A Shameful Chapter In Our History

Monday, December 3, 2012 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year's theme is: Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all. We have come a long way. However, we still have a long way to go before our communities are fully inclusive and accessible places in which to live, work, and play. Barriers still exist and new ones continue to be erected. Our work as advocates isn't done yet.

The "road to inclusion" seems to be paved with barriers. If I had to pick just one issue which continues to serve as a barrier to the full inclusion of persons with disabilities it would be the issue of deinstitutionalization.

Are institutions really that bad? After all, this is 2012 and how individuals were treated one hundred years ago surely isn't the norm today. I disagree. I have in front of me a copy of a Winnipeg Free Press article dated Mar. 28, 2007. The headline reads, "Ex-care worker sentenced for assault on disabled girl. Man gets six years for repeatedly raping patient at St. Amant Centre." Another headline reads, "Care facility rapped for role in man's death. Judge finds evidence of negligence." These are just 2 examples of some of the abuse that still occurs behind institution walls. There are many others.

But, even if incidents of abuse were all a thing of the past, the institutional model has been shown to be outdated and increasingly unacceptable. Residential schools and orphanages have long since disappeared. The institutionalization of Canadians with disabilities is a shameful chapter in the struggle for equality and for the recognition of basic human rights. Sadly, it is that same "chapter" which is still being written today.

In 1979, the Center on Human Policy at Syracuse University came out with an article titled, A Time To Take Sides." They said, "Institutions have little with which to defend themselves. Community integration seems, in every respect, preferable. Indeed, we ask, when is it time express one's moral beliefs? When is it time to enforce constitutional rights? And when is there enough data to support a fundamental social change?
At what point must we ask we cease to ask "does it work?" and instead ask "how can we help make it work?" These questions are just as relevant today as they were back in 1979.

Do you agree? Is it ever okay to deny citizens their basic human rights and freedoms?

Join the facebook cause: "Free Our People and Support the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities"

Community living works! The movement to close all large institutions for persons with disabilities is growing. And you can be a part of this growing international movement. Our cause on facebook: "Free Our People and Support the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities" now has 1,773 members. A link to the cause has been provided. Sign-up and become a member. Share the link. Ask a friend to join. Help us: Free Our People!

Thank you

Harry Wolbert
Valerie Wolbert

http://www.causes.com/causes/227487-free-our-people-and-support-the-inclusion-of-persons-with-disabilities

Hard for some to accept . . . but we are NOT living in the 1950's!

Everything that my wife Valerie and I do centers around one thing: community. Without community concepts such as "inclusion" and "accessibility" would be meaningless. Those 2 concepts have always had community as their main or   central focus. What Valerie and I both want, and will continue to work towards,            is for an inclusive and accessible . . . community.

Deinstitutionalization is all about "community".  It is not about group homes or sheltered workshops as some have suggested . In fact, there are many of us        who would like to see sheltered workshops phased out. Would you work for              50 cents a day? I didn't think so. We have labour laws in most provinces that    prohibit this sort of treatment by employers and social service providers. The      myths and stereotypes which say people with disabilities are "unemployable" or "ineducable" need to be put to rest once and for all. We all have something            to contribute to our community.

We are not living in the 1950's! This may be hard for some people to accept,           but it is the "new reality." This is 2012. The days of forced institutionalization            and sterilization are over! People with disabilities now have the right, at least             on paper, to live where they want , and with whomever they choose. It's their         right!

I believe in freedom. I am also a strong believer in community. Canadians with disabilities are finally taking their rightful place in the community. Sadly, there           are some who still remain trapped behind institution walls unable to enjoy the      same rights and freedoms as everyone else. Social justice demands that we    respect their rights and freedoms. Furthermore, continuing to fund as well as    expand an outdated institutional model of care is not what Canada's disability considers social justice. In my opinion, it's a very warped sense of social justice.

The legacy of harm caused by the institutionalization of persons labeled        with intellectual disabilities will continue long after the last large-scale facility is finally closed. This is a legacy no Canadian should be proud of.  

The Choice Is Ours - A National Conference/C'est Notre Choix - Un Congrés National | CACL - Canadian Association for Community Living

The Choice Is Ours - A National Conference/C'est Notre Choix - Un Congrés National | CACL - Canadian Association for Community Living

Wolbert: Liberals should shred resolutions | Home | Winnipeg Sun

It was back on September 30, 2005 that Manitoba Liberal Party Leader Dr. Jon Gerard wrote on his blog: "Speakers were convincing that the Gary Doer NDP were captives of the old myths, the old prejudices and the old way." He continued, "I came away convinced that it is time to look to the future and not the past, and use the $40 million to help people to live in the community." Well, it now turns out that the NDP aren't the only ones who are held captive to . . . the old myths, prejudices, and way. Shame on the Manitoba Liberal Party! Manitobans living with a disability deserve better. They want to take their rightful place in the community. Inclusion.

Wolbert: Liberals should shred resolutions | Home | Winnipeg Sun 

Economic impact study planned for MDC - The Daily Graphic/Central Plains Herald-Leader - Manitoba, CA

Economic impact study planned for MDC - The Daily Graphic/Central Plains Herald-Leader - Manitoba, CA

A Modern-day Pharaoh Who Still Refuses To . . . Let Our People Go!

Valerie Wolbert, a Disability Advocate, and President of People First (Manitoba) was recently appointed to represent People First (Manitoba) on the Province of Manitoba's MDC working group. It's a group which is comprised of various stakeholders, asked to submit recommendations on the future "mandate" of the Manitoba Developmental Centre, which is located in Portage la Prairie.


The People First of Canada (PFC) website says, "At the very heart of the People First movement is the issue of deinstitutionalization." People first continues to believe that it is the right of every individual to live in their community. They say that they will work to close institutions and educate Canadians about their existance and the 'better options' available.

People First has its work cut out. The provincial government and all opposition parties have indicated that while they support "community living" for certain individuals, they do not support extending this right to all Manitobans living with an intellectual disability.

Why? There are a myriad of reasons, both political and economic, that could be listed.

People with intellectual disabilities tend not to be very political. And when compared to the residents of Portage la Prairie, most don't even vote. This weakens their "voice" at the table and their bargaining capacity. Many People First members don't understand how our political system works and what's required to bring about systemic change in their community. The time and resources that are required to bring about change can, at times, seem monumental. In my opinion, something which the People First has not done a very good job at doing is recruiting allies in the community. I have suggested to Valerie that People First connect with other groups which have been oppressed and discriminated against. I've always maintained that no one organization owns an issue. And it does not matters whether the issue is poverty, homelessness . . . or institutions.


The Manitoba Developmental Centre is the largest employer in Portage with over 700 employees. The closure or even the scaling back of this institution will most definitely have economic consequences for the City of Portage and surrounding communities. However, this should in no way deny persons with disabilities their 'right' to live in the community. Yes, some jobs will be lost. Other employees will be relocated within the system. Change is coming. The only question is whether we'll end up being the last province in Canada to close all of its large institutions for people living with intellectual disabilities.

We have repeatedly heard of the 'good service' which MDC provides. Many who have survived our institutional system of care would strongly disagree. The oral and written history of asylums and institutional stystem of care is rife with stories of persons who suffered terrible beatings, neglect, and abuse. It soon becomes quite obvious these facilities were not Hilton Hotels and should be permanently closed down. Our fight for social justice will not come easy. But rest assured, that day will eventually come. It is hard to kill an idea whose time has come. And like Moses in the Bible, we're asking a modern-day pharaoh to . . . Let Our People Go!