Disability White Paper Consultation –Report

This report is respectfully submitted on behalf of North Shore residence who are members/staff/council Representative on the North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues.

How do we make British Columbia the most progressive province for people with disabilities?

In no particular order of importance is a collection of suggestions and ideas offered:

  1. A tax receipt should be provided to a company who hires a person with a disability and they should be able to use this tax credit for as long as that person is working for the company
  2. When you apply for something like the Disability Tax Credit, you must first prove that h you have a permanent disability. Once you are granted the use of the disability tax credit this should elevate much of the paperwork and forms we fill out that prove we have a permanent disability. I am tired of the red tape and form filling to prove the same facts.
  3. O&M and ILS should be provided to a person with vision loss under the MSP. This is what happens if you are a person who has a spinal cord injury and requires rehabilitation and the use of a mobility aid. Rehabilitation services for the blind and partially sighted should no longer be covered by a charity.
  4. The EATI program needs to be expanded to include all people with disabilities including students, seniors and those looking to volunteer or work in their communities. This should also include people who have job jeopardy if they cannot get the equipment they need. If a person has the ability to pay for a portion of the equipment than this should be considered.
  5. Medical services should be included for people with disabilities who have the disability tax credit and/or have low income. This should include prescriptions, medical devices and RMT or chiropractic adjustments if prescribed by your family doctor. I think it is key to be under the care if a primary physician if you need massage therapy and a chiropractor, far too many people would take advantage of a free massage. I think you family doctor should provide a letter that states you need RMT for back pain issues, for example. These services should be provided on a needs be basis, especially is someone is trying to return to work.
  6. Accessible voting- having a system where people with disabilities can mark their ballots and double check them independently either using the telephone, internet or an accessible voting booth
  7. BC Guide and Service Animal Act- this has been updated and waiting on the slate for about 4 years. This needs to be addressed so that people who require certified and licensed service animals can take them anywhere the person is allowed to go.
  8. Accessible Pedestrian Signals should be mandatory when any new development is built, the government and municipalities can receive funding from developers for APS. They do soon the North Shore but we have no mandate for the APS units in specific. There should also be a mandate to have an APS unit installed whenever there is an upgrade to be done. People with vision loss have the right to the same information that sighted people have when crossing a street safely including the street name, direction, countdown, etc. APS units accommodate for these features.
  9. Accessible web site, at the very least for government websites in specific, where all British Columbians and Canadians have the right to access the material.
  10. Having a “navigator” who assists people with disabilities through the system. It would be nice if there was one ministry for people with disabilities and this is where you would go for all needs pertaining to disability. The navigator, like a case worker, would work with you one on one to make sure that your barriers is as reduced as possible, everything from work to housing.
  11. Having all resources pertaining to people with disabilities under one roof can help stream line the process and any red tape. Having a navigator will also help achieve this goal.
  12. PWD and CPP disability payments should increase as the market value and inflation increases.
  13. Universally accessible bus stops should be mandated throughout the province and Canada.
  14. The ScripTalk unit is free but if you are on income assistance than the additional cost for the RFID sticker should also be covered. There is no use in having the service and a free unit if those who need it cannot afford to pay for the RFID sticker. If you are on many prescriptions this gets increasingly expensive.
  15. Basic dental cleanings should be provided to those on income assistance to a max of twice a year. It would be nice if coverage was provided for more than just the basic of dental care when it is needed. Having cleanings on a regular basis is a preventative measure in the long run and will help prevent teeth from having to be pulled, which is fully covered if you are on assistance. If you would prefer an implant or bridge or partial denture, those are not covered. It would be nice if the individual was able to choose which options works best for them without finance being the biggest issue. Helping fund part of these apparatuses gives the choice back to the end user.
  16. Citizens of France get their post secondary education for free. I think people with disabilities should get this too provided that they work in Canada for the first 3 years. Some people with disabilities lack the ability to afford an education while paying for other expenses. Maybe there will need to be specific programs that apply, but it is something to look at.
  17. BC should look at passing a law where employers must have a % of their workforce who are people with a disability. Brazil has such a law.
