Comments on: Historic moment for nation’s disabled

By: Challenging Audist Language (and Slurs) :Shel: A Deaf Canadian's Thoughts

Challenging Audist Language (and Slurs) :Shel: A Deaf Canadian's Thoughts — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:24:54 +0000

[...] both significant Human Rights legislation pieces in Canada, made stronger by the fact that Canada just became the 82nd country to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons… [...]

By: Karen McCauley

Karen McCauley — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:35:40 +0000

Unfortunately, many of the people who may have valuable insight regarding how significant is the ratification of this Convention are unable to contribute to the discussion:
Most people with disabilities in Canada are poor. Many cannot afford computers and internet, much less specialized equipment that may be needed to navigate online;
People who have intellectual and/or communication impairments struggle to have their views represented in policy consultation and service planning that directly affects them.
Indeed, Canada already has an admirable rights system designed to support the full participation of all citizens. However, enforcement is expensive, and the journey of a human rights complaint is a long and complicated process even for people who have many more resources at their disposal than most people with disabilities can access.
Without a way to enforce the obligations that Canada is signing up for, the gesture is essentially a symbolic one.
Symbolism is nice, even important, but it doesn’t get you housing that is wheel chair accessible, a living wage, personal care workers, and the freedom to make simple, every day decisions… such as choosing to contribute to an online forum.

By: Judy Williams

Judy Williams — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:34:31 +0000

Hello,
I came upon this web site while looking for a job. I read the above article and can’t draw any conclusions until we see if ANY actual, concrete improvements are made to the lives of people with disabilities such as myself. I look completely able bodied because my disabilities are invisible. I have a university degree, am a woman, and am Aboriginal yet I cannot find a job mostly because of my lack of experience. What irks me the most is that years ago, when I worked for the federal government as a secretary before quitting to go to university, I had to “baby-sit” a woman with a disability. I resented it, but went along with it because that’s what “nice women” do. Did it ever pay off? Nope. Because now when I need a “helping hand” in order to do a job of my choice – Policy Analyst – no one will hire or help me.

By: UN Social Policies | The UN Post

UN Social Policies | The UN Post — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:17:39 +0000

[...] Historic moment for nation’s disabled « Social Policy in Ontario [...]