translate those results into evidence that executives and policymakers can act on. When we can demonstrate the return on disability management with credible, customized metrics, we move the conversation from ‘What does this cost?’ to ‘What value are we creating, and what happens if we don’t invest?’” says Emile Tompa, PhD.

Register:
PCU-WHS Registration

Course details:
DMCS 735 Course Information

About Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences
Professional and Continuing Education at Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences advances excellence in workplace health sciences through specialized education and training.

Contact: 778-421-0821 ext. 206 | [email protected] | https://www.pcu-whs.ca/

SOURCE Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences

 

National AccessAbility Week May 31 – June 6, 2026

Join CSPDM in celebrating National AccessAbility Week from May 31 to June 6! This year’s theme is “Building a Strong, Accessible Canada”. Let’s continue to work together to build a country where everyone has an equal opportunity to reach their full potential.

Certified Disability Management and Return-to-Work professionals such as yourself, play a vital and transformative role in supporting workers with injuries or disabilities as they reintegrate into the workplace. Your expertise ensures that recovery, accommodation, and meaningful employment remain central priorities—not afterthoughts. By coordinating early intervention, individualized planning, and collaborative communication among workers, employers, healthcare providers, and unions, you help create pathways that restore both productivity and dignity.

Equally important, you work to identify, reduce, and remove the physical, organizational, and attitudinal barriers that can prevent a successful return to work. Through evidence‑based practices, proactive problem‑solving, and a commitment to inclusion, Disability Management and Return‑to‑Work professionals like you help build workplaces where every person has the opportunity to contribute, thrive, and remain connected to their livelihood.

Your work strengthens not only individual outcomes but also organizational culture, workforce sustainability, and the broader social commitment to equity and accessibility. From all of us as CSPDM and NIDMAR, thank you.


https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/national-accessability-week.html

Recognizing Excellence – Launch of CDMP-E

May 25, 2026 marked the official launch of the Certified Disability Management Professional–Executive membership, the CDMP-E designation by the International Disability Management Standards Council. This official unveiling in Vancouver culminated more than 2 years of development effort by the IDMSC, which not only administers, but provides quality assurance standards and future strategic directions for the CDMP holders across more than 22 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.

The CDMP-E development and recognition process was designed for CDMP holders who are distinguished leaders who oversee programs, guide organizational strategy, and influence outcomes at the executive level.

The following comments provided by Prof. Dr. Lorne Sulsky, PhD, Director, Certification Programs, NIDMAR. “The CDMP-E is a prestigious designation that recognizes executive-level leadership in the field of Disability Management. This designation is designed for individuals who have already achieved the Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) credential and have demonstrated significant experience in senior leadership or supervisory roles within Disability Management or Return to Work programs. In sum, the CDMP-E exam was designed to meet the highest levels of psychometric integrity. With the approaches undertaken for exam question development, scoring rubric generation, and assessor training, we are confident that both test reliability and validity will be maximized.”

Sari Sairanen, NIDMAR Co-Chair, presented Certificates for the CDMP-E certification on May 25, 2026 to those individuals who successfully passed the rigorous examination process.

Left to Right – Leslie Allan-Reed, Rebecca Chow, Lani deHek, Shanna Ramm, and Bill Dyer

Unable to attend in person: Lorraine Evans, Dianna St. Pierre, and Denyse McFadden

CDMP-E Brochure

Click here for more information

 

 

Ongoing Multi‑Year Membership Fee Adjustment

May 6, 2026

We want to remind our members about a planned multi‑year, incremental adjustment to our annual membership fees. As outlined in correspondence sent on March 11, 2025, beginning with the 2025 renewal cycle, the first increase was 10%, bringing the annual renewal fee to $275 for 2025.

A copy of that original email can be found here.

That update—effective September 30, 2025—marked our first fee change in 22 years. Implementing gradual increases over the coming years will help ensure we can continue delivering high‑quality services, resources, and support, while keeping pace with rising operational costs and ongoing industry advancements. This year marks the second fee increase, bringing the 2026 annual membership fees to $300. A reminder will be sent ahead of the 2027 renewal fee increase.

