For Better or Worse? National Employment Policy Approaches and Women with Disabilities John Vellacott Educational Leadership and Policy University of British Columbia

Disclaimer The information and opinions provided in this presentation are solely those of the author in his capacity as a doctoral student within the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program at the University of British Columbia.

The Issue People with disabilities are far more likely to face employment challenges than persons without disabilities The employment situation for women with disabilities is worse than that of men with disabilities or men and women without disabilities Women with disabilities who are of aboriginal origin, persons of colour, or recent immigrants have even poorer employment prospects

Why It’s Important People with disabilities, especially women, suffer from appallingly high rates of poverty, and paid work is frequently cited as a primary route out of poverty. (England, 2003) Being employed is seen as vital in our society, not just in terms of financial security, but also for self- esteem, independence, social relationships, self- worth, and personal identity (Yasuda, Wehman, Targett, Cifu, & West (2002)

The Past Vocational Rehabilitation for Disabled Persons Act, 1961(revised 1985) Obstacles, 1981 Employment Equity Act, 1985 A Consensus for Action, 1990 In Unison, 1998 Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities, 1998 Enabling Income: CPP Disability Benefits and Women with Disabilities (1999) Multilateral Frameworks for Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities (2004 )

Current Situation No national consensus on policy approaches No formal, national employment policy for persons with disabilities Multiple but fragmented policy and programmatic responses (policy silos) Lack of communication both within and between silos Fiefdoms and turf wars Limited attention to the supports needed by women with disabilities

Challenges Need for some form of national policy response has been recognized in Canada for over 50 years with limited action Complex policy issues impacting mandates, jurisdictional responsibilities, fiscal policies, and relationships between stakeholders Increasing emphasis within Canadian social and fiscal policy on maximizing individual self-sufficiency and minimizing the amount of support provided by the state

Some Ideas Federal reengagement in disability employment policy Develop a national employment strategy for persons with disabilities Break down the silos All levels of government collaborate - forget the turf Stakeholders have real input at the decision making level on policy

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