The Disability Rights Coalition, along with Beth MacLean and Joseph Delaney and others, is appealing a bad decision by the NS Human Rights Commission on institutionalization of people with disabilities. In this editorial the coalition explains the reasons for the appeal, and how you can follow the court case on line.
27 institutionalized residents of Harbourside Lodge, an adult residential centre in Yarmouth, will move into community settings. We speak with Donnie MacLean, president of People First Nova Scotia, and Patricia Neves, executive director of the NS association for Community Living to rejoice while also putting this move in perspective.
After reading about the construction of a new building for children with learning disabilities or autism as young as two years old, Kathy Myketyn looks at how society deals with people with learning disabilities over the last 90 years or so. “Step-up to add your voice for those who have none, to stop this human rights travesty,” she writes.
“The way that we’re looking at it, regardless of whether there’s four residents or 40 or 400, you’re taking children away from their families. What the press release says is that it will house children from two to 18 years old. No two year old should be removed from their family. No parent wants to have their child sent to live somewhere else, they will only agree when there are no alternatives provided, says Patricia Neves, Acting Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Association for Community Living.
PSA: Come learn and share your experiences and help build a vibrant family voice for inclusive education. November 2, 10 am – 4 pm, Halifax
Scott Neigh, of the excellent Talking Radical podcast, interviews Marty Wexler and Claire McNeil about the fight against institutionalization in Nova Scotia and the appalling Human Rights tribunal decision (which is being appealed).
News release: Krista Carr, Executive Vice-President of CACL, explained, “When it comes to pursuing justice for Canadians who are or have been institutionalized, CACL will do whatever it takes for as long as it takes. Even if it takes 1,500 individual complaints – as these rights are secured in the CRPD, which Canada has ratified with Nova Scotia’s agreement.”
Professor Archie Kaiser’s moving tribute to Dave Kent, one-time People First Nova Scotia president and tireless activist on behalf of people labelled with intellectual disabilities and others who have been marginalized and stigmatized.
This weekend we feature a heartwarming and important short documentary about Tammy Parker and the life she carved out for herself in Wolfville, bringing joy wherever she went. It illustrates how inclusion benefits an entire community.
Abuse at institutions for people living with intellectual disabilities continues to affect way too many many residents, a recent Freedom of Information request reveals. The institutions are regulated by the Department of Community Services.
Meanwhile, legislation to ensure that vulnerable residents are protected against abuse and incidents properly investigated is not effective, advocates say.