We Are Electors. We Are Women with Disabilities.

27 April 2011

For Immediate Release

We are moms; we are caregivers; we experience spousal abuse; we are renters and home owners. We are also women with disabilities. Women with disabilities need to see themselves reflected in the election commitments of all Canada’s Federal Parties. DAWN-RAFH Canada and CCD are encouraging candidates running in the Federal Election to address the issues of women with disabilities.

DAWN-RAFH Canada, which is celebrating 25 years in service to women with disabilities this year, is a national bilingual cross-disability organization for women with disabilities. Our mission is to end the poverty, isolation, discrimination and violence experienced by women with disabilities. CCD is a national human rights organization of people with disabilities working for an inclusive and accessible Canada.

“Investment in women makes good economic sense because women are the major purchasers for their homes and families. The needs of women with disabilities do not change in response to economic trends. Because we usually live below the poverty line (or near it) 100% of our incomes are turned to local economies,” states Carmela Hutchison, DAWN-RAFH Canada President.

DAWN-RAFH Canada and CCD are encouraging women and men with disabilities to be visible during the election and to speak out about the issues of women with disabilities to candidates seeking election. The organizations are encouraging voters to seek information from candidates to the following questions:

Will your party support the following measures which would have a positive effect on women with disabilities:

• The re-establishment of the Court Challenges Program for equality rights test case litigation?
• The expansion of Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits to 52 weeks of coverage?
• Making the Government of Canada a model employer, both in its hiring and disability accommodation practices and achieving the goal of equitable representation of people with disabilities at all levels of the federal public service?
• The development of a National Action Plan to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?
• An inclusive and accessible approach to child care, care giving, housing, measures to prevent violence against women?
• The renewal and expansion of the Social Development Partnerships Program (Disability)?
• The renewal and expansion of the Status of Women Canada?
• Poverty reduction measures which are inclusive of women with disabilities?

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For more information contact:

Carmela Hutchison, President, DAWN-RAHF Canada Tel: 403-935-4218 / 1-866-452-1933
Bonnie Brayton, Executive Director, DAWN-RAHF Canada Tel: 514-396-0009
April D’Aubin, Research Analyst, CCD, Tel: 204-947-0303.