Consultation In-Person Feedback Collection s1

Consultation In-Person Feedback Collection

Date: March 4, 2014 Group: Inclusion Powell River Society Location: Powell River, BC Number of Attendees: 50

Note: all the information and feedback gathered at this session will be inputted into the overall collection of data and feedback for consideration of the development of the Disability White Paper.

Feedback:

WORK AND CONTRIBUTION  Build entrepreneurial skills, knowledge in support staff  Decrease red tape  Raising expectation not just entry level work  Community market place for sales of goods and craft (purposeful)  Strength based job fair  $ for advertising  Coop model of job sharing and mixed abilities – catering, restaurant, food security  Community awareness  Contract work so worker can self-regulate  Follow-up and follow through  Buddy system  Use social network  Centralized system of comm. events and opportunity  Community calendar  Job sharing/job chunking, task analysis  Educate employers to the assets  Apprentice programs Feedback:

 Process to match business need available workforce  Better communication/marketing of community programs  Self-advocacy/empowerment  Volunteerism  Liaison w/school district  Build capacity with everyone – work within the community and with each other  Subsidize companies to help them maintain the hours for diverse workers  Transition skills throughout full employment – pre-employment work – help make one feel secure and confident to start work  Normalize the need for help within the workplace  Employment support to start work (self-employment)  Work on a strength of the individual  Skills building for the work place at a younger age so youth can start employment  Fund a mock work environment in order for people to learn how to work in a safe environment – vocational – people graduate from program and go into the workplace  Transportation – reduce barriers  Individual assessment of needs  Do businesses have an incentive to hire – how easily accessible is it for business to see the need  Public recognition of companies that do hire diverse people  More accommodation to have flexibility with hours  Take the wage cap off so there is an incentive to work  Mentor/advocate to help discuss any issues in the workplace ASSET ACCUMULATION  Poverty is a barrier  Poverty – increase the amount of disability assistance in relation to the cost of living in BC  Accessibility – money – opportunity  Existing programs need global funding it should allow funds to be allocated in a fluid framework. This would allow agencies the ability to direct the funds to client based on immediate need based on client, funding, and worker input. Client need changes with age, health, opportunity, etc.  Lobby to have disability assistance as a pension. Basic disability assistance should become a lifelong pension.  Can a person with a mental disability sign a legal document?  Planned lifetime alternative networks – website – lawyers available to caregivers or families  Employers to make contributions to RDSP directly  Unemployment – barrier to contributing Feedback:

 People entitled to disability assistance should receive it regardless of other monies  At least keep medical and dental  One government agent for families to contact that would have all the info or know who to contact  Raise disability pension and put some into RDSP before it’s paid out  Not realistic for people to contribute to savings plan when living below the poverty line  Establish a process to help individuals share ownership in their home  Provide safety and security for the future  Educate public trustees, self-advocates and caregivers about RDSPs – families – in high school  Information on RDSP to originally come from doctor, or other health care professional or service providers  Problem with anyone over 49 not being eligible  Incomes are not sufficient to be able to contribute to RDSP  People between 49 – 60 need a way to save in a similar plan without a long term lock in  Raise income to a level to allow savings/reasonable income  Allow income as well as government funding without penalty  Keep up to cost of living (landlords can raise rent early, hydro?)  Concern that person’s government funding will be reduced if they are withdrawing from RDSP  Most people on disability benefits cannot afford to contribute to RDSP  At 65 people must rely on Old Age Pension only! HOUSING  Not enough single stay low-cost housing  Accessible design  ‘congregate care’ …move to integrated, multi-ability housing – no more isolation  Program of ownership, not renting – concerns about housing stability long-term – buy into community – centric property – security  Universal design for construction – wider doors, elevators (more than one)  Concerns with curb cuts, accessible parking issues, need more covered areas (carport at Town Centre)  Shower facilities in hotels while travelling, need for accessible accommodation – full units suited for wheelchairs – some public access facilities available at key spots in towns and city centres  Create community with multi-abilities, ‘mainstream’ apartment living  Joint ownership without penalty – many individuals qualifying together  ‘buy back’ strata, to keep ownership turnover reserved for community needs  Independent living options with adequate support  Home ownership saves money for the community Feedback:

