WhatwouldittaketomakeBritishColumbiathemostprogressivejurisdictionforpeoplelivingwithdisabilities?
SubmissionoftheDisabilityWithoutPovertyNetwork
March2014
Contents
Aboutournetwork2Frameworkofoursubmission3Corevaluesandprinciples3Recommendations
1.Providedisabilitysupportsusingaperson-centeredapproach4
2.Provideadequatedisabilityincomesupports4
3.Supportaccesstosafe,secureandaccessiblehousingforpeoplewithdisabilities5
4.Supportemploymentandsocialinclusioninameaningfulway6
5.Donoteliminatecurrentdisability-basedsupportsinanefforttosimplifythesystem7
6.Allowvulnerablefamiliestobenefitfromchildsupportpayments8
Conclusion8
Aboutournetwork
The DisabilityWithoutPovertyNetwork(DWPN)isaworkingpartnershipbetweensixorganizationsworkingtowardpositivechangeforpeoplewithdisabilitiesinBC,withafocusonthosewhoarelivinginpoverty.AkeyareaoffocusfortheDWPNhasbeenthedevelopmentofapolicybrief/reportcallingforincreasesintheprovincialdisabilitybenefitrates.TheDWPNmemberorganizations are:
The British Columbia AboriginalNetwork on Disability Society (BCANDS),establishedin1991,isaprovincial,notforprofitSocietyservingtheuniqueanddiversedisabilityandhealthresourceneedsoftheAboriginalpopulationofBritishColumbia,bothonandoffreserve.BCANDSistheonly
AboriginalorganizationofitstypeinCanadaandworkstosupportAboriginalpersonslivingwithadisability andtheirfamilies/supportsystems,regardlessofage,disabilitytype,disabilityrelatedneed,locationwithinBritishColumbiaorancestry(FirstNation,Metis,andInuit).
BC Coalition of People withDisabilities(BCCPD),aprovincialorganizationworkingtosupportpeoplewithalldisabilitiestolivewithdignity,independence,andas
equalandfullparticipantsinthecommunity.ThroughitsAdvocacyAccessProgram,BCCPDhelpsmany
hundredsofpeoplewithdisabilitieseveryyeartoaccessincomesupportsandotherprogramsandservices.
BCCPDchampionsissuesimpactingthelivesofpeoplewithdisabilitiesthroughitsdirectservices,communitypartnerships,advocacy,researchandpublications.
Canadian MentalHealth Association(CMHA)BCispartofoneofCanada’smost
establishednationalmentalhealthcharities.OurVisionis:Mentallyhealthypeopleinahealthysociety.Asthenation-wideleaderandchampionformentalhealth, CMHAfacilitatesaccesstotheresourcespeoplerequiretomaintainandimprovementalhealthandcommunity
integration,buildresilience,andsupportrecoveryfrommentalillnessand/oranaddiction.Wefulfillourmissionby:buildingcapacity,influencingpolicy,providingservicesanddevelopingresources.Eachyear,CMHABC,togetherwithanetworkof18BCbranches,providedservicesandsupportstoover82,000BritishColumbians.Togetherwepromotethementalhealth
ofallandsupporttheresilienceandrecoveryofpeopleexperiencingmentalillnessandaddictions.
CommunityLegalAssistanceSociety(CLAS),anon-profit
lawofficeestablishedin1971thatprovideslegalassistancetodisadvantagedpeoplethroughout
BC.Itspecializesintheareasofpoverty,disability,workers’compensation,employmentinsurance,mentalhealth,humanrightsandequalitylaw.ActivitiesincludetestcaseandCharterlitigation,servicecasework,lawreform,andconsultationwithcommunitygroups.
InclusionBC(formerlyBCAssociationforCommunityLiving),aprovincialassociationdedicatedtopromotingtheparticipationof
peoplewithdevelopmentaldisabilitiesinallaspectsofcommunitylife.Italsosupportsactivitiescommittedtobuildinginclusivecommunitiesthatvaluethediverseabilitiesofallpeople.InclusionBC’sgoalistomakeitpossibleforeveryperson,whatevertheirability,toliveandparticipateasafullcitizenintheircommunity.
