Recommendations
Disability rights monitoring involves efforts to measure the gap between guarantees offered in the law and the actual experiences of persons with disabilities in their daily lives. The data collected through monitoring studies is instrumental to inform political change towards more social justice and improved access to human rights for persons with disabilities.
Findings from this study demonstrate the range of problems that persons with disabilities in Vancouver face to exercise their rights. Drawing from these data and from discussions held with members of the disability community in Vancouver, the following recommendations are put forward to improve access to human rights for persons with disabilities in British Columbia:
1. Raise the income level and review the eligibility rules regarding the provincial income assistance program, to ensure the right to a decent living to all persons with disabilities across the province.
This study showed that many persons with disabilities in Vancouver are experiencing economic insecurity. The level of income provided through the existing support program is considered inadequate to face the high cost of living in the province. Economic insecurity creates many barriers to people with disabilities including significant challenges in finding adequate housing. Adequate housing is a significant problem in the Vancouver region, as shown by the high rates of homeless people found in the city, many of whom are persons with disabilities. Living with economic insecurity creates a vicious circle of marginalization, isolation and exclusion that places an additional strain on the mental and physical health of people with disabilities.
Social and economic rights need to be more strongly protected in BC to make them comparable to what is provided in other provinces (e.g. Quebec). The current support system makes it difficult for people with disabilities to access what they need and creates fear rather than encouraging social participation. An example is the number of restrictions that are placed on applicants and benefits recipients on the level of assets and income they are allowed to have, which is seen as a discentive to people with disabilities in seeking employment or living in intimate relationships with a partner. The Province is therefore urged to improve the level of supports provided and review the current rules concerning access to provincial disability benefits.
2. Stimulate and support the employment of persons with disabilities by creating supports to employers who hire persons with disabilities and supports to persons with disabilities in the workplace.
Accessing and retaining a well-paid job is essential to enjoy economic security. Data from this study suggests that people with disabilities in the metro Vancouver face significant obstacles with respect to employment. Indeed, despite the high qualifications of the interviewees - over 58% have a post-secondary degree - only 41% of them held a job at the time of the interview. Statistical data available in the province further show that people with disabilities participate in the labour force significantly less than the non-disabled (64.6% vs. 78.5%). This represents a waste of human resources that is urgent to reverse. The Province is therefore urged to create a system of incentives and supports to employers who hire people with disabilities so that they employ workers with disabilities and provide them with the supports they need.
3. Consider the creation of a specific Ombudsman-type body to work on disability discrimination issues.
Unequal and discriminatory treatment of people with disabilities is happening at all levels of society, including the government level. An example is the number of websites which do not comply with accessibility standards for blind people. A complaint was taken to court on this and the plaintiff won. Unfortunately, the government tried to narrow the application and made an appeal to the Supreme Court in order to modify the decision. In this process, significant resources are being spent that could be more appropriately channeled to the implementation of accessibility norms in accordance with human rights principles and norms. Therefore, thorough consideration should be given to the creation of a new mechanism – an auditor or Ombudsman-type body - to work specifically on disability discrimination issues in order to ensure and compel the government to act on its human rights obligations.
4. Improve the HandyDART transportation system to support mobility and the social participation of persons with disabilities.
Social participation emerged as the most significant domain for participants in this study. Within this domain, and among other instances, interviewees specifically denounced experiences of exclusion related to lack of accessibility to the transportation system, including HandyDART, the customized transit system. The number of available HandyDART service hours does not meet the demand and the service does not equate with the mainstream public transit system for those who cannot access it. People with disabilities in need of HandyDART wait too long to get the service and often are unable to go to the grocery store, medical appointments, or get to work on time, which severely impacts their ability to participate as equals in social and economic life. An urgent reform of the HandyDART transportation system and particularly an increase in the supply of service hours is required to support mobility rights and the social participation of people with disabilities in Metro Vancouver.
5. Invest in disability services and supports now, to save money in the future.
Almost three in four individuals in this study reported barriers and challenges to accessing disability services and supports, imposing serious restrictions in various aspects of people's lives, from enjoying good health, through getting adequate education and jobs, to living full lives. As this study shows, lack of adequate disability supports and assistance creates isolation and marginalization and fosters personal and economic dependency. Underfunding of disability services and supports affects the availability and quality of service provision and risks to increase public expenditure in the future, by denying people the means to live independent lives.
With adequate provision of disability supports and services, on the contrary, more people with disabilities will move out of poverty and achieve a better quality of life. They will be able to participate in social, cultural and economic activities as equals in society. Allocating adequate resources to disability assistance and support services today is therefore a smart option that will save money in the future.
In the provision of assistance and supports, it is also important to ensure consumer choice and control, and guarantee flexibility and individualized solutions rather than one size fits all
, agency-based controlled services. Consulting with people with disabilities and their organizations, involving them in decisions on issues that concern them directly and adequately addressing current disability support needs is crucial.
6. Improve psychosocial support services and care in the province and work to reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems.
Individuals with psychosocial disabilities suffer wide stigmatization and experience profound discrimination in society. As reported in this study, many are unable to get or keep a job, and lack adequate income to live a life with dignity. Moreover, mental health services are a poorly funded area of the health services system in the region, which affects the availability and quality of services provided. The government is thus urged to take action to raise awareness and understanding about mental health issues and to confront negative perceptions about people with psychosocial disabilities. In addition, the government is also urged to invest more in mental health services. Canada has signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and must ensure that services provided are in accordance with a human rights approach thus ensuring full respect for the person with psychosocial disabilities, enabling them choice, dignity and control over the services provided.
7. Make use of social networks (e.g. Facebook) to raise awareness among people with disabilities about their rights.
In today's society, social networking is playing a huge part in getting messages out. This potential should also be tapped by the disability community. Many people with disability still lack knowledge about their rights and live very isolated lives. Having a forum to exchange experiences, tell their stories and learn from each other could be an important step towards realizing their rights.
Social networks (e.g. Facebook) should be used more to promote and increase communications among people with disabilities, and to disseminate results of rights monitoring studies, not just within the province of British Columbia or even Canada, but also internationally.