Raise your voice and shout out a cheer for this great news! The Ontario government has formally apologized to my sister Teresa Pocock who was “placed” against her will in an Ontario long-term care home in November 2013 at the age of 49. Ontario’s Health Minister Dr Eric Hoskins wrote, “Dear Ms. Pocock, Thank you for writing to me… I would like to apologize to you.” ​The official letter to Teresa follows the Minister's apology on Global News in the summer. Journalist Christina Stevens pressed Minister Hoskins for an apology. Minister Hoskins sent a statement that was aired on Global News on July 22, 2016: “I would like to apologize to Ms. Pocock and her family for her being placed in a seniors residence…”​ Getting an apology from any government is a rare feat. ​Let's celebrate this WIN! ​It is good to see that in Teresa’s case the Ontario government has finally admitted a mistake was made three years ago. It is good that Minister Hoskins showed respect to Teresa by writing to her personally. The apology is a victory for Teresa and all people with intellectual disabilities. Thank you ​so much ​for your support and comments! The fact that 26,196 people signed her Change.org petition ​was a major factor in this victory. ​(The petition was launched ​on March 21, 2014​.)​ ​ Teresa ​also thanks the organizations​, media​ ​and community leaders ​who stepped forward to help her assert her rights. ​Thank you to the​ BC Civil Liberties Association​, the Canadian Association for Community Living, Inclusion BC, Plan Institute, People First of Canada, Spectrum Society for Community Living, Vickie Cammack, and Al Etmanski​ ​​who sent a​ joint​ letter ​to the Ontario government​, ​“We believe and support Ms. Pocock’s statements that she did not want to be put into a nursing home.” Thanks to Global News Toronto, the Vancouver SUN, Megaphone Magazine, and the Toronto Star who helped shine a bright light on Teresa's story. Please read and share my ​article (link below): "Ontario Government apologizes to Teresa Pocock: 4 Signs of Change"​. It includes more details about Minister Hoskins' letter to Teresa -- and how Teresa wrote to the Minister​ ​herself and said,​ ​“I did not want to live in a nursing home. I am capable.”​ In my post, I also​ ​reflect on ​why four recent developments have me thinking optimistically about signs of change for Canadians with intellectual disabilities. Thank you again for your tremendous support! ​Franke James (Teresa's sister and petition-owner)