SocialPlanningandResearchCouncilofBC(SPARCBC),anon-partisan,
charitableorganizationthatwasestablishedin1966.HavingworkedwithBCcommunitiesforalmost47years,SPARCBCisanexcellentsourceofknowledgeandexpertise.ItalsoproudlyoperatestheParkingPermitProgramforPeoplewithDisabilities.SPARCBCfocusesonsocialjusticeandworkstogetherwithcommunitiesonissuesrelatedtoaccessibilityandinclusion,incomesecurityandpovertyreduction,andprovidescommunitydevelopmenteducation,outreachandsupportforcommunityplanning.
2
Frameworkofoursubmission
ThesesubmissionssetouttheDWPN’sresponsetotheprovince’sDisabilityWhitePaperconsultation,whichisfocusedonreducingbarriersandincreasingaccessibilityforpeoplewithdisabilitiesinBritishColumbiawitha viewtomakingBCthemostprogressivejurisdictioninCanada.Thesubmissionsrespondtotheprovince’skey questionsintheWhitePaperconsultationprocess:
1.Whydoyouthinkit’simportantthatwereducebarriersandincreaseaccessibilityforpeoplelivingwithdisabilitiesinBC?
2.WhatcanBritishColumbiansdotowelcomethecontributionsofpeoplewithdisabilities,andwhatbarrierscanweremove?
3.Whatwouldmakeiteasierforpeoplewithdisabilitiestoworkorcontributetothecommunity?Whatneedstobeinplace?
4.WhatwouldBClooklikeasthemostprogressiveplaceinCanadaforpeopleandfamilieslivingwithdisabilities?
Thesekeyquestions,andparticularlythelastquestion,provideanopportunitytodiscussabroadspectrum
ofsolutionsaimedatfosteringandsupportingthefullinclusionandparticipationofpeoplewithdisabilitiesinBC.Withthisinmind,wewerepleasedtoseethattheWhitePaperTermsofReferenceaffirmBC’scommitmenttoaprogressiverealizationoffreedomsandreduction
ofbarriersbysupportingCanada’sratificationoftheUN
ConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities.1
TheUNConventionisbuiltontherecognitionthattheinherentdignity,worthandequalhumanrightsofallpeopleareabasicfoundationforfreedom.Itisintendedtobeabroadhumanrightsinstrumentthatreaffirms thatpeoplewithalltypesof(dis)abilitymustenjoybasichumanrightsandfundamentalfreedoms.TheUNConventionalsoidentifiesspecificareaswheretherightsofpeoplewithdisabilitieshavebeenviolatedandsetsoutclearguidancetoaddressthoseviolations.
TheUNConventionalsocontainsstronglanguagereaffirmingawell-acceptedprincipleofhumanrights:theinterdependenceandindivisibilityofallrights.Itexplicitlynotes“theuniversality,indivisibility,
interdependenceandinterrelatednessofallhumanrightsandfundamentalfreedomsandtheneedforpersonswithdisabilitiestobeguaranteedtheirfullenjoymentwithout discrimination.”2
Thisreflectstheideathatonecannotenjoythefullbenefitofhumanrightsonapiecemealorone-offbasis.Thefullenjoymentofanyonerightrequirestheguaranteeofallrightsandfreedoms,includingsocio-economicrightssuchastherighttoadequateincome,housing,andnutrition.Rightslikefreedomofspeech,freedomofassembly,andtherighttovote,aswellastherighttoequalaccesstoservices,allwellacceptedinCanada,requireacertainlevelofsocio-economicsecurityinordertobemeaningfultoanindividual.
Withoutthatsecurity,itisincrediblydifficultforapersontotakeadvantageofthoserights,andexisting inequalitiesandrightsinfringementsareexacerbated.
