
National AccessAbility Week May 28 – June 3, 2023

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.
The Scholarship opportunity to enroll in the Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) degree program is offered through the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS). This is a critical gateway to a highly desirable and rewarding professional career opportunity in the rapidly expanding field of Return to Work and Disability Management not only in BC, but across Canada and internationally. Please see the website at: https://www.pcu-whs.ca/programs/bdm/
Applicants for the Scholarship in the BDM program must be BC residents who have completed a 2-year diploma or other relevant educational prerequisites, which provide 60 credits (or equivalent) in a range of disciplines but preferably human resources, business, occupational health and safety, nursing or social work from a recognized post-secondary educational institution. A combination of professional experience and career education may also be considered under the Flexible Admission policy on a case-by-case basis. Applicants under Flexible Admission should have a minimum of 5-10 years of relevant experience in a related field.
Scholarships are awarded on a first-come-first-qualified basis.
This limited Scholarship opportunity provides the following options:
or
commencing with the Fall trimester of 2023.
This Scholarship is designed to significantly increase the availability of disability management professionals and practitioners for British Columbia employers across all public and private sector organizations and be a major long-term strategic and sustainable workplace approach to “Building a Culture of Accommodation”. This strategy mirrors the successful outcomes seen in other jurisdictions across Canada and around the world where greater professionalization in the Return to Work and Disability Management field is significantly improving socio-economic outcomes for disabled workers, employers and society at large.
Individuals having completed the BDM will be encouraged to write the professional certification examinations for the designations of Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and Certified Return to Work Coordinators (CRTWC).
To download the WDA Scholarship Information Booklet, please click on the following link: WDA Information Booklet 2023
To download an Application Form in order to apply for a Scholarship, please click the following link: WDA-Grant-Scholarship-Application-Form 2023
OR
The percentage to which the annual scholarship will cover actual tuition costs will be contingent on the number of transfer credits with which prospective students will enter the degree program, and any additional courses that may be required.
Eligible individuals may apply for a scholarship for either the full-time or part-time 2+2 Bachelor in Disability Management (BDM) program.
The WDA Grant Scholarship will provide
The WDA Grant Scholarship is open to candidates with landed immigrant or Canadian citizenship status who are permanent residents of British Columbia.
Successful candidates must:
In addition, successful candidates must qualify for Admission Directly into Year 3 of the BDM program (i.e., the 2+2 program). Your scholarship would then apply to the first 2 years of your 2+2 program. To qualify for Admission Directly into Year 3, applicants must:
OR
Preferred domains of the previous study include:
The WDA Grant Scholarship will apply to:
OR
PCU-WHS is located in Port Alberni, British Columbia, but all BDM courses are offered exclusively online. Residents of British Columbia can study from their city or town of residence.
All courses at PCU-WHS are offered online by highly qualified faculty with a depth of multidisciplinary experience.
Students require a computer, an Internet connection (high-speed internet is recommended), and internet browser software to participate in the courses. Students should have a computer with a sound card and speakers to listen to course videos and audio, plus a microphone to participate in synchronous sessions. All courses require a word processing application such as Microsoft Word. Individual courses may have additional software requirements. Technical assistance is available for all courses.
The online platform provides you with:
Students will have 24-hour access to most course resources, activities, and materials. The few synchronous activities (Zoom sessions, student presentations) will be scheduled in the Pacific time zone.
Full-time 2+2 BDM program: For students who are not employed full-time.
Part-time 2+2 BDM program: For students who are employed full-time.
2+2 BDM Program | ||
Full-Time | Part-Time | |
Time to completion of program | 2 years | 4 years[1] |
Minimum number of courses per year | 10 | 5 |
Duration of each course | 12 weeks | 12 weeks |
Number of courses taken at one time | 3 or 4, depending on trimester | 1 or 2, depending on trimester |
Time commitment per week per course | 8 hours | 8 hours |
All expressions of interest and applications must be addressed to the Office of the Registrar at PCU-WHS (see contact information below).
To apply, submit a WDA Grant Scholarship application package which includes:
The WDA Scholarship can only be applied to the first 2 years of the 4-year part-time program. Applicants will be responsible for covering the full tuition and all other expenses of the final 2 years of the part-time program.
Applications packages must be addressed to the Office of the Registrar at PCU-WHS, and can be sent by email, Canada Post, or courier to:
WDA Grant Scholarship
Office of the Registrar
Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences
4755 Cherry Creek Road
Port Alberni, BC V9Y 0A7
education@pcu-whs.ca
Application packages must be received in their entirety no later than June 15, 2023.
Scholarships are awarded on a first-come-first-qualified basis.
Successful applicants will be notified by July 15, 2023 (for applications received after May 1).
Successful applicants (for applications received after May 1) must notify PCU-WHS that they have accepted the Scholarship by July 25, 2023. If the Scholarship is declined, it will be awarded to an individual on the waiting list, who will be notified of their success by July 30, 2023.
The WDA Grant Scholarship is designed to:
Disability Management interventions are designed to:
Early intervention is at the core of an effective Disability Management approach.
A key success factor in effective Disability Management programs is a consensus-based process based on collaboration between management and worker representatives, often enshrined in a collective agreement, and overseen by a joint management-labour committee.
Disability Management Professionals work internally within their own organizations or externally as providers to:
Disability Management Professionals work collaboratively with management, unions or employee organizations, insurance providers, government agencies, health care providers and others.
Disability Management Professionals work as human resource professionals, workplace health specialists, case managers, return to work coordinators or in a variety of related areas.
Prospective places of employment for Disability Management Professionals include:
There is an opportunity for experienced professionals to establish their own businesses offering disability management contract services to local employers.
once they have met all of the following eligibility criteria:
In a survey by the Canadian HR Reporter, it was found that 90 percent of business leaders say the value of professional designations is increasing.
For information regarding the WDA Grant Scholarship that is not addressed in the FAQs, please contact:
Due to high number of inquiries, there may be delays in receiving a response. We prioritize those who have submitted an application with associated application fees.
Funding provided by the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement.
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
This Scholarship opportunity is for BC Residents to enroll in the Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) degree program. Applicants must have completed a 2-year diploma or other relevant educational prerequisites which provide 60 credits in a range of disciplines. Deadline for applications is July 15, 2022. For details please visit the following webpage: Scholarship Opportunities for BC Residents through WDA Grant
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.
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:
SOCSO’s Regional RTW DIGIMOS Symposium 2021 took place September 6 and 7, 2021. It aimed to attract participants from diverse levels and professional backgrounds from Southeast Asian countries, and with the goal of helping to reinvigorate Malaysia’s labor industry by sharing information and best practices for recovering from the pandemic.
The theme of this year’s RTW DIGIMOS Symposium was “Navigating Disability Management through the New Normal: Return to Work Process-Re-Engineering”.
The IDMSC contributed a presentation highlighting the international standards as well as an initiative currently taking place in British Columbia, Canada under a government grant entitled “Building a Culture of Accommodation in the Workplace. This presentation is featured in the video and begins with introductions around the 42:00 minute mark.
The full video can be seen at:
https://fb.watch/7Tj1ubttAp
Learn More:
https://www.perkeso.gov.my/en/digimos-symposiom-2021.html
https://digimosrtw2021.perkeso.gov.my/
An event took place during the last week of August in Scotland to present the certificates to the individuals who passed the CDMP professional certification examinations that took place at the end of May 2021. Dr. Norma Clark, Project Manager for the Scottish Government attended along with Graham Halsey who acted as MC for the event.