JUN 251991 Achieving Fuii Participation in the Life of Alberta Status Report Premier's Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities Action Plan May 1991 /dlberta Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/detaiis/achievingfullpar00albe_0 Achieving Full Participation in the Life of Alberta Table of Contents Page I Overview 2 II Personal Supports 3 III Accessibility 6 IV Education 8 V Training 10 VI 11 Employment VII Housing 11 VIII Financial Supports 12 IX Information 12 X Conclusion 13 ► Achieving Full Participation in the Life of Alberta I Overview ^ “ Each section of the Action Plan begins with a d escription of the issues and how they affect persons ^ “ Citizenship is the right of persons with disabilities and having a with disabilities. This is followed by disability should not deny anyone a section which highlights . . . why access to the same services, rights change is needed”. and responsibilities as others. " The Premier's Council undertook a Approximately 279,000 Albertans live with comprehensive study of the issues some form of disability. Though these affecting persons with disabilities. In the individuals represent 1 1.9% of Alberta's Spring of 1990, it r eleased its Action Plan. population (Statistics Canada, 1986 This Action Pian recommended ways for Census), their needs, concerns and desires the government to better respond to the have not always been well met by needs of all Albertans with disabilities. government programs and services. At a very basic level, these programs and “... we have focused on .. . services were not necessarily designed to issues that were identified by ensure persons with disabilities were given full and equal opportunity to participate in people with disabilities as the most the life of the province. crucial to their ability to participate The government of Alberta acknowledged in society ..." this situation at a M arch 1987 meeting The Action Pian of the Premier's Council between Rick Hansen ("Man in Motion") on the Status of Persons With Disabilities and Premier Don Getty. After this meeting, focused on nine policy areas in which Mr. Getty created The Premier's Council on chang• e ts r a iwneirnge needed: the Status of Persons With Disabilities. The Council was given a t en-year mandate • employment during which it w ould advise the • education government on methods of offering all • t ransportation persons with disabilities the opportunity to • recreation • housing take their rightful place in society. In June, 1989, the Premier's Council outlined a • accessibility shared vision designed to transform • personal supports attitudes and provide the basis for a new • f inancial supports. policy framework. "Towards a N ew Vision of Abilities in Alberta" provided the stimulus for discussion and change, with a f ocus on ^ “ Recommended Action includes the goal of equal status for all persons with the specific government disabilities. department to which the Achieving Full Participation in the Life of Alberta recommendation is directed and ^ “ Council had already determined the proposed time frame for that it would be looking for changes to the system rather than quick accomplishing the change. ” fixes’ which would not produce the The Government of Alberta agreed with the basic thrust of the Action Plan. desired long-term results. “ However, the recommendations The government has responded to the required a multitude of poiicy and Action Plan in a p ositive and forthright program changes, invoiving 12 manner. Of the 1 14 actions specified in the government departments. Action Plan. 30 have aiready been impiemented. Another 66 actions are in Alberta Family and Social Services, the process of being impiemented and 18 Aiberta Health and other departments are under various stages of review. were in the process of responding to the previousiy released Brassard Report, This report summarizes the changes the Claiming My Future. This report on government has achieved to date, and persons with mental disabilities outiines the activities which are underway compiemented the Action Plan. to ensure that persons with disabilities have Therefore, the government's response access to the same services, rights and required a g reat deai of coordination responsibiiities as other Albertans. and consultation. To ensure an effective government response. Premier Getty directed the II Personal Supports Honourabie Jim Dinning to act as the Minister responsibie for the Premier's ^ “ It is the position of the Premier’s Councii. One of Mr. Dinning 's first actions Council that the provision of was to caii together the ministers of the 12 departments affected by the Action personal supports should be Plan. separate and distinct from the need for income support, age. place of Mr. Dinning asked these ministers to residence or the ability to fit into provide their responses to recommendations that affected their some predefined program. ’’ departments. The purpose of doing so was to create a w orkable structure and Achievements - H ome Care Program: process for a c omprehensive and The primary purpose of the Home Care effective government response to the Program is t o support individuals and their Action Plan. famiiies when a p erson wishes to remain at Achieving Full Participation in the Life of Alberta home despite significant heaith probiems more independently at home or in a or disabiing conditions. home-like setting. The Action Plan envisions a H ome Care At present, seniors can receive medical Program which wiii provide medical and supplies and equipment at no cost, under the Extended Health Benefits (EHB) non-medical supports to an extended clientele under the age of 65. The need program. However, those under 65 must for many people under 65 is p rimarily for contribute to the costs of benefits under AADL. In addition, some benefits are non-medical supports. available only under EHB. The Premier's Two related strategies have been Council recommended that existing age approved for expanding the Home Care and diagnostic barriers be removed and Program to provide more services to that the program be applied equitably persons under 65: across different groups. • The Home Care Program will expand its As of July 1, 1991, the AADL and EHB