Disability Supports
A Necessary Investment to Ensure Full Citizenship

BY JIHAN ABBAS

FOR MANY, THE NEED FOR A comprehensive federal plan with respect to disability supports is clear. This is apparent in the persistent and disproportionate levels of poverty, unemployment, abuse and social isolation experienced by Canadians with disabilities. Indeed, among all socio-economic indicators, including housing, employment, transportation and personal supports, Canadians with disabilities remain markedly disadvantaged.

Time and time again, federal reports and statistics, academic studies and community indicators have confirmed what the disability community has known for years: the lack of adequate and comprehensive disability supports continues to prevent the full and active inclusion of persons with disabilities. As striking as the evidence of this marginalization is, the impact of the poverty and exclusion associated with the everyday lived experience of disability in Canada is still lost on many politicians and policy-makers.

The Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres (CAILC) recently talked to consumers to find out what the lack of disability supports has meant for them. Although not surprising given what we already know, the results serve as a frightening reminder that people with disabilities across Canada lack the supports necessary to live independently.

VALERIES STORY
Valerie is frustrated because, despite a growing need for support, cuts to existing supports continue. More and more, she finds that she needs to pay for necessary living expenses, such as housing, transportation and medical expenses, out of an already stretched and inadequate pension. The result is that Valerie has been sacrificing her food budget. We have to eat one to two meals a day because we are short of funds to get groceries. Valerie finds it stressful knowing that there isnt enough money left for food, and resents that existing supports are not adequately addressing even the most basic needs.

RICHARDS STORY
Richard is concerned that many do not realize that if you do not give people the support they need to live independently, they cannot participate as full and equal citizens. For Richard, a lack of necessary income, housing and employment supports is a human rights issue: I feel like my right to live independently has been taken away...when you don't have rights, doors close...no job, no future... For Richard, living in a group home is not an option, as he has the skills and determination to live independently, but he wonders how he can continue to live in his community when his pension does not even leave him enough money to buy clothing.

BRIANS STORY
Brian is determined not to live in a group home. He dreams of living on his own one day, but is certain the support necessary to make this move towards independence does not currently exist. For now, he lives with his family, frustrated that existing supports do not meet his housing, transportation and personal assistance needs. The support currently available to him services that ostensibly exist so he can live and work independently and take part in his community do not even come close to meeting his needs. In fact, the funding allocated to support Brian to remain at home (a tiny fraction of the funds that would be required to keep him in an institutional setting) has run dry for the year, and he has learned that he will not receive additional funds to support him until years end. In addition, he will not learn if he is eligible for future supports and what amount he will receive for almost two months. What am I supposed to do...sit alone in my room waiting to find out if I can afford a worker to take me out? Like other people with disabilities, Brian is tired of the cycle of uncertain and disappearing supports.

The current narrative of disability in Canada is not encouraging it is one of poverty, uncertainty, isolation and powerlessness. Clearly it is not a story of equity and socio-economic inclusion. However, it doesnt have to be this way, as persons with disabilities have identified a solution: a comprehensive disability supports system to enable them to be active, contributing members of Canadian society (i.e. employment, income, personal assistance, transportation, etc.). People with disabilities need a real, comprehensive, national investment into disability supports to ensure that our population does not continue to be pushed to the margins. The disability community has waited long enough for those in power to recognize this need and act, and based on the personal accounts above, it is clear that this community cannot afford to wait any longer.

Jihan Abbas is CAILCs Research and Policy Consultant.