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Social Locations – Persons with Disabilities

Equity Framework > Social Locations > Persons with Disabilities

The term disability covers a broad range and degree of experiences. Some are apparent, while others are non-apparent [1]. Authors use both identity-first language, “disabled people,” and person-first language, “people with disabilities.” It is best to ask people about their preferences and use that language.

Many definitions of disability exist. From a critical perspective, disability refers to a product of created conditions imposed on individuals [2]. From a public health perspective, disability includes a long-term or an episodic condition that limits a person’s everyday activities. For people with disabilities, there are barriers to their full participation in society. Barriers include the built environment, information or communication, technological, and attitudinal barriers [3]. Barriers may not always be related to the disability, but may also involve systemic and interpersonal ableism, such as:

Many of these barriers are amplified for those facing multiple layers of interconnected structural inequities [3]. The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) acknowledges that the intersections of disability, race, and gender can amplify a person’s experience of discrimination and impact their socio-economic outcomes [4]. 

Approximately 22% of Torontonians 15 years and over have some form of disability [7]. The disability community in Toronto consists of many different communities. Although they may share similar values and experiences, we should not consider them homogenous. Disability is a social determinant of health. People with disabilities may face extra barriers to other social determinants of health. [8]. These factors contribute to higher rates of unemployment, low wages, poverty, homelessness, and exclusion, among people with disabilities [7,9]. Toronto’s disability community is diverse and continues to advocate and mobilize for change as well as contribute to the city’s social, economic, cultural, political life [1].

References

  1. Disability IN. (2022). “Non-apparent disability” vs. “Hidden” or “Invisible disability” – which term is correct? Retrieved November 15, 2023 from https://disabilityin.org/mental-health/non-apparent-disability-vs-hidden-or-invisible-disability-which-term-is-correct/
  2.  Centre for Independent Living in Toronto. (2014). Disability Oral History Toolkit. Available from: https://cilt.ca/cilt-resources/our-histories/
  3. Toronto Public Health. Toronto’s Population Health Profile. February 2023.Available from: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/940f-Torontos-Population-Health-Profile-2023.pdf
  4. Anderson, J.M. (2020). The Intersection of Blackness & Disability in Canada: A Brief Overview & A Call to Action. Toronto: ÀṢẸ Community Foundation for People with Disabilities. Retrieved November 28, 2023 from https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/a9d412d7-2134-4e7e-8703-0a697382e984/downloads/Black-Canadians_Disability25.06.20%20(1).pdf?ver=1633721094057https://sencanada.ca/Content/Sen/Committee/441/SOCI/briefs/SOCI_C-22_Brief_AseCommunity_e.pdf
  5. Disabled Women’s Network of Canada. (2014). Factsheet: Women With Disabilities and Poverty. Available from: https://dawncanada.net/ppbdp-en/fact%20sheets/
  6. Ineese-Nash, N. (2020). Disability as a Colonial Construct: The Missing Discourse of Culture in Conceptualizations of Disabled Indigenous Children. Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, 9(3), 28-51. Retrieved November 28, 2023 from https://cjds.uwaterloo.ca/index.php/cjds/article/download/645/899
  7. Crawford, C. (2013). Looking into poverty: Income sources of poor people with disabilities in Canada. Toronto: Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society (IRIS) and Council of Canadians with Disabilities.. Retrieved February 20, 2020 from https://www.homelesshub.ca/resource/looking-poverty-income-sources-poor-people-disabilities-canada
  8. World Health Organization. Social Determinants of Health. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1
  9. Stienstra, D. (2018). Canadian Disability Policies in a World of Inequalities. Societies, 8(2), 36. doi: 10.3390/soc8020036 Retrieved February 20, 2020 from https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/8/2/36/pdf.