Chapter 13: Social Work and Persons with Disabilities PDF

11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn.   (/account/dashboard) DIGITAL TEXTBOOK Chapter 13: (/resource Social Work and Persons with Disabilities  Notes ce/20/nodes/658/annotations) Search...  Media (/resource/20/nodes/658/student  × files) (/r —Laurie Beachell, national coordinator, Coun...

11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn.   (/account/dashboard) DIGITAL TEXTBOOK Chapter 13: (/resource Social Work and Persons with Disabilities  Notes ce/20/nodes/658/annotations) Search...  Media (/resource/20/nodes/658/student  × files) (/r —Laurie Beachell, national coordinator, Council of Canadians with Disabilities https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 1/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. The disabled community is the world’s largest minority group. Chapter author: Roy Hanes bout 15 percent of the world’s population, or an estimated one billion people, live with disabilities. They are the world’s largest minority (United Nations, 2016). In Canada, it is estimated that 3.8 million people over the age of 15 have a disability, representing approximately 14 percent of the total Canadian population. In this country, most people with disabilities live with family members or on their own, with close ties to family members. As a result, 53 percent of the Canadian population is directly affected by disability. Considering this fact, it is highly likely that most, if not all, social workers will at some point in their careers have a client with a disability or deal with a family member who is faced with the onset of a disability in a loved one. https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 2/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. In this chapter, you will learn how to… summarize the history of services for people with disabilities in Canada identify populations with a higher prevalence of disability, according to various national surveys differentiate between the medical and the political rights approaches to disability explain “ableism” and the reasons for the stigmatization of persons with disabilities discuss various types of impairment using respectful and personcentred language discuss the pros and cons of a Canadians with Disabilities Act describe the Independent Living Movement identify various income security programs for Canadians with disabilities Key Concepts Persons with disabilities Multidisciplinary rehabilitation team Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS) Canadian Survey on Disability 2012 (CSD) Medical model Political rights model Ableism https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 3/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. Independent Living Movement (ILM) Disability rights movement Publicly-funded disability programs Privately-funded disability programs Focusing Question What specific skills do social workers need in order to provide effective support to people with disabilities and their families? The History of Services for People with Disabilities in Canada The distinction between persons with disabilities and those without dates back to the English Poor Law of 1601, which divided those seeking charitable support into the “deserving” poor and the “non-deserving” poor. Determining who What Is Disability? In recent years, the definition of “disability” has shifted from “something that is wrong” with an individual to reflect a more inclusive view that links an was part of the deserving poor was based individual with impairments to broader on the inability to work, or to serve one’s social, political, cultural, and master or landowner. The deserving poor environmental characteristics. were entitled to charitable support, such According to the United Nations, as permission to beg or to receive charity “Disability results from the interaction from religious institutions. These forms of charitable relief, known as “outdoor relief,” were eventually brought from the https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read between persons with impairments, conditions, or illnesses and the environmental and attitudinal barriers they face. Such impairments, conditions, 4/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM old world to the new, including Canada. Other forms of outdoor relief included being lodged with a family or individual, in which case the homeowner would be Thompson Learn. or illnesses may be permanent, temporary, intermittent, or imputed, and include those that are physical, sensory, psychosocial, neurological, medical, or intellectual.” given a small stipend. By the mid-nineteenth century, outdoor relief had come to be seen as a mechanism that created rather than relieved dependency. Outdoor or community-based relief was gradually replaced with institutional care—asylums, work houses, poor houses, special schools, chronic care facilities, and later, hospitals (Splane, 1965). This new form of relief became known as “indoor relief.” By the end of the nineteenth century, most of the charitable relief for individuals with disabilities in Canada had shifted to institution-based programs. Each province developed its own relief programs for persons with disabilities, as well as special schools and institutions. As a result, no national support programs were established. Indeed, no significant national support care programs for persons with disabilities exist in Canada to the present day (Hanes and Moscovitch, 2002). The Institutionalization of People with Disabilities The replacement of outdoor relief with indoor