Hello. I am Russell Havill, President of Kenora People First, a group of people who advocate for persons with disabilities.

I am a 68 year old senior. Before I turned 65 and had to live on Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), I had to scrape, and scrape and scrape to make ends meet each month. Sometimes, I would have to go without milk or meat at the end of the month. I couldn’t go out for coffee or do a lot of things I wanted to. Now as a senior I receive old age security and guaranteed income supplement.

Between 1993 and 2004 there were no increases to ODSP.  Since 2004 there have been 8 increases to ODSP. Even with such increases the amount people on receive from ODSP buys 18% less than 1993. I believe persons with long-term disabilities should receive a guaranteed annual income equal to that received by Seniors.   Help lift persons with disabilities out of poverty at least to the same level as Seniors.

During the summer of 2009 there was one strike involvingan Association for Community Living, The main issue in contention appears to be the Unuion’s desire to force the employer into an under funded pension plan generally referred to as MSPP or Multi Sector Pension Plan. External to that organization, the biggest issue surrounding labour relations between Association’s and their bargaining units continues to be the picketing of Consumers homes.

People First of Lanark County, held a rally here in their town to protest the union’s picketing of people’s homes. The rights of individuals to live in quiet possession of their homnes in their opinion should trump the rights of Unions to assemble for the purposes of distributing information and to encourage others not to cross their lines.  They are asking the Province to change labour legislation to make this point clear. 

The History of Provincial legislatures coming forward to protect the fundamental rights of persons with disabilies is less than 50 years old and continues to grow.  When individuals lived in Provincial INstitutions there appeared to be little reason to protect the rights of consumers because there was little of personal santity worth protecting. As individuals have moved out into the community and devloped personal living spaces of their own they are not as prepared as they once were to accept second or third class status behind everyone else.  They demand respect, dignity and residential peace4 and tranquility. They beleive that Association’s and Union empolyees will have to take their battles elsewhere.  

Unions on the other hand maintain the santity of their rights to bargain and to use time honoured approaches to increasing their power.  Fundamental rights are at stake. Lets hope the Province gets it right - otherwise ultimately the issue will have to be resolved by the courts.   

Tropic Thunder, a movies showing in Kenora Ontario August 22 2008 has caused controversy in the disability advocacy community in Canada and US over concerns of its portrayal of persons with intellectual disabilities. Groups objected to the repeated use of the word “retard” because of its negative connotations. Some advocates are urging people not to see the film, claiming it is demeaning to individuals with mental disabilities. For extensive coverage see http://www.patriciaebauer.com/.

The question has been asked why is this Association offended by the Governments employees referring to those served by the Kenora Association for Community Living as “Beds” or “spaces”.

KACL believes the use of such terms as “Beds” and “Spaces” and “Vacancies” reinforce dangerous stereotypes that those we serve are not “people” who have personhood and whose dreams, desires, and aspirations, must be given priority in terms of the supports they required and in terms of where and with whom they live. The aspirations of all persons with developmental disabilities to self-determination must be recognized.

We are concerned that the use of such terms and failure to respect the principle of personhood and to recognize and respect the uniqueness of our most vulnerable citizens and the ties to family, friends and community.  The ties that such persons have with family, friends and community must be respected. Because of such ties we recognize the importance of local support networks and in  particularly, natural support networks. Because of such ties, we are willing to adopt a shared responsibility for others.

We are concerned that referring to such persons by labels such as beds or spaces reinforces views of consumers as objects - that can be moved around the north by cartage - rather than subjects who have emotional attachments to family, friends and acquaintances, who should not be moved from their local communities except under most exceptional circumstances.

Respecting personhood and citizenship requires recognition that non-institutionalized systems of supports require different kinds of supports, specifically:

Staff are to be constantly looking for new non-handicapped Life sharers and to run groups from which new life sharers can be discovered, and new friendships and natural support networks created

Staff support to build up non-existing natural support networks a requirement for life sharing to survive (Factors such as family availability, community attitudes, family attitudes (e.g. degree of protectionism), personality and values of consumer are more relevant than deficiencies in consumers in determining the amount of support consumers require.

Establishment of community groups such as Fitness Friends, Art Partners, and Music Makers which provide “Two sides of the same coin” respite.  To the extent that an individual is active and engaged in the community, families (including non-handicapped) don’t require respite. To the extent that Life sharers have natural support networks, respite is available – whether paid or otherwise.

More skilled staff to train the non-handicapped Life sharers, families and friends how to access the community.

Consumers, served by KACL are people first and deserve respect. They should not be referred to as “retards”, “beds” or “spaces”.