FAMILIES MATTER CO-OPERATIVE INC

DARE TO CARE

A FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL STRATEGY FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

This brief was prepared by members of the Advocacy Committee

of the Families Matter Co-operative Inc,

(for and about people with developmental disabilities)

Families Matter Co-operative Inc Committee members:

169 Glamorgan Drive, John Toft, Chair

Kanata, ON Anita Acheson

K2L 1R7 Bob Bowes

Sharon Edwards

613 836-3782 Jean Guy Lacombe

anne.toft@sympatico.ca Anne Toft

www.familiesmattercoop.ca Casey van der Grient

2007 04 25

Reference - Item No. 6– community and Protective services Committee Agenda 12 – 21 june 2007

Référence – Point n^o 6 - Comité des services communautaires et de protection Ordre du jour 12 - Le 21 juin 2007

Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens

can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Anthropologist Margaret Mead

DARE TO CARE:

A FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL STRATEGY FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR ALL PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

PURPOSE

This document is for consideration by political parties at all levels (federal, provincial and territorial) for policy development and for inclusion in their platforms for their next election.

Table of Contents

· Purpose 2

· Executive summary.............................................................................................. 3

· Introduction 4

· Principles 5

· Detailed Elements................................................................................................ 7

· Implementation 10

· Conclusion 11

· Recommendations.............................................................................................. 13

· Addendum #1 14

· Bibliography 16

· Supporters 17

Fair does not mean

That everyone gets the same.

It means that everyone

Gets what they need.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Currently, many people with developmental disabilities do not have their basic needs met. These needs include the need for food, clothing and shelter. In many cases other needs for self-worth including worthwhile employment are also lacking. Many live in desperate situations on incomes well below the poverty line.

The Families Matter Co-operative finds this situation intolerable in a country as rich as Canada. People with developmental disabilities are people first. We accept that their intrinsic worth is equal to the intrinsic worth of all other people. It then follows that people with developmental disabilities should and must have supports and services to meet their needs as do all other people, disabled or not. The basic premise of this document is that people with developmental disabilities are equal in intrinsic value to all other people.

This premise leads to the need for the development of national, provincial and territorial strategies for a comprehensive support system for all people with developmental disabilities. Without such a comprehensive support system, people with developmental disabilities will remain as second class citizens.

This report centres on three principle recommendations that are needed in order to develop that comprehensive support system throughout Canada.

Recommendation #1: That the federal government, if possible, in co-operation with the provincial and territorial governments, establish a national strategy for a comprehensive support system for people with developmental disabilities throughout Canada by establishing National Standards for that support system.

Recommendation #2: That the provincial and territorial governments pass legislation to implement these National Standards for the development of a comprehensive support system for people with developmental disabilities throughout Canada.

Recommendation #3: That the federal government, in co-operation with the provincial and territorial governments, develops cost sharing arrangements to support the implementation of a comprehensive support system for people with developmental disabilities throughout Canada.

The report then describes in more detail the elements needed for that comprehensive support system, adding ten more recommendations to flesh out that support system. These supplementary recommendations are presented in the text that follows as well as collated in the appendix.

INTRODUCTION

Now is the time for governments at the federal, provincial and territorial levels (FPT) to answer the question, “Are people with developmental disabilities[1] equal to people who do not have developmental disabilities?” This is not a question about differences in abilities or intelligence levels or skills or talents. All people have differences in these areas. Rather it is a question about the intrinsic value of people. “Are people with developmental disabilities as valuable as people who do not have such disabilities?”

If the political answer is, “Yes, of course. All people are intrinsically equal,” it then follows that people with developmental disabilities should and must have the supports and services they need, as do all people, disabled or not.

If the political answer is, “No,” then you will not be too dismayed with the second class services and ghettos into which such people are presently forced. Your negative answer would lead you to accept it as reasonable to continue to support such people at standards well below the poverty line because of such people’s low intrinsic value. Their lack of food, clothing and shelter, of the basic necessities of life, would be a deserved result of this low intrinsic value.

The members of the Families Matter Co-operative Inc, for and about people with developmental disabilities, however, do believe that people with developmental disabilities are intrinsically of equal value to all people in our Canadian society and should be valued as equal members of that society. We believe all Canadians accept this belief. So it is up to FPT governments to put into practice a national, provincial and territorial strategy to develop a comprehensive support system for all people with developmental disabilities. Such a strategy would put into practice this belief of the intrinsic value of all people. It is no longer acceptable to just give lip service to this societal value judgment. Now is the time to develop legislation to implement this strategy.