relief represented a significant shift in the philosophy regarding charitable help. Persons with disabilities, who had previously been considered part of the social order, were now viewed as a nuisance population to be removed from society, isolated, and placed in segregated institutions. Disability was considered a source of shame, and many persons with disabilities who were not sent to institutions were hidden away in their homes by their family members. There are numerous examples of people with various forms of disabilities being hidden https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 5/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. or kept at home in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries (Hanes, 1995). The public disdain toward individuals with disabilities became so severe that some municipalities, such as York (now known as Toronto), developed bylaws that banned people with disabilities from public streets. As time progressed, more and more institutions for housing various disabled populations were constructed, and by the early twentieth century, tens of thousands of individuals had been placed in these institutions. Many of these facilities remained in operation until the mid-1990s and early 2000s. By the mid-twentieth century, many provinces had “special” residential schools for children and adolescents who were blind and/or deaf. Provincial institutions had been also established for people with psychiatric disabilities, and many provinces had institutions for people with developmental disabilities. Specialized hospitals were established for many disabled populations, including tuberculosis hospitals, orthopaedic hospitals, and rehabilitation hospitals. The institutionalization of people with disabilities became so widespread that it was commonly believed to be the natural order of things, and that people with disabilities had always been separated from their communities (Bowe, 1978). The Post-War Period and Beyond Following World War II, Canada witnessed the gradual expansion of the “welfare state,” and many new social Persons with disabilities According to the World Health Organization, persons with disabilties include those with “impairments, activity security programs, such as pensions and limitations, and participation disability benefits, were put in place. restrictions. An impairment is a problem There emerged the notion of the https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty in executing a 6/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM multidisciplinary rehabilitation team, which included physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, Thompson Learn. task or action; while a participation restriction is a problem in involvement in life situations.” and later, social workers, psychologists, and vocational counsellors. The field itself eventually fell under the domain of the medical profession, which became responsible for determining whether there was a need for specialized care, income supports, pensions, educational supports, transportation supports, home care supports, and other benefits. Medical and social services for people with disabilities have significantly expanded since this period. They include special schools, training programs, sheltered workshops, summer camps, recreational programs, special hospitals, and after-care facilities, as well as special trades and industries. Rehabilitation services of this type are still a primary area of social work with persons with disabilities. Social workers are also employed by provincial and federal governments and by charitable organizations, both in the provision of services and in the development of policies. https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 7/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. Since the 1970s, there has been a shift Multidisciplinary rehabilitation team away from a strict, medical approach to a A group of professionals from a variety of more “progressive” model in which disciplines who work with an individual persons with disabilities are accepted to maximize his or her physical, fully as equal citizens. The Independent Living Movement (ILM) has been been at psychological, and/or social participation in work, education, and civic life the forefront of this new approach. The ILM philosophy promotes self-direction, self-determination, and full participation in the life of one’s community and has single-handedly begun a new era for persons with disabilities. This photo shows the Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia, one of the first Ontario institutions to treat people with developmental disabilities. Attitudes have changed since the facility opened in 1861, when resident patients were viewed as “idiots,” “imbeciles,” and “feeble-minded.” The Prevalence of Disability in Canada Until 2010, Statistics Canada used census data to carry out detailed research into disability. The Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS) population consisted of all persons who answered “yes” to either of the census questions on activity limitations. The federal government discontinued the long-form census in 2010, however, and PALS was discontinued. The most recent data on disability come from the Canadian Survey on Disability 2012 (CSD), although many believe that this survey was not as comprehensive as PALS. The CSD examined only individuals with https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 8/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. disabilities who were of working age (15 and older) living in private dwellings. As a