Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities Annual Report 2005/2006 Table of Contents Letter of Transmittal Letter from the Chair Highlights from 2005/2006 Strategic Planning for the Premier’s Council Appendix I: Alberta Disability Strategy Major Recommendations Appendix II: 2005/2006 Council Members Letter of Transmittal May 1, 2007 The Honourable Ed Stelmach Premier of Alberta 307 Legislature Building Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6 Dear Honourable Premier: I have the honour of presenting the seventeenth Annual Report of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities. This report covers the activities undertaken by your Council during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006. It is submitted in accordance with the provision of s.7 (1) of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities Act for your presentation to the Legislative Assembly. Respectfully submitted, Rob Lougheed, MLA Strathcona Constituency Chair, Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities Letter from the Chair It was another busy year for the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities in 2005/2006. In May 2005, 11 new Premier’s Council members were appointed for a three year term. Along with me as Chair, three members were reappointed to give continuity to the work of the Premier’s Council. Please see appendix B for a complete list of Premier’s Council members. While the Premier’s Council spent much of its time over the past year involved in the strategic planning process to guide them forward to 2008, they were also involved in a variety of other activities. On October 27 and 28, 2005, the Premier’s Council hosted their second Disability Community Symposium in Edmonton. Representatives from approximately 45 provincial organizations involved with disability issues attended the symposium. The purpose of the two-day gathering was to provide an opportunity for disability community leaders to discuss the barriers and issues faced by people with disabilities in the province. This information was used by the Premier’s Council to help them in their strategic planning process. On December 2, 2005, the Premier’s Council joined several other cities and towns across the province to host celebrations of the International Day of Disabled Persons. I had the pleasure of presenting two Premier’s Council Awards of Excellence and the Gary William McPherson Award at the Edmonton event. I offer my sincere congratulations to all of the award recipients. I want to thank Premier’s Council members and staff for all their efforts over the past year. Our team effort will help us continue on the path to full inclusion for persons with disabilities. Sincerely, Rob Lougheed, MLA Strathcona Constituency Chair, Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities Highlights from 2005/2006 Over the last year, the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities has continued to work toward achieving full citizenship for Albertans with disabilities. Council members coordinate and participate in various activities guided by the Alberta Disability Strategy (see Appendix 1). Disability Community Symposium As part of its ongoing commitment to represent the interests of people with disabilities, the Premier’s Council frequently connects with the disability community. The Premier’s Council held its second Disability Community Symposium in Edmonton on October 27 and 28, 2005. The Symposium brought together politicians, government support program managers, and disability community leaders for a day and a half of planning, discussion, and networking. Symposium activities included small group discussions and a large plenary meeting. Topics discussed at the symposium included: 1. Integrated and coordinated client-centred and outcome-focused service delivery for people with disabilities. 2. Transitioning from childhood to adulthood for people with disabilities. 3. Gaps in programs and services for people with disabilities. 4. Employment and training for persons with disabilities. 5. Housing for persons with disabilities. International Day of Disabled Persons On December 2, 2005, International Day of Disabled Persons was recognized across Alberta. The theme was “Nothing About Us Without Us.” The message reminded people that individuals with disabilities should be a part of the decision making process in programs, policies, and decisions that affect them. Events were held in Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Bow Island, and Medicine Hat. The Premier’s Council prepared and distributed posters, bookmarks, brochures, stickers, and a radio public service announcement across the province to encourage Albertans to get involved in making full citizenship a reality for all. The celebrations included Awards of Excellence presented on behalf of the Premier’s Council. The Premier’s Council Awards of Excellence was created in 2003 to highlight the outstanding work of individuals or organizations that enhance or enrich the lives of persons with disabilities. In Edmonton, architect Ron Wickman was presented the Gary McPherson Leadership Award, an award named after the Premier’s Council’s first chairman. The Edmonton Employment Partnership Employer Advisory Board was recognized in the category of employment, and Camrose resident Theresa Mokry was honoured for her work in raising public awareness of persons with disabilities. In Calgary, Lethbridge Community College’s Campus Connections program was honoured for its work in education, while a ceremony in Bow Island recognized the Bow Island Lions Club for its development of a barrier free playground and