Access. Inclusion. Equality.
Provincial Strategy for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
The Strategy

The strategy will remove and prevent barriers so that people can take part in opportunities and choices available throughout the province. This includes barriers that are attitudinal, systemic, physical and technological.

The strategy provides a framework to guide Provincial Government planning, policies and actions in the removal and prevention of barriers. As well, this framework will provide guidance to other stakeholders in taking action toward inclusion.

The strategy articulates a clear vision, endorses guiding principles and identifies five strategic directions for moving forward. The goals developed for each strategic direction are measurable and practical. Reaching these goals will advance inclusion, access and meaningful participation in all aspects of society.

What Inclusion Means

Inclusion is essential for creating a dynamic and strong province. Inclusion means having access and choices on an equal basis with others. This includes access to opportunities or events that happen within any community, such as educational, employment, civic, recreational, cultural and political opportunities.

The Vision

Newfoundland and Labrador will be a fully inclusive province where people with disabilities have the same opportunities and choices on an equal basis with others.

Guiding Principles

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to following the principles found in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to guide all aspects of the strategy, including its development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. The convention principles are:

  • Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices and independence of persons;
  • Non-discrimination;
  • Full and effective participation and inclusion in society;
  • Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity;
  • Equality of opportunity;
  • Accessibility;
  • Equality between men and women;
  • Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities; and,
  • Respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.

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Strategic Directions and Goals

Ideas and solutions gathered from individuals and organizations throughout the consultation process were used to develop strategic directions and goals for the strategy. These strategic directions and goals provide a framework to support the vision of full inclusion becoming a reality for Newfoundland and Labrador.

There are five strategic directions. They address attitudes, engagement, accessibility, supports and services. Goals are identified for each strategic direction.

Initiatives to support the goals will be developed through the strategy’s Action Plans. These initiatives will create change within:

  • attitudes (public knowledge as well as knowledge base within private, nonprofit and public sectors);
  • policies (including procedures, regulations and legislation); and
  • services and programs (eligibility, scope, delivery models and accountability).

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Strategic Direction #1
Creating a Positive Image of Disability

The way society views and understands disability has a direct impact on how people with disabilities are treated and included. Historically, society has focused on limitations associated with disability and not on what people can do. The strategy seeks to change this by promoting positive attitudes, helping communities understand barriers as experienced by persons with disabilities and promoting the benefits of including people in all aspects of society. It is important that communities understand and accept the shared responsibilities needed to achieve this.

Goals

Goal 1.1 To promote a positive and respectful image of disability.

Goal 1.2 To build public understanding of barriers experienced by persons with disabilities.

Goal 1.3 To increase knowledge within private, public and nonprofit sectors about creating barrier-free environments.

Goal 1.4 To increase knowledge and acceptance of the rights of people with disabilities.

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Strategic Direction #2
Moving Forward Together:
Nothing About Us Without Us

The motto of the international community of people with disabilities is “Nothing About Us Without Us”. This means it is essential for people to be involved in the decisions which most intimately affect them.

Individuals know instinctively what is best for them. All individuals have the right to express their wishes and to have their wishes recognized. Often, persons with disabilities have had decisions made for them, including where to live, with whom and what happens during each day. Individuals often have not been a part of these decisions because of stereotypes, communication barriers or lack of decision-making supports.

When individuals are supported and/or enabled to identify their own needs and best ways to meet those needs, solutions tend to be more successful. Everyone has the right to make their own decisions and use support if they choose. Recognizing legal capacity is the principle by which a person with a disability may be supported by another person that they have chosen and who understands them well. This is also called supported decision-making.

Making sure that individuals have the opportunity to identify their own needs also enables self-reliance, self-determination and empowerment for the individual. Guesswork is eliminated, misunderstandings are reduced and decisions are less likely to be impacted by the stereotypes and myths that surround having a disability. When decision-making is supported in a dignified and respectful manner, outcomes are more appropriate and meaningful; one’s quality of life increases.

Strong and effective public policy relies upon the experiences and knowledge of people who are most impacted. Engaging community organizations of persons with disabilities in the development of public policy is essential to ensure policies are well-informed and successful.

The concept of “Nothing About Us Without Us” was embedded throughout the consultation process and will continue to guide the Provincial Government. The expertise of people with personal experience will inform and strengthen public policy and program directions.

Goals

Goal 2.1 To incorporate the expertise and knowledge of people with personal experiences with disability into Provincial Government policies, programs and services.

Goal 2.2 To incorporate the expertise and knowledge of people who have personal experiences with disability into the development and evaluation of strategy initiatives.

Goal 2.3 To support the capacity of community organizations of and for people with disabilities to engage with the Provincial Government on policy directions.

Goal 2.4 To partner with community organizations to respond to individual and community needs.

Goal 2.5 To support planning processes at local, community,regional and provincial levels to be inclusive of persons with disabilities.

