In Unison: A Canadian Approach to Disability Issues Appendix C Profile of Aboriginal Canadians with Disabilities Facts 30 percent of Aboriginal adults report a disability – almost twice the national rate. Among Aboriginal people, the 15-34 age group has a disability rate three times the national average. Problems As the Federal Task Force on Disability Issues highlighted, Aboriginal persons with disabilities share the same problems as other Canadians with disabilities, but these are worsened by jurisdictional issues: – the lack of disability-related services available on-reserve often forces Aboriginal people to abandon their communities in search of these supports; – however, once off-reserve, Aboriginal persons with disabilities face jurisdictional barriers in accessing these supports and services. Actions Taken Federal/Provincial/Territorial Council on Social Policy Renewal: – created federal Aboriginal Technical Committee on Social Policy; – this Committee set its own priorities – children, persons with disabilities and the establishment of objectives and principles for the Social Union from an Aboriginal perspective. In a follow-up to Minister Pettigrew's commitment to the Council, the Aboriginal Round Table on Disability Issues was held 9-10 April 1997 which led to 15 recommendations including the creation of an on-going federal Aboriginal Reference Group on Disability Issues. The federal Aboriginal Reference Group on Disabilities Issues: – selected a site for a National Clearing House on Aboriginal Disability Issues; – decided to commission a paper to complement In Unison: A Canadian Approach to Disability Issues.