park facilities at Centennial Park. Awards of Excellence 2005 Ron Wickman, Gary McPherson Award For more than 10 years, Ron Wickman has been a leading advocate for barrier-free design in buildings and on landscapes. As an architect, his commitment to accessible housing and his award winning practical and functional designs have earned Mr. Wickman national recognition as an expert in accessibility and barrier-free design. Mr. Wickman’s credentials include a wide variety of structural and landscape projects. Two of note are the development of accessibility plans for the University of Alberta and Fort Edmonton Park. As a volunteer, he serves on many committees and boards that deal with accessibility in design. He freely provides his expertise and time to individuals and non-profit groups seeking his help. “As an architect, Ron Wickman has been a great champion of universal design with the goal of designing buildings and facilities so that they serve the greatest number of people, regardless of ability,” notes one of his clients. “The characteristic that sets Mr. Wickman aside from others is his ability to work with individuals withvarying degrees of disabilities and accessibility issues. He strives to help them attain their highest level of independence through accessibility,” reflects a member of a major provincial disability organization. Theresa Mokry, Award of Excellence, Public Awareness Camrose resident Theresa Mokry has spent considerable time visiting Camrose and area elementary schools to talk about how people are different but have the same value. She focuses on the positive aspects of being different from one another and shares her experiences of living with a disability. School children, mainly Grades 3 and 4, respond enthusiastically to Ms. Mokry’s presentation, which she developed herself. Her sponsor, the Camrose Association for Community Living, reports that “the presentations had a profound impact on the children and the feedback from the schools has been very positive. Because of the many children Ms. Mokry has touched, their families and the schools involved have also been impacted. This helps the community as a whole benefit from the presentations.” Campus Connections, Lethbridge Community College, Award of Excellence, Education Campus Connections is an inclusive post-secondary education initiative that assists adults with developmental disabilities to enroll at Lethbridge Community College and be an active part of college life. For the past six years, Campus Connections has paved the way for persons with disabilities to grow and develop in an educational environment. The program has also had a positive impact on the college community at large. Many students have commented that it has been valuable to get to know students with disabilities for who they are, not because of their disability. Instructors have adapted teaching styles to meet the needs of all students in the classroom. One instructor notes that “Campus Connections is an important facet of the LCC learning environment. It builds understanding for a life-time for all learners.” Bow Island Lions Club, Award of Excellence, Community The Bow Island Lions Club spent three years planning, funding and constructing a barrier free playground and shower and washroom facility at Centennial Park in Bow Island. Children of all ages and abilities are now able to take advantage of this play area. A unique feature is a basic sign language learning centre that raises awareness of the challenges faced by persons with hearing or speaking disabilities. The shower and washroom facility features wide access doors, accessible washrooms, vanities that are wheelchair friendly, automatic lighting, and wheel-in showers. “Forward thinking and quality planning has been prioritized to ensure these facilities are accessible by all members of the public,” notes Bow Island Mayor Alan Hyland. “It has provided a lot of new smiles and positive feedback.” Edmonton Employment Partnership Employer Advisory Board, Award of Excellence, Employment. The Edmonton Employment Partnership Employer Advisory Board has worked since its formation in 2000 to coordinate employment services for employers and persons with disabilities. The Board’s promotion of diversity and the employment of persons with disabilities have led to an increase in the number of persons with disabilities joining the workforce. The Board is composed of 20 Edmonton region businesses, government authorities, educational institutions, business associations, staffing organizations, and service providers. In 2005, the Board formed a partnership with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce to create the Diversity Business Development Initiative. The initiative encourages employers to recognize the value persons with disabilities bring to the workforce and to see job candidates with disabilities as a good hiring opportunity, particularly now, when Alberta is experiencing a labour shortage. New Council Members Recruitment of new Premier’s Council members began late in the 2004/2005 fiscal year, and more than 200 individuals from around the province applied. Interviews with 35 individuals followed, and from these, 11 new members were chosen. The new members were appointed in May of 2005. New members were appointed on the basis of their cross-disability perspective, knowledge of disability issues, ability to work in a team, and commitment to the Premier’s Council’s mission, vision, and guiding principles. Please see Appendix II for 2005/2006 Council member biographies. Chair Rob Lougheed and members Shirley Dupmeier, Judy Hellevang, and Linette Kelly were reappointed to give