Disability Law Primer (PDF) - ARCH Disability Law Centre

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction .................................................................................................... 3
II. Historical Overview of Canada’s Treatment of Persons Who Have Been
Labelled with Intellectual Disabilities ..................................................................... 4
A. Warehousing in Institutions................................................................................. 4
B. Community Living Movement ............................................................................. 5
C. People First ........................................................................................................... 6
D. Huronia Class Action ........................................................................................... 7
E. Transformation of Thinking - Towards Inclusion................................. 9
F. Developmental Services Act (now Repealed) .............................. ......10
G. Adult Protection Services...................................................................... 10
H. Social Inclusion Act .............................................................................. 11
III. Supports and Services Under the Social Inclusion Act ............................ 12
A. Who is Covered .................................................................................... 13

1. Proving Eligibility .................................................................................. 13


2. Those Who Are Automatically Eligible for Services and Supports ........ 16
   B. Application Process .............................................................................. 17


3. Eligibility Decisions ............................................................................... 18


4. Waiting Lists and Prioritization .............................................................. 19
   C. Passport and Special Services at Home............................................... 20


5. Passport ............................................................................................... 20


6. Special Services at Home ..................................................................... 22


7. Availability of These Programs ............................................................. 22


8. Direct Funding ...................................................................................... 23
   IV. Rights Enforcement .................................................................................. 24
   V. Complaints Mechanisms .............................................................................. 25
   VI. Quality Assurance Measures ................................................................... 26
   VII. Abuse and Available Recourse ................................................................ 27
   A. Incidents of Abuse ................................................................................ 27
   B. Prevention and Reporting ..................................................................... 28
   C. Human Rights Considerations .............................................................. 31


9. Differential Treatment Because of Disability ......................................... 31


10. Failure of the Service Provider in its Duty to Accommodate ................. 33
    VIII. Issues of Capacity to Instruct Counsel ..................................................... 34
    APPENDIX “A” .................................................................................................... 37