 Individuals on disability pensions are ‘penalized’ for lack of better word, for their diverse abilities when they are not allowed equity in a house without reducing pension  Campaign to bring awareness to accessibility yin the community, compassion in society, education about needs and meeting them – more kindness  Individuals with diverse abilities and seniors should not be under administration of social assistance – the needs are different  It would be nice to have more advantages – ‘diverse ability’ rates!  Getting away from ‘institutionalizing’ places to go  Better networking, more accessibility to culture  Affordable housing that is centred and on bus routes if not walking distance or to access outside amenities  Programs to support costs and labour, ongoing, of home ownership and upkeep  Accessibility to public transit needs to improve  Affordability of accessing community facilities and events for individuals on fixed income  Services in group homes are cut and low levels of staffing are preventing access to and presence out in community  Aging infrastructure (telephone poles blocking sidewalks, sidewalks, gravel) creates limitations  Ease of use for wheelchair users and staff  Wheelchair access in community business  Funding to maintain minimum standards for all people  Help with strata, pad rentals, etc. for home owners who may need temporary help – options long term – property taxes, insurance  Home ownership provides safety  Owner benefits (tax breaks) for affordable, accessible rental housing  Owner responsibility around displacing renting tenants  Survey “what you have, what you need”  BC Housing HAFI program needs to have realistic qualification for individual with diverse abilities (too many barriers right now)  Networking needs to be easier to facilitate meaningful community contributions; connecting interests and abilities; approach businesses and organizations to solicit support  Income is a barrier to homeownership especially as cost of living goes up and income is not on par  Municipality: considerations for building, locations, affordable housing mandates INNOVATION  Transportation subsidy – MSD – rethink the way that this money is used – people with disabilities can benefit greatly from the transportation allowance that is paid out each spring – however, there is a huge abuse of this provision. There is a very limited accountability for this subsidy. People are not required to submit receipts for how they spend this money. There is a history in BC of this money being spent on things that are no way related to transportation. This money could be better spent with better management of this program. Feedback:

 Deserve good quality of life  Be equal not live in poverty  Access to employment, money, assets  Everyone is a person, equal need  Move to global funding – fluid  Ability to work at what you can mage, work from home  Able to easier to contribute – home base work, job  Remove rules, regulations, red tape  Education component, training about custom employment  Matter management of transportation subsidy  Ask the users for their opinion  Allowance for more self-employment activities out of individual’s homes – less red tape  Needs to be easier to contribute to the community  Home based self-employment without barriers  Funding needs to be available and support entrepreneurship  Job carving – pick a portion of a job you can do  Increased training for employers to break down shifts for individuals with 2 hrs shifts for 4 employees – small chunks create other employment services  Dial a dinner – reduced cost  Cohousing services – seniors with disabilities  Cooperative – create innovative supported  Employment services where skills can be displayed  Base salary – top of with employment funds  Self-supported employment  Increase empowerment and innovation  Looking outside the box  Reduce barriers  We all deserve a high quality of life – full citizenship  Accessibility and equality not just physical – access to money increased opportunity to employment  Disability assistance funding needs to increase – global funding model attached to an agency  BC disability assistance is half of Alberta’s disability assistance rates  Transportation subsidy needs to be managed more efficiently, currently there is limited accountability Feedback:

