Author: Olivia Seguin-Coles

The Government of British Columbia has recently enacted amendments to the workers’ compensation legislation aimed at providing greater clarity and reinforcement of the obligations placed upon organizations in facilitating return to work for employees who have sustained mental or physical injuries or illnesses resulting from workplace activities. The Workers Compensation Amendment Act (No. 2), which was ratified in November 2022, is slated to come into effect on January 1, 2024. This legislation introduces two new obligations for both workers and employers: the duty to collaborate and the duty to sustain the employment of an injured worker.

For further details, please click on the following link to download details regarding the course: DMCS 450 BC Employer RTW Obligations Under Bill 41

Or, please go to the following webpage: DMCS 450

Following the recent BC Government’s New Release from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction entitled “People with injuries, disabilities supported getting back to work”, NIDMAR has issued a News Release providing additional details with regard to this latest initiative “Reducing Poverty through Early Intervention and Occupational Rehabilitation Initiative.”

Please click on the following link to download the NIDMAR News Release: Optimizing Return to Work through Successful Early Intervention

Completion of education through PCU-WHS is a gateway to becoming eligible to obtain the CDMP professional designation – the internationally accepted Gold Standard for those working in the field of Disability Management and Return to Work. This short 10-minute video offers a snapshot of the value proposition associated with obtaining the coveted CDMP designation. Link to video

Speaking at the Day of Mourning, a very moving ceremony held in Port Alberni, BC April 28, 2023. Hon. Josie Osborne, MLA for Mid Island–Pacific Rim and Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation; Wolfgang Zimmermann, President of PCU-WHS; and Gord Johns, MP for Courtenay–Alberni.

On April 28, known as the Day of Mourning, we honor people who have passed away, been sick or injured at work, or endured a tragedy at work. In Canada, 1,081 workplace fatalities were recorded by the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC) in 2021. Among these deaths, 18 were young workers aged between 15 to 24. In addition, 277,217 claims for lost time due to work-related injuries or illnesses were accepted by the AWCBC, including 34,548 claims from workers aged 15-24. However, these figures do not account for all cases, and it is expected that the actual number of affected workers is higher.

Annual observance of this day was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992 to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. The theme for the 2022 global observance is “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world”, and covers three topics:
– Innovation for disability inclusive development in employment
– Innovation for disability inclusive developing in reducing inequality
– Innovation for disability inclusive development: sport as an exemplar case

We are extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Kara Arnold, PhD, as PCU-WHS’s Chief Academic Officer. In this consulting role, Kara will provide invaluable support to educational delivery and development aspects, including the academic and continuing education components of PCU-WHS.

This special initiative for Canadian Residents is funded by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program and provides a limited number of free Continuing Education courses in Disability Management and Return to Work. For further details on this Continuing Education opportunity, please visit: Support for Canadian Residents for DM / RTW Continuing Education 

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.

PCU-WHS Newsletter Vol 9 Issue 36 October 2022 BDM Degree Graduates Honoured

Welcoming our Member of Parliament, Gord Johns.

With significant national attention focused on the ongoing developments regarding a Canada Disability Benefit and the recently released Canada Disability Inclusion Action Plan, MP Gord Johns wanted to learn more about current challenges facing persons with disabilities and potential positive opportunities.

Following the weekend Global News article (see link below), discussions centered on the fact that highly inequitable employment opportunities for persons with disabilities are a major contributor. We need to break the vicious disability – poverty – unemployment cycle.

More than 80% of mental and physical health impairments occur during a person’s working life, so maintaining workplace attachment through effective Disability Management programs is key towards “Building a Culture of Accommodation,” reducing disability stigma, and is required to build a Disability Inclusion society.

How poverty, not pain, is driving Canadians with disabilities to consider medically-assisted death

The Accessible Canada Act, introduced in 2018 and which received Royal Assent and came into force in July 2019, is “An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada.”

The definition of “Barrier” in the Act “means anything – including anything physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal, anything that is based on information or communications or anything that is the result of a policy or a practice – that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation.”

The National Executive Steering Committee for the special initiative that NIDMAR is currently undertaking requested a Fact Sheet that sets out the current situation in Canada today.

Funding for the initiative is provided under the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program, and covers support through education, professionalization, and program assessments – all related to Disability Management and Return to Work.

Free access to Continuing Education courses in Disability Management and Return to Work for BC Residents. For details and to download an application form, please visit: BC Workplaces Supported with DM and RTW Continuing Education

Wolfgang Zimmermann, President of PCU-WHS, is pleased to welcome Tyler Amell, PhD, to the position of Registrar. As a long-time professor and supporter of PCU-WHS, Dr. Amell accepted the role stating, “It was an opportunity to contribute to the University’s greater success and it was appealing to me to join with Wolfgang and the top leadership now in place.” Please click on the link below to view the newsletter announcement.

PCU-WHS Newsletter Vol 9 Issue 35 July 2022 Appointment of Tyler Amell, PhD, as Registrar

“I urge all countries to fully implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, increase accessibility, and dismantle legal, social, economic and other barriers with the active involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations.”

– António Guterres, Secretary General, United Nations

NIDMAR’s goal is to stop the Disability–Poverty cycle through effective Return to Work programs to ensure continued Employment for people with mental or physical health impairments.

In 2016, the Scottish government committed to increase the employment opportunities for people with disabilities. One of the methods chosen to address the employment gap was the training of 300 individuals to become Certified Disability Management Professionals (CDMPs) to serve the country’s public and private sectors dedicated to maintaining meaningful employment for workers with long-term health conditions, injuries, or disabilities.

To read more on the success achieved to date, please click on the following link to the Communique.

IDMSC Communique Vol15 No 46 CDMP Awards in Scotland 2021

We were so proud to celebrate, on Friday Oct 22, our 2021 Bachelor of Disability Management Program graduates with our online graduation celebration! Such an inspiring group of students! We would like to thank our valedictorian Ashley Anna O’Neill who shared her inspiring words with us. We would also like to thank our amazing speakers, Sari Sairanen, Dean Winsor, Susan Patrick, Trevor Alexander, and Wolfgang Zimmermann. Special thanks to MP Gord Johns for his support and contribution and of course our Chancellor, the Hon. Wayne G. Wouters, OC, PC for his graduation address.

Here is to the class of 2021!

Watch the graduation ceremony here: