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 Thalidomide, sold under the brand names Contergan and Thalomid among others, is an oral administered medication used to treat a number of cancers (e.g., multiple myeloma), graft-versus-host disease, and many skin disorders (e.g., complication ...

. 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 Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

, Canada to her Québécoise mother, Colette, and Moroccan father Marcos Benegbi. Her mother had been prescribed the drug

during her pregnancy, resulting in Benegbi being born with

phocomelia Phocomelia is a congenital condition that involves malformations of human arms and legs which result in a flipper-like appendage. A prominent cause of phocomelia is the mother being prescribed the use of the drug thalidomide during pregnancy; ho ...

. 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. 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. 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.

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 (), for which she was honored in 2000 by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities. 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. 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, after years of the government refusing to take responsibility for their failure to protect the survivors. 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. 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. 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 The University of Windsor (UWindsor, U of W, or UWin) is a public university, public research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has approximately 17,500 students. The university was incorporated by ...

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* * * * * * * * * and and * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Benegbi, Mercedes 1962 births Living people Activists from Montreal People with phocomelia Canadian activists with disabilities Canadian women activists Canadian disability rights activists Canadian people of Moroccan descent