Nunavut disabilities society wants to hear from the disabled

The Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society will host an upcoming workshop to help identify the needs of Nunavummiut living with disabilities.

The March 28 workshop in Iqaluit is open to anyone who is either impacted by a disability or interested in accessibility issues.

“We need these discussions to happen,” said Noah Papatsie, one of the society’s board members. “Living with a disability is tough right now in Nunavut. Services aren’t coordinated – there’s no one place to go.”

Statistics from the 2006 census show that just over 3,000 Nunavummiut live with disabilities.

The Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtit Society, established in 2005, is the only territory-wide advocacy organization representing Nunavummiut living with disabilities.

In an interview last summer, the society’s Executive Director Annie Quirke told Nunatsiaq News that the organization wants to work towards expanding respite care to communities outside of Iqaluit, so families who need help caring for a family member with special needs can get temporary relief care at home.

As part of another initiative, the organization wants more designated handicapped parking spaces in Nunavut communities.

But that won’t happen without stable funding; the society has also made a public appeal for support to keep the small organization afloat.

Makinnasuaqtiit receives $100,000 as core funding from the Government of Nunavut, which pays for the office rental and the salary of one staff member, along with occasional grants from other government agencies and non-profit groups.

The upcoming workshop is funded in part by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada along with the Canadian Association for Community Living.

Those interested in taking part in the Iqaluit workshop should register by calling 867-979-2228 or sending an email to ndms@qiniq.com.