The political context of democratic engagement for people with disabilities ARCH Disability Law Centre 30 th Anniversary Celebratory Symposium “Human Rights for People with Disabilities: Today and Tomorrow” Toronto, December 13, 2010 Michael J. Prince

2 Questions  What is civic engagement?  What is our current context in terms of challenges and possibilities?  What are the prospects for democratic engagement by people with disabilities?

3 Types of civic engagement  Citizen-oriented: Participation of individuals as particular persons or family members or voters Two-way dialogues between the state and non-aligned persons, “ordinary citizens” via deliberative processes  Community-based: Participation of organizations for individuals, families, groups and networks Forging structural linkages within the movement and with various state locations and policy processes

4 Benefits of civic engagement  For governments: Acquire information Dispel myths Enhance credibility of policy or service Strengthen public trust in state structures and actors Leverage resources Be seen listening  For community: Expand inclusion Generate experiences Transform stereotypes of people with disabilities Advance reform agenda ideas Build civic capacity Foster sense of citizenship

5 Risks of engagement  Cooptation/incorporation by the state  Fragmentation of the disability movement  Displacement of other important activities or issues for a group or sub-sector of the disability community  Legitimating individualistic or bio-medical notions of disablement  Being labelled as “special interests”

6 Context: challenges  High and persistent rates of poverty  Ambivalent public attitudes and support  Complex and uneven disability movement  Fiscal restraint by governments  Weak memories and policy capacities in public services  Unrepresentative organizations in staff  Belated and scripted consultations

7 Context: prospects  Provincialization of social policy  Anti-poverty strategies in several provinces  Accessibility/Inclusion legislation (Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Québec)  UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Article 29 – participation in political and public life)  Recent reports on social policy reforms  Outreach efforts by election offices

8 The importance of being engaged  Acting upon our democratic rights as citizens  Building momentum and solidarity within the disability community  Creating alliances with other social movements and collectivities with shared values and goals  Drawing notice, in public spaces, to inequalities, obstacles, and unmet basic needs  Enhancing policy and program claims for inclusion and full citizenship

9 Thank you Michael J. Prince Lansdowne Professor of Social Policy Faculty of Human and Social Development University of Victoria Disabling Poverty and Enabling Citizenship CURA