On May 15, the National Institute for Health & Disability Insurance for Belgium held a graduation ceremony in Brussels to recognize the 24 new individuals who became CDMPs and CRTWCs.
During the ceremony, chaired by Director General, Mrs. Clara Arbesu, recognition was also paid to the 250 participants who have successfully completed the examinations since 2014.
To view the Communiqué, please click on the link below
IDMSC Communiqué
The Social Security Organisation Malaysia (PERKESO) hosted a graduation ceremony on February 3, 2023. The Minister of Human Resources for Malaysia presented certificates to all participants, including six international graduates from the Philippines, Brunei, and Singapore.
Both the CDMP and CRTWC certifications were introduced in Malaysia by PERKESO in 2010, in partnership with the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR). Over the past 13 years, 334 individuals comprising PERKESO employees and representatives from other local and overseas organisations have earned these two designations. For 2023, 57 individuals were awarded the CDMP and 9 individuals with the CRTWC designation.
To read more on the successes achieved in Malaysia and to view the graduation photos, please click on the following link to the Communique.
IDMSC Communique Vol 16 No 47 PERKESOs CDMP Graduation 2023 April 2023
Launched in 1998 as a joint development effort with the Occupational Standards Branch at Employment and Social Development Canada, this $2 million initiative, designed to codify key competency knowledge domain areas required to successfully assist individuals who acquire a mental or physical health impairment in maintaining their employment, has reached a major milestone.
Development, testing and validation, in collaboration with employers, unions, workers compensation boards, and other relevant stakeholder groups, as well as incorporating key research findings from a major international ILO study has now led to over 4,000 individuals carrying the CDMP designation in more than 20 countries. This growing global Disability Management Professional community is having a significant impact in reducing the socio-economic cost of mental and physical health impairments on individuals, their families, employers, and society at large.
This short 10-minute video offers a snapshot of the value proposition associated with obtaining this coveted Certified Disability Management Professional designation. Please click on the following link: CDMP – The Gold Standard for Disability Management Professionals
The Workplace Disability Management Assessment: An employer’s guide to reducing costs and retaining valuable workers
This 12-minute video promotes the benefits of undertaking an assessment of a workplace program. And as Bill Dyer, Director of Program Assessments states, “…we are not here to point fingers and tell people that they haven’t been doing their jobs. In fact, the assessment is a supportive and confidential discussion with a consensus-based approach. And the only person who gets the report is the person who requested it.”
Under the current BC and Federal Government initiatives, the cost of a program assessment is covered by the grants, so there is no cost.
For further details and/or to apply, please go to:
Organizations located in British Columbia: https://www.nidmar.ca/news/full_story.asp?fid=284
Organizations located in Canada outside of British Columbia: https://www.nidmar.ca/news/full_story.asp?fid=295
Or, please contact NIDMAR at: nidmar@nidmar.ca
On October 19, Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) welcomed its 2022 class of graduates, 10 new recipients who have earned a Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) degree.
PCU-WHS― a leading edge University in education and research for excellence in the field of disability management and return to work ― held an online convocation ceremony with faculty, government officials, and graduates from various time zones, ranging from North America to Europe, Africa and Australia.
In Canada, the degree recipients are now at the vanguard helping address some of society’s most complicated challenges related to accessibility and inclusion for people with physical and mental health impairments. Timing is optimal given that Under the Accessible Canada Act, the federal government is finalizing the framework to create a barrier-free Canada by 2040, including in the area of employment. Six provinces ―so far ―have also introduced Accessibility legislation.
To read the comments made by various speakers, please click on the link below to view the newsletter.
PCU-WHS Newsletter Vol 9 Issue 36 October 2022 BDM Degree Graduates Honoured
The virtual Convocation Ceremony was recorded and can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
We’re happy to share some positive international news from our colleagues in the UK.
The recent relaxing of COVID restrictions in the UK has allowed for a celebration to recognize those individuals who have passed the NIDMAR professional exams for the Certified Disability Manager Professional (CDMP) designation. Here are some photos of the ceremony where the certificates were awarded by Graham Halsey, the UK License holder, and Dr. Norma Clark from the Scottish government.
