Winter 2006 Canadian Corner

Canadian Corner - Participation and Partnerships
by Jane Parsard, AER Canadian Board Representative

Q:  Who is a partner? 
A:  A partner is any given person who is involved in joint ownership, share profits, share losses, exercises rights and liabilities.

The above business-like description is transferable to describing the relationship we have with each other in the provision of human services. It reflects our shared views on partnerships for those of us from Canada, who were in attendance with colleagues from the US and other countries at the recent AER International Conference in Utah. We all experienced joint ownership of conference proceedings, shared in the successes of colleagues, talked of solutions to common challenges faced, and exercised rights and privileges extended through our AER membership. Our Canadian team at the International Conference was twenty-seven strong, and comprised of staff from the field of education, rehabilitation, research and ophthalmology. We left feeling that the International Conference was a tremendous success! 

During the conference, the CNIB partnered with AER to host a special session entitled Professional Development: Is there a North American Strategy?, and CNIB was very appreciative for the attendance of incoming AER President, Sandy Ruconich, Past President Greg Goodrich, and newly-hired Executive Director Jim Gandorf. The session examined the certification, education and development of the vision rehabilitation service worker of the future. The feedback received from this session has been very positive and it is clear that we will not arrive at solutions to continuing professional development without working together through excellent partnerships between AER, the professionals and experts in the field.

In Canada, there are several fine examples of how partnerships can be successful and are important for the professionals in our field. These include, the take up of courses offered free of charge to Canadians by the Hadley School for the Blind. To date, close to 1,000 Canadians are enrolled in Hadley courses.  The Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA) takes advantage of working together with other academic institutions to address such matters as the training and retention of qualified teachers and access to staff training programs. Service organizations, medical institutes, and educational institutions are anxious to expand their current positive working partnership to collaborate on research initiatives, as well.

As we often work in isolation from each other, separated by organizations, institutions, areas of expertise or even countries, let’s not forget how advantageous it can be to work together to achieve common goals or address common problems.  Participation and cooperation is essential, either through formal or informal partnerships, to moving the field forward. 

I am delighted to be your new Canadian Board Member and am excited about the participation and partnerships opportunities this presents. We will work together to identify areas of common interest and solutions that are accessible over geographic areas.