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The grassroots organization comes on the heels of the Canada Disability Benefit Act which aims to reduce poverty and support the financial security of people with disabilities
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Janet Nass was a nurse for 30 years before she was diagnosed with chronic complex post-traumatic stress disorder, which halted her career and led to her becoming a recipient of Alberta’s Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH).
Nass described the culture in her household growing up as a “violent patriarchal misogynistic culture.” She said she watched her mother and brother suffer because of it. As a consequence, she was diagnosed with chronic and complex PTSD — but not until three decades later.
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“I was the first person in my family to get a degree. But I was constantly living with this very severe trauma that was underneath the surface and it also affected the way that I was in relationships, and my self-esteem,” said Nass.
“I ended up in a marriage and I chose a person that on the surface looked very together, and actually chose a person that was very mentally, emotionally and spiritually abusive to me.”
The marriage came to an end when Nass’s son, who is on the autism spectrum, tried to commit suicide. She said her ex-husband’s inability to accept their autistic son led him to attempt to take his life at 16 years old.
During the divorce process, Nass’s PTSD became so debilitating she was hospitalized. Years of repressed trauma came to the surface. Nass took custody of her son and young daughter following the divorce. It has been seven years since the divorce and she hasn’t been able to work since.
Nass said she was devastated — her career as a nurse was something she’d fought for.
“Someone does not fight to get an education the way that I did and where I came from to not be able to practise that profession anymore,” said Nass.
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Nass has been navigating AISH for the past seven years. She says the mistreatment of those in the community, lack of communication and constant state of poverty that people with disabilities are living in pushed her to found ARISE — AISH Recipients In Search of Equal Rights. The goal of the group is to fight for change, provide a safe space for members and fight misconceptions.
“I’m a good example of the lack of understanding about severe disabilities that perpetuates hate and misunderstanding around the AISH benefit,” said Nass.
Passing of Bill C-22
The grassroots organization comes on the heels of the Canada Disability Benefit Act, which aims to reduce poverty and support the financial security of people with disabilities.
Bill C-22 passed in the Senate on June 20 and received Royal Assent on June 22, meaning the bill will come into force no later than one year from that date. This means people with disabilities may start receiving additional benefits in June 2024.
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The federal act is the first of its kind and would provide an income supplement for working-age Canadians with disabilities and would be added to provincial and territorial benefits. It would also provide a tax-free monthly payment to low-income Canadians with disabilities under 65.
However, Nass and other advocates have raised concerns about the benefit after one amendment which was rejected by the Senate aimed to prevent controversial clawbacks of benefits from insurance providers, because it was seen as unconstitutional.
‘This is my top priority’
Federal Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Kamal Khera said in an interview with Postmedia that she is speaking with members of provincial and territorial governments to discuss how the program will work in tandem with pre-existing ones like AISH.
She said they are working closely to ensure unintended consequences like clawbacks do not happen.
“Canada Disability Benefit aims to be an income supplement and it shouldn’t be an income replacement. That’s why we’re working to ensure that this supplement does not result in clawbacks or any other unintended consequences,” said Khera.
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Khera added the federal government is currently launching consultations with members of the disability community to ensure adequate design and delivery of the benefits. The benefit will act as a social safety net which Khera said can help lift thousands of Canadians out of poverty.
“We’re focusing on getting our resources to move as fast as we can on the following next steps on developing and implementation of this benefit. I can tell you as a minister, this is my top priority,” said Khera.
“We have made tremendous progress but where we need to get this right, it’s going to be with and engaging and co-creating this benefit with those persons with disabilities because with this benefit, we can seriously reduce poverty, improve the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities and help lift hundreds of thousands of Canadians out of poverty.”
Alberta Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon did not respond to a request for interview. In an emailed statement to Postmedia, Nixon said he is still waiting for more information from the federal government on the Canada Disability Benefit but the government “remains committed to making sure Albertans with disabilities have the supports they need.”
ctran@postmedia.com
@kccindytran
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