N.W.T. disabilities framework misses the mark, says Yellowknife woman

A Yellowknife woman with multiple sclerosis says the N.W.T. government's new disability framework is inadequate.

The document, produced by the Department of Health and Social Services,outlines a broad plan forhow the government plans improve services for people with disabilities.

Elizabeth Portmanoften speaks outfor people with disabilities inthe Northwest Territories. She says she's had a hard time finding anything positive about the framework, which will guide the territory on this issue for the next 10years.

Among her concerns is that people may have trouble accessingthe document itself it's only available onlinein a PDFformat, which can be difficult for people with visual needs to use.

She also feels the framework frames disability as "a disease or medical failing."

"Being different is not a medical issue that needs to be cured," she said.

The document states the territorial governmentconsulted groups such asthe N.W.T.Disabilities Council, the Yellowknife Association for Community Living, the Foster Family Coalition of the N.W.T. and the N.W.T. Seniors Society, but Portman questions whether there was enough of an effort to contact people with disabilities themselves.

She also said she's not convinced how the government will follow through thegoals outlined in itsframework.

"The Northwest Territories is great at frameworks and action plans, but it has a long history of failing to do what they say they will," she said.

"There was a five-year plan before and it was just left to rot on the vine."

For these plans to work there needs to be ongoing monitoring along with input from people with disabilities and adequate resources, she said.

One thing she would like to see going forward is self-assertiveness and advocacy training for people with disabilities and their families.

"People don't know their rights, they don't know how to assert themselves. It's very intimidating, very scary to challenge authority," said Portman.

'Robust evaluation' involved, says N.W.T. Disabilities Council

Denise McKee istheexecutive director of the N.W.T Disabilities Council.

Shedefended the government's consultation process,saying there was a "fairly robust evaluation" of services and programs for people with disabilities in the territory.

That included talking to people with disabilities and their families about"everything from housing to income security to disability supports across every community."

'There's a lot to do'

Victorine Lafferty, the director of seniors and continuing care at the Department of Health and Social Services, said the government did its best to consult as widely as it could, including people with disabilitiesand service providers.

That included an online survey, a 1-800 number, and co-ordination with government service officers to reach people in the communities, she said.

Lafferty said the government will use the 10-year framework to createtwofive-year disabilities action plans. The firstis expected to be released when the legislative assembly sits in May and June.

"It's a broad issue, there's a lot to do," said Lafferty.

"We have to have a starting point and as much as we'd love to be able to address everything today we have to look at resources and capacity."