ThisdocumentprovidestheDWPN’srecommendationsregardingtheprovisionofdisabilitysupportsinBC,allgroundedintheUNConventionandthefullspectrumofindivisiblerightsthatpeoplewithdisabilitiesmust
beguaranteedinordertoeliminatebarrierstotheirparticipationintheircommunities.
Corevaluesandprinciples
Atafundamentallevel,webelievethatanydisability benefitssystemshould:
•Recognizethatallindividualsinthesystemareentitledtobetreatedwithdignityandrespect;3
•Befair,equitable,andavailableinurban,ruralandFirstNationcommunities,withaclient-centeredfocus;4
•Beaccessible,transparentandnon-punitive;5
•Bechoice-based,flexibleandreflectthegoalsandneedsoftheindividualsaccessingit;6
1.ConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities,30March2007,2515UNTS3(enteredintoforce3March2008,ratificationbyCanada11March2010)(“UNConvention”).
2.Ibid.,Preambleat(c);Article3at(a),(d).
3.Ibid.,Preambleat(a),(h);Article3at(a).
4.Ibid.,Preambleat(a),(c),(n),(o);Article3at(a),(e);Article19.
5.Ibid., Preambleat(o);Article3at(f);Article19.
6.Ibid., Preamble at (i),(n); (o); Article 3at (a), (d).3
•Focusonpromotingfullcitizenshipandparticipationinthecommunitythroughtheprogramsandservicesprovided;7
•Providebenefitsbasedonanevidence-basedapproachthatreflectsthetruecostofhousing,foodandotheressentialsintherangeofsupportsprovided;8
•Reflectanenvironmentoflearningandbestpractices;9and
•Providesupportsincoordinationwithothergovernmentservicesinanintegratedefforttoreducethenumberofpeoplewithdisabilitieslivinginpoverty.10
RECOMMENDATION#1
Providedisabilitysupports
usingaperson-centeredapproach
Wefullyendorsetheideathatpeoplewithdisabilitiesshouldreceivethesupportstheyneedtobeabletofullyparticipateintheirowncommunities.However,
becausethestrengths,barriersandgoalsofpeoplewithdisabilitiesvarygreatly,aone-size-fits-allsystemwillnotenableindividualstoreachtheirmaximumpotential.
Individualityandautonomymustbeparamount.
TheUNConventionclearlyrequires“respectforinherentdignity,individualautonomyincludingthefreedomtomakeone’sownchoices,andindependenceofperson,”aswellas“respectfordifference”.Inadditionitensuresthat“personswithdisabilitieshaveaccesstoarange
ofin-home,residentialandothercommunitysupportservices,includingpersonalassistancenecessarytosupportlivingandinclusioninthecommunity,andtopreventisolationorsegregationfromthecommunity.”TheUNConventiongoesontostatethathealth, employment,educationandsocialservicesforpeoplewithdisabilitiesshouldbeprovided“…ascloseaspossibletotheirowncommunities,includinginruralareas.”11
Inkeepingwiththeseprinciples,werecommendthatthedisabilitysupportssystemrespectthedignityofpeoplewithdisabilitiesbymovingawayfromapunitivesystemthatrequirespeoplewithdisabilitiestofocusonwhattheycannotdoinordertogetthesupportstheyneed.Instead,thedisabilitysupportssystemshouldbebasedontrustandcollaborationwiththeindividual,andperson-centeredplanningbasedonhisorherpersonal,autonomousgoals.
Inordertoachievethis,werecommend:
•Asystemofservicedeliverythatisindividualizedandfocusedontherecipient’spersonalgoalsforparticipation;
•Enhancedservicesandsupportstobetterassist individualstomeettheirgoals;and
•Communitybasedservicedelivery,includinginruralandFirstNationcommunities,withaccountabilitytotheindividualsservedandstrongmechanismsforclientfeedback.
Finally,werecommendbuildingonthesuccessfulperson-centeredmodelsthatarealreadyinplaceinBC(e.g.theEquipmentandAssistiveTechnologyInitiative;theCommunityActionInitiative).
