Marla Feldman had co-authored numerous papers in response to the various proposed changes to the Insurance Act as they applied to service provision under the SABs, as well as having presented issues to Ontario Ministers’ political staff and members of the Ontario legislature, government committees and the Financial Services Commission of Ontario throughout 2010. These included the following:

• Submission of the OASW to FSCO-The Automobile Insurance Review Committee Advocating for the right of Social Workers to certify  the  OCF 18 Under The Insurance Act , 2010.
• Submission of the OASW to the provincial government in response to amendments to The Insurance Act’, in order to advocate for access to service and goods by clients and their families 2010.
• Presentation to Ministry of Finance Regarding Amendments To Regulation 403/96 advocating for the right of Social Workers to certify the OCF 18 ( treatment Plan)Under The Insurance Act, 2010.
• Presentations to the to the provincial government advocating for the right of Social Workers to certify the  OCF 18 Under The Insurance Act , 2010.
• Presentations to the provincial government in response to FSCO’s ‘5 Year Review of The Insurance Act’, 2009 throughout 2010.

Marla Feldman is part of a group of social workers working with the OASW to establish best practice guidelines for social workers assessing and treating clients and families under the SAB’s.

Elyse Shumway continued to be a seminar Leader for the University of Toronto, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, M.Sc.OT. program, Enabling Occupation in Adults 2010

Elyse Shumway co-lead, Community of Practice in Communicative and Aphasia, Senior’s Health Research Transfer Network (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care), 2010

Elyse Shumway participated in a Panel Discussion Member, University of Toronto, Department of Speech-Language Pathology, Ms.H.C. program 2010.

Kagan, A., Shumway, E., Podolsky, L., Aphasia American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia: Why and How? 2010.

Elyse Shumway presented at the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Challenges and Controversies in Treatment, The Contribution of Speech-Language Pathology Services in the Treatment of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute 2010

NRC Feldman and Associates Inc. was a sponsor of the Brain Injury Association of Chatham Kent’s “Annual Golf Tournament” 2010. This event raised money to support programs for the B.I.A.C.’s club house program.

NRC Feldman and Associates Inc. was a sponsor of the St. Michael’s Hospital Formidable Golf Tournament held in September 2010. This event raised money to support research and programs for the ABI clinic at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.  www.outoftheroughgolf.com

Marla Feldman volunteered at the “Barrie to Baycrest “fund raiser in September 2010. This event raised money to support research and programs at Baycrest Hospital in Toronto.

Marla Feldman continues to be the Ontario Association of Social Worker’s (OASW) liaison for social workers who work under the Insurance Act - SABS.  www.oasw.org

Marla Feldman as a representative of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW), has worked with the Coalition of Regulated Health Professionals and Allied Organizations in order to advocate for the access to goods and services for clients and the ability of health care professions to meet these needs in regulatory changes under the Insurance Act-SAB’s.

Marla Feldman continues to be the chair of the Metro Toronto Social Work Network. This is a virtual information and support group for social worker’s from the public and private sector who provide services to children and adults with neurological impairments, and acquired brain injuries from disease such as stroke as well as traumatic brain injuries.  info@nrcinc.ca

Marla Feldman volunteered at the EGALE fundraiser for LGBTQ and marginalized youth, to raise money for the GSA ( Gay Straight Alliance) an anti bulling campaign whose mission is to  provide safer community spaces where students can promote rights for all people and build safer and more accepting school environments  www.egale.ca

Thanks!

• NRC Feldman and Associates Inc. is one of the only private rehabilitation firms to have established and maintain a direct link with a research institute, the Kunin Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit at Baycrest Hospital. 

Papers and Presentations

• Marla Feldman has presented papers and written submissions to the provincial governing party as the OASW representative for social workers employed in the MVA sector. These included the following: 
  • Submission of the OASW to FSCO-The Automobile Insurance Review Committee Advocating for the right of Social Workers to certify  the  OCF 18 Under The Insurance Act  2008. 
  • Submission of the OASW to the provincial government in response to FSCO’s ‘5 Year Review of The Insurance Act’, 2009. 
  • Presentation to FSCO-The Automobile Insurance Review Committee Regarding Amendments To Regulation 403/96 and advocating for the right of Social Workers to certify the OCF 18 Under The Insurance Act, 2008. 
  • Presentations to the to the provincial government advocating for the right of Social Workers to certify the  OCF 18 Under The Insurance Act , 2008. 
  • Presentations to the provincial government in response to FSCO’s ‘5 Year Review of The Insurance Act’, 2009. 

