Marshall Training and Banner Making Party Update

Hey everyone,

We’ve gotten some questions concerning the time of the marshall training, marshall trainings are at 2pm and 4pm. We’ve given two options but marshalls would only need to attend one of them, not both.

Excited to see you there, 

-TDPM

Image Description: A square image with an orange border and the TDPM logo in the bottom center of the frame, surrounded by illustrated protesters. In the center is black text on a white background with an orange frame. The text in the center reads “Marshall Training and Banner Making Party, June 10th 2023, North End of Trinity-Bellwoods Park (For Wheel-Trans: 257 Shaw St). Banner Making from 1-5 pm. Marshall Trainings at 2 pm and 4 pm.” On the right side of the main text, there is a green thought bubble with “join us” written inside.

Marshall Training & Banner Making Party

Image Description: A square image with an orange border and the TDPM logo in the bottom center of the frame, surrounded by illustrated protesters. In the center, there is black text on a white background with an orange frame. The text in the center reads “Marshall Training & Banner Making Party, June 10th 2023, 1-5pm, @ North End of Trinity-Bellwoods Park (For Wheel-Trans: 257 Shaw St). On the right side of the main text, there is a green thought bubble with “join us” written inside.

Save The Date!

Image Description: Square image of a black and white photo of people marching, with an orange border and the TDPM logo in the bottom center of the frame. In the center, there is black text on a white background with an orange frame. The text in the center reads ” Save the Date! The Toronto Disability Pride March is Returning July 15, 2023 (In Person with Live Stream).”

Join Us!

Image Descriptions:

Image 1 of 2: Square image of a black and white photo of people marching, with an orange border and the TDPM logo in the bottom center of the frame. In the center, there is black text on a white background with an orange frame. The text in the centre reads ” Join Us!”

Image 2 of 2: Square image of a black and white photo of people marching, with an orange border and the TDPM logo in the bottom center of the frame. In the center, there is black text on a white background with an orange frame. The text in the centre reads “We are a march that is organized by disabled folks for disabled folks, so members of our organizing team must identify as disabled. We welcome those with invisible disabilities and/or those without a medical diagnosis! If you are passionate about disability justice and interested in organizing, please email us at torontodisabilitypride@gmail.com with your name, access needs, and availability for a Zoom meeting!”

Thank You for Attending TDPM 2021

We’d like to thank everyone who came out, spoke and supported us for our two virtual marched in 2020 and 2021. COVID-19 has definitely highlighted some of the challenges disabled people are facing, and it is really helpful to come together as a community.

We’re looking forward to coming together on the streets of Toronto in September 2022.

In the meantime, if you would like to connect with the Toronto Disability Pride March community, you can find us on our Facebook Group or Facebook Page.

Here are some other grassroots organizations doing amazing work:

ODSP Action Coalition

People First Ontario

Disability Justice Network Ontario

ERDCO (Ethno-Racial Disability Coalition Ontario)

Indigenous Disability Canada (IDC)

TDPM 2020 Update

Hi everyone, Melissa here. A couple of months ago TDPM made the decision to hold this year’s march online on Saturday, September 19th. Although things seem to be opening up, keeping the march online this year still seems like the safest and most inclusive approach.
We’ve been asked a couple of times why the march does not take place on Disability Pride Day in July. I’d like to take a moment to address that, because I think it speaks to an important part of what TDPM stands for. Disability Pride Day was started in the United States as a celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a history of parades that followed its passing.
Perhaps it’s a worthy discussion whether there is some solidarity to be found in this celebration, but here are my thoughts. TDPM started out of the Occupy Movement, in direct contrast to the idea that government will save us out of the goodness of their hearts. In 2020, when disabled people are losing their lives to police violence and state neglect, this perspective seems critically important.
With that in mind, it also seems important that the voices we hear from be the voices most directly impacted by these issues. In other words, I’m asking any potential speaker who identifies as white, including myself, to step back and listen this year.
At the same time I recognize that those same voices do not have a responsibility to teach white people.
My question to the community is this, what do we need to say this year?If you’re interested in speaking, please contact me.

Our Apologies about the ASL this year

Dear Community Members,

We would like to take a moment to explain what happened with the ASL for the 2018 march, and express our regrets.