result, there is limited information about the needs of children or of people residing in chronic-care facilities or nursing homes. There are also minimal data pertaining to First Nations, as the research did not apply to First Nations persons living on reserves. Notwithstanding these limitations, the CSD reports that in 2012, an estimated 3.8 million adults were limited in their daily activities due to a disability (13.7 percent of the total Canadian population). The three most prevalent disability types are pain, mobility, or flexibility (see Figure 13.1). Of those Canadians who reported at least one of these types of disability, more than 40 percent experienced all three at the same time. In 2012, 26 percent of persons with disabilities had impairments that were classified as very severe; 23 percent had severe disabilities; 20 percent had moderate disabilities; and 32 percent had mild disabilities. Additionally, 81.3 percent reported using some kind of assistive device—for example, to facilitate movement (e.g., wheelchairs, hand and arm supports) or to help them hear, see, or learn (e.g., hearing aids, magnifiers, specialized computers). Figure 13.1 Disabilities related to pain, flexibility, and mobility are the most common. About 12 percent of Canadians aged 15 years or older (just over 3 million) reported having at least one of these disabilities, and many people reported more than one. Source: Statistics Canada. (2012). Canadian Survey on Disability, 2012 (89-654-X). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. Disability and the Age of Canadians https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 9/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. Not surprisingly, the prevalence of disability among Canadians increases with age. In 2012, 2.3 million working-age Canadians (aged 15 to 64), or 10.1 percent of the total population, reported having a disability. Among Canadians 65 or older, however, 33.2 percent reported a disability. Of the working-age population, 4.4 percent reporting a disability were aged 15 to 24, 6.5 percent were 25 to 44, and 16.1 percent were 45 to 64. The proportion who reported a disability rose to 26.3 percent for those aged 65 to 74, and 42.5 percent for those 75 and older. The most prevalent types of disability also vary according to age. In the youngest age group (15 to 24), the most commonly reported types of disability Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS) Statistics Canada’s Participation and Activity Limitation Surveys (PALS) of were mental or psychological 2001 and 2006 built on the Health and (2.2 percent); learning related (2.0 Activity Limitation Surveys (HALS) of percent); and pain (1.9 percent). Among those aged 45 to 64, the most common impairments were pain (12.7 percent), 1986 and 1991. These “flagship” surveys established a kind of international “gold standard” for gathering and reporting statistical data on disability. In 2011, flexibility (9.8 percent), and mobility (8.6 however, the Minister of Human percent). While these three types of Resources and Skills Development disabilities were also the most commonly reported among seniors, the prevalence was much higher: 22.1 percent for pain, Canada (HRSDC) decided that the PALS would be cancelled and that, in its place, a new data strategy on disability would be launched. 20.5 percent for mobility, and 19.3 percent for flexibility. Perhaps not surprisingly, the prevalence of hearing-related disabilities was also high among seniors (10.4 percent). https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 10/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. As shown in Figure 13.2, Canadian women have a higher prevalence of disability in almost all age groups. The proportion of those reporting a disability among adult women was 14.9 percent, and only 12.5 percent for men. Among the oldest Canadians (those aged 75 or above), 44.5 percent of women reported a disability, compared to 39.8 percent of men. In the 15-to24 age group, the proportion of men an d women reporting a disability was similar in 2012: 4.5 percent for men and 4.3 percent for women. Figure 13.2 For both men and women reporting a disability, the prevalence of disability increases with age, with women having a higher prevalence in almost all age groups. Source: Statistics Canada. (2012). Canadian Survey on Disability, 2012 (89-654-X). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Disability The American Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 represented a pivotal point in the history of persons with disabilities in the United States, as well as in Canada. This legislation prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities, stating the following: Immigration and Disabilities Canada’s immigration laws do not specifically state that people with disabilities are not welcome, but the “excessive demand” clause of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Section 38(1)c) makes it very difficult for them to immigrate to Canada. The regulations define “excessive demand” as (a) a demand on health or social services for which the anticipated costs would likely exceed average Canadian per https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 11/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States as defined by Section 7 shall, solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits Thompson Learn. capita health and social services costs, or (b) a demand on health or social services that would add to existing waiting lists and increase the rate of mortality and morbidity in Canada (Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, Regulations 1(1)). of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance (Zola, 1986: 1). Spurred on by the successes of the U.S. movement, Canadians with disabilities began to advocate under their own national umbrella, the Coalition of Provincial Organizations of the Handicapped (which later became known as the Council of Canadians with Disabilities). Notable Canadian leaders such as Henry Enns, Allan Simpson, and Jim Doerksen united people around the Canadian Independent Living Movement. They were also at the forefront of the movement to have disability rights included in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. With the passage of the Charter in 1982, Canada became one of the first countries in the world to have the rights of people with disabilities guaranteed under law. Currently, two broad approaches characterize discussions of disability and social work involvement with persons with disabilities: Medical model. The medical model has its roots in rehabilitation medicine, where the focus of the intervention is on the individual. It views disability as an “impairment” and a “personal tragedy” and emphasizes the need of the individual to adapt or otherwise fit within mainstream society as much as possible. https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 12/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. Political rights model. The political rights model, on the other hand, is concerned with the broader social and political context and with the need for society as a whole to adapt to the needs of persons who have disabilities. The pre-eminent British disability advocate and theorist Michael Oliver coined the terms “personal tragedy theory” and “social oppression theory” to describe the differences between these two approaches to disability (Oliver, 1990). The Medical Model From the perspective of the medical model (or the “personal tragedy theory”), a disabling condition is an unfortunate life event calling for some form of professional and medical assistance (Oliver, 1990). Disability is seen primarily as a medical and rehabilitative problem. The various forms of professional rehabilitative and medical interventions are means of “curing” or “fixing” the individual. According to this theory, persons who become disabled, as well as their loved ones, must go through various stages of psychological and emotional adjustment before they can accept themselves or their loved one as a person with a disability. Much of the literature pertaining to the impact of disability is based on this “stages of adjustment” approach (i.e., feeling anger, denial, and depression before accepting disability as part of one’s life). However, this approach has been critiqued by many researchers on the grounds that, for most people, disability is not a tragedy, a “life sentence,” or “a fate worse than death.” Indeed, many disability activists and social workers contend that the day-today difficulties faced by people with disabilities are not the result of their limitations so much as the social and attitudinal barriers they encounter. The Political Rights Model https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 13/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. In contrast to the medical model of Medical model disability, the political rights model (also This model sees disability as an referred to as the “independent living “impairment” and a “personal tragedy” for model”) holds that the problems faced by the person concerned, and therefore people with disabilities are not the result of physical impairments alone, but are also the result of the social and political focuses on the need of the individual to adapt or otherwise fit in as much as possible. inequalities that exist between people with disabilities and those without (Oliver, 1990). This alternative model challenges the widely prevalent view that disability is essentially a rehabilitation problem requiring individual treatment and individual solutions. It also calls for a different focus for interventions on behalf of persons with disabilities. This approach views people with disabilities as members of a minority population. “Many persons with disabilities,” Lex Frieden suggests, “consider themselves as members of a minority group related not by colour or nationality but by functional limitation and similar need” (Frieden, 1983: 55). Environmental factors—such as a lack of employment opportunities, lack of affordable housing, and lack of accessible transportation, as well as the presence of https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 14/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. negative stereotypes and prejudicial Political rights model attitudes—are a major source of the This view of disability is concerned with problem. Structural and attitudinal the broader social and political contexts changes, both social and political, are and with the need for society as a whole required if these obstacles are to be overcome. to adapt to the needs of persons with disabilities, not the other way around. According to the political rights model of disability, medical interventions alone are not enough. This approach calls for the incorporation of a full human-rights focus. Medical interventions are important, to be sure, but social, political, and legislative changes are required at the national, provincial, and community levels if the needs and concerns of people with disabilities are to be properly addressed. Table 13.1 Theories of Disability: Contrasting Approaches Table 13.1 Theories of