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Mercédes Benegbi (born 1962) is a Canadian disabilities activist who has been recognized for her advocacy for the rights of disabled people. In 2000, she was honored by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities and in 2014, she drove a successful initiative to gain support for the survivors of thalidomide. Her efforts resulted in life-time compensation for Canadian "thalidomiders", as well as a special fund for specific medical treatments or modifications to homes and vehicles to accommodate their disabilities.

Early life

Mercédes Benegbi was born in 1962 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to her Québécoise mother, Colette, and Moroccan father Marcos Benegbi. Her mother had been prescribed the drug thalidomide during her pregnancy, resulting in Benegbi being born with phocomelia. Her parents strongly advocated for her acceptance among other children and enrolled her in École Ernest Crepeau. She was also enrolled in the Montreal Rehabilitation Institute's 20-year plan to assist survivors and their families in meeting the everyday challenges their children would face.^[1]^[2] Her father invented a visor for Benegbi to use as a child to prevent her harming her face when she fell, as she had no arms to break her fall.^[3] As she was their only child, Benegbi's parents were supportive and at the same time, challenged her to excel and be as independent as she was able to be.^[2]

Career

Benegbi has worked as a disability advocate for over twenty years, serving on the board of the Confederation of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities of Quebec (French: Confederation des Organismes de Personnes Handicapes du Quebec (COPHAN)), for which she was honored in 2000 by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities.^[4] Since 2002, she has been the executive director of the Thalidomide Victims Association of Canada and has become one of the leading advocates for Canadian thalidomide survivors.^[5] In 2014, Benegbi led a successful initiative to gain compensation from the Canadian government for the children whose lives were impacted by the approval of thalidomide for use in the country,^[6]^[7] after years of the government refusing to take responsibility for their failure to protect the survivors.^[3] On-going health issues and lack of ability to work, caused by their permanent disabilities drove Benegbi to press for a compensation package similar to those survivors of the drug in Europe had received.^[8]^[9] In 2015, the compensation plan was announced, which provides a tax-free, life-time pension for the "thalidomiters". It also provided a one-time lump sum payment as well as a special medical fund to enable survivors to obtain surgeries specific to their conditions or adapting a home or vehicle for special needs.^[10]^[11]

Benegbi has spoken throughout the world on the devastating effects to fetal development caused by thalidomide. In 2016, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Windsor.^[12]

References

Citations

Bibliography

Chase, Steven; Peritz, Ingrid (25 November 2014). "Ottawa reaches out to thalidomide victims". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
Chase, Steven; Peritz, Ingrid (1 December 2014). "Parliamentary motion for 'full support' for thalidomide survivors passes unanimously". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
Dupuis, Caroline (5 January 1997). "Deux victims se racontent" [French Two victims tell their stories] (PDF). La Presse (in French). Montreal, Quebec, Canada. p. C-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
Farag, Talaat I. (July 2010). "The Marathon of Hope (Part IX)". The Ambassadors. 13 (28). Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: The Ambassadors Research Association. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
Leung, Marlene (2 December 2014). "Thalidomide survivor says MPs' support was 'a pure moment of joy'". Toronto, Ontario, Canada: CTVNews. Archived from the original on 11 August 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
Peritz, Ingrid (22 May 2015). "Thalidomide survivors cheer Ottawa's new annual pension program". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
Sandle, Tim (27 January 2015). "Thalidomide vicitims in Canada press further for justice". Digital Journal. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
Schlesinger, Joe (15 March 2015). "The debt we owe Canada's thalidomide sufferers". Toronto, Ontario, Canada: CBC News. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
Trent, Bill (15 February 1969). "'If I Had a Baby, How Would I Be Able to Carry It Around?' (pt 1)". The Ottawa Journal. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. p. 81. Retrieved 6 March 2017 – via Newspapers.com. and "'If I Had a Baby, How Would I Be Able to Carry It Around?' (pt 2)". The Ottawa Journal. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 15 February 1969. p. 82. Retrieved 6 March 2017 – via Newspapers.com. and "'If I Had a Baby, How Would I Be Able to Carry It Around?' (pt 3)". The Ottawa Journal. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 15 February 1969. p. 83. Retrieved 6 March 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
"Award Recipients". Council of Canadians with Disabilities. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 2013. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
"Ottawa commence à verser l'aide promise aux victimes de la thalidomide" [Ottawa Commencement of Thalidomide Relief]. La Presse (in French). Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
"Outstanding eight to receive honorary doctorates at Convocation". Daily News. Windsor, Ontario, Canada: University of Windsor. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2017.