Mission & Mandate: ADF Terms of Reference

:: Purpose :: Goals :: Values :: Membership :: Meetings :: Decision Making :: Guidelines :: Steering Committee :: Working Groups :: Administrative & Research Support :: Evaluation ::

Purpose

The purpose of the Alberta Disabilities Forum (ADF) is:

to share information and ideas with the objective of speaking with a unified voice on issues of importance to Albertans with disabilities.

Goals

In order to achieve its purpose the goals of the Alberta Disabilities Forum are:

• to identify issues which are common to all members;
• to facilitate communication, cooperation, and coordination among members and other stakeholders;
• to disseminate information across the province;
• to identify gaps and needs, and recommend solutions regarding the design, delivery, and funding of services and supports;
• to educate the public about disability related issues; and
• to provide a broader understanding of disability related issues to legislators, authorities, and policy makers to encourage better informed decisions.

Values/Principles

The Alberta Disabilities Forum will be guided by the fundamental belief that everyone has equal value and worth. This belief is supported by the following values:

• People with disabilities are contributing members of society, with equal rights and responsibilities.
• People with disabilities have a right to be fully informed about issues that affect them and their families.
• People with disabilities are entitled to supports and choices which enable them to fully participate in their community.
• People with disabilities must have a determining voice in the design and delivery of the programs and services they require.
• Resolution of issues affecting people with disabilities will benefit both people with disabilities and society as a whole.

This belief and its supporting values will be guided by the Alberta Disabilities Forum principle that organizations can accomplish more by working together. This principle will be shown through:

• unified and consistent public statements to promote understanding of issues affecting people with disabilities; and
• acknowledging, respecting, and valuing divergent views in our efforts toward unity and consensus.

Membership

Membership is open to any voluntary not-for-profit group or organization that defines its interests as being consistent with the purpose, goals, values, and principles of the Alberta Disabilities Forum. The conditions of membership are the following:

• Member organizations are expected to demonstrate their commitment to the Alberta Disabilities Forum by sharing information, attending meetings, and volunteering their efforts in support of relevant ADF tasks and activities.
• Ideally, the member organization should be provincial in scope.
• Member organizations are required to pay an annual membership fee.

Meetings

The ADF general membership will meet a minimum of three times annually. While it is desirable to attend meetings in person, there may be technical mechanisms to enable long distance participation, subject to cost and accessibility.

Decision Making

Decisions will be made on the basis of consensus with the following considerations in mind:

• Members are responsible for contributing to a supportive, creative environment where all ideas can be discussed openly.
• Members are responsible for communicating their support for or disagreement with an issue and for respecting all others' positions and to work diligently to bring the difference to an effective resolution.
• It is the intention that ADF address issues that are broad in scope which, if a position is taken, all members may be able to support. Individual organizations may then choose to use this broad statement to support their own more issue-specific focused documents.
• From time to time it may be necessary for a decision to go to a vote. In this event, each full member is entitled to one vote. 75% of those in attendance will constitute a majority vote.

Guidelines & Responsibilities

• ADF will not provide direct programs or deliver services.
• Funding applications made by ADF will apply to the general operations of ADF. (Refer to steering committee's terms of reference.)
• ADF will identify and facilitate training opportunities for member organizations that will build organizational capacity.
• ADF will not provide written letters of support for individual member organizations.
• ADF will not become a formal member of another organization or network of organizations. This does not preclude working in partnership with other networks to address common issues of concern.

Steering Committee

The ADF will be guided by a steering committee elected by the general membership. Adhering to the terms of reference assigned to the steering committee, as agreed to by the general membership, the steering committee will:

• ensure a democratic process in which each member organization can be heard;
• facilitate an environment in which agreement and dissent are both respected;
• coordinate a unified position on issues of interest to the ADF members;
• recommend appropriate spokespersons for selected issues;
• oversee the financial affairs of the forum; and
• monitor the work of the host agency.

Working Groups

Working groups may be struck as needed. A TOR will be developed by each working group and submitted to the general forum, or the steering committee, if it is time sensitive, for approval.

Administrative & Research Support

One member organization will serve as host to the Alberta Disabilities Forum. The responsibilities of the host agency will be to support/manage the day-to-day operations of ADF under the direction of the steering committee. Further definition is provided under the host agency contract.

Evaluation

Ongoing evaluation of ADF functions and activities is the responsibility of the steering committee.

Accepted by ADF General Forum on October 14, 2004