Disability: Contrasting Approaches Rehabilitation Paradigm(Medical Model) Independent Living Paradigm (Political Rights Model) https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 15/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. Definition of Problem Physical impairment/lack ofemployment skills Dependent on professionals, relatives, etc. Locus of Problem In the individual In the environment and rehabilitation process Solution to Problem Professional intervention by physician, therapist, occupational therapist, vocational rehabilitation counsellor Peer counselling, advocacy, self-help, consumer control, removal of barriers Social Role Patient/client Citizen/consumer https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 16/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. Who Controls Professional Citizen/consumer Desired Outcome Maximize activities and living skills Independent living Source: DeJong, Gerben. (1979). Independent living: From social movement to analytic paradigm. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 60 (October): 435-446. Destigmatizing Disability Many students of social work are familiar the terms “racism,” “sexism,” “heterosexism,” and “ageism,” but they may be less familiar with the term “ableism.” This term refers to the stigmatization of disability and the existence of prejudicial attitudes held by people without disabilities toward people with disabilities. Ableism is a belief in the superiority of people without disabilities over people with disabilities. It can take the form of ideas and assumptions, stereotypes, practices, physical barriers in the environment, and larger-scale (systemic) oppression. There is nothing inherent in disability that should lead to the stigmatization of people with disabilities or lead to the development of belief systems wherein biological difference is linked to biological inferiority. Yet in most https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 17/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. Western industrialized societies, there has been a growing cultural emphasis on the “body beautiful.” Physical attractiveness, sexuality, and desirability have become a valued cultural norm. People with disabilities often do not Disability Culture Since the early 1980s, the terms “person with disabilities” and “people with disabilities” came to be accepted as the most appropriate terms to be used when meet cultural standards of physical referring to individuals who have attractiveness, and this contributes to the disabilities. In more recent times, stigma attached to disability, according to which having a disability is to be undesirable and unlovable. For persons however, more and more people with disabilities, especially those who promote disability culture, are using the term “disabled person” to self-identify. with disabilities, this attitude has implications for many aspects of life, such as developing friendships and intimate relationships, socializing, and being involved in recreational activities. Stereotypes Abound As with all forms of discrimination, stereotypes abound concerning people with disabilities. For example, there is a common belief that people with disabilities are in a continuous state of emotional distress and psychological suffering. This stems from the long-held belief that if there is damage to one aspect of the system (physical disability), then there would be damage to the emotional and mental aspects as well. Yet, this is clearly not the case: most persons with disabilities cope well and have no negative emotional or mental side effects. Sometimes a person with a disability is seen as deserving of the disability. For example, a young person who becomes disabled as a result of driving while intoxicated may be viewed as having received what he or she deserved. As https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 18/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. well, there is often very little sympathy for adults who have disabling conditions as a consequence of a particular lifestyle—for example, because of drug use, prostitution, or unprotected sex. Some people still believe, too, that a disability is the consequence of sinful activities on the part of an individual or parent. Congenital disorders, for example, are often attributed to the risky behaviours of mothers during pregnancy, even though there is no scientific support for such claims. There are many examples in folklore, literature, TV programs, and films that portray persons with disabilities as being evil. Disability may even remind people of their own mortality. Indeed, much of the literature pertaining to the psychological adjustment to the onset of disability comes from the study of death and dying. Such stereotypes and fears may lead to the avoidance of people with disabilities, further contributing to their social isolation. Just as in the case of sexism or racism, stereotyping and stigmatization abound in the case of persons with disabilities, though such negative portrayals are seldom acknowledged, let alone discussed publicly. For example, terms such as “defective,” “crippled,” or “lame” are now generally considered to be derogatory and inappropriate, but they are still used in everyday conversation. (For more respectful and appropriate terminology for referring to persons with disabilities, see Table 13.2.) Much progress has been made, but persons with disabilities are often still not treated as equal to ablebodied persons. Promoting Respectful Terminology https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 