I had a bit of a history lesson in my ‘Introduction to Disability Studies’ course last September, one which I have shared with those around me because I think it is important. It was in institutions for persons with disabilities that “Germany's first gas chambers were built beginning in September of 1939…(and) as many as 200,000 people with disabilities were gassed to death in the "Aktion T4" program in pursuit of the so-called ‘master race’” (Ford, 1995). Many people I interact with are shocked to learn these facts, as they only consider the suffering of the Jews when thinking of Nazi Germany (and I do not in any way at all want to minimize that story when sharing this one). And further, it is easier to imagine that it was the Nazis who did this, as I am neither connected with the Nazis nor Germany; however, I soon learned that North America, including Canada, embraced eugenics and the sterilization of persons with disabilities (McLaren, 1990). This serves to remind me that I need to look closely at practices and policies within my own country and organizations I am a part of, because it is not just other places where government-sanctioned atrocities occur. I have gone on to learn a bit about the abuses and atrocities committed within Canada against persons with disabilities, and those that are still happening even today. I learned that, “as of 2010, approximately 900 Canadians are still institutionalized in three large (100 or more beds) provincial institutions designated for people with intellectual disabilities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta” (Joint Task Force on Deinstitutionalization, p. 5). It breaks my heart to realize that many are not aware of Canada’s institutionalization and appalling abuses, and that there are still institutions running today. I join my voice with those of Bourne and Ford (2006) when they insist:
The time has come for Canadians to demand that all institutions in Canada be closed, for governments and communities to support all people to live in their own homes in the community and for governments across the country to participate in a constructive process to acknowledge and make amends for the harms done to people in Canada’s institutions.
I am realizing how important it is to know about the history of institutionalization: if we do not remember what has happened and still happens we may repeat it and may not work to end it. Further, I think that it is important in the process of deinstitutionalization to ensure that communities are accepting of persons with disabilities. As stated by the Joint Task Force on Deinstitutionalization (2010), “deinstitutionalization must…ultimately (be) about more than substituting isolation outside the community for isolation within the community” (p. 8). People must have the “supports needed to fully participate in the community” and “services that meet all of their needs and are of high quality” (ibid). The ALACD’s objectives are directly related to ensuring that people with disabilities are included in communities – as integral parts of the community, in reciprocal relationship, not just being supported, but also supporting the community. Further, according to Krogh (1998), “disability can be socially constructed in that barriers may not lie within the individual and their ability to accomplish goals in a typical manner, but in the restrictive attitudes originating from a belief system that might, for example, assume that people with disabilities lack essential capacities” (p. 127). This connection with attitude and the underlying beliefs is linked to the work of the ALACD’s All Abilities Welcome (AAW) program. Attitudes within the community and awareness about ableism are important factors to consider when helping communities to become complete by including everyone. These are factors the AAW program works to educate community members about.
The time has come for Canadians to demand that all institutions in Canada be closed, for governments and communities to support all people to live in their own homes in the community and for governments across the country to participate in a constructive process to acknowledge and make amends for the harms done to people in Canada’s institutions.
I am realizing how important it is to know about the history of institutionalization: if we do not remember what has happened and still happens we may repeat it and may not work to end it. Further, I think that it is important in the process of deinstitutionalization to ensure that communities are accepting of persons with disabilities. As stated by the Joint Task Force on Deinstitutionalization (2010), “deinstitutionalization must…ultimately (be) about more than substituting isolation outside the community for isolation within the community” (p. 8). People must have the “supports needed to fully participate in the community” and “services that meet all of their needs and are of high quality” (ibid). The ALACD’s objectives are directly related to ensuring that people with disabilities are included in communities – as integral parts of the community, in reciprocal relationship, not just being supported, but also supporting the community. Further, according to Krogh (1998), “disability can be socially constructed in that barriers may not lie within the individual and their ability to accomplish goals in a typical manner, but in the restrictive attitudes originating from a belief system that might, for example, assume that people with disabilities lack essential capacities” (p. 127). This connection with attitude and the underlying beliefs is linked to the work of the ALACD’s All Abilities Welcome (AAW) program. Attitudes within the community and awareness about ableism are important factors to consider when helping communities to become complete by including everyone. These are factors the AAW program works to educate community members about.
References:
Bourne, Peter and Ford, Fred (2006). Close The Damn Thing Down: A View From BC’s Task Force Members. Institution Watch. Canadian Association for Community Living
Ford, Fred (1995). The Bell at Hadamar. Council of Canadians with Disabilities. Retrieved November 29, 200, from http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/humanrights/endoflife/latimer/2001/04
Joint Task Force on Deinstitutionalization (2010). The Right Way. People First of Canada and Canadian Association for Community Living. Winnipeg, MN and Toronto, ON.
McLaren, Angus. (1990). Creating a haven for human thoroughbreds. In our own mater race: Eugenics in Canada (89-106). McClelland & Stewart ltd.
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