 Asking users for their opinions  More realistic disability assistance - current funds create poverty  Look at people with special abilities – value on fabulous abilities – changing deficit based culture  People with disabilities for the work force, job match  Ideologies need to change away from profit based – more hugs – people potential away from people with disabilities in a box  Presence of advocates – mentor to help increase transparency of services – a point person – single contact per family or community – what resources are there? Contact to help – one local contact # same model as Inquiry BC  Receive updated contacts  Increased training/education for business community (leadership)  Grass roots movement, partnerships b/w model /inclusion/chamber of commerce  Use CBC news ‘only in Canada’ – as model for employers  Tim Horton’s employing people with disabilities  Increased access to city buses  Physical upgrades to the community  Education to change preconceived notions of people with disabilities SOCIAL NETWORKS  The people we support may already have a social network and do not want more  Need a mentor/friend  Parents are running out of gas because of stress, can’t do it forever  Individual funding would allow a parent to choose the agency they want to provide support to their child  Ministry for people with disabilities  Some way to raise community where they come in and are included, two way  Having conversations  Initiating conversations with their community about community  People with disabilities need to have a voice and a say of what they want/need  Have an app on your phone to make a connection with someone who wants to go to an event/buy their ticket  Microboards are not functioning  Root cause why people do not connect  Mainstream activities not day programs its segregation of the person with a disability, ability to pick  Individual funding for families to develop the programs for their child  Have an organization like Big Brothers but you match up volunteers with people with disabilities who have similar interests  Accessing community groups  Need natural supports not paid supports Feedback:

 Hard to step out of comfort zone  Want to be part of the community  Fear of being bullied  Adopt a grandparent  Loneliness, isolation  No transportation  Depression  Struggle with ways to connect  Events coordinating  Book put out with a list of events and transportation options  Takes time to make friends if people are shy  Takes time to find the organization/group that you are interested in Barriers:  Hills everywhere  Difficult to get into places  Different disabilities hard to get around  Infrastructure needs to change  Washrooms needs buttons to open doors  People who are disabled need to be consulted about accessibility to buildings  Don’t know who to contact reading barriers for people with disabilities  Standards for building do not work for all people with disabilities  Isolation  Bus do not go out of town (sic)  HandiDART do not work on Sundays  Difficult to develop friendships  Need networks, to be safer, seen in a positive way  Need opportunities to connect, to be social, have friends that extend into all aspects of a person’s life  Ned the interactions  Government to support the initiatives PERSONAL SUPPORTS 0m - ?? years - MCFD system is fairly simple & straightforward connections/contacts Community Living framework was more successful Feedback:

=Adult services – - - EVERYTHING CHANGES! =Infrastructure is messy Contacts: Multiple people causes stress and disconnection Key Person/Advocates =personal relationship with contact to facilitate access to resources/supports =Navigator –Currently needs a referral – Who knows about them? Or the Process? =MicroBoards (has restrictions)

Structural Change: *NEEDS – Separate Ministry * $$ for DIRECT Services! not for bureaucracy *True INDIUALIZED Funding -Not restrictive to available /covered services/items /Equipment is not a OneSize fits ALL =Costly upgrades not always necessary or less quality =Financial gains for one is hardship on another

Falling through gaps *Medical/Dental Coverage *No Longer “DISABLED” at age 65?? Person with a disability  become a Cdn. Pensioner with less $$ Bridging –current system not working (too messy) Overwhelming  from Diagnoses onward, so much to learn and advocate for Personal/professional supports for less able times but not enough for becoming your best! Supports: Social groups (inclusion) Caregivers ISOLATION * Peer Supports Home support Physical/Mental ramifications Feedback:

Day to day Self Advocacy

Local Supports – Outside of PRACL/CLP -Source Club -Community Res. Center -Peer groups Many of these organizations struggle with funding and personnel issues adding stresses to those seeking help.

-Cooking Club? -Socializing opportunities Lessons, meal planning/shopping prep. – can be very supportive/connecting especially those alone (those recently transitioned to “single” living)

-Red Cross Closet Temporary tools/equipment becoming semi permanent due to hassles/issues with diagnoses delays and paperwork process.

-Workers Building relationships –Needs of clients/continuity Bound by licensing agreements & regulations (issues around clients wants/needs and family/therapist etc. wants) Underpaid

-Availability to Transportation HandyDart

-Supports for Marginalized groups -Due to Physical/Mental Health, incidences/diseases/injuries

-Awareness -who is in need/isolated (meals on wheels as a connector/feedback)

POSITIVES Representative for Children and Youth (Transitions) - Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond Weekly Home support – “ Re Sets my week” –offers guidance –meal prep/planning (But is it enough?) Positive thinking –We have decent systems, don’t let them get worse K-12 (0m – 25?) System supports Technological advancements to make lives vastly better –amazing wheelchair) but what happens after?