Press Conferences - The International Summit for the Alliance on Social Inclusion - Montreal, May 3 through 5, 20063 May 2006
During the International Summit for an Alliance on Social Inclusion from May 3 through 5, 2006, at the Fairmont Queen Elisabeth Hotel, the Organizing Committee is pleased to invite media to meet with several leaders of the changes that will need to be implemented to improve the social inclusion of persons living with intellectual disabilities.
Intellectual disabilities (ID) are a reality affecting approximately two percent of the world's population which represent about 150 000 persons in Quebec. In earlier days, persons with intellectual disabilities were first eliminated, and then they were segregated within institutions and quite often rejected. Modern societies have made social inclusion of those persons a societal objective. Still, social inclusion raises challenges and exceptional opportunities for families, services providers, and for the entire society that they live in. Some 1000 delegates coming from 35 countries will participate in the Summit, whose Final Program is available on the website www.aamrqc.org.
"This summit aims to lay the groundwork for a new international alliance that will work tangibly to hasten the adoption of measures and programs that will foster the social inclusion of people living with IDs in Canada and throughout the world," adds Yves Lachapelle, Ph.D., Chairman of the Summit.
PRESS CONFERENCES
Meetings will be on the 1st floor of the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, 900 René-Levesque Blvd.
Wednesday, May 3 2006 at 11:00 am: Respect of Human Beings and Social
Capital Development
Press Meeting with:
- Diane Richler, President, Inclusion International. Social Inclusion in
the World, to reduce poverty and inequalities.
- Paul Young, from a "mentally-challenged" devalued young to a valued
adult, he is today an internationally recognised keynote and
motivational speaker; a life overcoming barriers.
- Cathy Ficker-Terrill, Ray Graham Association for Individuals with
Disabilities. For her, inclusion also means helping these individuals
building their own social capital to enhance their lives.
Thursday, May 4th 2006 at 11:00 am: Inclusion and the Environment Press
Meeting with:
- Jay Lundell, senior scientist at Intel Corp.chez Intel, he develops new
technologies to help the elderly remain independent in their home and
maintain high quality of life. He is the father of a twelve years old
daughter living with I.D.
- Frank Bodin, Professor at l'Université des Sciences et Technologies de
Lille, works on effective integration for persons with disabilities in
public spaces, the construction of residential environments, and work
and transportation environments.
- Daniel K. Davies, Founder and President of AbleLink Technologies. He
has worked on development of assistive technology for individuals with
intellectual and cognitive disabilities for more than 15 years. His
older brother John, lives with a severe mental retardation.
- Valerie J. Bradley, President American Association on Mental
Retardation (AAMR) She works on leadership, policies and other critical
elements required to enhance social inclusion.
Thursday May 4 at 4:00 pm: Inclusion through Arts and Entertainment
Press Meeting with:
- Catherine Lamarre, Animator at the art workshop L'Atelier au Phil du
Barbeau, who now has 20 artists medium or severely mentally-challenged.
- Lenore Vosberg, Executive Director, The Centre For The Arts In Human
Development, Concordia University. The Centre established and
interdisciplinary research program into the efficacy of the creative
arts therapies for improving the quality of life of persons with
disabilities. Signer Lisa Walsh is graduated from the Centre.
- Katherine Porter, Executive Director, H'art Studio, Kingston (Ontario).
H'art Studio is a development centre through the arts for adult
individuals living with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
The Summit also presents an Art Exhibition (May 3 to 5) and an evening Show (May 4, at 7:00 pm) with several artists mentally-challenged, including the Montreal jazz singer Lisa Walsh.
Friday, May 5 2006 at 10:30 am: Inclusion and Health Issues
Press Meeting with:
- Dr Benedetto Saraceno, WHO Department of mental Health and Substance
Abuse. 450 millions people are affected by mental disorders and the
risk is higher among the poor, the children and adolescents, and abused
women. Without effective interventions, the gap between treated and
untreated will enlarge.
"Social inclusion is not aimed to help people adapt to society's systems and structures. It means transforming these systems and structures to make them better for everybody," declared Ms. Diane Richler, M.C., President of Inclusion International.
It should be remembered that the Montreal Declaration on Intellectual Disabilities which was adopted on October 6, 2004, received the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) as well as the support of Québec's Health and Social Services Minister.
For further information: interviews, visits: Marie-Noel Pichelin, (514) 840-1239, Cell.: (514) 912-2278; Daniel Granger, (514) 840-7990, Cell.: (514) 232-1556
Source: newswire
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