RECOMMENDATION#2
Provideadequatedisabilityincomesupports
ThecontentoftheUNConventionreflectsastrongviewabouttherolethatpovertyplaysinthelivesandindependenceofpeoplewithdisabilities.Itexplicitly highlights“thefactthatthemajorityofpersonswith
disabilitiesliveinconditionsofpoverty,andinthisregardrecogniz[es]thecriticalneedtoaddressthenegativeimpactofpovertyonpersonswithdisabilities.”12
7.Ibid., Preambleat(m);Article3at(c);Article26at 1(b).
8.Ibid.,Preambleat(f),(x),(y).
9.Ibid.,Article4at(f),(g),(i).
10.Ibid.,Preambleat(f),(x),(y);Article28at(b),(c),(d).
11.Ibid.,Article 3 at (n),(o); Article 19 at (b);Article 26 at 1(b).Ibid., Preamble at (f).
12.Ibid., Preambleat(f).4
Inaddition,itcontainsstrongprovisionsrequiringstatepartiesto“ensureaccessbypersonswithdisabilities,inparticularwomenandgirlswithdisabilities,andolderpersonswithdisabilities,tosocialprotectionprogramsandpovertyreductionprogrammes,”andto“ensureaccessbypersonswithdisabilitiesandtheirfamiliesinsituationsofpovertytoassistancefromtheStatewithdisability-relatedexpenses,includingadequatetraining,counselling,financialassistanceandrespitecare.”13
Thecurrentlevelofdisabilityincomesupportsdoesnotallowpeoplewithdisabilitiestomeettheirbasiclivingcosts,anddoesnotprovidethemwiththesupporttheyneedtoliveindignityandengageintheircommunities.Wehavecanvassedtheseissuesmorefullyinourpaper,“Overdue:TheCaseforIncreasingthePersonswithDisabilitiesBenefitinBC”.Inourexperience,thispovertyisastructuralbarrierthatimpedesmanypeoplewithdisabilitiesfromparticipatingintheircommunitieswithdignityandsecurity.Ourkeyrecommendationswithrespecttodisabilityincomesupportsinclude:
•IncreasingthePersonswithDisabilitiesbenefitto
$1200permonthinordertoreducethegapbetweenwhatpeoplewithdisabilitiesneedforbasicessentialsandwhattheyget.Thisincreasewillhelpensurethatpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoneedfinancialsupport
willliveindignityandnotpoverty.ItwillalsoresultingreaterequitybetweenvulnerablegroupsbybringingthedisabilityincomesupportlevelsinlinewiththoseprovidedtoseniorsthroughfederalOAS/GISbenefits.
•Indexing the Persons with Disabilities benefit. Thiswillensurethatthebenefitkeepspacewiththerisingcostoflivingandthatinflationdoesnoterodetheabilityofbenefitrecipientstomeettheirbasicneeds.
•Inadditiontoourkeyrecommendationstoincreaseandindexdisabilityincomesupports,wealsorecommendthatanevidence-basedsystembeusedtoassessandsettherates.Thisevidence-basedsystemmustbefairandmustreflect:
•Thetruecostoflivingintheprovince,includingthecostofsafeandaccessiblehousingandfoodsecurity;
•Portabilitythatreflectsregionalvariationsinthecostsofnecessitiesliketransportationandutilities;and
•Individualizedneedsliketheextracostsofsupportsthatpersonswithdisabilitiesmayrequire.
RECOMMENDATION#3
Supportaccesstosafe, secureandaccessiblehousingforpeoplewithdisabilities
Theneedforaccessible,affordableandappropriatehousingisreflectedintheUNConvention.Itrequirestheeliminationofobstaclesandbarrierstotheaccessibility of“buildings,roads,transportationandotherindoorandoutdoorfacilities,includingschools,housing,medicalfacilitiesandworkplaces.”
