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(1/14) 34 disability organizations, including ARCH, delivered a letter earlier today to @CQualtro calling on the Government of Canada to recognize the unique vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities and their families during #COVID19 - a thread. #DisabilityRights
(2/14) The Government of Canada must ensure that people with disabilities, who represent 22% of Canada's population, are not denied health care or triaged out of care during this pandemic solely on the basis of having a disability. #DisabilityRights
(3/14) Denial of health care for persons with disabilities occurred during SARS and H1N1; there is no reason to believe that guidelines have changed. Of special concern is the refusal of ventilators or life support on the basis of disability in a moment of crisis.
(4/14) Canada must step up to the challenge set by @SR_Disability to provide for continuity of care, financial aid, and reassurance that the survival of people with disabilities is a priority. Accordingly, the disability organizations provide the following seven recommendations:
(5/14) 1. Issue an explicit national values statement affirming the equal rights of people with disabilities to available medical treatment and care including during a pandemic, and reaffirming its commitment to the rights of people with disabilities to equality and inclusion.
(6/14) 2. Ensure all announcements made by the Prime Minister and Public Health Agency are fully accessible and in plain language, and that all networks publicly broadcasting announcements are mandated to capture these accessibility features. #DisabilityRights
(7/14) 3. Release guidelines for service providers to ensure necessary support for people with disabilities continues. Provide protective equipment to, and prioritize screening of, support staff and personal caregivers who should be recognized as essential service providers.
(8/14) 4. Establish a Citizen Task Force inclusive of people with disabilities, their families, and relevant civil society orgs to monitor evolving needs/advise on remedial strategies in real time, as adverse policy impacts on disability related care and support become apparent.
(9/14) 5. Protect income of people with disabilities. Support businesses who have hired people with disabilities by offering education in how to provide accommodations/accessible work-from-home measures. Extend EI Caregiver Benefits to those adopting caregiver roles due to COVID.
(10/14) 6. Connect w/ individual Indigenous communities across Canada to assess current state of operations and identify critical health and disability-related needs of members with a disability and how best to meet those needs, and implement a comprehensive communications plan.
(11/14) 7. Transfer funds to the provinces and territories that are marked for the health and support needs of people with a disability. Work with provinces and territories to encourage considered approaches to disability inclusion throughout the country. #DisabilityRights
(12/14) The letter proposes additional steps the Government of Canada is urged to take, including working with provinces, territories and relevant regulatory bodies. The letter can be read in full here: archdisabilitylaw.ca
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