On March 30^th, 2007, Canada expressed its intention to be a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In a press release issued by Peter MacKay, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, it is stated;

“By signing the Convention, we are demonstrating our leadership and the importance we attach to the rights of persons with disabilities,” said Minister MacKay. “The commitment of Canada’s New Government with respect to the issues of disabilities is clear. We have a strong commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities enjoy full participation in society and can contribute to the community to their full potential”.[2]

The discussion paper that follows outlines the principles needed to implement this commitment. It then outlines the elements of such a strategy. Families Matter asks federal, provincial and territorial political parties to consider these principles and elements for inclusion in their party platforms prior to the next elections. Their inclusion would show Families Matter members, and all Canadians, where your party stands on the intrinsic value of people with developmental disabilities.[3]

PRINCIPLES FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

When a child with disabilities is under the age of 22, support services are mandated through the school system. When that person reaches the age of 21 support services are no longer mandated and are at the whim of governments. For many families this means that their child no longer has a place to go since employment opportunities and day programs are frighteningly inadequate. Instead of the safe and stimulating school environment, many individuals at this transition have no alternative but to languish at home.

One parent, usually the mother of a disabled child, is the primary caregiver, sacrificing career, employment and pension to look after that child. Often that caregiver gives 24-hour care in the pre-school years. Then, that person has to be on hand to prepare the child for school and to look after the child after school even in the high school years. In the post 21 years, it is often the same person who remains at home to look after the now adult-child, particularly if no employment or day program options are available. Even when programs are available, the hours tend to be short and someone has to be home as a caregiver for the remainder of the day.

Residential options are also very limited for people with disabilities, and often may be obtained only in the most extreme crisis situations. Sometimes these residential opportunities arise only after the death of both parents!

J. Dale Munro writes in the Winter 2007 edition of Autism Matters,

“In many ways, lack of support for these adults (with Asperger Syndrome, AS) is a human rights cause every bit as important as that forwarded by many other groups beginning in the 1940s right up to the present.” He continues, “We have a dream that a comprehensive support system will be developed throughout Ontario for people with AS.”[4]

The Families Matter Co-op shares that dream for all people with developmental disabilities and describes in this paper how that dream may be achieved. The route for that achievement is for FPT governments to adopt and implement the essential elements for a federal, provincial and territorial strategy for a comprehensive support system for people with developmental disabilities. This strategy would include those with AS. Many of these elements are those advocated by Mr. Munro. Others are based on suggestions from Families Matter members.

In March 2007, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology issued its Final Report on the Funding of Treatment for Autism: Pay Now or Pay Later, Autism Families in Crisis.[5] The recommendations of this report are found in Addendum #1. Two significant recommendations from this report are paraphrased below:

The federal government, in collaboration with the provinces and territories, establish a comprehensive National Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) strategy.
The federal government convene a federal/provincial/territorial ministerial conference to examine innovative funding arrangements for the purpose of financing autism therapy.[6]

Families Matter sees a great deal of congruence between the recommendations of that Senate Committee report and the recommendations we make for a National Strategy for all people with developmental disabilities. Hence, many of our recommendations echo those of that Senate report.

Members of the Families Matter Co-operative believe that the first principle for a comprehensive National support system for people with developmental disabilities must be the establishment of National Standards for that system. See The Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities: Access to Education and Employment a report on how 14 European countries measure up to international standards for the provision of a comprehensive system of supports for people with developmental disabilities.[7]

Recommendation #1: That the federal government, in co-operation with the provincial and territorial governments, establish a national strategy for a comprehensive support system for people with developmental disabilities throughout Canada by establishing National Standards for that support system.

This National strategy would enable people with developmental disabilities to access supports and services in all parts of Canada, supports and services that would meet agreed upon National Standards.

This approach would put into practice the report of the Social Service Ministers from the FPT governments, entitled, In Unison: A Canadian Approach to Disability Issues[8]. The Executive Summary of that report includes the following statements:

The document articulates a vision that seeks to ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society. It recognizes that the achievement of the vision is a responsibility shared by all Canadians.

Persons with disabilities participate as full citizens in all aspects of Canadian society. The full participation of persons with disabilities requires the commitment of all segments of society. The realization of the vision will allow persons with disabilities to maximize their independence and enhance their well-being through access to required supports and the elimination of barriers that prevent their full participation.

