Conference to address decision making for people with different abilities
Dr. Michael Kendrick, a wellrespected voice in the international disability community, will be among 10 speakers at an upcoming conference entitled, Independent but Not Alone: Supported Decision Making and Adults with Different Abilities. The educator, advocate, consultant and author will facilitate the opening day of the two-day conference presented by Kings Regional Rehabilitation Centre (KRRC). The event takes place at the Old Orchard Inn Oct. 24 and 25, with pre-registration required.
The conference will focus on the importance of decision making by people with different abilities. Conference committee chairwoman Janet Mcbean, co-ordinator of Professional Development Services at KRRC, says the conference will be of interest to professionals working with individuals with differing abilities, students, as well as family members. In addition to the 80 staff attending from KRRC, more than 100 participants from organizations and agencies from Cape Breton to Yarmouth are expected. Registration is still ongoing, and a small number of seats remained available as of press time. The fee is $185.
Annual ethics education is part of the professional development mandate at KRRC, which serves adults and youth with developmental and physical disabilities at its main facility in Waterville, and in nine community homes in Kings County and Bridgewater.
“As part of our strategic plan we are committed to providing on-going ethics education for staff … the topic is broad in scope and has taken various forms.”
Mcbean has been involved with KRRC’S ethics education planning for the past five years. She noted the centre has in the past reached out to other service providers to take part, but this conference is the largest initiative with several speakers and topics.
“It will present an excellent networking opportunity for everyone involved.”
Mcbean said the centre is thrilled to be welcoming Dr. Kendrick for the full first day of the conference with his topic, “The Dilemmas of Supporting Choice.” Now living in the US, Kendrick has strong connections to Nova Scotia, having spent part of his youth in the Annapolis Valley and obtaining two degrees from St. Mary’s and Dalhousie Universities. He is currently head of Kendrick Consulting, a small specialized firm focussed on leadership and emerging developments in the fields of disability, mental health and aging.
The second day will be facilitated by Drs. Marika Warren and Christy Simpson. This will be Warren’s third time contributing to KRRC’S ethics education. Warren is an assistant professor in the Dalhousie University Department of Bioethics and a member of the Nova Scotia Health Ethics Network. She will be joined by Dalhousie’s Head of Bioethics, Faculty of Medicine, Simpson.
Final session details are still coming together, with a complete list of speakers available on the conference brochure on the KRRC website at www. krrc.ns.ca. To register contact Conference Committee member Tracie Sarsfield-turner at 902-538-3103 ext 171 or email tturner@krrc.ns.ca.