Goal 2.6 To inform and improve Provincial Government policy,services and programs through the application of a disability lens.

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Strategic Direction #3
Accessibility for All in the Built Environment

People with disabilities frequently experience limited access to community activities, employment, transportation, housing and education because of inaccessible buildings and facilities.

Universal Design was consistently brought forward during the provincial consultations as a solution for making buildings and places where people live, work and play more accessible.

By following Universal Design principles, physical environments, infrastructures, products and programs are, as much as possible, usable by all people without the need for adapted or specialized design. This means that regardless of a disability, people can use buildings, programs and products on an equal basis with others.

Accessible transportation is essential for people to be able to travel within their own communities and throughout the province. Whether for education, work, health care or leisure, transportation can be the key to participation.

There is an obvious link between having accessible homes, work places, community, recreational and educational facilities and having accessible transportation to get there.

Accessible neighbourhoods are equally important. The concept of visitable housing promotes a design that provides a barrier-free entrance, wider doorways and an accessible washroom – features that enable friends, neighbours and family members to visit.

Goals

Goal 3.1 To maximize the accessibility of existing buildings and facilities and ensure accessibility of new buildings and facilities where there is public access.

Goal 3.2 To increase options for accessible housing within private and public sectors and promote the concept of visibility throughout the province.

Goal 3.3 To increase accessible and affordable transportation options throughout the province.

Goal 3.4 To ensure all methods for receiving public input into Provincial Government decisions are fully accessible (including public consultations and surveys).

Goal 3.5 To incorporate Universal Design principles into policy, procedures and legislation.

Goal 3.6 To maximize accessible options in Provincial Government information and communication.

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Strategic Direction #4
Strengthening Disability-Related Supports

Disability-related supports are essential to inclusion. They represent a key link to participating in education, employment, recreational and community opportunities, as well as day-to-day activities.

In a recent provincial survey, 71 per cent of respondents indicated difficulties accessing disability-related supports.

Assistive technology is one category of disability-related supports and includes a range of devices, equipment and software. It includes screen readers, magnifying devices, visual alarms, hearing aids and mobility devices such as wheelchairs. Access to this technology can be essential to achieving educational and career goals, accessing information, living in one’s own home and being part of the community.

Personal supports are an essential component to living within the community and participating in all aspects of society.

It is important that physical environments, such as public buildings, are accommodating as well as accessible. This means that people can use the facilities and services on an equal basis with others.

People who do not have access to disability-related supports are more likely to live in poverty and experience social exclusion. Persons with disabilities and their families experience economic disparity from their peers as a direct result of costs associated with disability. These additional costs can be significant.

The community of persons with disabilities has identified a set of principles that are relevant to the effective delivery of disability-related supports. These principles are flexible, comprehensive, individualized, timely, responsive, portable, universal, consistent and fair. They have also recommended that supports be linked directly to the individual and eligibility be based on need.

Participants also encouraged the Provincial Government to work with the community of persons with disabilities to establish a supported decision-making model to ensure individuals are supported in guiding the decisions that affect their lives.

Goals

Goal 4.1 To reduce the financial costs associated with having a disability for individuals and/or their families.

Goal 4.2 To improve access to disability-related supports, including personal supports and assistive technologies.

Goal 4.3 To incorporate flexibility into programs and services in order to accommodate individuals and their families.

Goal 4.4 To build knowledge of disability-related supports within communities and throughout the province.

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Strategic Direction #5
Delivering Services with Dignity, Fairness and Respect

Services with dignity are made available by increasing choice and control for individuals. New service delivery models developed and demonstrated within community agencies are good examples of how to deliver services in ways that are respectful. These models follow service principles of consumer control, choice, inclusiveness and removal of barriers.

Technology, especially in the areas of information and communication, has contributed to making services fair and respectful. For example, text-reading software enables individuals who have vision or learning disabilities to navigate the web and access information and e services on an equal basis with others. From environmental control systems to communication aids, technology is supporting independence and inclusion. Access to this technology is important to achieving inclusion, as is ensuring websites and communication systems are compatible with such technology.

Physical and electronic accessibility, knowledgeable staff and barrier-free policies are all important ingredients of this strategic direction.

As the province grows and flourishes with new opportunities, it will be important to incorporate disability issues into social and economic strategies. Inclusion with dignity should be a guiding principle of new strategies and developments. This will require thought at the planning stage to avoid creating new barriers. The inclusion of gender and diversity considerations within recent oil and gas industry agreements gives evidence to the importance and benefits of early actions.

Goals

Goal 5.1 To facilitate the public and private sector providing services to persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.

Goal 5.2 To increase knowledge of disability-related supports and ways to remove barriers amongst service providers.

Goal 5.3 To deliver timely provision of complete and accurate information about Provincial Government programs and services.

Goal 5.4 To incorporate inclusion and disability perspectives into existing and future strategies.

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