Canadian Centre on Disability Studies Launches Leadership Project

Creating Opportunity and Sharing Knowledge: Leadership Development in the Canadian Disability Movement

OBJECTIVES

This project will strengthen the leadership of the disability movement, over the long-term, by creating and evaluating different models of leadership development and by sharing information about how to use successful models across Canada. It will also provide opportunities for young, emerging, and/or potential leaders to develop their leadership potential. And finally, it will engage the disability community in discussing and reflecting on leadership.

ACTIVITIES

Phase One is research on the current state of leadership in the Canadian disability community. Phase Two consists of four pilot projects that provide opportunities for leadership development in the disability community. Phase Three is an evaluation of the outcomes of the pilot projects in Phase Two.

PHASE ONE: Gathering our wisdom and learning from our experiences

Deliverables: A key feature of this project is to engage the disability community in a conversation on leadership. CCDS will both create spaces where this can happen and actively go out to engage people in a conversation.

• Approximately 50-65 hours of individual interviewsÊand/or focus group meetings will be conducted with current and past leaders (in both staff and volunteer positions), emerging leaders and potential leaders.
• A literature review will also provide insight into current thinking and practice regarding leadership and leadership in the disabled community. This literature review along with the intake interviews (Phase Two) will serve as a baseline of information used to evaluate the impact of the project.
• An interactive website will be created to enable members of the disability community across Canada to discuss visions and opportunities for leadership. The website will include a moderated listserv with focussed questions, an unstructured chat room, and posted resources and updates on the project.

PHASE Two: Creating new opportunities for leadership development The project will initiate four pilot projects that will enable different aspects of leadership development including: motivating, mentoring, internships and exchange.

Deliverables:

1. Motivating project
   Local disability groups will host four regional weekend workshops focusing on youth, multi-culturalism and aboriginal persons with disabilities. One workshop will look at organizational leaders. Each workshop will give approximately 10-12 potential and emerging leaders opportunities to meet 10-12 established leaders in an accessible and an informal setting. Those chosen as participants will receive a $500 tuition bursary to cover the cost of the workshop.
2. Mentorship project
   Each participant at the regional workshop will have the opportunity to gain the leadership experience in a 3 week formal Mentoring or Internship experience. On a weekly basis they will meet on-line with a mentorship coach who will work with both the protŽgŽs and mentors to ensure leadership learnings are being reached. Approximately 10 people will participate in this pilot project. In the winter of 2004, participants will take part in a three-week mentoring experience and contribute to a weekly on-line leadership exchange for three weeks.

Following the initial orientation, participants will be matched with an organization and a role (staff, board member or volunteer). One person in a similar role within the organization will act as mentor to the participant.

3. Internship project
   For participants wishing internship placements these will be facilitated in disability organizations - organizations and potential interns will be recruited. Organizations will be required to identify a specific project or set of projects the intern will work on in conjunction with an organization-based coordinator.
4. Leadership renewal project
   Up to 10 current leaders (staff or board) will move to a different organization. Those who want to participate will bring their organizational commitment to accept a participant from the program and a preferred placement for their renewal project. All participants participate in a 3 week Leadership Renewal project. Participants will have a forum on the website to share their comments and thoughts over the course of the project.

PHASE THREE: Evaluating pilot projects and sharing new knowledge about leadership development

Deliverables: This phase is aimed specifically at evaluation and knowledge dissemination of the project.

Evaluating this project will be an on-going process as described in phases one and two. During phase three, the project team will bring together the evaluations and discussions on-going in the project - from the general discussions on the website, the focused conversations with targeted leaders, and a formal participant interview 4 months after completion of the Mentorship/Internship experience. Comparisons will be made between successes and challenges identified by 40 successful leaders from Phase 1 and the successes and challenges experienced by emerging leaders in this project.

EXPECTED RESULTS/BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPANTS

This project will provide 40 - 48 current, emerging, and potential leaders in the disability community with opportunities to develop, renew, and rejuvenate leadership skills. It will open up diverse possibilities for people with disabilities to engage in leadership activities at the grassroots level, not just a traditional/hierarchical conception of leadership.

This experience will encourage and nurture a range of people with disabilities to take a more active role in organizations, thereby strengthening those organizations. The project will produce enduring leadership development models that ensure continuity. Ultimately, this project will increase the civic participation of people with disabilities.

BENEFITS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

The benefits to participants include the following:

• Opportunity to be a recipient of a $500 tuition bursary to attend the Leadership workshop
• Opportunity to build and develop leadership skills
• Opportunity to identify their strengths, talents & develop a Leadership Plan
• Opportunity to build networks with business & community leaders & with peers through mentorships
• Increased literacy with leading-edge software e-learning technology

This exciting national study will stimulate and develop leadership in the disability community!

Office for Disability Issues, Canadian Centre for Disability Studies

We are looking for 12 persons with disabilities in four centres who want to grow in their leadership skills... AreÊ you one of them?

ARE YOU...

A person with a disability and interested in leadership?
Willing to participate in a process to help you become a (better) leader?

If chosen, we'll give you a bursary to cover the $500 tuition fees in order to help you achieve your leadership goals.

LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS FOR PARTICIPANTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE...

• PERSONS OF ABORIGINAL ORIGIN: REGINA - NOTE: OCT. 30 & 31, 2004
  Youth (18-29): Halifax - Dec. 2 & 3, 2004
• ILRC (Vancouver Island): Duncan - Dec. 13, 14 &15 2004 (Tentative)
• Persons of Multi-cultural origin: Toronto - Nov. 17 & 18, 2004

An opportunity for persons with disabilities to grow in their leadership skills and be part of a national study.

What is the project all about?

This project develops leadership skills for persons with disabilities. Funds are available for 12 participants in each location to receive a $500 tuition bursary for a workshop that will assist participants to achieve their leadership goals.

• All candidates will be asked to participate in a leadership workshop that identifies personal talents and leads into a three week mentorship with a community leader (in person and online)
• Information will be collected throughout the process regarding leadership development and renewal with a follow-up five months after the leadership workshop

Note: Those participants who are working will be accommodated regarding their working hours.

Why?

Empowering disabled people to lead through personal development and strong community connections is an important step toward a successful future.

Interested?

Respond to the attached forms and let us know why you are a good candidate for the tuition bursary (valued at $500). 12 candidates for each location will be chosen by an advisory committee to participate in this initiative.

Send your application to the Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (address at the end of the following questions) or email: research1@disabilitystudies.ca.

Canadian Centre on Disability Studies
56 The Promenade
Winnipeg, ManitobaÊ
Canada
R3B 3H9
Phone: (204) 287-8411
Fax: (204) 284-5343
TTY: (204) 475-6223
Web site: http://www.disabilitystudies.ca
E-mail: ccds@disabilitystudies.ca

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