19/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. Arguments for and against A “Canadians with Disabilities” Act? The Independent Living Movement The Independent Living Movement (ILM) has been a key player in the The Independent Living Movement struggle to achieve human rights The IL movement differs from traditional legislation for people with disabilities. service-providing organizations by Originating in the United States in the emphasizing peer support, self-direction, early 1970s and introduced to Canada in and community integration by and for 1979, the philosophy underlying the people with disabilities themselves. Independent Living Movement (ILM) is Independent Living is founded on the to encourage and assist persons with right of people with disabilities to disabilities achieve self-direction over the personal and community services needed to attain their own independent living. live with dignity in their chosen community, participate in all aspects of Origins and Philosophy of the ILM their life, and The origins of the Independent Living control and make decisions Movement can be traced to the Cowell about their own lives. Residence Program at the University of California, Berkeley. In the early 1960s, students with severe disabilities were housed in Cowell Hospital on campus. A group of students with disabilities began to recognize that medical and https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 20/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. rehabilitation professionals largely controlled their lives. Their efforts to take back control inspired the ILM and the disability rights movement of the 1970s and continue to do so today. Three major events in 1981 were central to the full development of the ILM in Canada: (1) the United Nations’ declaration of the International Year of Disabled Persons, (2) the Canadian government’s release of Obstacles, its report concerning disability, and (3) the personal commitment of one of its founding members, Henry Enns, to the independent living (IL) philosophy. These helped provide legitimacy to the social oppression approach to disability and promoted the philosophy of IL to the various levels of government, academics, and other disability organizations. By 1985, Independent Living Resource Centres (ILRCs) were operating in Waterloo, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Calgary, and Toronto. In 1986, the Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres (CAILC) was formed to act as a national coordinating body for the ILM. In 2008, CAILC changed their name to Independent Living Canada. In 2015, a total of 25 ILRCs were operating across Canada. Empowering Persons with Disabilities According to the IL philosophy, persons with disabilities are citizens with the right to participate in community life. It therefore advocates an alternative model of program delivery. The IL philosophy empowers consumers to make the choices that are necessary to control their community and personal resources. Consumer control means that ILRCs are governed and controlled by persons with disabilities. ILRCs are non-profit and responsive to persons with all types of disabilities, including mobility, sensory, cognitive, emotional, psychiatric, and so forth. https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 21/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. In 1997, the CAILC undertook a study of the effects of the ILRCs and found that they succeed, in large part, not simply because they provide an opportunity to learn skills, access information, and receive support, but because they do so in a way that is consistent with the independent living philosophy. The Association concluded that improvement in the quality of life for people with disabilities requires skill development as well as the removal of environmental, social, and economic barriers. Individual empowerment was found to be a key benefit. It was particularly important in fostering competency in a variety of community living skills, as well as resulting in increased confidence and self-esteem. The Association found that individuals involved with some of the programs of the ILRC have knowledge of other IL programs as well, and highly value the programs with which they are directly involved. Adults and children Types of Disabilities Income Security Programs for Persons with Disabilities Canada’s disability income support system is based on a loose-knit set of programs. These programs have different The Canada Pension Plan and Other Federal Programs eligibility criteria, guidelines, and Canadians with disabilities may be procedures. Social and income security eligible for federally-sponsored income programs for people with disabilities are https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read support programs such as the Canada 22/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM derived from private and public sources in the form of either contributory or non-contributory benefits. Thompson Learn. Pension Plan, which is based on the amount of money an individual and his or her employer pay into the program. Publicly-funded disability programs. Publicly-funded disability programs are covered by federal, provincial, and municipal legislation. These programs include the Canada Pension Plan Disability Pension (a federal program), the Family Benefits plan (a provincial program), and the General Welfare Assistance plan (a municipal program in Ontario). These programs are funded through government taxation, and except for the Canada Pension Plan, do not require contributions from recipients. Privately-funded