Hope for the Family with Persons with Disabilities

Being a part of a family with a child with a physical disability in Manitoba may be getting easier, thanks to a new facility in Winnipeg to be named the Specialized Services for Children and Youth (SSCY). This facility has been promised to the city by NDP government, whom currently holds power and is headed by Manitoba’s Premier Greg Selinger.  

Selinger “…has a PhD from the London School of Economics, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from the University of Manitoba. “ (Manitoba Office of the Premier, 2011, para. 3). As the leader of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba; Selinger carries on his platform the promises of access to family doctors for all Manitobans by 2015, as well as cost-reduction techniques to assure affordability in Manitoba. These standpoints of providing a better and more affordable life for all Manitobans coincide with Mullaly's (2007) view of the social democrat; who states that social democracy schools the idea of “…equality of condition, or at least the serious effort to reduce, as much as possible, major inequalities of wealth, income, social status, and political influence”. These standpoints also ally with the goals of the SSCY center. 

The NDP holds many social democratic values, which I believe to be a reason as to why they have funded this project. The SSCY will help increase freedom for individuals, and is clearly accepting to the conditions of inequality; both of which are trademarks of a social democratic paradigm (Mullaly, 2007) and reflect the values the NDP party of Manitoba value and hold.
In fact, the NDP's goal of achieving an equality of condition extends beyond Manitoba's SSCY center. An interview with Jack Layton, the late NDP leader as found in Canadian Issues (2005) journal explains "Before the 1993 election, our party adopted a nominations and affirmative action (AA) policy. Its goal is nothing less than to present voters with a candidate team that fully reflects Canada's diversity. Ultimately, we extend that same ideal to the composition of Parliament itself." (Anonymous, 2005). The article continues to share a dream of Layton's to impatiently wait for a day when representation of all people in the House of Commons is expected and embraced. It truly is the goal of the New Democratic Party of Canada for all to be given the chance to succeed at whatever they desire. It is comforting to know that our provincial government is intending to take the steps toward this dream of celebration and acceptance of diversity with the SSCY.

This new center intends to be a one-stop care facility for children with physical disability. (Owen, 2011). The SSCY aims to be a facility where parents can bring their children after school (or whenever it is most convenient) and receive assistance from the trained staff in a multi-faceted manner. Whereas currently three or four trips to the equivalent number of facilities need be made, the SSCY hopes all aid and assistance programs for children with disabilities can be addressed under one roof. Jeanette Edwards as cited in Owen (2011) of the Winnipeg Regional Heath Authority explains: “So many families had talked about having to go to the Health Sciences Centre, the rehabilitation centre for children, St. Amant -- it's very difficult for them.” The hopes of the NDP, along with the SSCY are to help create an equality of condition for families with a child with physical disabilities, and attempt to minimize the inequalities among families in society.
Programs with goals similar to the SSCY are being implemented across the country as well, not just in Manitoba, and I also see that as a sign of hope for people living with disabilities. Lemon and Lemon (2003) analyzed the benefits of community-based cooperative ventures in Canada, and specifically Toronto. They focused on the benefits of the integration of individuals and found that persons with disabilities that had been moved in to individual apartment-style housing enjoyed their freedom that was attainable through an organization called Metro Housing Company, but they also relied on other tenants of the program as neighbours and got together for functions like birthdays and holidays. This cooperative venture successfully offered young people in need a place to claim their independence while still having the social support of people they could relate to close by.

As a member of society, whom is interested in equality for all, under all conditions, that is currently being ruled under an NDP government, I am excited to see the ways in which this new facility can help those qualifying, and bring forth an easier way for families with children with disabilities to receive the care and assistance needed. 

