What is the purpose of a disability inclusion lens?
- The purpose of the lens is to assess the impact of policies, programs and legislation on individuals with disabilities.
- The Disability Inclusion Lens is more than a checklist of positive behaviors or policies. It is a process integrated into the regular operation of government to ensure consultation and inclusion.
What does a disability inclusion lens do?
- A disability inclusion lens will go a long way to ensuring government programs and services meet the real needs of individuals with disabilities;
- A disability inclusion lens should mean that government will conduct substantive and meaningful community consultations;
- In the long run a disability inclusion lens should ensure that the issues and concerns of individuals with disabilities are identified, discuss and hopefully actioned before there is a problem.
What is the background to the development and implementation of a disability inclusion lens?
- 1998: The development of a disability lens was a key component of the provincial government announcement on the creation of the disability strategy.
- 1999: Disability Inclusion Lens was part of the original mandate of Council on Disability Issues.
- 2000: Joint community/government task groups undertaken preliminary work. Task groups have not met since 2000.
- 2001: Saskatchewan Disability Action Plan identifies Disability Inclusion Lens as priority step forward.
- 2003: The NDP response to the Disability Election Agenda was that the Disability Inclusion Lens is being developed.
What should the provincial government be doing about a disability inclusion lens?
- The Government needs to implement a Disability Inclusion Lens.
- A working group co chaired by government and community needs to be created.
- Timeline need to be set for the completion of working group's work.
- The working group needs to report directly to provincial government minister.
- There must be recognition of the resource imbalance between government and community. IDEA Regina is an organization of volunteers.