TheUNConventionalsorequiresthatstatepartiesensurethat“personswithdisabilitieshavetheopportunitytochoosetheirplaceofresidenceandwhereandwithwhomtheyliveonanequalbasis withothersandarenotobligatedtoliveinaparticularlivingarrangement.”Italsorequiresthatthey“haveaccesstoarangeofin-homeresidentialandothercommunitysupportservices,includingpersonal
assistancenecessarytosupportlivingandinclusioninthecommunity,andtopreventisolationandsegregationfromthecommunity.”Finally,aspartofitsarticleonadequatestandardsofliving,itrequiresstateparties
“toensureaccessbypersonswithdisabilitiestopublichousing programmes.”14
Peoplewithdisabilitiesneedaccesstoflexible,affordable,safeandaccessiblehousingand,atthecurrentdisabilityincomesupportrates,manyareunabletosecureit.Again,wehaveexploredthegrowingcostofhousinginBCin“Overdue:TheCaseforIncreasingthePersonswithDisabilitiesBenefitinBC”.Inordertoaddresstheshortageofaffordablehousingoptions,werecommended:
•IncreasingthesocialhousingstockavailableinBC;and
•Increasingaccesstoprivatemarkethousingoptionsthrougharentalassistanceprogramforlow-incomepersonswithdisabilitiesliketheSAFERprogram.
13.Ibid., Preamble at (t); Article28 at 2(b) and(c).
14.Ibid., Article 9at 1(a); Article19 at (a)and (b);Article 28 at2(d).5
Inordertoensurethatavailablehousingissafeandaccessible,werecommendtheprovisionoffinancialgrantsorsupplementstocoverthecostsofaccessibility changesorrenovationsthatmayberequiredsothatapersonwithdisabilitiescanresideinagivenresidenceinasafeandaccessiblemanner.
Finally,werecommendthattheMinistryofSocialDevelopmentandSocialInnovation,theMinistry ResponsibleforHousing,andthefederalgovernmentcoordinateservicesandresponsestoensuresystemintegrationsothattheneedsofpeoplewithdisabilitiesreceivingdisabilitysupportsareeffectivelymet.
RECOMMENDATION#4
Supportemploymentandsocialinclusioninameaningfulway
Webelievethat,withtherightsupportsinplace,mostpeoplecanandwillengageinwork-relatedactivities.Inordertomaximizesocialinclusionandparticipation,peoplewithdisabilitiesneedagoal-oriented,comprehensive,responsiveandadequatelyfunded
systemofemploymentsupports.Further,“employment”shouldbedefinedbroadlyaswork-relatedactivitiesthatareappropriateandmeaningfultotheindividual.
Wedonotsupportmandatoryworkrequirementsforpeoplereceivingdisabilitysupports.Instead,participationshouldbevoluntarytoavoidthepotentialnegative impactsontheindividual’sincomesupportsandhealth thatmaycomewithrigidandpunitiveworkassessmentrequirements.ThispositionisconsistentwiththeUNConvention,whichrequiresthathealth,employment,educationandsocialservicesbeprovidedthat“supportparticipationandinclusioninthecommunityandallaspectsofsociety,arevoluntary,andareavailabletopersonswithdisabilitiesascloseaspossibletotheirowncommunities,includinginruralareas.”15
TheUNConventionsetsstrongprotectionsaroundtherighttoemploymentforpersonswithdisabilities.Forexample,itrequiresstatepartiesto:
•“promoteawarenessofthecapabilitiesandcontributionsofpersonswithdisabilities;”
•“protecttherightsofpersonswithdisabilities,onanequalbasiswithothers,tojustandfavourable
conditionsofwork,includingequalopportunitiesandequalremunerationforworkofequalvalue,safeandhealthyworkingconditions,includingprotectionfromharassment,andtheredressofgrievances;”
•“enablepersonswithdisabilitiestohaveeffectiveaccesstogeneraltechnicalandvocationalguidanceprogrammes,placementservices,andvocationalandcontinuingtraining;”
