Absolutely. Thank you.
Basically, it's to ensure that women with disabilities are empowered to protect themselves from abuse and discrimination, and that public policy matches the stated value through legislation with impact and regulatory powers.
The recommendations I listed came from the report, “Bringing Down the Barriers: The Labour Market and Women with Disabilities in Ontario”. I think they are very good and apply pretty much across Canada.
One recommendation is to separate income programs from disability-related supports and services. Often, one of the greatest barriers to work is that if we don't have access to our medication or if we don't have access to our home care, we don't have access to those supports that are linked to income. When the income becomes too high, the supports are gone, and then the person can't participate in the workforce. That's kind of shooting ourselves in the foot all the way around.
Creating a stable environment in which persons can be moved between paid employment and income support programs with ease is another recommendation. Those refer to things like rapid reinstatement from CPP disability. Age has that same component.
Next is improving opportunities for better-paying jobs for women with disabilities, and also women all across the workforce. This is an issue for both disabled and non-disabled women.
Another recommendation is extending the definition of employment supports and accommodations to the domestic sphere, so that we're not doing only personal care but home support as well, because without adequate home support a person cannot have the necessary energy to participate in the workforce.
Forums for information exchange and support groups provide a valuable resource for women with disabilities trying to enter the labour market, as your colleagues across the table have said.
Social attitudes I think are very important as well. We can't legislate those, but we can certainly raise awareness and we can certainly check ourselves at the policy table about what our social attitudes are.
Ensure an intersectionality lens is used to ensure that women with disabilities as a diverse group are given relevant support for their situation. I mentioned the cultural and some of the cross-barrier disabilities. Even when I made a commitment that I would go to the OT department around each place like a clock, that I would do that, they still wouldn't accept me.
Basically, the other thing I did want to say about social attitudes is the fact that while Anita said she didn't feel she made a contribution, she did so by her presence. Even by going and spending the time with those women, you give them hope. Even if you did nothing else, the fact that you sat and listened to them at least gave them hope. And I hope that will also translate into legislative action, and I encourage all the colleagues around the table to avail themselves of those opportunities when they arise.
Thank you.