eligibility criteria to include persons programs will be amalgamated. Albertans under 65 who require only support eligible for benefits will be required to cost- services. share 25% of the costs, to a maximum of $500 per family per year. However, low- • A t hree-year transition strategy has income Albertans will be exempt from been approved to serve individuals charges. In addition, those who receive who need home health and support the Alberta Assured Income Plan, Alberta services and who are currently served Widow's Pension, Social Allowance or by Alberta Family and Social Services. Assured Income for the Severely Under this strategy, the Home Care Handicapped will to be exempt from cost- sharing. Program will gradually assume responsibility for home health and support services for all persons with Additional steps will be taken to make the physical disabilities. program more equitable. Additional funds which result from cost sharing and Achievements - A lberta Aids to Daily removing some low-cost benefits will be Living (AADL) Program: used to extend some benefits to all age Both the Extended Health Benefits and the groups and to add benefits for other kinds AADL programs were designed to help of disabilities. individuals who have long-term disabilities and/or were diagnosed as chronically or Achievements - C ommunity Supports: terminally ill. These programs provide a The Action Plan recommended the wide variety of basic medical supplies and government establish a new approach to equipment to enable them to function providing personal supports to persons with Achieving Full Participation in the Life of Alberta disabilities. As a resuit, the government is mental health system. This policy statement considering initiatives that will move will be the basis for the enhancement and toward o more consolidated approach to strengthening of the mental health system delivery of personal supports. Most and will be refined following consultation notably, over the next few years, the with key stakeholders (e.g. Provincial Home Care Program will become the Advisory Committee on Mental Health Issues). focus for the delivery of health and support services In the home for persons with physical disabilities. The mental health system is s triving to achieve a b alance of services between The Community Supports Task Force is hospital and community-based programs. made up of representatives from eight Every attempt is being made to ensure that government departments and the all approved mental health programs are coordinated and mutually supportive. One Premier's Council. The Task Force is developing an incremental plan which will such service delivery model is c urrently move government services further in the being evaluated in Grande Prairie. This direction of consolidated delivery. This model Is d esigned to improve the balance five-year plan will include several distinct between institutional and community- phases. Each phase will be evaluated based services by coordinating existing before the next phase is b egun. models of community support for people with mental illness. The objective of this approach is t o improve services for persons with Changes Underway - i ndividual Service disabilities by ensuring a c oordinated, Needs for Persons with Disabilities: consistent and effective delivery system. Alberta Health is d eveloping a m odel for Such a s ystem could ultimately self-managed care using direct funding incorporate a v ariety of support programs under the Home Care Program. Alberta which already exist in various government Family and Social Services is d eveloping departments, as well as other components Individual Lifestyle Planning models and is which may be required to meet unmet identifying personal support components needs. A r eport outlining the plan is and potential funding guidelines. expected soon. Changes Underway - S ervices for Persons Changes Undenvoy - M ental Health with Brain injuries: Philosophy: Alberta Health is c ompleting a c onsultative The Mental Health Division of Alberta planning process with stakeholders about Health has developed a p aper 'New the needs of persons with brain injuries. Directions for Mental Health Services in Survivors of brain injuries, family members, Alberta'. The document's purpose is t o advocacy groups and service providers communicate the guiding policy for the contributed to a p ublic discussion paper further development of the province's that identifies the needs of survivors and ► Achieving Full Participation in the Life of Alberta Buildings: their families and suggests priorities for new service and program development. The Alberta Education has developed paper has been circulated widely guidelines to assist school jurisdictions to throughout the province for public provide school buildings that are barrier- comment and feedback. The results will free. Funding for handicapped facilities is be used in developing a c omprehensive available under the Building Quality plan for government consideration. Restoration and Modernization programs. Alberta Education will allocate funds Changes Underway - I ntegrating Persons according to the following priorities: With Mental Handicaps Into Community • f irst, to schools with students who Life: have disabilities Alberta Family and Social Services is • second, to schools with students examining ways to assist persons with whose parents have disabilities mental disabilities who wish to move from • t hird, to schools offering continuing the institution to the community to do so. education programs to the general public. Ill Accessibility Achievement - B arrier-Free Transportation Advisory Committee: ^ “ Access to all public buildings and Alberta Transportation and Utilities has facilities is a h uman right, and yet established a B arrier-Free Transportation Advisory Committee. This committee is such access is often denied to made up of representatives of disabled persons with different types of consumers, seniors, urban and rural disabilities. ” municipalities, and industry. The mandate of the Advisory Committee is t o assist in Achievement - A lberta Building Code the development and implementation of Revisions: its p olicy on barrier-free transportation and Alberta Labour has adopted