Rehabex ’91

From pediatric and geriatric care to employment equity and job counseling for individuals with disabilities, an expanded program promises to draw a record crowd to REHABEX’91, Canada’s largest exhibition and conference serving the rehabilitation and health care fields. This year REHABEX ’91 will be held October 3 to 5 at the Automotive Building, Exhibition Place in Toronto.

“We are extremely excited about this year’s show,” says Show Manager Janet Halenda. “We’ve added a number of events and special features. The enthusiasm of everyone involved is incredible.”

Included in this year’s show is a “Kids’ Corner”, a “Job Fair” for individuals with disabilities, a series of workshops on “Independent living for Seniors” and various other seminars for insurance and health care professionals.

“We are able to expand the Show’s focus thanks to the combined efforts of a number of organizations,” Halenda says. “Their participation will enable us to offer one of the most interesting and comprehensive lineups of workshops, seminars, hands-on demonstrations and displays available today.” “The Kids’ Corner”, sponsored by Shoppers Drug Mart is a resource centre for pediatric health care professionals and parents of children with special needs. It will include displays of specially adapted equipment, toys and a series of workshops conducted by the National Lekotek Centre, a world renowned network of resource centres for families of children with special needs. Lekotek works closely with children and their families to select and adapt toys, equipment and methods for use in a “play-to-learn” process.

“Our focus on children this year will give people who work with special needs kids a unique hands-on opportunity to see the latest tools available to help children develop in their own environments,” says Halenda.

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) will sponsor a series of workshops on “Independent Living for Seniors”. Experts from Canadian organizations and associations will be taking part in the sessions, which will include presentations and practical demonstrations on issues facing seniors today. Presenters include representatives from a variety of organizations, some of which include the Ontario Ministry of Health, the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Regional Geriatric Program, Canadian Occupational Therapy Association, Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services, Canadian Hearing Society, the CNIB, the Arthritis Society and the Alzheimer Society.

Topics encompass a broad spectrum, from vision loss, coping with arthritis, geriatric rehabilitation and barrier free living, to available community and government services. “It is vital that we all work closely together to ensure elderly people receive the very best services possible,” says James Dixon, District Administrator, CNIB. “We hope to establish a strong precedent in this first round of seminars for an ongoing educational program”.


For those seeking employment, or who work in the job placement field, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is sponsoring a “Job Fair and Employment Equity Conference”. A number of high profile speakers from various organizations across Canada will be taking part in the seminars.

Included in this event is a comprehensive range of employment services, from counseling, on the job opportunities, interview skills and resume preparation, to workshops and seminars on issues such as employment equity and job selection criteria. A number of corporations will be on had to recruit qualified candidates. Professional sessions and mini-workshops are also being offered for insurance and health care professionals. These will be conducted by representatives from such organizations as the Ontario Physiotherapy Association, the Upledger Institute of Florida, the Insurance Rehabilitation Liaison Committee and IBM Canada Ltd.

All conferences and workshops are free of charge, and offered on a first come, first served basis. Pre-registration is required.

For more information, please contact Janet Halenda, ECM, (416)274-5505.