International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December
3, 2007
On March
30th, Canada’s government signed onto the United Nations Convention on Persons
with Disabilities. But following through on this promise to the world will take
more than words in the House of Commons.
More than 55%
of working-age adults with disabilities are currently unemployed or out of the
labour market. For women with disabilities the rate is almost 75%. And income
support programs for people with visible and invisible disabilities are woefully
inadequate.
The Canadian
and provincial governments have already agreed people with disabilities need
better access to training, education and accommodation at work.
A labour
strategy for people with disabilities means more than accessible and inclusive
workplaces, training and work practices. It also means ensuring people with
disabilities can get to work, interact with other workers, and live
independently.
To achieve a
society that is truly inclusive and accessible requires action. The Canadian
Labour Congress (CLC) points to the following goals:
-
Improve
disability supports to enable independent living, active citizenship and
full participation;
-
End
poverty for people with disabilities and their families with greater federal
involvement in alleviating poverty (which frees up provincial dollars for
new investments in disability supports);
-
Help
people with disabilities find quality work with better labour force
inclusion measures;
-
Encourage
all Canadians to work for accessibility and inclusion; and
-
Work with
provincial and territorial governments and First Nations towards a national
social development role for the
federal government to promote accessibility and community inclusion.
The
Disability Rights Caucus asks all OPSEU members to join in the struggle for a
more inclusive and accessible society for all -- including those living with
disabilities. |
