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Eleven

Aids and Devices

"The OFPH has always stressed the right of the disabled citizen to participate fully and equally in the day-to-day life of the community. The provision of appropriate technical aids is one of the essential services enabling the disabled individual to achieve greater independence.”

“Wheelchairs and other necessary aids to living should be provided by governments, instead of individuals having to suffer the degradation and frustration of going, hat-in-hand, to various charitable agencies.”

“The practice of applying through the social service system to acquire basic aids for daily living is segregating, embarrassing, and frustrating. In some cases fund raising efforts in communities are undertaken to purchase equipment such as a wheelchair for a disabled citizen. This is a very demeaning experience for a person with a disability. It would be more acceptable if a disabled person could obtain necessary aids for daily living as a right through a health insurance program.”

98

PROVIDE AIDS TO HELP DISABLED PERSONS LIVE INDEPENDENTLY

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Federal Government negotiate a cost-sharing agreement with the Provinces to provide a comprehensive range of aids; designed or modified to compensate for the effects of a disability, or to enable an individual to live as independently as possible in the community and that:

• These aids and devices should be provided by the Provinces, preferably as part of their insured health services, to disabled persons who need them;
• Expensive aids and devices, including those for visually and hearing impaired persons, should be provided to disabled persons who need them on a loan basis and remain the property of the Provinces, which will also be responsible for their maintenance.

Inequities: In the matter of technical aids and devices, disabled persons are not dealt with uniformly or adequately. Most aids for adults are provided under provincial programs, such as Workmen's Compensation, vocational rehabilitation services, or social assistance. However, there are many instances where the disabled person who is on a low income, must depend upon charity.

Backward Policy: Why should disabled persons have to rely on charity or their own limited resources to get aids and devices which are essential to their daily living? European countries, such as Sweden, consider.,free access to these aids and devices to be a basic human right. Canada is not only backward in its policies, but pays a very heavy price for them. The Committee heard of persons being institutionalized for long periods of time solely because of the lack of a single technical aid. One disabled person waited 18 months in hospital before receiving a $2,500 wheelchair. The cost of institutionalization in this case was almost $40,000.

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Why should disabled persons have to rely on charity or their own limited resources to get aids and devices which are essential to their daily living? European countries, such as Sweden, consider free access to these aids and devices to be a basic human right.

99

CONTINUE PRODUCING STANDARDS OF QUALITY FOR AIDS AND DEVICES FOR DISABLED PERSONS

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Federal Government encourage the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) to continue its work in producing standards for aids and devices which are manufactured in Canada or which are imported for the use of the physically disabled.

No Protection: At present in Canada, there are no standards for the manufacture of aids and devices for disabled persons, or any to govern the importation of products from abroad. This particular industry is no more immune to unethical and incompetent practices than any other. The Federal Government should applaud the Canadian Standards Association for its existing efforts, and encourage the CSA through its committees to develop standards for special aids and devices in the marketplace.