References:
Anonymous, (2005). AN INTERVIEW WITH JACK LAYTON: Leader of the new democratic party of canada. (2005). Canadian Issues, (03188442), 10-12. http://proxycheck.lib.umanitoba.ca/docview/208679692?accountid=14569

Government of Manitoba, (2011). Government of Manitoba: Office of the Premier: Greg Selinger Biography. Retrieved from http://www.gov.mb.ca/index.html

 Lemon, C., & Lemon, J. (2003). Community-based cooperative ventures for adults with intellectual disabilities. Canadian Geographer, 47(4), 414-428. http://proxycheck.lib.umanitoba.ca/docview/228312448?accountid=14569

Mullaly, B. (2007). The New Structural Social Work (3^rd ed.). Canada: Oxford University Press.

Owen, B. (2010, August 24). One-stop care for children with disabilities. The Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved from http://www.winnipegfreepress.com

-Kelsey

Equality and Compassion...

The central values of Social Democrats include equality, freedom, and fellowship (Mullaly, 2007, p. 122). The notion of equality has always been an issue among all people. Although legally every human being is now seen as a person, there are still some major kinks in the system that need to be worked out.

There are a number of services offered to people who do have a physical disability such as shuttle services, wheelchair ramps, easy access parking spots, et cetera. These services are designed specifically for people who have some sort of physical disability that impedes their ability to access the same services and benefits as a person who does not have a physical disability. They offer as much assistance as possible so that these people may be as independent as they can, and so they might be able to obtain the same quality of life as those who do not suffer from a physical disability. I believe that these services can be viewed as socially democratic because of their nature to provide a level of equality of condition between those affected with a physical disability and those who are not.

Along with all of these amenities made available to people with disabilities, there are always some people who feign a disability and end up abusing the services (for example, a person without a disability who uses a parking spot designated for those who have physical disabilities). It is people such as this that pose a risk to the entire system. There are also some people who refuse to accommodate those who have a physical disability. Some people simply refuse to acknowledge the fact that people with disabilities may need assistance in the achievement of an independent lifestyle. As is the case in the article written by Nick Ternette for the Winnipeg Free Press, certain Winnipeg Transit drivers are inconsiderate in regards to lowering the wheelchair ramp or requesting that passengers move to the back of the bus so that persons requiring priority seating may ride the bus as well (Winnipeg Free Press, 2011). This problem, when viewed as a whole, can be seen as specific persons impeding the equality of condition (and/or level of equality of opportunity from a Liberal perspective) among the community of persons with physical disabilities.

There are also government statutes which prohibit the discrimination against people who are physically disabled (Canadian Department of Justice, 1982). This also includes freedom from discrimination in the workplace. As much as this statute means to people who live with a physical disability, there are those who find ways to get around these laws. Some employers will terminate an employment contract if one's physical disability becomes more prominent. They will not use this as the reason for termination, they will think of something nondiscriminatory so that the person receiving the letter of termination will be unsuspecting as to the actual reason. I know this to be true in at least two cases involving people that I know personally. Although this does seem like a Liberal standpoint, I find that these particular employers are not enabling this vulnerable population the equality of opportunity, which could then be turned into lack of equality of condition if the person with the physical disability. If said person were to lose their employment (due to their physical disability), the quality of condition and life that they were accustomed to would then be diminished as they would have no financial resources to continue living that way.

People who live their lives with a physical disability do not need, nor do they deserve, to be ridiculed or made to feel helpless and dependent. We as a society need to understand that their physical disability does not define who they are; persons with physical disabilities are the same as everyone else, each individual is their own person and deserves to be treated as such. People who live with a physical disability deserve the same quality of life as someone who does not have a physical disability. Every person deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. As a society we need to advocate and support services and benefits that allow people with disabilities to live an independent lifestyle. This is what social democracy is all about, placing focus on the well being of the entire community, not just the individual (Mullaly, 2007, p. 123).

Canadian Department of Justice. (1982). Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Ottawa, ON:      Author.
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/Charter/page-1.html#anchorbo-ga:l_I-gb:s_15

Mullaly, R. (2007). The New Structural Social Work (3rd ed). Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press Canada.

Ternette, R. (2011). Winnipeg Free Press (05.19.2011).
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/transits-wheelchair-service-spotty-122217798.html

Alyssa

Libby and the Neo C.