the 1990 mobility in the province. The Barrier-Free Alberta Building Code. Changes to the Transportation Advisory Committee reports Building Code will implement 16 Action to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Planning Plan recommendations related to and Development Division of the accessibility. The primary intent of these Department of Transportation and Utilities. changes is t o ensure that persons with disabilities will have adequate access to Achievements - B arrier-Free Approaches public and residential facilities. Changes to To Buildings: the Building Code include, for example, Alberta Public Works, Supply and Services requirements for visual alarm signals in any has implemented projects and continues building intended to be barrier-free. to introduce projects which eliminate accessibility barriers to government- Achievement - B arrier-Free School owned or operated facilities. Introduction Achieving Full Participation in the Life of Alberta of special parking spaces, curb cuts and . . . leisure activities, which are exterior ramps are some examples. necessary to everyone’s mental, emotional, and physical development Achievements - C ommunity Faciiities Accessibility Upgrade: and well-being, are often overlooked Through Alberta Lotteries Major Exhibitions as unimportant for persons with and Fairs, the Community Facility Enhancement Program has supported disabilities ..." projects which have improved Changes Underway - B arrier-Free Design accessibility to community facilities. Standards Committee: Features such as elevators, ramps, lifts Alberta Recreation and Parks has and washrooms have been added. appointed a s enior staff member to be Another example is assistance in responsible for barrier-free policy, and has providing special playground equipment established a c ommittee to develop a for children with disabilities. policy on barrier-free access to all publicly funded parks and recreation facilities. The Achievements - B arrier-Free Policy: policy will include developing a minimum The Premier's Council recommended that standard for access for the disabled in the Alberta Recreation and Parks develop a Provincial Parks Service. policy on barrier-free access to all publicly funded parks and recreation Changes Underway - B arrier- Free Access facilities. The department has established to Publicly Funded Cultural Facilities and a committee to develop barrier-free Events: design guidelines. Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism is assessing how the hearing impaired can The Premier's Council also recommended be served better at performances in the that Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism Jubilee Auditoriums. In addition, facilities develop a b arrier-free policy. It w as such as the Reynolds and Remington recommended this policy address Museums, which are under construction, establishing minimum standards for the are reviewing plans to ensure access for provision of alternatives to print for people disabled persons. with visual impairment, and hearing augmentation or interpreters for people Changes Underway - B arrier-Free Transpor- with hearing impairment. A c ommittee tation and Mobility Policy Statement: has been established to deal with this The Advisory Committee on Barrier-Free matter. Transportation is m ade up of representatives of disabled consumers, . . persons with disabilities are senior citizens, urban and rural often denied access and are not municipalities, and industry. The committee encouraged in their leisure pursuits is n ow developing a b arrier-free Achieving Full Participation in the Life of Alberta transportation and mobility policy Alberta Public Works, Supply and Services is statement. This policy is e xpected to direct completing a s urvey to assess conditions oil future work of the department. and to set priorities for accessibility upgrading of government buildings. Changes Underway - D esignated Parking Use in Municipalities: Amendments to the Highway Traffic Act IV Education ore being drafted. The amendments, which would permit enforcement of designated parking for disabled use in . . many children with disabilities municipalities, ore expected to be are not able to take their rightful introduced in the Spring of 1991 . T he place beside their peers within the Advisory Committee on Barrier-Free education system. Instead of Transportation has hod extensive consultations with disabled consumers and unconditionally accepting and municipalities, in order to determine providing for all children the best workable solutions to the issues related to possible education, the response of parking for persons with disabilities. the system . . . has been to segregate students who present Changes Underway - A ccessibility of Transportation Systems and Pedestrian particular challenges to educators. " Environments: Alberta Transportation and Utilities and the Achievements - I ntegration of Special Needs Students: Advisory Committee on Barrier-Free transportation are working together to Integration of special needs students is a t op ensure accessibility of all transportation priority for both the Premier's Council and systems and pedestrian environments Alberta Education. Alberta Education has under the jurisdiction of municipalities. released a S pecial Education Review Action Committees have been established with Plan to explore needed changes in the municipal transit and other provision of services to special needs representatives, to develop common students. The Education Response Centre provincial standards. Some of these has held regional meetings and developed standards will be ready for a p aper for discussion at the Minister's Forum implementation in 1991. Proposals for on Special Education held in May 1991 . changes to the existing transportation Additionally, in November, 1990, Honourable grant programs will be made as part of the Jim Dinning, Minister of Education outlined a department's regular review and renewal Vision for Education in the 1990's. The vision of these programs. indicates that integration will become the norm for disabled children with only a s mall Changes Underway - E limination of Barriers few needing specialized non-integrated Within Government Buildings: programs.