Terms of Reference
Posted 05/24/10
April 2009
Revision date April 8, 2010
The OASIS Sensory Partners is a partnership of OASIS members who are service providers and other relevant stakeholders, with a shared purpose of developing common ground on which to ensure a comprehensive, community based service system for sensory impaired children/and/or adults. The Partners have a direct reporting relationship to the OASIS Board of Directors and each other for coordinated communication.
The OASIS Sensory Partners believes that:
• All individuals who are deafblind have a right to intervenor services.
The amount of intervenor service provided should be based on the individual needs of consumers.
• Government has a responsibility to fund the delivery of intervenor/interpreter services, based on individual need.
• All Deaf individuals have the right to interpreting services for barrier free access to all services.
The OASIS Sensory Partners while maintaining the principles of OASIS strives to achieve:
• Increased public awareness including government of the uniqueness of Deaf and Deaf blindness as a specific disability.
• Increased development of training programs for intervenors, communicators and interpreters.
• Increased recruitment and hiring of intervenors and individuals fluent in American Sign Language or other methods/modes of manual communication.
• Inclusive Structure – a strong network of participating organizations with standards for membership
• Effective Partnerships – relationships with government, community partners and key supporters of the Partners.
1. The Partners are accountable to service users and their families, to colleague service providers, community partners, funders and to the broader community, while servicing the best interests of people whom are Deaf and deafblind.
2. The Partners are accountable for:
• With approval of the OASIS BOD establishment of strategic directions
• ongoing Partnering with relevant stakeholders
• communication and advocacy within the Deaf and deafblind sector
• effective functioning of the committee/work groups
Membership
1. Members of the Partners must be OASIS members and will include a senior staff member of the agency that they are representing.
2. The Partners may, from time to time, invite representatives of the deaf, deafblind communities and other groups/organizations to attend, but such attendees will not have a vote on any matter decided by the group.
7.0 Leadership
1. The Partners will be led by a Chair
2. The Chair will be selected from the overall membership, with staggered two year terms unless the current Chair and the Partners agree to extend the term for an additional 2 years, to a maximum of 4 years.
3. A current member of the Sensory Partners is expected to assume the position of Chair upon completion of the Chair’s term.
8.0 Operation
1. The Partners will meet four times per year minimum or as required.
2. The structure and process for discussion will follow the guidelines as set out in Robert’s Rules of Order.
3. Any Partners Member who is aware of a direct or perceived conflict of interest pertaining to any decision is expected to declare such a conflict at the outset. The membership will determine whether the conflict will impact on their ability to participate in the discussion and vote.
4. Every effort will be made to reach consensus. Dissenting or minority opinions will be recorded. Majority is 50% plus 1 of the membership. A single designate authority per agency will be recognized resulting in one vote per agency
5. The Partners will receive information and recommendations through a standing committees and work group structure.
6. Partners will be expected to contribute equally to the “kitty” on an as needed basis. The kitty balance will kept in a surplus balance. The Chair will keep a financial record of deposits and expenditures to and from the kitty. Expenditures will be purchases related solely to the business of the OASIS Sensory Partners. An updated accounting of the kitty will be distributed to the Partners at each meeting.
9.0 Documentation
1. Minutes of all meetings will be distributed to all Partners members and the Liaison member of OASIS Board of Directors
2. A master file of Partners business will be maintained by the Chair.
3. An Annual Report will be completed on the work of the Partners and forward to the Board of Directors of member agencies and to the OASIS board for presentation at the AGM.
10.0 Review of Terms
1. The terms of reference will be reviewed annually by Partners to ensure they are current and valid. Any changes must be approved at the OASIS Board of Directors.
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