This approach would also put into practice Minister MacKay’s statement of support for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.[9]

Members of the Families Matter Co-operative feel the role of the federal government is to lead in establishing this Convention and vision so as to “enable persons with developmental disabilities to maximize their independence and enhance their well-being through access to required supports and the elimination of barriers that prevent their full participation”[10] by developing National Standards for this access to supports and the elimination of barriers. The FPT governments have taken the lead in establishing accessibility standards for people with physical disabilities. It is now time to establish and implement National Standards for people with developmental disabilities.

Members of the Families Matter Co-operative believe the second principle is that this strategy be implemented throughout all provinces and territories of Canada to achieve universal access. The role of the provincial and territorial governments is to implement these National Standards to facilitate that universal access. Through this implementation, Canadians with developmental disabilities would have equal access to this National support system no matter where they lived, and when they moved from one part of the country to another.

The federal, provincial and territorial Ministers stated that, “…the achievement of the vision is a responsibility shared by all Canadians.”[11] It follows that the costs of implementing this vision should, therefore, be shared by all Canadians. Members of the Families Matter Co-operative believe this principle of cost sharing is the third principle to implement a comprehensive support system.

With these three recommendations, the strategy would be in place for the implementation of a comprehensive support system for people with developmental disabilities.

DETAILED ELEMENTS OF A NATIONAL SUPPORT SYSTEM

Members of the Families Matter Co-operative believe there are a variety of elements needed in a comprehensive system of supports for people with developmental disabilities to achieve maximum independence. Together, these elements describe a comprehensive National support system.

Recommendation #4: That all people with a developmental disability shall be provided with access to support services without delays. Support services include:

· Case management planning.

· Needed family supports including specialized child-care and respite care services.

· Advocacy support services from independent agencies.

· Direct funding for those supports where families and individuals choose to receive such funding.

· Appropriate education and educational supports.

· Appropriate therapies, assistive devices and health care provisions to alleviate or reduce the effects of the developmental disabilities or disability.

· Life skills training and independence training.

· Transitional supports for all major life transitions (i.e. from pre-school to school, school to work/volunteer/day activities, to retirement).

· Financial planning services.

Recommendation #5: That all people with a developmental disability shall have, after leaving the school system, choice in accessing post-secondary education and employment opportunities. Choices include:

· Higher educational opportunities through post-secondary education programs at appropriate facilities including colleges and universities, with enhanced support services.

· Paid employment opportunities commensurate with their abilities, interests and skills, with the necessary supports in place such as job training, coaching and shadowing as long as they are required.

· Social Enterprise[12] employment opportunities with the necessary supports in place as long as they are required.

· Social Portal Services.[13]

· Career planning services.

· Volunteer work opportunities commensurate with their abilities, interests and skills, with the necessary supports in place as long as they are required.

· Self-employment opportunities with the accompanying necessary supports.

· Continued access to Life skills training.

Recommendation #6: That all people with developmental disabilities shall have choices in developing support networks. Choices include:

· Developing support networks to supplement their family networks in preparation for the time when their parents are no longer living.

· Accessing life coach and mentoring services.

· Taking part, with the necessary supports, in recreational and social activities that match their own particular interests, for example in sports, artistic activities, life interests and hobbies.

· Accessing support groups at all life stages, at all levels of functionality, and for common and shared interests.

Recommendation #7: That all people with developmental disabilities shall have access to transportation systems that meet their needs.

Recommendation #8: That all people with developmental disabilities shall have choices in accessing residential services with the necessary supports they need. These services include:

· Agency owned residences.

· Municipality owned residences.

· Integration within Co-operative Housing residences.

· Group home residences.

· Family owned and provided residences.

· Individual residences on the open market including freehold and life-lease properties.

· At home supports.

Recommendation #9: That all people with developmental disabilities shall have their necessary medical supports to live as full a life as possible. These supports include:

· Psychiatrist services.

· Medical services.

· Dental services.

· Physiotherapy services.

· Social worker services.

· Psychologist services.

· Occupational therapist services.

· Speech-language pathologist services.

· Diagnostic services.

· Pre-natal and post-natal diagnostic services.

· Other specialist services as prescribed by a medical professional.

Recommendation #10: That all people with developmental disabilities shall be provided with full legal counsel and advice and procedural provisions as needed. These provisions include:

· Court diversion programs. (Mediation Services for example.)

· Expert witnesses familiar with people with developmental disabilities.

· Legal aid in criminal and civil matters.

