Understanding Disability

The Challenge

We are living in a globalized world where distance has little effect on who we know and what we care about. We are citizens of interdependent nations. Today, more than 500 million people in our world have a disability. They come from all walks of life, every age group, culture and economic situation. Their numbers are increasing as a result of population growth, civil strife and the steady improvement in life expectancy.

Many individuals with disabilities are marginalised because of ignorance and discrimination. They face years of accumulated attitudinal barriers, which prevent full participation in community affairs. Too often they are a large, impoverished minority, lacking the means to control their own destiny.

Over the past quarter century, Canadians have changed their constitution and laws to be instruments for equality and respect. In our society, there is no room for callousness or intolerance, and yet, some old attitudes die hard. We must continue the improvements and not let the advances of the past years waste away. We must continue to build on them and continue to grow.

“We believe that we simply cannot afford to exclude Canadians with disabilities from our social and economic development. We would short-change them and, just as important, we would short-change our society and its future economic prosperity and quality of life”.

Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien

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