Congratulations to the successful candidates! We look forward to when we can safely gather again for in-person conferences in Canada, at which time we can recognize and celebrate the 2020/2021 CRTWC and CDMP graduates from our region.
Due to the Covid-19 crisis and in order to have a full non-virtual event, the congress is postponed to September 28-30, 2022.
IFDM 2022: “Disability Management for Healthy and Inclusive Workplace and Labor Market”
10th International Biennial Congress on Disability Management and Return to Work
NH Bloom Hotel, Brussels, September 28-30, 2022
For full details: IFDM2022
A Special Virtual Event on Thursday, May 20, 2021 addressed the Consequences of Long COVID. The recorded session is now available to replay on demand. This one-hour webinar was hosted by the organizers of IFDM 2021.
Continue reading Special Virtual Event: The Consequences of Long COVID
New accessibility legislation will set British Columbia on the path to a more accessible and inclusive province for people with disabilities and their support networks.
If passed, the accessible British Columbia act will allow government to establish accessibility standards aimed at identifying, removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and inclusion. Standards will be developed in a range of areas such as employment, the delivery of services and the built environment.
“We’re committed to improving the lives of people living with disabilities, and today’s introduction of the accessible British Columbia act marks an important step in building an accessible province that works for all of us,” said Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “To be a truly inclusive province, we must integrate accessibility into all aspects of our lives. This legislation will support the development of new accessibility standards, which will help ensure all British Columbians can participate more fully in their communities.”
To view the News Release made by the BC Government about the proposed accessible British Columbia act, please click on the following link: More Information
In a separate release, the Province announced that it is providing NIDMAR a $6 million one-time grant to administer a RTW and DM education and program support project over the next four years.
The project includes three strategies to support BC employers to accommodate injured workers to return to work as well as increase the number of people with disabilities in the provincial workforce through:
• Disabilty management program assessments and improvements
• Educational development
• Professionalization
Dan Coulter, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility said, “Every worker has the right to return home safely from work. As someone who has endured a serious workplace injury myself, I know first-hand how difficult it can be to return to the workplace. This funding will help more people successfully transition back into the workforce.”
Wolfgang Zimmermann, Executive Director of NIDMAR said, “We very much appreciate the support of the Province to enable us to provide employers in BC with education, professional certification and implement a Return to Work/Disability Management program so they can assist workers who acquire a mental or physical health impairment to maintain attachment to their workforce. Over 80% of impairments occur during a person’s work life, and spending a year on disability support, less than 1% will work again. Workplace efforts in early intervention and return to work play a key role in successful socio-economic outcomes for the injured/disabled worker.”
Lance Blanco, Senior Vice-President of Corporate Development Hardwoods Distribution Inc. said, “This is a tremendous opportunity. Employers in collaboration with their employees, can effect meaningful change through personal leadership and by introducing organizational policies and practices that focus on retaining valuable workers they might otherwise lose to the onset of a mental or physical health impairment. Everyone benefits when we build a culture of accommodation that recognizes the important contributions we can all make.”
Sussanne Skidmore, Secretary Treasurer, BC Federation of Labour said, “We are encouraged by this practical investment that will help injured workers to return to work. While there is much work to do to improve accessibility and supports for injured workers, employers will now have access to training and skills development to ensure they properly support their workers.”
The Honourable Minister of Labour, Harry Bains said, “Ensuring that workers who become injured or disabled have the supports they need to be able to return to work is vital to a healthy and just workforce. This grant will go a long way to improve and expand BC’s disability management and return-to-work resources and provide workers and employers with more of the supports they need.”
For further details regarding this grant, please contact NIDMAR by email at: nidmar@nidmar.ca
For BC residents interested to be notified of future certification grant opportunities please register at: info@cspdm.ca
To view the News Release made by the BC Government Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, please click on the following link: More Information
Attached please find the latest Communique from the International Disability Management Standards Council (IDMSC) with regard to the Scottish Government NIDMAR Program and an interview with Dr. Norma Clark, Project Manager.
Committed to better outcomes for individuals with mental and physical health impairments, the article highlights the leadership of the Scottish Government and Dr. Norma Clark’s personal dedication and vision.