• NRC Feldman and Associates Inc. participated in a joint research project with the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto and the Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit, Baycrest Hospital. The goal of the project was to empirically validate NRC Feldman and Associate’s Inc. ‘‘Return to Work Model for Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury” (FABI-RTW+). This study was completed with Marian Bassilious-Samy (Occupational Therapy student), Marla Feldman MSW, RSW, Elyse Shumway M.A., CCC-SLP, Reg. CASLPO, & Deirdre Dawson PhD, OT(C).
• Collaborated with University of Toronto and KLARU research scientist Dr. Deirdre Dawson on two studies :
  • Development of a therapeutic web based spousal support group for those whose partner had sustained a TBI.
  • The validation of Feldman Acquired Brain Injury Return to Work Plus (FABI-RTW+) model that guides clinicians to address work and life goals concurrently to increase the probability of successful RTW.

Past Papers and Presentations

• NRC Feldman and Associates Inc. has been involved in many scholarly activities throughout the years including literature reviews, paper presentations, guest lectures at the University of Toronto.
• CAOT Conference - Newfoundland
  • A joint paper entitled: “Validating a return to work model for persons with traumatic brain injury “was presented at the CAOT conference in Newfoundland, July 2008. This paper was co-authored by the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, NRC Feldman and Associates Inc., and the Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit, Baycrest Hospital.
• Marla Feldman has presented papers and written submissions to various provincial political parties as the OASW liaison for social workers employed in the MVA sector. These included the following:
  • Feldman, Marla et al, OASW Response to Expert Assessor Network Proposed Model to Replace the Designated Assessment Centre System Consultation Paper, 2004.
  • Feldman, Marla et al, OASW Submission to Bryan Davies Regarding Recommended Fee Schedules for Social Worker under the SABS September 29, 2003.
  • Feldman, Marla et al,  OASW Response to Proposed Regulation and Legislative Changes to The Insurance Act, The Compulsory Automobile  Insurance Act, The Financial Services Commission Of Ontario Act, 1997, The Highway Traffic Act and The Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act, 2003.
  • Feldman, Marla et al,  Submission of the Ontario Association Of Social Workers to the Automobile Insurance Review Committee regarding ‘Amendments to Regulation 403/96 under The Insurance Act, Ontario Association of Professional Social Workers’, 2003.
  • OASW representative. Oral Consultation with Member of Parliament – Advocating for the profession of Social Work to sign and certify the OCF 22 and the OCF 18 under the Automobile Insurance System, 2003.
  • Feldman, Marla et al, ‘Submission of the Ontario Association of Social Workers to the Liberal Government’s Request for Submissions to Reduce Costs to the Automobile Insurance System,’ 2003.
  • Feldman, Marla et al, Oral Submission of the Ontario Association Of Social Workers to the Liberal Party Automobile Insurance Review Committee, 2003.
  • Feldman, Marla et al, OASW Response to ‘Bill 198 and Proposed Regulatory and Legislative Changes’, 2003.
  • Feldman, Marla et al, OASW Response to Draft Regulation, Ministry Of Finance ‘ Proposed Amendments to Ontario Regulation 403/96 as Amended, Made Under The Insurance Act’, 2003.
  • Feldman, Marla et al, OASW Response to Bill 166 ‘The Highway Traffic Act And The Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act’, 2002.
• Shumway, E. and Kagan, A.  (2007) Advocacy Leading to A Community of Practice in Communicative Access and Aphasia, Living Successfully with Aphasia International Conference, Toronto, Ontario.
• Kagan, A., Simmons-Mackie, N., Rowland, A., Huijibregts, M., Shumway, E., McEwan, S., Threats, T., Sharp, S. (2007) Counting What Counts: A Framework for Capturing Real-Life Outcomes of Aphasia Intervention, Aphasiology, 21/5.