Ontario March of Dimes
Encyclopedia
Ontario March of Dimes is a Canadian
charitable organization
which provides programs and services to people of all ages with physical disabilities
in Ontario. Its headquarters are in Toronto
. It is not affiliated with the American
organization called March of Dimes
.
Ontario March of Dimes (OMOD) began in 1951 as the Canadian Foundation of Poliomyelitis
, which funded research and provided medical and rehabilitation services to people with polio. As new vaccines reduced the threat from this disease, the organization changed its mandate to focus on services for people with physical disabilities, particularly physical and vocational training and rehabilitation.
The organization officially changed its name to Ontario March of Dimes in 1973, and gradually expanded to include other service areas such as recreational activities, advocacy and supportive housing.
It reconnected to its origins in 1985 by creating a chapter-based support and information network for people experiencing post-polio syndrome
, or the late effects of polio. The program expanded to the national level in 2002 with Polio Canada.
For many years other organizations in Canada also operated under the name March of Dimes as members of the Easter Seals March of Dimes National Council.
In 2005, however, Ontario March of Dimes acquired the exclusive right to use 'March of Dimes' in Canada, and now operates March of Dimes Canada as a national subsidiary of Ontario March of Dimes. It no longer has any affiliation with Easter Seals Canada.
In 1993, OMOD coordinated the first conference on Conductive Education
in Canada, and in 2000 established the first full-time program, serving both adults and children. March of Dimes Canada is currently planning to expand the program throughout the country.
To commemorate the International Year of the Volunteer, in 2001 the Royal Canadian Mint
issued a dime
in honour of the 50th anniversary of Ontario March of Dimes.
During the 2006 Canadian federal election
, 23-year old Ontario March of Dimes intern Warren Rupnarain, a person with cerebral palsy
who uses a wheelchair
, visited the campaign offices of the three major political parties
in all 22 Toronto ridings to raise awareness of disability issues. Called "Warren's World", this initiative was recorded and "blogged" through its official website.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
charitable organization
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
which provides programs and services to people of all ages with physical disabilities
Physical disability
A physical disability is any impairment which limits the physical function of one or more limbs or fine or gross motor ability. Other physical disabilities include impairments which limit other facets of daily living, such as respiratory disorders and epilepsy....
in Ontario. Its headquarters are in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. It is not affiliated with the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
organization called March of Dimes
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
.
Ontario March of Dimes (OMOD) began in 1951 as the Canadian Foundation of Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route...
, which funded research and provided medical and rehabilitation services to people with polio. As new vaccines reduced the threat from this disease, the organization changed its mandate to focus on services for people with physical disabilities, particularly physical and vocational training and rehabilitation.
The organization officially changed its name to Ontario March of Dimes in 1973, and gradually expanded to include other service areas such as recreational activities, advocacy and supportive housing.
It reconnected to its origins in 1985 by creating a chapter-based support and information network for people experiencing post-polio syndrome
Post-polio syndrome
Post-polio syndrome is a condition that affects approximately 25–50% of people who have previously contracted poliomyelitis—a viral infection of the nervous system—after the initial infection. Typically the symptoms appear 15–30 years after recovery from the original paralytic attack, at an age of...
, or the late effects of polio. The program expanded to the national level in 2002 with Polio Canada.
For many years other organizations in Canada also operated under the name March of Dimes as members of the Easter Seals March of Dimes National Council.
In 2005, however, Ontario March of Dimes acquired the exclusive right to use 'March of Dimes' in Canada, and now operates March of Dimes Canada as a national subsidiary of Ontario March of Dimes. It no longer has any affiliation with Easter Seals Canada.
In 1993, OMOD coordinated the first conference on Conductive Education
Conductive education
Conductive Education, or CE, is an educational system that has been specifically developed for children and adults who have motor disorders of neurological origin such as cerebral palsy. It is based on the premise that a person who has a motor disorder may not only have a medical condition...
in Canada, and in 2000 established the first full-time program, serving both adults and children. March of Dimes Canada is currently planning to expand the program throughout the country.
To commemorate the International Year of the Volunteer, in 2001 the Royal Canadian Mint
Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
issued a dime
Dime (Canadian coin)
In Canada a dime is a coin worth ten cents. It is the smallest of the currently issued Canadian coins. According to the Royal Canadian Mint, the official national term of the coin is the 10 cent piece, but in practice the term dime is universal...
in honour of the 50th anniversary of Ontario March of Dimes.
During the 2006 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
, 23-year old Ontario March of Dimes intern Warren Rupnarain, a person with cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
who uses a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
, visited the campaign offices of the three major political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
in all 22 Toronto ridings to raise awareness of disability issues. Called "Warren's World", this initiative was recorded and "blogged" through its official website.