The Toronto Disability Pride March (TDPM) organizers had tried something new this year. We made a deal with the City that they would provide us with ASL and tokens in exchange for some of our speakers discuss the LEAG committee and its work.

We had set up a back-up plan for ASL, then cancelled it when the City told us they could follow through. We did not know there was a miscommunication until this year’s event began.

As such TDPM failed a significant portion of our community that relies on ASL for communication. We deeply regret that this occurred, and are taking steps to ensure that it does not happen again. It is unlikely that we would risk such a partnership with the City in the future without serious consideration and community input. At this time, we plan to fundraise for our own ASL supports for 2019 as we have in the past.’

We also recognize that it took longer than it should have to post this apology, and for that I take personal responsibility. I encourage anyone who wishes to respond to contact me directly.

Below is the response we received from the City of Toronto.

With our sincerest apologies.

Melissa Graham – Founder and co-organizer

Hi Kaarina and Kevin. [Two of our organizers.]

 

I am so sorry about the ASL interpretation mess up.  In digging into what went wrong, it appears that despite confirming that they would be able to provide the service, the company that we contracted with was not able to come up with individuals who were available on Saturday.

 

The last minute notification only went to one of our support assistants by e-mail who happened to be off sick at the end of the week, and not you directly Kaarina, nor me, despite them having our contact information and the knowledge that the service was not being provided directly for the City but for TDPM.  I would think at a minimum they would have alerted those who were actually organizing the event and were actively engaged in communication with, particularly as they were pulling out at the last minute?

 

This is truly unfortunate and we have learned an important lesson about the challenges of booking ASL interpretation.  I just wish that that lesson wasn’t learned as a result of such a negative impact on your event.

 

Please accept our most sincere apologies that we couldn’t deliver successfully on our promise.

 

I’m glad to hear that despite this, the TDPM went off well and was a success.  Look forward to hearing more about it and seeing the video once that is posted.

 

All my best,

Sean

 

Sean McIntyre

Policy Development Officer

Poverty Reduction Strategy

Social Policy, Analysis & Research

Social Development, Finance & Administration

City of Toronto

(416) 392-6488

Sean.McIntyre3@toronto.ca

Open letter urges Prime Minister to make good on his commitment to the right to housing

At a press conference in Ottawa on August 14th, advocates released an open letter to Prime Minister Trudeau signed by over 170 organizations and prominent Canadians urging the Prime Minister to make good on his commitment to the right to housing by enshrining that right in upcoming National Housing Strategy legislation.

Over 150 individuals and organizations have endorsed the letter! You too can join the call.

Visit the Legislate the Right to Housing Website.

Call for Volunteer Marshals – TDPM 2018

The 8th Annual Toronto Disability Pride March will be taking place on the afternoon of Saturday, September 22nd, 2018.
We are looking for volunteers to serve as marshals for the march route (Queen’s Park to Ryerson University, 99 Gerrard Street East).
New marshals are asked to attend a brief training session on Saturday, September 15. (More details will be provided to people who volunteer. Returning marshals are also kindly encouraged to attend, if possible.)
If you are interested in marshaling or have any questions about what it means to be a marshal, please contact TDPM by:

1.  Commenting below the original post;

2. Messaging us on Facebook; or,

3. Filling out the volunteer form on our website.

One of our head marshals will connect with you.

Thank you!

Come out to the Rally to Fight the Cuts to Social Assistance TODAY!

Come out to the Rally to Fight the Cuts to Social Assistance TODAY!

The Ontario PCs have announced they are slashing a planned increase to social assistance rates from 3% to 1.5%.  Other reforms including increasing the employment income earned on ODSP before clawbacks and the Basic income Pilot have also been cancelled.

ACORN Members accorss Ontario are ready to stand up for Social Assistance Rates!  Come out and fight for ODSP and OW!

Meet us on August 9th at 10:45AM at Bay and College!  From there we’ll march to the Ministry of Community and Social Services on Grosvenor St.

When: TODAY: Thursday, August 9th at 10:45AM

Where: Bay and College – Meet at the corner – Look for the ACORN Flag!

Please let us know if you can make it by responding to this email or calling 416-461-9233.

Check out our Facebook Page for updates and events.