http://niduspersonalplanning.tumblr.com/

Navigating the Nidus Website

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:44:02 -0400

Navigating the Nidus Website

Project Zero Conference - Workshop Panel (from left): Ms Jana...

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:38:00 -0500

Project Zero Conference - Workshop Panel (from left): Ms Jana Žitňanská MP, Slovak Republic; Mr Franz Wolfmayr, President of the EASPD; Christine Gordon, Nidus Board President; Brian Kearney-Grieve, Programme Executive – Reconciliation and Human Rights, The Atlantic Philantropies, Ireland

Representation Agreement Act: one of the world's best policies.

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:07:00 -0500

The Representation Agreement Act was chosen as the best policy in the world for recognizing the right to support in personal decision making and avoiding guardianship by the World Future Council! Nidus Board President, Christine Gordon, attended the conference in Vienna at the start of the new year to speak on Representation Agreements.

News Release: http://www.nidus.ca/PDFs/Nidus_in_the_News_ZeroProject_Jan_2012.pdf

A keynote speaker addresses the participants of the 2012...

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:06:00 -0500

A keynote speaker addresses the participants of the 2012 International Summit on Accessibility in Vienna, a Zero Project Conference event.

Canadian Law Distinguished at International Summit on Accessibility

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:05:00 -0500

Canadian Law Distinguished at International Summit on Accessibility :

A press release published by Zero Project Conference www.zeroproject.org. The Representation Agreement Act of BC was selected as one of eight best policies in the world by disability experts and a scientific advisory panel of the World Future Council. Nidus is recognized as the driving force behind the legislation and presented at an international conference in Vienna, January 22 and 23, attended by 240 stakeholders from 35 countries.

"The positive reception was revealed by the quality of the discussions, but particularly by the..."

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:04:00 -0500

“The positive reception was revealed by the quality of the discussions, but particularly by the numerous parliamentarians and disability rights activists who joined us from all over Europe and abroad.”

- Ingrid Heindorf, Policy Officer for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the World Future Council, and co-author of the Zero Project Report.

Supported Decision Making Reduces Barriers

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:02:00 -0500

by Christine Gordon, Nidus Board President

I was honoured to be invited to present the Representation Agreement on behalf of Nidus at the first international Zero Project Conference in Vienna on January 22 and 23, 2012.

The conference was attended by 300 invited guests from every corner of the world and it took place in a regal palace in the heart of Vienna. Most of the conference participants were innovators, theorists, policy makers and activists and each brought deep knowledge of their respective country’s policies and practices. In the two workshops where I presented the Representation Agreement, there was great interest in British Columbia (so big and romantic to most Europeans) and even greater interest in how we had managed to achieve the Representation Agreement’s innovative vision of capability and supported decision making.

My presentation focused on the importance of the ground up process in designing and implementing the Representation Agreement and the crucial role that has been played by Nidus, in creating a center of excellence for practice.

Many of the key note presentations at the Conference assessed how well the world is doing in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The record of achievement has been slow and disappointing, so our experience in British Columbia with a grass roots process and a tool like the Representation Agreement that is fully inclusive was deeply encouraging to the conference participants and seen as a beacon of hope. In a communication from the Zero Project organizers immediately after the conference, we learned that the host country Austria “has started to promote the BC Act as a good example for a further development and reform of the Austrian Guardianship legislation.” Similar efforts are underway in Ireland, where the B.C. experience has been closely studied.

Christine Gordon, Nidus Board President, presents the...

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:01:00 -0500

Christine Gordon, Nidus Board President, presents the Representation Agreement Act at the International Summit on Accessibility in Vienna.

Panelists (from left): Ms Lana Kerzner, Lawyer, Canada; Dr Eilionóir Flynn, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Disability Law and Policy, National University of Ireland Galway; Mr Albert Brandstätter, Executive Director of the Lebenshilfe Austria; Ms Christine Gordon, Chairperson of Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry, British Columbia, Canada; Mr Charles Siegal, Lawyer and Member of the Human Rights Committee of the International Law Association

Zero Project: for a world without barriers

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:00:00 -0500

Zero Project: for a world without barriers :

To learn more about the zero project conference, check out their website!

Representation Agreements: A Recommended Tool for Seniors in B.C.

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:08:00 -0400

Representation Agreements have been chosen as one of the top ten essential tools to meet seniors’ needs in British Columbia by the Province Newspaper. They are an essential part of planning for the future in all parts of life including, financial, legal, health and personal care.

The Province Newspaper also urges that if you agree with their recommendations or have some of your own that you contact the Provincial Government and let them know what you think. You can do so through this form on the Province Newspaper’s BC Senior Help website.