We will continue to communicate openly and provide updates on future adjustments as they are confirmed. Your support and engagement are vital to our community, and we appreciate your understanding as these changes take effect.

For any questions or further details, please reach out to us.

Thank you for your continued membership.

Celebrating Excellence in Belgium: 2026 Certification Award Ceremony and New Graduates

CSPDM is pleased to share that Belgium had it’s official Disability Management (DM) certificate awarding ceremony on May 4, 2026.

Out of 86 participants who completed the examination, 57 successfully achieved certification. This includes:
• 32 individuals who earned the CRTWC designation
• 25 individuals who were awarded the CDMP designation

With these new graduates, Belgium now has a total of 175 certified professionals.

Congratulations to all who achieved this milestone!

IFDM 2026 – April Updates

We are delighted with the response received to our recent Call for Abstracts. With over 50 submissions received from professionals across the globe, ifdm2026 is gaining momentum and will be offering delegates a curated program aligned to the four pillars of the conference Empowering Ideas, Shaping Futures.

You still have time to join us and Dr Nancy Doyle, Dr Shriti Pattani OBE, Dr Tyler Amell, Cameron Stockdale, Elisabeth Kasilingam and many more specialists and leaders
from across the world. Register now for Early Bird prices before May 7th and benefit from 20% discount: https://ifdm2026.com/conference/register

April Abstracts and EB

IFDM 2026, Edinburgh, Scotland, September 22-23, 2026 – Call for Abstracts attached

IMPORTANT DATES – WITH EXTENDED DEADLINES for the IFDM 2026 – IFDM 2026 Extended Deadlines,

Call for Abstracts International 2026

Dear Members,

Attached please find the Call for Abstracts for IFDM 2026 taking place in Edinburgh, Scotland, September 22-23, 2026.

The theme of IFDM 2026 is “Empowering Ideas, Shaping Futures”.

The submission themes are outlined in the attached document.

For further details, please refer to the following website:  [email protected]

Invitation to become a member of the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences Research Panel on Disability Management Theory and Practice

Dear Members:

 

Attached please find an “Invitation to become a Member of the PCU-WHS Research Panel on DM Theory and Practice” sent to the CSPDM from the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) which offers an opportunity for obtaining CEC hours. The terms and conditions as outlined in the document are that they are seeking CDMPs who have had the CDMP professional designation for a minimum of 5 years and must be a member of the CSPDM in good standing. The amount of time working with a student may vary, however, the instructor will verify the number of CEC hours to be provided. Please respond directly to the email address as outlined in the attached document.Invitation to CDMPs re Research Panel on DM Theory and Practice February 2026

NEW VIDEO – The Importance of Early Intervention in Disability Management

Employment is recognized as a key social determinant of health as it affects various aspects of individuals’ lives that are crucial for their overall well-being.

Work is important for the dignity of individuals, for the sense of accomplishment it brings, its value to the community and to society, and the way it contributes to a sense of belonging. The tangible benefits of income, learning, and participating in the goals of an enterprise give a sense of control over an individual’s destiny. Work is fundamental to one’s sense of well-being and to citizenship.

When workers are expected to stay away from work until the illness has abated or the injury has healed, it can break the bond with the workplace. Too often, such workers never return to their jobs. Or to any job. As they negotiate with benefit providers, the injured or ill workers can begin to see themselves only in terms of their illness or injury.

Research from the OECD indicates that if an individual is off work for a year, there is a 1% – or less – chance of their ever returning to work. This can be devastating for individuals affected by a disabling condition.

Therefore, early intervention that provides support and a path forward is key to having successful outcomes in return to work.

This new video, The Importance of Early Intervention in Disability Management demonstrates what can tragically happen when early support is not there, but it also emphasizes that early contact and working with the worker and their support network can have very positive outcomes.
To view this 6-minute video, please click on the following link:   The Importance of Early Intervention in DM