IDMSC Communique Vol 15 No 45 Scottish Government Program Interview with Dr Norma Clark March 2021
Members of the Canadian Society of Professionals in Disability Management are part of a growing community of dedicated professionals worldwide. CDMPs and CRTWCs work tirelessly to support individuals with mental/physical health challenges in being accommodated in the workplace, allowing them the chance to maintain financial independence, continue to realize their potential, contribute to society, and continue to access the same opportunities as their able bodied peers.
In 2020 our members faced unprecedented challenges when the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses worldwide to adjust to new public health orders and re-imagine their daily operations. Disability Managers and Return to Work Specialists were navigating their own workplace disruptions, with access to their usual systems and supports suddenly impacted with the wholesale shift to working from home. CSPDM professionals have reported their heaviest workload to date with many seeing extraordinary surges in the number of cases they are managing.
Read the latest CSPDM Connections newsletter for a review of CSPDM news and events in 2020.
This eight-module Certificate Program addresses the mental health aspects of disability management and engages a holistic approach to foundational and current challenges related to evolving societal changes, the realities of a global pandemic and resultant workplace challenges.
Those whose responsibilities include disability management, return to work, human resources and health and safety are on the front lines as mental health conditions represent the greatest proportion of disability management claims. This Mental Health Certificate is centered on providing tactical learning opportunities for professionals to attain a perspective of informed “responding” versus well-intentioned “reacting”.
More information available here: https://www.pcu-whs.ca/2020/12/new-certificate-program-effective-workplace-responses-to-mental-health/
Note: A 10% discount is available to CSPDM Members in good standing.
On December 14, PCU-WHS hosted a virtual Convocation Ceremony for the awarding of the first Bachelor of Disability Management, a milestone both for the University and in the life of the very first graduating student.
International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD) is a United Nations-sanctioned day that is celebrated internationally on 3 December. IDPWD is just one day on the international calendar, yet it symbolizes the actions we should take every day, in order to create diverse and accepting communities. The intentions of IDPWD are to recognize and value the diversity of our global community; to understand and learn from the experiences of people with living with a disability; to look towards the future and the creation of a world where a person is not characterised by their disabilities, but by their abilities; and take on a commitment to create a world characterised by equal human rights.
“Having an effective disability management program ensures an inclusive work environment so that employees with disabilities can remain at work and contribute in productive way. The CSPDM supports a strengthened, professional work force that promotes strong disability management practices. On International Day of People With Disabilities, we recognize and appreciate the contributions that our members make each and every day to minimize the socioeconomic impact of disabling injuries and illnesses on employees and employers” – John Mutch, CSPDM Chair
According to the WHO World Report on Disability, 15 per cent of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, are living with disability. Of this number, it’s estimated 450 million are living with a mental or neurological condition—and two-thirds of these people will not seek professional medical help, largely due to stigma, discrimination and neglect. The 2020 IDPWD theme ‘Not all Disabilities are Visible’ focuses on spreading awareness and understanding of disabilities that are not immediately apparent, such as mental illness, chronic pain or fatigue, sight or hearing impairments, diabetes, brain injuries, neurological disorders, learning differences and cognitive dysfunctions, among others.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, isolation, disconnect, disrupted routines and diminished services have greatly impacted the lives and mental well-being of people with disabilities right around the world. Spreading awareness of invisible disabilities, as well as these potentially detrimental—and not always immediately apparent—impacts to mental health, is crucial as the world continues to fight against the virus.
In 2020, employers are focused on adjusting their work practices to comply with COVID-19 public health orders, and an unseen impact of the pandemic has been a decline in willingness to accommodate the return of an ill or injured worker. This further illustrates that people with disabilities are not offered consistent and sustainable support in the workplace. Now more than ever, we need to work together in identifying and addressing the marginalization, inaccessibility, exclusion and discrimination that many people living with disabilities face.
Source: https://idpwd.org/
The Special Virtual Event took place on Monday, November 9, 2020. A recorded version is now available (free of charge). Continue reading UPDATED: RETURN TO WORK STRATEGIES UNDER COVID-19: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE