FAST FACTS ON DISABILITY AND EMPLOYMENT

DEMOGRAPHICS:

• 15.5% or 4.4 million Canadians reported some level of disability
• For Canada that is equal to the combined population of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
• For BC that is 622,000 people or more people in BC have a disability than the total population of Newfoundland
• 12.4% of the United States population identified as "black"
• three times larger than all (1,432,484) students attending full and part-time post secondary education in Canada
• twice as large as all the visible minority groups combined in Canada

ECONOMICS:

56% of working age people with disabilities receive less than $10,000 per year in income. Women with a disability are particularly hard hit with more than half receiving less than $5,000 per year.

EDUCATION:

19.8% of persons with disabilities completed less than 9 years of education

EMPLOYMENT:

52% of working age Canadians with disabilities are unemployed

WHAT IS THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES?

• The diversity of disabilities includes those with mobility, sight, hearing, learning, psychological and hidden disabilities and within that, a range of abilities.
• Statistics Canada, with limited validity for less visible disabilities, found that 16.7% of British Columbians, and 15.5% of the population of Canada have a disability.
• The most generous estimates indicate that only 50% of people with disabilities are employed while the official overall Canadian unemployment rate is 7.6%.
• The latest Employment Equity report indicates that in "there was a decrease in the group's representation"; "the decrease was mostly the result of a lower proportion of persons with disabilities being hired into the workforce" and "consistently for the past five years, more persons with disabilities have left Federal Departments and Agencies than have been hired."
• In the United States, last year marked the 50th anniversary of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the situation is that since the Americans with Disabilities Act was introduced the employment rate for persons with disabilities has declined by 2%.

IMPACT OF THE BC PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (4/26/02)

It is difficult to totally assess the impact of policy changes on 684,020 (15.8% of latest census data) persons with a disability in British Columbia who are unique in terms of their capacity and needs. However, we do know they are some of the most fragile individuals in our province with characteristics such as:

• 56% of working age people with disabilities receives less than $10,000 per year in income. Women with a disability are particularly hard hit with more than half receiving less than $5,000 per year.
• 52% of working age Canadians with disabilities are unemployed
• 19.8% of persons with disabilities completed less than 9 years of education

INCOME

• Change in definition of disability - government now refers to continuous assistance for those with "severe mental or physical impairment that is likely to continue for at least two years and seriously restricts the person's ability to perform daily living activities". Some people may no longer qualify, or be defined as eligible for "Temporary Assistance" only (i.e. employable).
• Employment programs will be "designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities" - focusing on "self-employment and part-time cyclical employment."
• People with life-threatening conditions who receive disability benefits now face a $225 monthly cap on the 'nutritional supplement allowance'. For many people, this means a loss of more than $200 for nutritional supplements they require to prolong their lives.
• No more earnings exemptions for employable and level one disabilities. All earnings will be deducted dollar for dollar from benefits. Those classified as disabled, the first $400 is exempt.
• Time limits for being on welfare - "employable" people will only be allowed to receive welfare for two years out of every five. For those with cyclical disabilities - particularly mental health issues that often are not recognized with formal disability designation - this will be a hardship.
• Employable parents will be able to receive welfare for two years out of every five; after two years their rates will be reduced by: 100 per month for single parents, $100 per month for two-parent families where one is at the time limit or $200 per month where both parents are at the time limit.
• New applicants will be required to have been financially independent for at least two years before they are eligible for income assistance. Exceptions include people with disabilities, families with children, and people fleeing abuse.
• Dependent children will be required to attend school as a condition of a family being eligible for assistance (i.e. if kids not attending school, family doesn't get welfare). For some students with disabilities it may require them to attend programs not necessarily suited to their needs.
• Income level to be eligible for Childcare subsidies will be lower.
• No income assistance for full-time post-secondary students receiving student loans. However, people with disabilities will be able to remain on assistance.
• A family member caring for a family member with a disability will be eligible for Temporary Assistance and will be "temporarily excused from seeking work."
• More emphasis on fraud prevention and investigation. Those found guilty of welfare fraud will be banned forever from receiving welfare. For some people with disabilities either their capacity or condition may result in them unintentionally falsely submitting or completing forms.
• Shelter payments will be eliminated for adult clients living with an adult (does not apply to adults with disabilities on Continuous Assistance).
• Closure of 36 offices (1/6 of all offices) - more reliance on electronic service delivery, automated telephones, 1-800 numbers. For people with limited skills and resources this and the application process will be a significant barrier.

HEALTH

• MSP Premiums increased 50% as of May 1/02 and may go up another 60% and Victoria and Burnaby walk-in offices are closing
• Means test for drugs introduced affecting 400,000 seniors
• Medical deductible going up, more medications delisted
• Increase of $10. or $25. per prescription dispensing fee depending on income
• Diabetics charged approximately $1.00 per strip (most use 2 to 4 per day)
• Home support/care for the frail elderly and disabled facing a 30% cut in 2002 - proposal that all funding eliminated in next three years
• Delisted MSP services: podiatry, massage, physiotherapy, chiropractic therapy
• Talking Books and Hearing Aid Programs Cancelled
• The government is dedicating $263 million over the next six years to revitalizing mental health services and fully funding and implementing the $125- million mental health initiative. There is however, concern of a return to "institutional care".

EDUCATION

• Eliminates targets for funding. In the past, funds targeted for special needs students had to be spent on providing those services. Now districts will receive supplementary grants for those students, but they are not required to actually spend those dollars meeting those students' needs.
• Legislation was passed that increases class size and eliminates the mainstreaming and class composition language that limited the number of students with special needs in a given class. New legislation may enable school districts to minimize the bumping of teacher assistants that are assigned to a student throughout the school year
• Elimination of 5.5 FTEs (20+% of staff) in Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
• Elimination of 459 FTEs (15.3% of staff) will occur in 2002/2003 - this will include 40 training/job counseling positions.
• Reduced training wage to $6.00 per hour (for first 500 hours) may promote more short-term positions and low wages may be a disincentive for people with disabilities to enter the work force.
• Tuition fee increases
• Increases in transportation costs.
• Elimination of the Skills for Employment program that allowed colleges to access funds for skills training for persons with disabilities on income assistance.
• Elimination of Institutional Based Training Support program, which allowed income assistance recipient's access to supports necessary to remove educational barriers.
• Elimination of Training Assistance Benefits that were provided to income assistance recipients taking upgrading courses as part of their training program.
• At colleges target funds for special education will be rolled into base budgets.

HOUSING

• Landlord and Tenant Offices in Vancouver and Nanaimo - closed
• Residential Tenancy Act is under review and proposed changes may eliminate Rent Review and require one month's rent as a damage deposit
• Only those disabled people receiving "continuous" assistance will be eligible to apply for seniors housing through BC Housing
• Social housing projects frozen
• 5,000 new Long Term Care beds are needed now and some Residential Care facilities will be closed in the future

CITIZENSHIP

• BC Benefits Appeal system is gone and will be replaced with a regionally based tribunal.
• Complaint resolution processes within the ministries of Children and Family Development and Human Resources will be changed.
• Community Legal Assistance Program (CLAS) will have significant cutbacks and are unsure how this will affect their disability law program.
• No legal representative (unless you pay for it) for a complainant at a hearing under the BC Human Rights code because of cuts to Legal Aid and the Human Rights Commission
• Ombudsman's Office cut by 35%
• Closure of all 60 Legal Aid Offices in BC means no more poverty law services and legal aid for family law or only when there is violence involved.
• As of March 31st the Provincial Monitoring Group will be eliminated and leave no one to report on quality of care and safety issues for persons with developmental disabilities in day and residential programs.
• Provincial parks pass eliminated for all but those on Disability Benefits level 2.

Questions and Answers from Ministry of Human Resources on

Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities

Q1. What types of employment programs will be available to assist people with disabilities to find employment?

A1. · A comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities is part of BC Employment and Assistance. Programs recognizing the distinct needs of those individuals are in development. · Programs will recognize that some disabilities are cyclical and that people with those disabilities need programs that allow them to work when they are able. · A range of specialized services are being created that will allow persons with disabilities to take advantage of employment opportunities as they are able, including job training and placement, technical equipment, physical accommodation and follow-up workplace support.

Q2. Does a person have to have an employment plan to qualify for a PWD designation?

A2. · Employability is not a factor in determining a person's eligibility for a PWD designation. However, the ministry may require an employment plan as a condition of eligibility for assistance. · Persons with disabilities who are able to become independent through employment will have a plan setting out employment goals and adaptive services available to them. · Persons with disabilities will continue to receive disability assistance as they participate in programs and, if they leave assistance for employment, will keep their designation and maintain their medical assistance. They will not have to reapply for person with disability status should they be unable to continue working.

Q3. If a person has a disability where the symptoms are cyclical or episodic, will they be required to have an employment plan?

A3. · The details of an employment plan will be worked out between the client and his/her caseworker taking into account the nature of each individual's abilities and limitations. Where needed, clients will be referred to employment placement or training programs that assist and support them to work as and when they are able. Employment plans can also be revised to take into account changes in a person's condition.

Q4. If the nature of a person's disability precludes them from any type of employment, will they still be required to have an employment plan?

A4. · Persons who are not able to work still want to find ways of contributing to their community and achieving their full potential to the best of their abilities. Employment plans are not restricted to employment activities that lead to employment and can include other activities such as developing skills through volunteer work. However, in some cases, there may be no employment plan.

Q5. Will people with disabilities be subject to time limits or the two-year independence test?

A5. · No. Time limits will not apply to PWD, nor will the two-year independence test.

Q6. Will a person who has DB2 status now have to reapply when the new legislation comes into effect?

A6. · The ministry will not be requiring all DB2 clients to reapply. For example, the ministry is working with the Ministry of Health Services, Mental Health Division and the Ministry of Children and Families to identify clients with mental health disorders who are receiving treatment and those who are developmentally delayed and living in group homes. These clients will clearly meet the new criteria so they will not need to reapply. They will be advised that a review of their designation has indicated that they meet the criteria.

· Similarly, the ministry will be reviewing all client files to determine the extent of information already available. If there is sufficient information on a client's file to determine a client's eligibility based on the new criteria, their designation will be confirmed without the need to reapply and be reassessed. However, if there is insufficient information on file to make a determination, or if there is a possibility of a change in the person's medical condition, they may be required to reapply and be reassessed.

· The legislation ensures that any recipient who has DB2 status now will be automatically transferred to the new EAPD Act and receive assistance under that Act. This will continue unless the ministry reviews their designation and changes their designation based on the new criteria.

Q7. How will the ministry reassess clients?

A7. · The ministry, with the assistance and expertise of qualified health professionals, will be developing appropriate assessment tools for measuring both mental health and physical functional abilities.

Q8. If a DB2 client is required to reapply and then is denied the PWD designation, when will their assistance be reduced?

A8. · A current DB2 client who is denied the PWD designation may need some time to make adjustments. The ministry intends to provide a reasonable notice period before the amount of their assistance is reduced. The length of this notice period will be specified in the regulations which are currently being developed.

Q9. Can a DB2 client who is denied a PWD designation, appeal that decision and will appeal assistance be available?

A9. · If a DB2 client is not designated under the new PWD category, they are not eligible for appeal assistance under the EAPD Act, although they will be provided a reasonable notice period before their rate is reduced. But they have the same right to appeal a denial of a PWD designation as any new applicant.

Q10. If a person has a PWD designation and leaves assistance for employment, will they lose their PWD status?

A10. · No. If they leave assistance for employment, they will keep their designation and also maintain their medical assistance. They will not have to reapply for their PWD status should they be unable to continue working.

Q11. When and how often will the ministry review a person's PWD designation?

A11. · A review will normally be done only if there is an indication that the person's medical circumstances may change or improve over time. For example, if a client's physical or mental impairment is expected to last three years, the ministry may review the person's file in three years.

· The ministry expects to review all files at least once every five years. However, a file review will not necessarily result in a requirement for reapplication or reassessment. If the nature of a person's disability is unlikely to have changed, or will have deteriorated, no reapplication will be requested.