Six Degrees of Dignity
Disability in an Age of Freedom
David Shannon B.A., LL.B, LL.M
978-1-894439-31-2 $ 26.95
trade paper, 128 pages
Lawyer, human rights advocate, and quadriplegic David Shannon examines equality and the promotion of dignity for persons with a disability today. The book identifies some of the social and attitudinal barriers still present in Canadian society—and the factors needed to reverse the process of exclusion. About David Shannon As a person with quadriplegia, the result of spinal cord injury at the age of 18, David Shannon has used a wheelchair for the past 25 years. During this time, he has been committed to policy development and legal advocacy for the protection of human rights and community integration for persons with a disability. David received his undergraduate degree from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay and law degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax. He later attended the London School of Economics and Political Science for his LL.M. studies, where he focused on the advancement of second-generation human rights norms. In 1997, at the age of 34, David took his wheelchair 9,000 kilometres across Canada to promote empowerment for disenfranchised communities and greater social inclusion for all Canadians. David Shannon’s Cross Canada Tour took two years to plan, 197 days to complete, and involved 5,000 volunteers and participants. During the tour, David wheeled for 10-hour days and spoke directly to 20,000 people. David is the recipient of many awards and honours, including the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for his commitment to human rights and community service. He was the founding chair of the Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario, and a member of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. He continues to sit on numerous boards and committees, among them, the Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, and the Tetra Society of Ontario. The Shannon Law office, located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, practices primarily in administrative law and civil litigation. David’s advocacy and academic interests have centred on civil rights mechanisms that promote freedoms for persons who face medico-legal forms of incarceration, and do not have community-based supports. In August of 2006, David represented the Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres in meetings of the United Nations ad hoc committee to draft a comprehensive Convention on the Rights and Dignity of Persons With a Disability. The Convention was adopted by all member states, and will be before the United Nations General Assembly in fall 2006 for signature and ratification. Dave Shannon's powerful book is both a manifesto and a blueprint for a human rights-based understanding of the needs and challenges of people living with disabilities. He turns his eye to both the national and international levels of the crucial efforts of the Canadian disability community to secure equality and justice. His eloquent and stirring clarity should inspire all Canadians to join in this vital struggle Click here to see the Table of Contents for Six Degrees of Dignity.
KEYNOTE AND TRAINING TOPIC TO CONSIDER: Six Degrees of Dignity: Disability in an Age of Freedom Other topics David Shannon addresses:
—Alex Neve, Secretary General, Amnesty International Canada
In this session David Shannon examines the issues of equality and the promotion of dignity for persons with a disability. As a person with quadriplegia, the result of a spinal cord injury at 18, David offers much more than a legal and academic perspective to the issues. He identifies the social and attitudinal barriers still present in Canadian society today, and cites the factors needed to reserve the process of exclusion.
Accessibility, Rehabilitation, Parenting with a Disability, Disability and Sexuality, International Human Rights Law and Policy Development and Self-esteem.
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