Inclusive. Making Life Better for British Columbians with Disabilities PRESENTATION TO THE SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES, 2015 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER, 17, 2015 NANAIMO, B.C. HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT DEALERS ASSOCIATION OF B.C. ROBERT BOSCACCI, PRESIDENT DARRYL MACKIE, TREASURER
PRESENTATION TO THE SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES, 2015 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER, 17, 2015 NANAIMO, B.C.
Table of Contents Introduction 4 British Columbians and Disabilities 6 Facts & Figures 8 Looking to the Future 10 The Working Disabled 12 Conclusion 13 Member Companies 14 3 HMEDA - 2015
INTRODUCTION Next year, in 2016, British The new legislation - now nearly able to reap the contributions Columbians will celebrate two 20 years old - removed disabled from individuals with one or more historic events. British Columbians from the disabilities who previously were 'welfare system' and gave denied the opportunity to play a On September 14, 1916, them greater independence to full and meaningful role at work men voted in a province-wide participate and work in society and elsewhere. referendum to give women the as a whole. right to vote. In twelve months, All British Columbians benefit we will celebrate the centenary - Both events marked important from inclusiveness, whether the 100-year anniversary - of that developments whereby society in it is by extending the vote to welcome event. general, and B.C. in particular, women, as was done nearly a were becoming more inclusive. century ago, or by removing On July 30, 1996, Royal legislative barriers to disabled Assent was given to Bill 15, The argument made by individuals, as was done in the Disability Benefits Program suffragettes more than a century 1996. Act. The bill was supported ago was that by denying half of unanimously by all parties in the population - women - the *** the Legislative Assembly. right to participate in elections, politics and government, all of According to Statistics Canada, Prior to the enactment of society was denied the positive 81.3 per cent of Canadians with Bill 15, individuals suffering contributions they would make. a disability used some kind from a disability, if they of specialized equipment or were in need of government So, too, with British Columbians assistive device that enabled assistance, had to declare who are disabled. By being more them to carry out their daily themselves to be 'permanently inclusive, our province now is activities or participate in the unemployable.' workforce. 1 4 HMEDA - 2015
approximately 700,000 in 2020, That equipment includes items just five years from now. such as walkers, manual wheelchairs, rollators, power By 2031, we forecast that the chairs and scooters. Or, it may number of British Columbians be devices for personal safety with one or more disabilities will and mobility in the home, be close to 850,000. including bath equipment, stair-lifts or pressure-relief With on-going technological and mattresses. other improvements in equipment and assistive devices, the lives In British Columbia, nearly all of disabled British Columbians of those specialized devices are will be much more enjoyable, designed, fitted and/or provided constructive and fulfilling than by the companies that belong they ever have been before. to the Home Medical Dealers' Association of British Columbia The contributions made by (HMEDA). disabled British Columbians to our province also should With about two-dozen member continue to grow as inclusive- companies and approximately ness continues to demonstrate 850 employees, HMEDA mem- that it provides benefits for all of bers work closely with other society. healthcare professionals, According to Statistics especially occupational Canada, 81.3 per cent At the same time, it must be therapists, to ensure that acknowledged that the growing the appropriate equipment is of Canadians with a population of disabled individuals provided to individuals in need. disability used some kind will present new and different challenges for the province, Our member companies also of specialized equipment health authorities, and other employ trained specialists who or assistive device that decision-makers in the public prepare, install and service the sector. equipment and devices needed enabled them to carry and utilized by disabled British out their daily activities British Columbia has come a Columbians. long way to becoming an ever or participate in the more-inclusive society, as the *** workforce. events in 1916 and 1996 have demonstrated. At the same In British Columbia and time, however, we all recognize across Canada, the number of that more needs to be done, individuals who have one or especially when it comes to more disabilities is increasing individuals with disabilities. significantly. HMEDA is dedicated to working This is largely because our with public-policy decision- population is aging. According makers to address the chall- to Statistics Canada, disabilities enges and opportunities that lie increase with age. 2 ahead. In 2012, the number of British Columbians age 15 years and older who had one or more 1. 'Disability in Canada: Initial findings disabilities was counted at more from the Canadian Survey on Disability.' than one-half million - 546,760. Released in 2013. Calculations done by HMEDA 2. Canadian Survey on Disability, 'A - using the same proportion of profile of persons with disabilities among disabled individuals as reported Canadians aged 15 years or older, 2012.' today by Statistics Canada - Statistics Canada. Released on March 13, 5 show that number will be HMEDA - 2015 2015.
BRITISH COLUMBIANS AND DISABILITIES More than one-half million The patterns evident across British Columbians age 15 Canada hold true for British years and older - 546,740 - live Columbia - the prevalence of with one or more disabilities, disabilities increase with age, according to a study conducted and a greater proportion of in 2012 by Statistics Canada. women compared to men live with a disability. That total is the third-highest in Canada. In 2012, the number of British Columbians between the ages The proportion of British of 15 and 64 with a disability Columbians age 15 and above totalled 334,800, while the with a disability - 14.8 per comparable number for those cent - is slightly higher than age 65 years and older was the national average of 13.7 211,960. 546,740 per cent, and represents one in nearly every seven B.C. The proportion of those residents. individuals age 15 to 64 years BRITISH with a disability was 10.8 per Disabilities increase with cent, but for those 65 years and age. About one-in-every 10 COLUMBIANS over it was 34.5 per cent. Canadians (10.1 per cent) between the ages of 15 and HAD A British Columbia females also 64 has a disability, but that are more likely to have one proportion increases to one-in- DISABILITY or more disabilities than their three (33.2 per cent) for people male counterparts. Statistics over 65 years of age. IN 2012 Canada found that 301,460 B.C. women had a disability in 2012, Indeed, disabilities increase with compared to 245,300 men. -STATISTICS CANADA every age-cohort, rising from 4.4 per cent of Canadians between A striking finding in the Statistics the ages of 15 and 24 years, to Canada study done in 2012 was 16.1 per cent between 45 and the significant number of British 64 years, and 42.5 per cent for Columbians in the second-half of those 75 years and older. their working careers who lived with a disability. Women also account for a greater proportion of Canadians Of those individuals between who live with a disability. 45 and 64 years of age, a total of 226,450 reported one or Of individuals between the ages more disabilities. That number of 15 and 64, 10.7 per cent represents more than two of of women have one or more every five British Columbians disabilities, compared to 9.5 per who had a disability. cent for men. Interestingly, compared to the For those Canadians older than Canadian average across the age 65, a greater proportion of country, a greater proportion women have a disability - 35.2 of British Columbians in every per cent - than do men - 30.8 age-cohort reported having a per cent. disability. 6 HMEDA - 2015
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