Recommendation #11: That all people with developmental disabilities shall be able to receive income and benefits from all sources without having their provincial or territorial social benefits clawed back, at least until their combined income from all sources exceeds the poverty line.[14] These income sources shall include:

· Provincial social benefits such as the ODSP.

· The federal child credit benefit.

· All sources of employment income.

· Trust income.

· Survivor pension income.

· All other income sources.

Recommendation #12: That the federal, provincial and territorial governments shall develop, support and promote well-researched best practices for people with developmental disabilities. These best practices may include:

· Residential support practices.

· Alternative treatment practices.

· Dietary practices.

· Communication practices.

· Psychotherapy and behaviour therapy practices.

· Employment support practices.

· Education best practices.

Recommendation #13: That the federal, provincial and territorial governments shall develop, support and promote research into the causes and treatment of all developmental disabilities, and that the federal, provincial and territorial governments shall develop, research and promote methods to disseminate the research about developmental disabilities to the public and to educate the professions serving this population.

IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS

Members of the Families Matter Co-op suggest a few examples of how federal, provincial and territorial governments could implement these recommendations:

· The federal government could convene a conference of First Ministers to establish National Standards for a comprehensive support system for all people with developmental disabilities.

· All governments could then pass legislation to implement these National Standards.

· All governments could develop standardized legislation requiring employers both to eliminate barriers to employment for people with disabilities and to establish the necessary supports to employ people with developmental disabilities.

· All governments may promote the employment of people with developmental disabilities within their jurisdiction through the use of tax incentives, wage subsidies and grants.

· Provincial and territorial governments can provide individualized funding for the support of people with developmental disabilities.

· All governments could provide incentives to enable families to invest in innovative housing solutions for their family members with developmental disabilities. Housing options could be enhanced through subsidised rents and enabling families to access capital grants. Where families choose to have their family member remain with the family in the family home, that choice should not diminish their access to services.

· Provincial and territorial governments should eliminate claw-backs to social benefits from all sources of income at least until combined income levels exceed the poverty line.

· All governments may co-operate in establishing research into best practices in education, employment, service provision, housing and housing supports.

· All governments should provide educational and awareness training about people with developmental disabilities to police officers and other personnel in the justice system.

· All governments may aid families in supporting family members with developmental disabilities by implementing measures such as income splitting, removing barriers to estate planning, and through tax relief on expenditures on items such as needed special dietary supplements.

· Governments should also encourage public/private initiatives to further the development of a comprehensive support system for people with developmental disabilities, and enhance the supports to private organisations that support people with developmental disabilities.

· Governments should also co-operate in implementing the recommendation contained in the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology’s Final Report, Pay Now or Pay Later.

· Governments might also initiate pilot programs to test the effectiveness and fiscal worth of various recommendations made in this document.

These steps, and more, would result in the implementation of a national strategy of supports for all people with developmental disabilities.

CONCLUSION

Now is the time for the federal government to take the lead in developing the structure of a National Strategy for a comprehensive support system for people with developmental disabilities. The federal government may lead by developing, in co-operation with the provincial and territorial governments, sets of National Standards for that comprehensive support system.

Now is the time for the provinces, and territories, to implement their provincial or territorial strategies for their comprehensive support systems for people with developmental disabilities. By tying those strategies to National Standards, the provinces and territories would ensure that the system of services would be truly pan-Canadian.

Now is the time for the federal, provincial and territorial governments to negotiate cost-sharing arrangements to develop innovative funding mechanisms and program initiatives to implement this National Strategy of supports for people with developmental disabilities.

Families Matter Co-op members ask that federal and provincial, and territorial governments develop and implement this national strategy. Our members do not subscribe to the view that these support systems are beyond the means of Canadian society. Instead we believe these are not only within our means but that this is the right thing to do.

Canada, its provinces and territories currently spend large amounts of money on a disorganized patchwork of programs to support people with developmental disabilities. Despite these large expenditures, many such people never see any benefits from such spending. Instead they live their isolated lives in misery and poverty. Families are no longer willing to allow these desperate situations to continue. People are no longer willing to be left behind. These families are gathering to express their dismay with the situation in organisations such as the Families Matter Co-op. The voices of the disadvantaged are being raised. Are you ready to listen?

DO YOU DARE TO CARE?

Will you, as a political party developing your party platform in readiness for the next election, join us by placing on your party platform this strategy to develop a comprehensive support system for people with developmental disabilities? Will you invite members of the Families Matter Board and Advocacy Committee to meet with you to discuss this strategy? If the answer to these questions is, “Yes,” then contact the Chair of the Advocacy Committee, John Toft, at 613 836 3782 or by email at anne.toft@sympatico.ca.

