Abilities Magazine Article: The Belonging Initiative

By Brian Smith

Some blatant self-promotion, but can't help share the article that was published in the most recent issue of Abilities Magazine:

"Despite our awareness of isolation and loneliness among people with disabilities, despite the growing body of knowledge related to promoting relationships, and in spite of our respective efforts to assist people who live on the margins, we have a long way to go. Far too many people with disabilities are alone except for the persons who are paid to be with them.

“The Belonging Initiative” is a national collaboration to nurture belonging and thereby end isolation of persons with disabilities. We are guided by a fundamental belief in the importance of human connections and the possibilities for mutual enrichment that arise through such connections. We have a passionate sense that, collectively, we can develop a groundswell that will lead to a society in which everyone belongs!

The Belonging Initiative is informed by our experiences with people with disabilities. In spite of developing knowledge and individual efforts, we realize our efforts have been inadequate...

There are innovative solutions across this country. Yet, national collaboration is necessary to harness our collective resources, share our expertise and bring new resources to bear. It is time for action—deliberate, bold and strategic.

We believe that solutions employed to end the isolation facing people with disabilities will ripple outwards and improve the situation of other marginalized groups, including seniors, youth at risk, refugees and new immigrants. Communities in which people are better connected are healthier, realize the contributions of all citizens and have lower health and social services costs. In other words, when people move from isolation to community, everybody benefits.

To tip our systems and institutional structures, we intend to accomplish the following objectives in the next five years:

* Establish a “No One Alone” Fund to stimulate social innovation and finance work to end social isolation. The fund, along with matching private sector contributions and other donations, would represent a one-time expenditure and would create a sustained national effort promoting the development of relationships and the creation of inclusive communities.

* Create a social learning network to share our collective expertise and to develop and disseminate new knowledge. Resources, stories, pictures and videos are included as solutions to ending isolation and loneliness. We encourage everyone to share stories of where belonging is being nurtured.

* Serve as a catalyst for academic research and analysis on this important social objective. We’ve had many conversations with people and organizations, such as John Ralston Saul and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. We are critically aware that more research is necessary to further inform our initiative and the directives herein.

* Build a table of collaborators that will constitute a critical mass great enough to push this agenda forward. Recently, organizations not explicitly focused on disability issues have come aboard as partners in this work. Taking-ITGlobal and Check Your Head are two youth-driven organizations that are excited about collaborating with the initiative.

We are very encouraged by the growth in support already taking shape and excited about the near future of The Belonging Initiative.

* Influence public policy and bring resources to bear on social isolation. Several major foundations have already shown their support for this initiative. As well, federal and provincial bureaucrats and politicians are being approached to support policy initiatives, such as the Disability Savings Plan, a Master Trust and the No One Alone Fund.

* Gatherings are scheduled in Ottawa, Vancouver and St. John’s to further engage with key people and institutions.

We have all come to this table recognizing that we must nurture our relationships while we build new ones. We recognize that much of our opportunity lies in our collective strength, yet also know that for a Belonging Initiative to be true to itself, it must be accessible and provide the opportunity for everyone to make a contribution.

For more information, please see our website at www.nurturingbelonging.ca.

COLLABORATORS

Canadian Abilities Foundation
(www.abilities.ca)

Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres
(www.cailc.ca)

Canadian Association for Community Living
(www.cacl.ca)

Canadian Down Syndrome Society
(www.cdss.ca)

Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary
(www.ddrcc.com)

Inclusion Press
(www.inclusion.com)

Laidlaw Foundation
(www.laidlawfdn.com)

L’Arche Canada Foundation
(www.larche.ca)

Philia Dialogue on Caring Citizenship
(www.philia.ca)

PLAN Institute for Caring Citizenship
(www.planinstitute.ca)

Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network
(www.plan.ca)