•“promoteemploymentopportunitiesandcareeradvancementforpersonswithdisabilitiesinthelabourmarket,aswellasassistanceinfinding,obtaining,maintainingandreturningtoemployment;”
•“promotetheemploymentofpersonswithdisabilitiesintheprivatesectorthroughappropriatepolicies
andmeasures,whichmayincludeaffirmativeactionprogrammes,incentivesandothermeasures;”
•“promotetheacquisitionbypersonswithdisabilitiesofworkexperienceintheopenlabourmarket;”
•“promotevocationalandprofessionalrehabilitation,jobretentionandreturn-to-workprogrammesforpersonswithdisabilities;”and
•“adoptalllegislative,administrativeandothermeasuresfortheimplementationoftherightsrecognizedinthepresentConvention.”16
InkeepingwiththeseUNConventiondirectivesandtheprincipleofindividualitysetoutearlierinthissubmission,werecommendthattheMinistryprovideabroadcontinuumofcommunity-basedemploymentsupportsthatincludepre-,duringandpost-employmentsupports.Employmentsupportsmustnotbetime-limitedsothatthegainsmadewithsupportsarenotlostwhensupportsarewithdrawn;instead,theyshouldbeflexibleand matchtheuniqueneedsandgoalsoftheindividual.
15.Ibid.,Article26at1(b).(emphasisadded)
16.Ibid.,Article8at1(c);Article27at1(b),(c),(d),(e),(f),(h),(j),(k);Article4at1(a).\
6
Werecommendfurtherinvestigationtodeterminethemosteffectiveemploymentsupports,butwesuggestexploringthefollowingareas:
•Robusteducationalsupportsforpeoplewithdisabilities,includingsocialskilldevelopmentinordertoimproveworkplacesuccess;
•Educationalsupportsforemployers,includingregardingstereotypingandstigma,againtobetterimproveworkplacesuccess;
•Proactivesupportsforemployersfocusedonlong-termemploymentretention;
•LegislativeTools—conductareviewandanalysisoflegislativemodelsthatcouldenhance,supportandmaximizethegoalsandneedsofpeoplewithdisabilitiesinBC;
•Transitionalsupportsforindividualsattemptingworkplacements(broadeningofthecurrentconfirmedjobsupplementtofocusonparticipationandnotexiting thesystem;moreconsistentandgeographicallyfairtransportationsupplements;retainingmedicalbenefitsintoemployment;etc.).
Finally,werecommendthatthedisabilitysupportsystemmaintaintheflexibilityrequiredtoallowpeoplewithdisabilitiestoattemptemploymentwithminimal impactontheirdisabilityincomesupportsshouldtheemploymentnotsucceed.Thiswouldrequirerapidre-enrollmentandflexibleearningsexemptionruleswithanon-punitivefocus.
RECOMMENDATION#5
Donoteliminatecurrentdisability-basedsupportsinanefforttosimplifythesystem
Whilewesupportsimplificationofthedisability supportsysteminordertomakeiteasiertonavigateandunderstand,particularlywithrespecttocurrentadministrativebarriersthatcontinuetoimpedepeoplewithdisabilitiesinaccessingthesystem,wedonotsupporttheeliminationofindividualized,need-basedhealthsupplementscurrentlyprovidedasameanstosimplifytheexistingsystem.
Most,ifnotall,healthsupplementscurrentlyprovidedhaveveryhigheligibilitythresholdsthatrequireanapplicanttoestablishaseverehealth-relatedneed.Forexample,themonthlynutritionalsupplementrequiresanapplicanttoestablishthatshewillexperienceimminentdangertoherlifeifspecificnutritionalitems
arenotobtained(inadditiontoothereligibilitycriteria).Inotherwords,anypersonreceivingthissupplementhasshownaveryserioushealthnecessityfortheadditionalsupplement;eliminatingtheavailabilityofthoseadditionalfundswillhaveseriousandnegativeconsequencesforherhealthandwellbeingbecauseanimminenthealth-basedneedwillnolongerbemet.