*wicka, wicka, wicka*

Once there was a Neo C

Who wanted to be called “Daddy”

Wanted to be the boss of all

And take the credit, big and small

But Libby wouldn’t take that crap

And she cared about the downtown rat

She took a poll of everyone

To rationally get things done

Neo C got red in face

He wanted Libby to get back in her place

But Libby wouldn’t back down

Her morals helped her stand her ground.

Word to the mutha...

But You Can Walk...

          I used to work as a Volunteer Coordinator at a self-help, peer support organization.  There is a volunteer there who is physically disabled.  She has Fibromyalgia, and is thus in great pain most of the time.  She uses a walker, but she really needs a wheelchair.  When I left there to go back to school this Fall, she was in the process of getting one.  Wheelchairs are apparently very expensive, and she is on disability which complicates things for her. 

          One of the things that helps her a lot is being able to volunteer at this particular organization.  Getting out of the house, being able to interact with other people, and helping others through her volunteer work greatly improves the quality of her life, while not taxing her physically.   She experiences less depression and isolation as a result of this work.  However, the policy at Winnipeg’s Handi-Transit renders this basically irrelevant.  During the summer months, she cannot use their services because, technically, she can walk. 

          It doesn’t matter that the trek from her apartment to the bus stop is excruciatingly painful for her.  They see her walking, and that is enough for them to deny her use of this service.  But what they don’t see are the tears in her eyes when she arrives at the organization where she volunteers, because of the pain.  So much pain, she is practically ready to go home as soon as she arrives.

          According to Winnipeg’s Handi-Transit website, she does appear to be ineligible, based on the fact that she does not currently use a wheelchair or a scooter, and she can walk with her walker.  She has done due diligence to provide them with a doctor’s note, and while I was at that organization, I also wrote to Handi-Transit on her behalf.  Since pain cannot be measured or seen, this decision was made for her based upon what could be seen.  This is quite paternalistic in nature, which is typical of a neo-conservative viewpoint according to (Mullally, 2007, p. 81). 

          Neoconservative thought is concerned with deciding who deserves support and who does not.  An example of this thinking was written about on the CBC news website:

During the 2004 campaign, (Ralph) Klein said two AISH recipients who approached him about the allowance "didn't look severely handicapped" and that his government would weed out the "undeserving" people abusing the system.

When pressed on the issue, the former premier lashed out that "severely normal" people didn't want to talk about AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped).

When you don’t have a disability, and it’s not a regular part of your life, it’s quite easy to be dismissive about those who do.  It sounds like Mr. Klein considers himself “severely normal”.  Indeed…

          In line with this perspective is the concern about those who might abuse the Handi-Transit system.  However, this is also a concern for individuals with a disability because this is a finite service, and therefore, if someone is abusing it when they really could otherwise provide transportation for themselves, it does create problems of availability for those who truly depend on it.  A fairly recent article in the Winnipeg Free press attempted to address both sides of this issue, stating that “there's no doubt that criteria remains one of the biggest problems facing the transportation service.”  Clearly, there are people who fall between the cracks of Winnipeg’s Handi-Transit eligibility policy. 

          Hopefully, my friend, the volunteer at the organization I mentioned, will finally be able to get her wheels, and therefore will qualify for Handi-Transit soon. 


~Bambi~

References

CBC News (2011) AISH change will help workers with disabilities: Stelmach.  Date retrieved October 11, 2011 from http://www.cbc.ca/canada/albertavotes2008/story/2008/02/06/tory-aish.html

Mullaly, R. (2007). The New Structural Social Work (3rd ed.). Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press Canada.

Winnipeg Free Press (2011) Abuse of Handi-Transit services rankles users.  Date retrieved October 11, 2011 from http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/abuse-of-handi-transit-services-rankles-users-110334424.html

Winnipeg Transit (2011) Eligability Criteria.  Date retrieved October 11, 2011 from http://winnipegtransit.com/en/handi-transit/who-can-use-handi-transit/eligibility-criteria/