Disability Management: practical insights and strategies

MODERATOR 

Monica Herrera MHA, CDMP, CBDMA

Monica has been facilitating health promotion, recovery, and return-to-work initiatives for over 20 years. After gaining experience in occupational health with oil and health care companies, she has developed specialized services in the field.

With additional experience in quality, ethics, and epidemiology, along with a certification in Disability Management obtained over 13 years ago, Monica has worked in various areas of disability management, including prevention, return-to-work strategies, and accommodations. She has ventured into innovative areas such as managing episodic chronic medical conditions, supporting aging workers, and implementing preventative measures.

In the last two years, Monica has established a regional program to support workers with specific conditions, ensuring they receive proper management, best practices for return-to-work, and necessary accommodations.

OPENING SPEAKER

Bill Dyer BBA, FCIP, CBDMA, CDMP
Director, Reducing Poverty Initiative

Bill Dyer is a seasoned Certified Disability Management Professional and Consensus-Based Disability Management Auditor, with over 30 years of experience in the field. He is also a Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional and holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Bill has a proven track record of working with major provincial and national organizations, helping them develop best-in-class collaborative stay-at-work and return-to-work solutions.

Throughout his career, Bill has held key roles across various sectors, including insurance, healthcare, heavy industry, retail, aviation, education, and local government. His extensive experience in Disability Management program design and hands-on case management across these industries has provided him with a deep and practical understanding of the field.

In April 2021, Bill joined the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR) as a result of three grant initiatives—two from the BC Provincial Government and one from the Canadian Federal Government.

SPEAKER

Monika Dean 
President of CUPE 402
City of Surrey 

As President of CUPE 402, representing over 400 workers in Surrey, Monika is dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of her members, particularly in disability management and workplace safety. Since joining CUPE 402 in 2015, she has engaged with various committees, focusing on addressing challenges related to disability and WorkSafe issues. 

Monika facilitates communication between employers and employees, helping to identify and mitigate barriers while supporting members in their return-to-work process. In addition to her presidential role, she chairs several committees and serves on the Executive Board of the CUPE Metro District Council, emphasizing the importance of keeping members informed about critical developments.

SPEAKER

Tracy Aiello RN OHNC RTWDM
Claims Consultant, Life & Health Claims
RBC Insurance

Tracy has been a registered nurse for over 30 years. Her career path took her into Occupational Health Nursing where she managed the medical departments of major chemical, automotive and pharmaceutical manufacturers.  Part of her role was to work with insurance companies to coordinate return to work programming for employees returning from short and long term disability leaves.  Therefore in 2007, it was a natural switch for her to transition to providing services to insurance carriers. Tracy has worked with most of the major insurers across Canada as a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist and/or Claims Adjudicator. In her insurance work Tracy has utilized her understanding of Employers’ needs, her background in healthcare and her communication skills to build trusting relationships and networks to assist clients to make safe, effective and sustainable returns to work.  In her current role as Team Lead with the RBC Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists team Tracy uses her skills to provider mentorship, work on retraining initiatives and collaborate with health care professionals and employers. She also continues to work closely with individuals recovering from health challenges to tailor rehabilitation plans to enhance their overall wellbeing and employability.   

In her spare time Tracy’s passion is to share the health benefits of the outdoors with her community as an organizer and hiking leader with Slow and Steady Hikers, leading hikes in Kananaskis country; the traditional and ancestral territory of the Treaty 7 First Nations the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Stoney Nakoda and Tsuut’ina people. 

Learning Objectives:
- Develop a deeper understanding of disability management principles
- Stay informed on current trends and the legislative impacts on the field
- Identify and utilize free, accessible resources to support your organization
- Understanding the role of a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist
- What is a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation and how can it be more successful?  
- How to have a more collaborative partnership with your Disability Claims management team
- Defining Successful return to works and how to achieve them.

When

Thursday October 24, 2024

12:00 pm - 12:15 pm Registration  
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm Speaker: Bill
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm Speaker: Monika
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Speaker: Tracy
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm Panel Discussion and Q+A
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm Social

Registration Fee

EARLY BIRD RATE:
Members: $59
Non-Members: $89
Members Table of 8: $419
Non-Members Table of 8: $629
Sponsorship Credits: 3

REGULAR RATE:
Members: $79
Non-Members: $119
Members Table of 8: $549
Non-Members Table of 8: $829

*Early bird ends October 4, 2024

Where

Terminal City Club
837 W Hastings St,
Vancouver, BC V6C 1B6

Who Should Attend:

HR professionals
Safety officers
Union representatives
CFOs
Benefits administrators
Employer disability benefit advisors
Human resources
Health and safety
Company owners
Brokers
Sales agents

CE Credit

Certificates of Attendance confirming education hours will be offered, with which attendees may seek corresponding accreditation via their preferred regulatory body.

Questions

Krista Frayn
Phone: (888) 788-3185
[email protected]