Poste - Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children

C A N A D I A N C O A L I T I O N F O R T H E R I G H T S O F C H I L D R E N
Voices
Coalition Questionnaire:
Over the last 10 years my parents have
spent over $80,000 on rehabilitation
supports and specialized equipment. It is a
constant fight with insurance companies to
cover equipment “not specifically listed on
their payment schedules”.
—John, aged 18, Ontario, has athetoid cerebral palsy
about whether people with disabilities are “part of the
human family.” 178 At the 1998 Edmonton conference on
Universal Rights and Human Values, the panel discussion
on bioethics and biotechnology noted that technology
“should serve people with disabilities, not devalue them.”
The Canadian Human Rights Commission supports this
conclusion and advocates for the active involvement of
people with disabilities in the development of policies to
guide technology use. 179
Play and Recreation
The 1991 HAL survey found that:
• 18 percent of people with an intellectual disability
never take part in social activities; 180
• 26.5 percent of children aged 0 to 4 years and 57.8
percent of children aged 5 to 14 with disabilities
participated in community physical recreation
programs; and
• 41 percent of youth with disabilities would like to
participate in more activities in their leisure time and
almost half of all youth with disabilities want to be
more physically active. Cost and lack of opportunities
were the two most common obstacles to their
participation. 181
Public recreation and play activities are traditionally
coordinated by municipalities across Canada. The federal
government’s role is limited to injury prevention and
fitness promotion. 182 Parks and recreation departments
may provide special programming, equipment or staff to
support the inclusion of children with disabilities but are
not required to do so. However, funding for children’s
recreation depends upon the local economy and political
will. Thus services vary widely across the country.
The Canadian Parks/Recreation Association recognizes
that play is an equalizing medium for all children,
70
including those with special needs. The organization
works with school boards and other bodies to ensure the
development and maintenance of high quality outdoor
play spaces that encourage the inclusion of all children. 183
Buddy programs provide the companionship of trained
people, usually volunteers, to individual children for
recreation and sports. They exist in parts of all provinces
and territories except Prince Edward Island, New
Brunswick, Manitoba and Northwest Territories. 184
The following describes some recreation programs in
Canada.
• The Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada provides
community-based programming at 99 local clubs
across the country for children at risk and most include
children with physical and intellectual challenges in a
variety of programs. Twenty-two clubs have specific
outreach or services for young people with
disabilities. 185
Voices
Coalition Questionnaire:
I have a special friend named Catharine who
calls me almost every day. We talk about
teenage stuff, such as going to the movies
or about our favourite musical group, “The
Backstreet Boys!”
—Stefanie, aged 17, Ontario, has an intellectual disability
I also love to take swimming lessons. I know
all the instructors at our town’s pool and
everyone is happy to see me. I like to go
swimming all year long. I work out at the
fitness centre in my high school. I didn’t like
it at first but now I do. I go on a rowing
machine, lift weights and ride a stationary
bike. I like lifting weights the best and I am
getting big muscles now.
—Jesse, aged 15, Ontario, has a developmental disability
Every time I go to the theatre with my
parents, I pay my way and am responsible
for my ticket. You should see the faces of
the people around us when they see me do
all that! (translation)
—Karl, aged 10, Quebec, has Down’s syndrome