Examining the Residential Southern Placement Program in the NWT

An important piece, published in the prestigious "International Journal of Indigenous Health", examines the Residential Southern Placement Program in the NWT. Read the short excerpt below , then click on the link to read this important paper in its entirety. We applaud Alannis McKee and Sean A Hillier for exposing this program which equates to medical colonialism. The NWT Disabilities Council has made the address this Program a Priority in its presentation to the 19th Legislative Assembly.

"This research traces colonialism and neoliberalism as foundational architecture to health policy in Canada that seeks to erase Indigeneity and disability and secure the dominance of a White

settler able-bodied state. This is accomplished through critical analysis of the Residential Southern Placement Program, a health policy from the Northwest Territories, Canada. Residential Southern Placements are contractual agreements made between the Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services and service agencies from southern provinces to provide care to territorial residents with a disability whose needs—according to the

Department of Health and Social Services—cannot be met within the territory. We explore how the ostensibly neutral health policy Residential Southern Placements becomes enacted as a

violent intervention of erasure that specifically targets Indigenous adults and children with cognitive disabilities..." (excerpt)

You can view the full article HERE

Dislocation and Colonization through ‘Care’ Article

Northwest Territories Residential Southern Placement Program: Dislocation and Colonization through ‘Care’

Alannis McKee, North West Territories Disabilities Council

Sean A. Hillier, York University

This research traces colonialism and neoliberalism as foundational architecture to health policy in Canada that seeks to erase Indigeneity and disability and secure the dominance of a White settler able-bodied state. This is accomplished through critical analysis of the Residential Southern Placement Program, a health policy from the Northwest Territories, Canada. Residential Southern Placements are contractual agreements made between the Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services and service agencies from southern provinces to provide care to territorial residents with a disability whose needs—according to the Department of Health and Social Services—cannot be met within the territory. We explore how the ostensibly neutral health policy Residential Southern Placements becomes enacted as a violent intervention of erasure that specifically targets Indigenous adults and children with cognitive disabilities – as evidenced through data collected by a Freedom of Information Request- through long-term and, at times, lifelong dislocation from families, communities, and land. In this analysis we position the Residential Southern Placement Program as an intervention that aims to uphold and safeguard a White settler able-bodied vision of Canadian society. This research highlights an ongoing colonial practice with important implications for disability studies and Indigenous health researchers.

The full paper can be found HERE

Disability Tax Credit

During these troubled times the Disability Tax Credit is able to help people that qualify when people need it most.

So now, more than ever getting approved for the Disability Tax Credit or CPP Disability makes a huge difference to the lives of disabled Canadians and their families.

Disability Credit Canada has sent an informative guide on applying for the Disability Tax Credit and the CPP Disabilty.

Disability Tax Credit Guide

CPP Disability Guide

Definition of Disability

In 2018 the NWT Disabilities Council updated our organization's definition of disability, as per our 2018-2023 Strategic Planning goals. Our new definition of disability and accompanying disability value statements outline how our organization understands the experience of disability for the communities we serve in the NWT. Our new definition of disability and disability value statements are: 

 Definition of Disability 

Disability is a dynamic lived experience of restricted or limited participation in life that results from the interaction of an individual’s bodily impairment and their physical and social environment.

 Disability Value Statements

  • Disability is a dynamic experience that: 

    • includes past, present, or future impairments, 

    • can present apparently or non-apparently, 

    • can present across the lifespan, and

    • can present permanently, temporarily, or episodically.  

  • Disability is a complex phenomenon that encompasses many conditions of the mind and body that exist in different physical and social environments. As such, the boundaries between disability and ability are fluid and subjective; for this reason, the NWTDC will rely on self-identification of disability. 

  • The NWTDC definition of disability is situated within the interactionalist approach to disability. The interactionalist approach acknowledges that the experience of disability results from the interaction of an individual’s body and their physical and social environmental factors. 

