Dependent on the government for life sustaining income, ACORN members and several community members reached out to protest on the changes to the definition of disability for eligibility for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) on July 11.
The new proposed definition of disability takes up on a similar definition offered by Canada’s Revenue Agency that requires one to be in a “severe” and “prolonged” situation that prevents them from working on a regular basis.
Currently, ODSP defines a person with disabilityas one who has substantial physical or mental impairment that is either continuous or recurrent, expected to last more than a year.
The citywide chair for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Blaine Cameron said, “They want us to die before we can get disability benefits.”
ACORN members say they’ve been told by lawyers that the narrowed definition would exclude those with episodic disabilities, limited disability, and those with mental health conditions.
“We are fighting for others who are trying to get the support that they need and those whose lives are going to be negatively impacted,” said Cameron.
“It’s going to be hard for them to find work with their disabilities.”
Demanding their rights, ACORN members told protestors that they have been excluded from being a part of the consultations that determine the definition of disability.
“By excluding us they are excluding a really essential voice of a segment of society that is going to affected by this and a lot of the members are on ODSP,” said Cameron.
Aggravated by the government’s decision, Kathleen Fortin, member of ACORN said, “Doug Ford has no idea how it feels to be disabled and how it affects people. He should not be the one determining this definition.”
Joel Harden, MPP and NDP critic for people with disabilities stood by ACORN members at the protest.
Speaking around benefits, Harden said, “we need a more empathic government.”
“We need an enabling society,” he said, suggesting that enabling people with disabilities has less costs on health care and criminal interactions.
We need a Gov that understands this in order to get any where, I am at the income where is there are people out there 1 person making more then my wife and I get, we are choosing food or rent, food or hydro, food or cable, rent or hydro, rent or cable… you get the meaning here where is I never believed I would be facing such thing but I am because we get just over 1100 a month rent is 318 cable 437 that is tv net and phone with 2 cells with net access and hydro so to pay our cards off we have to cut hydro or cable for that month and get behind we know other couples getting more then 2000 paying 108 in rent not sure how or what but with these cuts give it time homeless rate will be so high jails will be soo full because homeless will commit crimes just to get a roof and a meal..!!
My husband is disabled and I work 30 hours. Our ODSP will cut down by $900 ($400 now for TCB and another $500 from the 75% claw back in January). These changes are devastating to people who are already under enormous financial, mental and physical stress. One cannot simply wish for a new job that pays the $900 a month difference (net). Rent is $1460 for 2 bedroom. We have very few expenses and keeping to basics. But being left with $700 for food, clothes and other essentials toiletries, hair cut for a family of 4 is beyond inhumane and immoral. Do we move to the van or the shelter??? Do I end up having a mental breakdown and become disabled also and unable to work?? Paying 20% takes and then getting clawed back another 75% = 2 weeks out of a month I am working for $4 an hour!!!! is this legal?? Is this ethical??