Werecommendensuringthatdisability-basedsupportscontinuetoreflectthediversityandtheindividualizedneedsofpeoplewithdisabilities.ThisrecommendationisalsosupportedbytheUNConvention,whichrecognizesnotonlytheneedforindividualizedsupportsassetoutearlierinthesubmissions,butalsoboththe“diversityofpeoplewithdisabilities”and“theneedtopromoteandprotectthehumanrightsofallpersonswithdisabilities,includingthosewhorequiremoreintensivesupport.”Finally,theUNConventionrequiresthatstateparties“providehealthservicesneededbypeoplewithdisabilitiesspecificallybecauseoftheir disabilities,includingearlyidentificationandintervention asappropriate,andservicesdesignedtominimizeandpreventfurtherdisabilities,includingamongchildrenandolderpersons.”17
17.Ibid., Preambleat (i),(f); Article25at (b).7
RECOMMENDATION#6
Allowvulnerablefamiliestobenefitfromchildsupportpayments
TheUNConventionmakesclearthat“thefamilyisthenaturalandfundamentalgroupunitofsocietyandisentitledtoprotectionbysocietyandtheState,andthatpersonswithdisabilitiesandtheirfamilymembersshouldreceivethenecessaryprotectionandassistancetoenablefamiliestocontributetowardsthefullandequalenjoymentoftherightsofpersonswithdisabilities.”18
Itisafundamentalprincipleoffamilylawthatchildrenhavearighttosupportfromtheirparents,andthatrightenduresanythebreakdownoftheirparents’relationship.Achildofseparatedparentshasarighttoreceivechildsupportfromtheirnon-custodialparent.Thechildrenofsingleparentsrelyingondisabilityincomesupportsaresomeofthemostvulnerablechildrenintheprovinceand,assetoutaboveinthissubmission,thesefamiliesarelivingbelowthepovertyline.BC’scurrentpoliciesrelatedtochildsupportpaymentshelptokeepthemthere.
Insteadofallowingthesefamiliestouseanychildsupportfundsrecoveredfromthepayingparenttoimprovetheirindependenceandstandardofliving,BCdeductsthatmoneyfromthefamily’smonthlydisability assistancebenefits,ensuringthatthesefamiliescontinuetostrugglewell-belowthepovertyline.Theprovincedoesthisdespiteallowingfamiliesreceivingdisabilityincomesupportstofinanciallybenefitfrommanyotherkindsofincome,suchasemploymentincomeearned
bychildrenattendingschool,taxrefunds,andmoneywithdrawnfromanRDSP.
Inordertorecognizetheimportanceofanadequatestandardoflivingforpeoplewithdisabilitiesandtheirfamilies,werecommendthattheprovincestop
deductingchildsupportpaymentsfromdisabilityincomesupports.Thisrecommendationwillprovideasmallamountofrelieftothesefamilieswhoarecurrentlylivinginpovertyanditwillbettersupportthemtobecomeindependentandfullyparticipateintheircommunities.
Conclusion
TheUNConventionisapowerfulinstrumentthatoffersaroadmaptoatrulyinclusiveandjustsocietyforpeoplewithdisabilities.Canada,asasignatorytoit,hascommittedtotakestepstoimplementthe
fundamentalrightsandguaranteesitcontains.InorderforBCtobettersupporttheinclusionandparticipationofpeoplewithdisabilities,itmusttakemeaningfulstepstofullyrealizetheserights,anditmustdosowiththeknowledgeandunderstandingthatnoonerightcanbeoverlookedattheexpenseofothers.Todosowillerodeothereffortstosupportpeoplewithdisabilitiestofullyparticipateintheircommunities.
AlltherightscontainedintheUNConvention,andparticularlythosethatformthefoundationfortherecommendationsinthissubmission,mustberealizedinorderforBCtobecomethemostprogressiveplaceforpeoplewithdisabilitiesandtheirfamilies.
18.Ibid., Preambleat(x).8