disability programs. Privately-funded disability programs include programs that are provided through private insurance plans or long-term disability plans as part of job benefits. These private income security programs are based on the amount of funding that the recipient has contributed directly to the plan, or funding that has been https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 23/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. contributed to the plan on behalf of the recipient. In recent years, the federal government has developed two additional programs that can provide financial support for Canadians with disabilities. Disability Tax Credit. Individuals and/or family members can claim expenses related to disability (including the cost of equipment, medical supplies, and home renovation) as part of their annual income tax claim. Disability Registered Retirement Savings Program (DRRSP). People with disabilities and/or family members can contribute a sum of money to a DRRSP on a yearly basis and can use the funds to supplement income in retirement or take out the funds when needed. Provincial and Territorial Disparities Improving the representation of people with disabilities in the labour market has been one of the most challenging projects https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 24/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Canadians have a universal public healthcare system, but the benefits do not Thompson Learn. undertaken by advocacy groups for people with disabilities. extend to providing full support for all people with disabilities. The primary similarity across the provinces and territories is the range and types of supports and services provided. Provincial and territorial programs, whether in Newfoundland, British Columbia, or Yukon, will cover the cost of wheelchairs, canes, eyeglasses, walkers, attendant care services, home care, transportation, and so forth. The differences are in the eligibility requirements and the amount of funding for the various supports and services. Some provinces, such as Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick, have a single-tier program wherein services are directly funded by the province to the individual. Others, such as Nova Scotia and Manitoba, have a two-tier system: basically, provincial funding is transferred to the local government, which, in turn, funds the individual. There are also provincial programs based on specific legislation. In Ontario, people with disabilities are covered under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act; in British Columbia, they are covered under the Disability Benefits Program Act; and in Alberta, they receive benefits through the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Persons program. Although there are many differences in the income support programs across Canada, one important similarity remains, and it concerns eligibility. All individuals with disabilities and/or their family members who apply for support are assessed first for disability. That determination is made by a medical professional. This process is then followed by an assessment for benefits, since merely having a disability does not necessarily qualify the individual and/or family members for coverage. Every applicant from St. John’s to Vancouver is assessed according to a “means test,” which basically https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 25/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. investigates bank accounts, saving bonds, household income, trust funds, and so on. Since provincial and territorial programs are “non-contributory” welfare programs, individual assets cannot be greater than the amount being applied for. For example, an individual might be eligible for $600.00 per month, but if their income is $250.00 per month, then this amount is deducted from the $600.00 and they will receive $350.00 as a monthly payment. Determining Levels of Benefits for Persons with Disabilities Once a person is deemed to have a disability, a rigourous Social Assistance review takes place to determine the exact level of benefits that are due. No stone seems to be left unturned in this assessment process. As noted, first there is an investigation of assets. Only if one’s assets are deemed to be within the parameters of program funding will they receive coverage under the provincial or territorial program. The next step in a Social Assistance review is a needs test, consisting of three additional steps: The applicant’s basic requirements for living are identified (food, clothing, shelter, utilities, other household expenses, and personal allowances). Each requirement is designated with a maximum dollar allotment, and the requirements are then totalled to determine the funds needed to meet basic needs. The applicant’s available financial resources are determined, that is, income from resources such as pensions, including public or private funds, savings, or money received through paid employment or training programs. The difference between total resources and total basic needs is then calculated. A negative remainder indicates a “budget defect.” If this is the case, then the applicant is considered eligibile for assistance. https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 26/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. The amount of assistance will then be determined according to a variety of factors, including size of family, degree of employability of the family’s main decision maker, size and type of accommodation, and so on. Figure 13.3 Persons with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed than persons without disabilities (7.9 percent versus 5.6 percent). They are also much more likely not to be in the labour force at all (45.1 percent versus 20.6 percent). Source: Statistics Canada. (2012). Canadian Survey on Disability, 2012 (89-654-X). