Everyone has heard of those who have fallen through the cracks when it comes to people requiring community or social support.
Often, those stuck or falling through the cracks are the disabled, says former Calgary alderman Joe Ceci, who will speak at the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, Friday (Dec. 2) evening at the Civic Centre.
“In Alberta, some groups experience poverty more than others,” said Ceci, co-ordinator of Action To End Poverty in Alberta. “The disabled community is one of five of those groups that have been identified.
“Those on AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) tend to fall through the cracks and some are perpetually in that crack. There are traps to keep them there; for example, for social assistance, you have to hemorrhage all your assets to get assistance.
“That’s demeaning and challenging, almost impossible.”
Action To End Poverty in Alberta came about through the Inter-City Forum on Social Policy (ICFSP), a group which agreed to play a leadership role in engaging stakeholders to promote the need for a comprehensive poverty-reduction plan for Alberta. As well, Alberta FCSS (Family and Community Support Services) were on board.
According to Action To End Poverty in Alberta, poverty affects one in 10 Albertans.
“This bigger issue is that we can’t continue going on the way we’re going on,” he said. “What we need is prevention, we need an investment approach as opposed to a spending approach.”
For example, said Ceci, an education program in Toronto’s Regent Park area sees investment made in mentoring and educational support and other things young people need for support before they can achieve. “It’s about helping young people get out of the poverty cycle.”
In Alberta, Ceci and Action To End Poverty in Alberta, would like to see increased employment support, increased minimum wage, more daycare opportunities and more affordable housing. “All of these,” he said, “should be part of a poverty reduction program.
“On Nov. 24, 1989, the House of Commons passed a unanimous resolution to eliminate child poverty in Canada by the year 2002. Clearly, that hasn’t happened.”
Ceci has degrees in social work and has worked in the field for more than 30 years. He ran for Calgary city council in 1995 and was elected, then served for 15 years.
Ceci’s group is working on a Costs of Poverty in Alberta Report, which will be released in mid-January. “The report will total up how much of an economic cost there is in paying to keep people poor.”
International Day for Persons with Disabilities events
THURSDAY, DEC. 1
Story As Art: Photojournalism by Kristian Bogner, Narrative by David Roche, Art by Maureen Walls, Overcoming hearing loss by Joyce Chiasson, joined by other talented artists. Moderated by Amy Trofimuk. From 7-10 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
FRIDAY, DEC. 2
The Physical Disability Challenge: Elected officials will experience the town with a disability. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
Celebration, info fair, entertainment, proclamations and speeches. From noon-2 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
Stories From the Streets: Poverty, Homelessness, and Disability. Joe Ceci from Action to End Poverty in Alberta, Hostel Bear, CUPS Health Services in Calgary and other politicians and advocates in discussion. Moderated by Ed Russell. From 7-10 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
SATURDAY, DEC. 3
Adaptive Sports: Experience life on the field or trail with a disability at the Rec Centre community hall. Race an adaptive athlete (or the mayor) or compete with a Canmore Eagles hockey player using adaptive equipment. There will be horses, dogs and wheelchairs. 1-4 p.m.
Stories of Adventure: Slide and Film Documentaries with Ross Watson, who is both a climber and blind at St. Michael’s Anglican Church. 7-10 p.m. As well, Andrew Nugara, author of both Scrambling in the Canadian Rockies and the recently-released Snowshoeing in the Canadian Rockies, along with his brother Mark, who is blind, will attend and have books for signing.
Christian Bagg, who developed an Olympic standard ICON wheelchair after a snowboarding accident, will take part in the Share our Stories event, Dec. 3 at the Rec Centre, then will speak at St. Michael’s Church at 7 p.m.
SUNDAY, DEC. 4
Traditional Mass 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Contemporary Service St. Michaels Anglican Church. David Roche will deliver the sermons.
