Transcript The Context of Political Engagement

The political context of
democratic engagement for
people with disabilities
ARCH Disability Law Centre
30th Anniversary Celebratory Symposium
“Human Rights for People with Disabilities: Today and Tomorrow”
Toronto, December 13, 2010
Michael J. Prince
Questions
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What is civic engagement?
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What is our current context in terms of
challenges and possibilities?
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What are the prospects for democratic
engagement by people with disabilities?
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Types of civic engagement
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Citizen-oriented:
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Participation of
individuals as particular
persons or family
members or voters
Two-way dialogues
between the state and
non-aligned persons,
“ordinary citizens” via
deliberative processes
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Community-based:
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Participation of
organizations for
individuals, families,
groups and networks
Forging structural
linkages within the
movement and with
various state locations
and policy processes
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Benefits of civic engagement
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For governments:
Acquire information
Dispel myths
Enhance credibility of
policy or service
Strengthen public trust
in state structures and
actors
Leverage resources
Be seen listening
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For community:
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Expand inclusion
Generate experiences
Transform stereotypes
of people with
disabilities
Advance reform agenda
ideas
Build civic capacity
Foster sense of
citizenship
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Risks of engagement
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Cooptation/incorporation by the state
Fragmentation of the disability movement
Displacement of other important activities or
issues for a group or sub-sector of the
disability community
Legitimating individualistic or bio-medical
notions of disablement
Being labelled as “special interests”
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Context: challenges
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High and persistent rates of poverty
Ambivalent public attitudes and support
Complex and uneven disability movement
Fiscal restraint by governments
Weak memories and policy capacities in
public services
Unrepresentative organizations in staff
Belated and scripted consultations
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Context: prospects
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Provincialization of social policy
Anti-poverty strategies in several provinces
Accessibility/Inclusion legislation (Manitoba, New
Brunswick, Ontario, Québec)
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (Article 29 – participation in political
and public life)
Recent reports on social policy reforms
Outreach efforts by election offices
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The importance of being engaged
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Acting upon our democratic rights as citizens
Building momentum and solidarity within the
disability community
Creating alliances with other social movements and
collectivities with shared values and goals
Drawing notice, in public spaces, to inequalities,
obstacles, and unmet basic needs
Enhancing policy and program claims for inclusion
and full citizenship
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Thank you
Michael J. Prince
Lansdowne Professor of Social Policy
Faculty of Human and Social Development
University of Victoria
[email protected]
Disabling Poverty and Enabling Citizenship CURA
http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/socialpolicy/poverty-citizenship
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