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. Building on strengths, accessing resources Social Work and Persons with Disabilities Social work and young adults with developmental disabilities Promoting Self-Sufficiency Supporting parents of children with multiple special needs Complex Multiple Needs https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 27/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. Social work practice with families of persons with disabilities Coping with the Onset of Disability Social Work Practitioner Barb Juett As a social worker with the Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre, Barb Juett helps families cope with the responsibilities of raising a child who has disabilities. Chapter 13 Review https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 28/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. Review Questions What are some indicators of global economic and social inequality? Define the two key principles that underlie international social work. Define and distinguish the three generations of human rights. Why is it important for social workers to affirm and work toward all three generations? What are four key approaches to international social work practice? Briefly describe each model. Identify and describe the various types of agencies that employ social workers abroad. How is the Internet changing the way that social workers advocate for human rights? Describe the specific risks and challenges involved in social work practice in wartorn countries. https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 29/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. Exploring Social Work Climate change affects people in all countries, but it seems that poorer countries are more vulnerable.What do you think that we in Canada might do to address this problem? Break into small groups and discuss this issue. What role do you see for social workers in developing countries? Is it all one way (us helping them) or do you see it as more of a two-way sharing? What can we learn about community and family from other countries? Record your reflections in a two-page paper. Re-read the feature in this chapter on “The Rights of Indigenous People Worldwide.” In the Globe and Mail article, Professor Ken Coates describes the UN declaration as a powerful and emotional statement about the degree to which Indigenous peoples around the world have a similar history of mistreatment through colonialism and occupation. However, he also states that the document may not effectively respond to the needs and challenges of the twenty-first century. Do you agree or disagree with his statement? Explain your answer. https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 30/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. Websites Human Resources and Social Development Canada (http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca) HRSDC offers information on federal programs for persons with disabilities. Select People with Disabilities from the A–Z Index. Council of Canadians with Disabilities (http://www.ccdonline.ca) The Council of Canadians with Disabilities advocates at the federal level to improve the lives of men and women with disabilities in Canada by eliminating inequality and discrimination. Members include national, regional, and local advocacy organizations that are run by persons with disabilities. DAWN-RAFH Canada (http://www.dawncanada.net) DAWN-RAFH Canada is an organization that works toward the advancement and inclusion of women and girls with disabilities and Deaf women in Canada. Its overarching strategic theme is one of leadership, partnership, and networking to engage all levels of government, the wider disability and women’s sectors, and other stakeholders in addressing key issues such as poverty, isolation, discrimination, and violence. Canadian Association for Community Living (http://www.cacl.ca) CACL is an organization that strives for the full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities by providing leadership, promoting awareness, and using research and knowledge to inform efforts to advance rights and opportunities. Canadian Centre for Disability Studies (CCDS) (http://www.disabilitystudies.ca) https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 31/32 11/30/23, 10:39 AM Thompson Learn. CCDS is a not-for-profit, national organization dedicated to research, education, and knowledge mobilization on issues facing people with disabilities. It promotes equal participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of society—locally, provincially/territorially, nationally, and internationally—and is guided by the philosophies of independent living and community living. It emphasizes human rights, self-determination, interdependence, equality, and full and meaningful participation of all citizens.  (/resource/20/nodes/657/read)  (/resource/20/nodes/659/read)  About Us (http://thompsonbooks.com/about-tep/) Contact (http://thompsonbooks.com/contact-us/) Privacy Policy (http://thompsonbooks.com/privacy/) Terms & Conditions (https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/terms-and-conditions/) © Copyright 2023 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. https://learn.thompsonbooks.com/resource/20/nodes/658/read 32/32