For more information on the Families Matter Co-operative Inc, please see our web site at www.familiesmattercoop.ca

Recommendations

Recommendation #1: That the federal government, in co-operation with the provincial and territorial governments, establish a national strategy for a comprehensive support system for people with developmental disabilities throughout Canada by establishing National Standards for that support system.

Recommendation #2: That the provincial and territorial governments pass legislation to implement these National Standards for the development of a comprehensive support system for people with developmental disabilities throughout Canada.

Recommendation #3: That the federal government, in co-operation with the provincial and territorial governments, develops cost sharing arrangements to support the implementation of a comprehensive support system for people with developmental disabilities throughout Canada.

Recommendation #4: That all people with a developmental disability shall be provided with access to support services without delays.

Recommendation #5: That all people with a developmental disability shall have, after leaving the school system, choice in accessing post secondary education and employment opportunities.

Recommendation #6: That all people with developmental disabilities shall have choices in developing support networks..

Recommendation #7: That all people with developmental disabilities shall have access to transportation systems that meet their needs.

Recommendation #8: That all people with developmental disabilities shall have choices in accessing residential services with the necessary supports they need.

Recommendation #9: That all people with developmental disabilities shall have their necessary medical supports to live as full a life as possible.

Recommendation #10: That all people with developmental disabilities shall be provided with full legal counsel and advice and procedural provisions as needed.

Recommendation #11: That all people with developmental disabilities shall receive income and benefits from all sources without having their provincial or territorial social benefits clawed back, at least until their combined income from all sources exceeds the poverty line.

Recommendation #12: That the federal, provincial and territorial governments shall develop, support and promote well-researched best practices for people with developmental disabilities.

Recommendation #13: That the federal, provincial and territorial governments shall develop, support and promote research into the causes and treatment of all developmental disabilities, and that the federal, provincial and territorial governments shall develop, research and promote methods to disseminate the research about developmental disabilities to the public and to educate the professions serving this population.

Addendum #1

Recommendations of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology: Final Report on:

The Enquiry on the Funding for the Treatment of Autism:

Pay Now or Pay Later, Autism Families in Crisis,

March 2007.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The federal government, in collaboration with the provinces and territories, establish a comprehensive National ASD Strategy;
All stakeholders, including individuals with autism, be consulted on the components that should be part of the Strategy, such as treatment, research, surveillance, awareness campaigns, community initiatives, education, respite care for families, etc.; and,
The Strategy include child, adolescent and adult treatments and supports.
The federal government convene a federal/provincial/territorial ministerial conference to examine innovative funding arrangements for the purpose of financing autism therapy;
The conference establish an appropriate level of funding by the federal government;
The conference identify measures of accountability in the use of federal funds for autism treatment;
The conference recommend listing of essential services for ASD; and,
The conference also define the feasibility of introducing measures such as supports for caregivers, including respite, family training and assistance, assisted living support as well as career and vocational training.
Health Canada, in consultation with autistic individuals and other stakeholders, implement a national public awareness campaign to enhance knowledge and understanding about ASD; and,
Health Canada use its dedicated webpage as one component of a public awareness campaign.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The federal government provide funding for the creation of an Autism Knowledge Exchange Centre;

The Centre include an Internet-based web portal for access to reliable data and credible links for those seeking autism information;

The Centre be at arm’s length to government; and,

The Centre be mandated with the dissemination of best practices based on authoritative research and scientific consensus.

The federal government create an Autism Research Network and provide substantial new funding for this through CIHR; and,

The Autism Research Network work collaboratively with all stakeholders, including individuals with ASD, to develop a research agenda.

The federal government work collaboratively with the provinces and territories to address the human resource issues including training standards and inter-provincial mobility in the field of ASD.

The federal government, in implementing the recommendations of the Minister of Finance’s Expert Panel on Financial Security for Children with Severe Disabilities, ensure that autism qualifies as an eligible disability.

The Department of Finance and the Revenue Canada Agency study the implications of income splitting for ASD families and issue a report to the Minister of Finance by June 2008.

These departments issue the results of the tax measures review no later than 31 December 2007 and that these include a clear set of tax benefits for ASD individuals and their families.

Health Canada invite autistic individuals to attend the symposium and be given the opportunity to contribute as equal partners in an exchange with other participants and,

Health Canada ensure that the symposium is conducted with a clear set of goals and defined outcomes and is based on consensus building.

