The Disability Lens

The Disability Lens is a tool for identifying and clarifying issues affecting persons with disabilities. It provides government policy and program developers and analysts with a framework for considering and addressing the impacts of any initiative (policy, program or decision) on persons with disabilities.

Why Do We Need A Disability Lens?

In as much as persons with disabilities are present in all social environments, (home, work, community); all legislation, policies, programs and services will potentially impact on persons with disabilities. Legislation, policy, programs and services that do not consider the unique life experiences and needs of persons with disabilities may inadvertently discriminate against them or create barriers to their participation. In order for initiatives to be truly reflective of, and useful to all persons, we must continue to ask ourselves questions which challenge us to think outside of our own experience. Integrating diverse perspectives and experiences into an initiative not only helps to ensure equity, but also fosters partnerships and builds support.

Defining Disability:

The Disability Lens accepts, but is not limited to, the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of disability, which defines disability as "the loss or reduction of functional ability and activity that is consequent upon impairment, and impairment as "any disturbance of, or interference with, the normal structure and functioning of the body, including the systems of mental function".

Types of disabilities include mobility/agility, mental/cognitive, hearing, speaking, and visual impairment. Disabilities may be apparent or hidden, severe or mild, singular or multiple, chronic or intermittent. A person is considered not to have a disability, if the use of a technical aid, such as glasses or a hearing aid, completely compensates for it.

The words disability and handicap are often incorrectly assumed to be interchangeable. A handicap is an environmental or attitudinal barrier that limits the opportunity for a person to participate fully. Negative attitudes or inaccessible entrances to buildings are examples of handicaps.

The Disability Lens recognizes that people with disabilities are not homogeneous. Life experiences of persons with disabilities are not only influenced by the nature of the disability, factors such as gender, age, geographic location, ethnicity, culture, social values and sexual orientation also have a profound, and often compound, affect on an individual's experience.

Background and Discussion of Issues:

Statistics Canada reports that one in six people in British Columbia has a permanent disability. Disabilities cut across all aspects of community life and all sectors of society. They affect every income bracket, age group and region. They impact on more than just the person with the disability - most of us know or interact with persons with disabilities and share, to varying degrees, an awareness of disability issues. Statistics show that as we age many of us are directly affected by a disability. Disability issues are important to all of us, as any of us, our family or our friends, could develop a disability at any time. The Disability Lens Checklist has been designed to assist you in addressing the following issue areas:

• Consultation and Data Collection

Consultation, such as focus groups, surveys and anecdotal research, elicits critical information from experts and from those who may be impacted. Research methods and information sources used will affect findings and future decisions.

• Accessibility and Appropriate Accommodation

Persons with disabilities have the right to fully participate in mainstream society and the right to independent access. Environment plays a crucial role in determining the degree of "handicap" which a person experiences. Appropriate accommodations can eliminate handicapping conditions. Such accommodations may include: altering the physical access to a building; providing technical and adaptive aids and human support; allowing flexibility of hours and timelines; using alternative communication formats and alternative transportation options.

• Systemic Discrimination, Indirect Discrimination and Legal Implications

Persons with disabilities are substantially disadvantaged in society. Full participation is limited by barriers described as taking three forms: attitudinal, discriminatory, and limiting (access to opportunities). Traditionally, persons with disabilities have had little voice in society and have not been included in the development of policies and programs which affect them.

Discrimination can intentionally marginalize persons or groups, but its more subtle form is indirect or systemic discrimination. Systemic discrimination arises when social, economic, political and legal systems support some groups without considering or understanding the needs of others. Treating all people as if they are the same produces inequitable outcomes and creates barriers for some groups. Developing true equality may require different treatment and reasonable accommodation.

• Economic Status, Education, Training, and Employment

Statistically, persons with disabilities have lower levels of educational attainment, lower employment incomes and higher unemployment rates than the general population. Most live below the poverty line. Those who are not working must rely on disability pensions or income assistance, which usually provide only minimal support. Often additional disability related expenses consume income and erode the standard of living. There are fewer opportunities for persons with disabilities to improve their economic standing. A lower economic status creates a lower social profile, resulting in further marginalization.

• Communication

Communication is vital to a healthy functioning society. Language as well as the physical location of documents can limit access to information and create barriers to the full participation of persons with disabilities.

For communication to be inclusive and effective, the differing needs of persons with disabilities must be considered. Persons with disabilities may have added difficulty in accessing information in standard format. Alternative formats are necessary to communicate information to persons with sensory or cognitive disabilities. (i.e. Braille, TTD/TTY for the deaf, large print, computer disk, bliss symbols, sign language, translators, intervenors, interpreters)

• Safety and Protection from Victimization

Safety and protection from victimization are essential for individuals to fully participate in society. Fear and the experience of victimization (abuse, violence, neglect, harassment, and discrimination) limit the choices and opportunities of persons with disabilities. Economic and physical dependency increase the opportunity for victimization and reduce the options to escape abusive or violent situations. The diverse needs of persons with disabilities must also be included in all environmental safety and preventable injury considerations.

• Health and Well-being

All people have a right to social, recreational and cultural experiences, activities and relationships. Often persons with disabilities are isolated, limiting their access to these experiences. People with supportive social relationships are less susceptible to health problems. The low economic status of some persons with disabilities affects their ability to maintain good health.

The Disability Lens is guided by the following principles:

• respect for diversity
• equal access to opportunity
• self-determination
• independence
• dignity
• community partnership

Using The Disability Lens:

The Disability Lens is applicable to all/any initiative, internal or external, pre-existing or under development, including those which are not specifically targeted for persons with disabilities. It assists the user to focus on, and identify issues within any initiative which may, directly or indirectly, affect persons with disabilities. The checklist has been grouped into seven primary categories so that no aspect of the experience of persons with disabilities is overlooked or minimized.

For the Disability Lens to be effective, it is important that "all" of the questions posed under each issue be taken into consideration.

Disability Lens Checklist - 18kb

Page updated: 2002 Aug 22