You can view the other recommendations (Representation Agreements are #9) here: http://blogs.theprovince.com/2011/10/31/the-provinces-recommendations-on-what-needs-to-be-done-to-help-b-c-seniors/

Message from Tim Stainton

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:12:06 -0400

The proclamation of the new amendments to BC’s personal planning legislation moves the Representation Agreement one more step in its long journey towards becoming a critical tool to ensure the hopes and dreams of all British Columbians are respected and acknowledged regardless of their age, disability or means of communication. With the recognition of everyone’s rights to have their legal capacity recognized and respected in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Representation Agreements are more critical than ever as the first and best example of how this right can become reality. In celebrating this latest step forward we are celebrating the commitment, and inspired contributions of the many people who have fought to create, refine and preserve this critical Act; none more so than through the work of NIDUS and the incredible commitment of Joanne Taylor. Congratulations to all for two decades of work, let’s celebrate today, because we know, tomorrow the battle continues!

Tim Stainton
Professor and Director, UBC School of Social Work
Director of the Centre for Inclusion and Citizenship

Thank you to our supporters for helping to make September...

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:11:17 -0400

Thank you to our supporters for helping to make September Personal Planning month. It has been a great success!

Message from Wayne Braid

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:08:05 -0400

We believe this new legislation will greatly benefit individuals and families in British Columbia. The legislation affects the creation and use of existing personal planning instruments, notably enduring powers of attorney and representation agreements. It also provides for a new health-care planning instrument, the advance directive. Those are just a few of the areas in which our BC Notaries practice as legal professionals. Notaries will help their clients understand the advantages of having these important instruments in place and will draft the documents to ensure their clients’ future protection and peace of mind.

G. W. (Wayne) Braid, Chief Executive Officer of the BC Notaries, and Executive Officer of the Notary Foundation of BC

Message from Jane Dyson

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:27:00 -0400

We congratulate the Province for having the vision to implement these very positive changes to BC’s personal planning legislation. These amendments mean BC is now a national leader in this field and has set an example on how to ensure citizens can make important personal planning decisions in a way that works best for them. We also thank Joanne Taylor for her years of dedication working with government to make these changes happen.
— Jane Dyson, Executive Director, BC Coalition of People with Disabilities

Message from Michael Bach

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:22:05 -0400

A huge Congratulations! to Nidus, the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities, the British Columbia Association for Community Living and so many others who have shown leadership and determination in advancing supported decision making in British Columbia.

Combined with the leadership of elected Members of the Legislative Assembly and the Government of British Columbia, BC has led the way internationally in statutory recognition of the right to support in personal decision making. The Canadian Association for Community Living has been proud to profile British Columbia’s Representation Agreement Act as model legislation internationally, and to use it is a primary example in convincing governments around the world to recognize the right to legal capacity in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Your collective leadership is a beacon for the self-determination of people with disabilities in Canada and internationally.

Michael Bach
Executive Vice-President
Canadian Association for Community Living

Message from Stephanie Cadieux

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:46:00 -0400

Before becoming an MLA I worked with the Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre in my role with the BC Paraplegic Association. Nidus provides valuable information and assistance to British Columbians about personal planning. When a crisis occurs, personal planning provides stability and support to individuals, their families and friends.

The proclamation of amendments to BC’s personal planning legislation on September 1st ensures personal planning is available to those who are most vulnerable and makes representation agreements accessible to everyone. The Representation Agreement Act was specifically designed for personal planning and is a model for other provinces and countries. I encourage everyone to explore the Nidus website and learn more about personal planning.

— Hon. Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Social Development, MLA Surrey-Panorama.

Question of the Day #8

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:51:05 -0400

Which legal document includes the authority to make arrangements for the temporary care and education of minor children if the adult/parent/guardian is incapable?

Enduring Power of Attorney
Will
Representation Agreement with Section 9 broader powers
Power of Attorney
All of the above

Click here to submit your answer.

Nidus feature in CLBC's The Citizen

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:11:05 -0400

Nidus feature in CLBC's The Citizen

Challenge #5

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:31:06 -0400

Rank the following in the order that is most important to you: health, finances, legal rights, personal care (where you live, social support and activities), estate planning (making a Will), organ donation, memorial/funeral wishes.

Take some time to think about this question and challenge your friends and family to do their ranking as well.

Bob is a 74 year old man under adult guardianship in British...

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:51:00 -0400

Bob is a 74 year old man under adult guardianship in British Columbia. This means the Public Guardian and Trustee manages Bob’s financial and legal affairs. Bob would like to manage his own financial and legal affairs. This is his story.