For Better or Worse? National Employment Policy Approaches and Women with Disabilities

1
For Better or Worse?National Employment Policy
Approaches and Women with Disabilities

• John Vellacott
• Educational Leadership and Policy
• University of British Columbia

2
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.

3
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

4
Why Its 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)

5
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)

6
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

7
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

8
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

9
Your Thoughts?

• jvellaco_at_interchange.ubc.ca