Bibliography

A New Beginning, The report of the Minister of Finance’s Expert Panel on Financial Security for Children with Severe Disabilities, Department of Finance, Ottawa, December 2006.

Arch Alert, April 2^nd 2007.

Final Report on: The Enquiry on the Funding for the Treatment of Autism: Pay Now or Pay Later, Autism Families in Crisis, The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, March 2007.

I have a dream…. Building a comprehensive support system for adults with Asperger syndrome., J. Dale Munro, Autism Matters, Winter 2007, volume 4, #1, pages 14 and 15.

In Unison: A Canadian Approach to Disability Issues, A Vision Paper, Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Social Services, Human Resources Development, Canada, Hull, PQ, 1998.

The Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities: Access to Education and Employment, a bi-lingual report on 14 European countries found at www.eumap.org the website of the Open Society Institute and its EU Monitoring and Advocacy Program.

When the truth hits your eye…, Janice Kennedy, The Ottawa Citizen, March 4^th, 2007, page B2.

Supporters

[1] Developmental disability. This term is used to describe severe, life-long disabilities attributable to mental and/or physical impairments manifested before the age of 22. The term is used most commonly in the United States to refer to disabilities affecting daily functioning in three or more of the following areas: 1) capacity for independent living, 2) economic self-sufficiency, 3) learning, 4) mobility, 5) receptive and expressive language, 6) self-care, 7) self-direction. Usually people with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, various genetic and chromosomal disorders such as Down Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome, and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are described as having developmental disabilities. Source: Wikipedia.

[3] See, The Ottawa Citizen, March 4^th, 2007, page B2, “When the truth hits your eye…” by Janice Kennedy for her discussion on equality rights for women. The introduction above paraphrases some of her arguments by substituting “people with developmental disabilities” for “women.”

[4] J. Dale Munro, “I have a dream… Building a comprehensive support system for adults with Asperger syndrome,” Autism Matters, Winter 2007, volume 4, #1, pages 14 and 15.

[5] The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and technology, Final Report on: The Enquiry on the Funding for the Treatment of Autism: Pay Now or Pay Later, Autism Families in Crisis, March 2007.

[7] The Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities: Access to Education and Employment, bi-lingual report on 14 European countries, found at www.eumap.org the website of the Open Society Institute and its EU Monitoring and Advocacy Program.

[8] In Unison: A Canadian Approach to Disabilities Issues, A Vision Paper, Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Social Services, Human Resources Development Canada, Hull, PQ, 1998.

[12] A Social Enterprise is a business that is directly involved in producing goods or providing services to a market. It is an enterprise that has explicit social and/or environmental aims such as job creation, training or the provision of local services. Their ethical values may include a commitment to building skills in a local community. Their profits are principally reinvested to achieve their social objectives. For example, the Y’s Owl Maclure Co-op in Ottawa employs people with disabilities to sell goods and services to businesses on a competitive basis. The Co-op meets it social aim of providing paid employment to people with disabilities while operating as a business enterprise.

[13] Social Purchasing Portals, such as the Ottawa Social Purchasing Portal, facilitates the targeting of existing everyday business purchasing to suppliers of goods and services to blend business and social values. Through a Social Purchasing Portal, businesses and governments purchase goods and services at competitive prices from social enterprises, competitive businesses serving a social purpose. The Causeway Work Centre of Ottawa offers the services of people with disabilities through its Krackers Katering service to customers through the Ottawa Social Purchasing Portal.

[14] See “A New Beginning, The report of the Minister of Finance’s Expert Panel on Financial Security for Children with Severe Disabilities,” Department of Finance, Ottawa, December 2006. On page 26, the footnote #29 has a discussion on the term “Poverty Line’. Pages 27 and 28 provide a table, “2003 Welfare Incomes and the Estimated Poverty Line by Province and Household Type.”

Members of the Families Matter Co-operative support the extension of recommendation #15 of the Expert Panel’s report to all sources of income for incomes of people with developmental disabilities. Recommendation #15 states, “That negotiations be commenced with the provinces and territories … with a view to having Registered Disability Savings Plans exempted from asset tests in provincial and territorial social assistance programs and that Disability Savings programs be exempted from any claw-back under the social assistance rules … at least to the extent that the Disability Savings Payments and the provincial or territorial social assistance payments combined do not exceed the Poverty Line as defined by the National Council of Welfare for the particular province or territory.”