Disability Supports

By Jihan Abbas

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.


VALERIE’S 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 isn’t enough money left for food, and resents that existing supports are not adequately addressing even the most basic needs.

- 41 percent of those using food banks have a disability or a longterm illness 1
- Persons with disabilities are more likely to experience food insecurity (i.e. going without food, eating less and/or being unable to purchase needed food) 2

1 United Way of Greater Toronto (2002) United Way Facts: Helping People with Disabilities Live Independently.
2 Canadian Council on Social Development (2003) Disability Fact Sheet No. 10.


RICHARD’S 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.

- Working-age persons with disabilities only get 76 percent of the average household after-tax income 1
- Almost half of the homeless population has a disability 2

1 Government of Canada (2002) Advancing the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.
2 United Way of Greater Toronto (2002) United Way Facts: Helping People with Disabilities Live Independently.


BRIAN’S 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 year’s 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 doesn’t 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 CAILC’s Research and Policy Consultant.