continuity to the Premier’s Council’s work. Strategic Planning for the Premier’s Council In June of 2005, the Premier’s Council began their strategic planning process. Premier’s Council members have been developing a plan to guide their work through to 2008. An environmental scan was completed, and goals for the Premier’s Council were developed to address dominate issues and other areas of concern and need, as noted by the environmental scan and by Council members. The Premier’s Council is expecting to approve the strategic plan early in the 2006/2007 fiscal year. The plan focuses on four major goals: Goal #1: By 2008, Premier’s Council members will be connected, well-resourced, and visible ambassadors for persons with disabilities. Every agency, organization and community in Alberta, including First Nations and Métis communities, will be aware of and comfortable approaching the Premier’s Council. They will see value in forming partnerships and having positive relationships with the Premier’s Council. Goal #2: By 2008, the Premier’s Council will be seen as leaders in advocating for and encouraging improvements in the following key areas: ? Educational access, choice, and support for persons with disabilities. ? Equal access to supported living across the province. ? Simplified, streamlined, and consistent government service and supports for persons with disabilities. ? Increased labour market participation of persons with disabilities in jobs that are meaningful and valued. ? Interdepartmental and interagency communications and cooperation. Goal #3: By the end of 2007, the Premier’s Council will be regularly and actively involved in appropriate legislative, policy, and program reviews. Goal #4: By 2008, the Premier’s Council will have helped position Alberta as one of the most inclusive provinces in Canada. During the strategic planning process, Premier’s Council members saw the need to create two standing subcommittees. The Communications Committee’s mandate is to: ? Develop and annually update a communications strategy that supports the Premier’s Council strategic plan. ? Oversee development of Premier’s Council communications materials and supports (e.g. newsletter, brochures, and displays). ? Identify communication gaps between the Premier’s Council and its stakeholders and provide recommendations for filling these communication gaps. The Policy and Program Review Committee’s mandate is to: ? Identify and review current and emerging issues and policies at all levels of government affecting and concerning the status of persons with disabilities. ? Review the provision of funding, services, and programs to persons with disabilities. ? Make referrals and recommendations to and consult and collaborate with all levels of government, government agencies, volunteer associations, businesses, universities, and other persons on matters affecting and concerning the status of persons with disabilities. Appendix I: Alberta Disability Strategy Major Recommendations In the Alberta Disability Strategy, the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities made 168 recommendations concerning policies, programs, and initiatives affecting the lives of persons with disabilities. These recommendations are contained in the companion document Alberta Disability Strategy Core Supports and Appendices. The Premier’s Council believes that implementation of these recommendations will enable all Albertans to fully participate in all aspects of Alberta society. There are, however, several major recommendations that the Premier’s Council believes are priorities for action. Common to all the recommendations is the demand for government to better coordinate and enforce policies and programs impacting persons with disabilities. The lack of coordination and interdepartmental cooperation results in many departments and agencies offering services that are not complementary, overlap or conflict with each other. The government currently has legislation in place that was created to remove many access and involvement barriers, but poor enforcement of policies and regulations, such as Building Code standards, means persons with disabilities continue to face major restrictions, challenges, and frustrations in their daily lives. 1. Awareness Albertans should be made more aware of the rights, needs, and aspirations of persons with disabilities. Attitudinal and systemic barriers add significantly to the daily challenges faced by Albertans with disabilities. Preconceived attitudes, inappropriate behaviours, and limited expectations among the general public and service providers prevent persons with disabilities from achieving their full potential. Such barriers hit aboriginals with disabilities particularly hard, as they also face other systemic impediments related to their heritage and culture. Social marketing programs in health promotion, such as AADAC’s anti-drug campaign, have proven effective. It is recommended that a similar approach be introduced across the province to emphasize the abilities and untapped potential of persons with disabilities. This general public awareness should be supported by communication and promotion targeting key audiences, such as employers, government workers, the hospitality industry, and others. 