  18. Prescription glasses/contacts need to be covered for those with visual impairments and are on income as assistance. Eye exams should also be covered for those on income assistance.
  19. Digital libraries – the “HUB Library” – making ALL print material available to Canadian’s with print disabilities.
  20. In the absence of a library with fully accessible titles to Canadian’s with print disabilities- Existing Libraries should have programs available where they provide Daisy readers to clientele on either a rent to own basis or at no cost for use. Many cannot enjoy listening to an audio book because Daisy players and Victors are extremely expensive
  21. PWD benefits in BC amount to $906.42 monthly and this should be increased to a similar rate as in Alberta of 1588.00. The current PWD rate does not account for the current cost of living nor does it reflect the increases every year for things like Hydro, Gas, postage stamps, oil, food costs and rising MPS.
  22. People on PWD should be allowed to make money with a part time job that brings their monthly income to a livable wage. If you can make an extra $800 per month on top of PWD payments that still does not cover basic living expenses in a descent, safe neighbourhood.
  23. When applying for PWD currently you cannot have more than $5000 in asset accumulation. This amount needs to be raised to at least $10-15000 for an individual. Once you have qualified for PWD there should be no ceiling on savings. How, for example, would someone save for an $8000 insulin pump without having gone over this threshold of asset accumulation Currently insulin pumps are not covered if you are over 25 and they are very expensive. You can you mandate how someone chooses to save their money. Is it not a benefit in the long run if a person can squirrel away their savings so that they may contribute to their retirement in future? Why must we be so concerned with allowing those on PDW to survive above the poverty line?
  24. Encourage municipalities to install roll over curbs where parallel parking Is offered so that those who use a wheelchair or mobility scooter do not need to travel from the drivers’ seat through traffic to reach a cross walk where they can access the sidewalk safely.
  25. Creating a service similar to the USA food Stamp program only these food stamps are only to be used towards to purchase of fresh foods and healthy options. Why force people to have to buy junk because that is all that they can afford. Do you not see that this creates pressure on our medical system in the long run, creates obesity and diabetes and other dieses that will only cost the health care system in the coming years? Lets us try to be a bit preventative.
  26. Housing labelled “affordable” in BC is anything but given the rate of disability payments. Is there a way, similar to “section 8” in the USA where landlords can receive direct subsidized payment for rent from the gov’t in exchange for lower than market value rent. Maybe landlords will be willing to rent their spaces at lower than market if the gov’t can guarantee a minimum amount will be received on a monthly basis.
  27. Encourage BC Building Code to include accessible balcony access and automatic doors that open at the entrance of residential apartment buildings. Also, front entrances should have cover from weather.
  28. Make the fuel tax rebate program easier to get for those adult children with a disability that still live at home and have their parents as their primary caregivers. They may not be able to hold a drivers’ license or the car registration but they can still contribute to gas and maintenance as they are adults. This program is hard to get unless you are a spouse.
  29. Primary caregivers who are family member should be eligible for the same financial/tax benefit as any other private caregiver. In most cases they take better care of the person with the disability and know their needs better. It is unfair to penalize someone who gives up full time work to care for a loved one with a disability.
  30. Provide the “loop” system in public spaces for those who wear hearing aids.
  31. Provide white canes for the blind at no cost, within reason, maybe one per year. Childers who are growing will need them more often as they will outgrow their cane causing it to be a=more of a hazard than an asset.

John Newmann -Chair, North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Amy Amantea – Vice Chair, North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Jean Chambers - North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Sonia Koehler - North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Greg Travers - North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Monica Craver - North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Cathy Bankz -North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Shayne Dewildt - North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Ryan Ollis -North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Richard Thompson - North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Lisa Stalham – Clerk, North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Phil Chapman – DNV Staff, North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Claudia Freire- DWV Staff, North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Alex Kurnicki-CNV Staff, North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Mike Little – Cllr Representative for DNV - North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Mike Lewis – Cllr Representative from DWV-North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Guy Haywood – Cllr Representative from CNV-North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues