Accessibility Rocks: The Ability Plan for Canada
National Disability Legislation – The Cornerstone of the Plan
We passionately believe that it is vital to have the government announce the intention to introduce national disability legislation that would incorporate the following 3 pillars:
- Caregiver Support Framework – we’ve made positive strides on recognition in the Income Tax Act, but we need to have a policy on caregiving nationally that brings Canada in line with other countries that have recognized the huge financial cost savings as a result of developing caregiver support.
- Home and Vehicle Modifications – funding is provincial, but we need a national framework to guide and provide leadership.
- National Strategy on Supportive Housing & Attendant Care – the two go hand-in-hand, lessen overall costs on the treasury, and promote independence, inclusion and health.
The Pillars of the Plan
1. Caregiver Support
We need to build a Canadian Caregiver Strategy that would more fully recognize the role and contributions of caregivers in society, and invite key stakeholders to the policy table to begin formulating a comprehensive Canadian Caregiver Strategy.
Canadians with disabilities and their caregivers require comprehensive support from the publicly funded system. Millions of people around the world provide care and assistance to family members, friends and neighbours who are in need of support due to physical, cognitive or mental health conditions. There is an urgent need for greater recognition and heightened awareness of the diversity of the caregiving experience, understanding of the challenges associated with family/friend caregiving and identification of strategies to bring about change.
The United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia and the United States have implemented caregiver recognition polices and laws that far surpass what we have (or don't) in Canada.
Caregiving in the home can often require costly modifications to allow the individual to live in their community, with dignity and independence.
2. Home and Vehicle Modifications (HVMP)
What exactly is a home or vehicle modification through HVMP? Simply put, this is funding assistance to individuals to achieve easier and greater access to and within their home and vehicle.
This might mean the installation of a ramp, a wheelchair lift or grab bars in a washroom.
Modifying one's home or vehicle allows that person to stay in their homes and in their community - which greatly contributes to improving one's quality of life.
Home and vehicle modifications also help give back some of the independence to that individual with a disability.
Quite often, the alternative would see people going into more costly long-term care facilities.
But the funding needs to be there.
Just last year alone, roughly 49% of those who applied to funding to modify their homes or vehicles, just in Ontario, had to be turned away. There simply wasn't sufficient funding to meet the demand.
...and what about those individuals with disabilities who require extra supports in their living arrangements?
3. Supportive Housing with Attendant Care
There needs to be funding for supportive housing. In fact, there is a desperate need for the federal government to take the lead to bring the three levels of government to the table to develop more pro-active and effective approaches to meeting the basic shelter and living needs of people with disabilities.
It's one thing to commit to increased affordable housing. But for many people with disabilities, there needs to be "supportive" housing - with accompanying funding for attendant care needs.
These are three of the primary areas in a national disability act. These are the elements of nation-building.