  • The impact that disability has on a person is influenced by individual and social factors (e.g. age, gender identity, sexual orientation, culture, religious affiliation, race, and socioeconomic status, among others). For this reason, we acknowledge that the spectrum of lived experience of disability encompasses complex life circumstances, including, but not limited to: institutionalization, trauma, poverty, restricted housing options, and homelessness.

If you are interested, a detailed rationale for our new definition of disability and disability value statements is available HERE

Bill of Rights

The NWT Disabilities Council has created a Bill of Rights document that outlines the rights of people with disabilities living in the NWT. This document outlines entitlements and protections that belong to people with disabilities under international, national, and territorial laws and policies. Our document addresses seven domains of life: health; family and social protection; community living; political participation; employment; education; and justice. We encourage all members of the NWT Disabilities Council to take the time to review our Bill of Rights document and share it with fellow community members. By doing this, we will be able to increase awareness of the rights of people with disabilities and strengthen our communities.

If you have any questions regarding your rights as a person living with or supporting disability in your community, please reach out to us at the NWT Council. We will work with you to fully understand your rights and to assist in advocacy if your rights have been violated.

Bill of Rights

Inclusive Schooling Continues to Fail Children and Families in the NWT

A 2010 Auditor General’s report stated that the NWT had failed to comply with the Education Act and its responsibilities regarding Inclusive Schooling. Of the actions that were reported it indicated that the information was vague and failed to show the details or impact of the described actions. Since then the NWT Disabilities Council has brought multiple concerns forward regarding failures to comply with requirements of Individual Education Plans, Inadequate student classroom supports and No avenue for complaint or concern outside internal resources. These were continuously summarily dismissed, as anecdotal, after internal departmental consultation. These concerns have been repeatedly presented by the NWT Disabilities Council, throughout the life of the 17th and 18th Legislative Assemblies. This has left families frustrated, unsupported and a decade of young people not receiving even the minimum requirements under the Education Act. Well these concerns can no longer be dismissed and have now been confirmed through the 2020 AG report. We know now that Inclusive Schooling has and continues to severely fail our children. A failure which spans 3 Legislative Assemblies.

The 2020 AG report includes actions underway by ECE but as an organization we understand these reported actions do not reflect the actual delivery and have serious concerns as to how these fail to reflect the reality for families, especially in small communities.

No longer in dispute is the following; ( excerpt from 2020 Auditor General’s Report)

60. In addition, we found that the department did not sufficiently monitor whether schools were creating, monitoring, and updating individualized learning plans for students, as required by the Ministerial Directive on Inclusive Schooling. Its monitoring of inclusive schooling did not provide it with sufficient information about whether students on individualized learning plans received the necessary supports, including specialized services, or how this affected their outcomes. This meant that there was a risk that students were not benefiting fully from these plans.

61. Finally, we found that although the department drafted a detailed monitoring plan in 2015 for how it would measure the success of inclusive schooling, it never implemented this plan. Part of this plan was to conduct school reviews, but we found that it still had not determined what these reviews would entail or who was responsible for conducting them. At the time of our audit, the department had not completed any school reviews.

For more information, please read the full report below

https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/nwt_202002_e_43522.html

19th Legislative Assembly Disability Priority Items

The NWT Disabilities Council is committed to advocating for impactful policy change to strengthen our communities, increase diversity, and improve the lives of persons and families living with disability in the Northwest Territories.

While the challenges facing persons with disabilities are multifaceted and numerous, the NWT Disabilities Council has released three priority action items that we will be focusing on as an organization during the 19th Legislative Assembly. These three priority items address some of the most complex issues facing persons with disabilities in the territory, particularly those facing intersectional barriers including poverty, colonization, and social marginalization.

Our organization will be focusing our political efforts in working diligently over the next four years to drive change and reform in these areas. We encourage public dialogue about these issues and that you bring these forward to your elected representatives.

Please view our presentation HERE