2. Supports for Daily Living The Government of Alberta must ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities related to their daily living activities are met. Personal care, communication, shelter, and mobility are fundamental needs most Albertans take for granted. But Albertans with disabilities need daily living supports to participate in recreational, social, employment, or learning activities. Without basic support, and the assurance that this support will be provided, many disabled Albertans cannot be a part of the community. Alberta has a wide variety of programs in place to help Albertans overcome barriers and be more independent. However, these programs are largely uncoordinated, often inadequate and difficult to access. Private services are expensive and beyond the reach of most individuals and families. Access to adequate, affordable technical aids and equipment, personal services such as home care and other aids to daily living, transportation, and accessible housing must be assured if persons with disabilities are to develop their abilities and have equal opportunities to be involved in everyday life. 3. Physical Access A commitment to embrace the principles of universal accessibility is needed, as well as a process to remove physical barriers from public spaces so that all Albertans can fully participate in all community, employment, and business activities. For many, the inability to gain access to buildings or other environmental spaces and/or move about with reasonable ease, often limits their ability to equitably participate in activities related to citizen engagement, employment or business and commerce. Current building codes are often inadequate to guard against developers, builders, employers, and even government from seeking exclusions and ducking the responsibility to proactively address access issues. To participate fully, persons with disabilities need to be able to get to and move about the community as freely and unencumbered as any citizen. It is understood that there are reasonable limits to access, but these should be defined by the nature of the environment, not by a property owner or manager. Not every environment can be made accessible to a wheelchair or made safe for a person with a visual impairment to navigate alone, but it must be done wherever and whenever such access is possible. Government alone could go a long way in achieving and demonstrating the value of inclusion by incorporating accessibility as a basic principle in the design and construction of public spaces. A government commitment to assess, plan and respond to the issue of access in all public spaces – as a provider of services and as a prospective employer – would send a strong message to the public regarding enabling all Albertans to fully participate in a broad spectrum of activities. 4. Appeals System Government’s current appeals system should be governed by the rules of administrative law (quasi-judicial) and be more transparent and respectful of the needs of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities have concerns about the effectiveness and fairness of the appeal process in many government departments, agencies, commissions and authorities. Although Canadian and Alberta laws guarantee equality and protection from discrimination, many Albertans often cannot obtain support or services without going through complex and drawn out appeals. The appeal systems fail to recognize the additional difficulties individuals face in understanding the issues, accessing the systems, and working effectively through the processes. It is important that government programs for persons with disabilities have speedy, objective, independent, transparent and advocate-supported appeal processes. 5. Community Supports Model The Government of Alberta should create a single, province-wide program that integrates current disability support programs and funding under one philosophy and set of criteria. This community support model would provide individualized support, enabling persons with disabilities to have a choice in the marketplace and independently make decisions about their needs and service providers. All three levels of government have a responsibility to develop, organize, fund and deliver programs for persons with disabilities. There is a pressing need for better coordination, a more comprehensive approach, and a model that ensures safety and security, self-determination, individualized funding, and community inclusion for all Albertans. Users need more involvement in designing programs and services and deciding what will best meet their individual needs. Transition from one part of the province to another, or from one government program to another, should be seamless. The community supports model would help to fill gaps and inadequacies in existing service arrangements. This model, which is similar to one recommended by the Premier’s Council in a 1990 action plan, would envelope all government departments and regional authorities that provide services to persons with disabilities. 6. Learning The Government of Alberta should improve access to education for persons with disabilities, by linking and integrating education resources, setting standards for special education programs, ensuring all education facilities are physically accessible, reviewing the enrolment appeal process at schools, expanding counselling support, and monitoring implementation of the recommendations of Alberta Learning’s Review of Special Education in Alberta. The Alberta School Act guarantees that all children in Alberta will have access to an education system that addresses their unique needs. Despite this legislated right, students with disabilities continue to face fragmented and uncoordinated services, funding issues, unfair appeal processes, and inadequate staff training and support. These barriers block efforts to obtain a suitable primary, secondary, or post-secondary education. Studies have shown a clear link between a person’s level of education and the likelihood of finding employment or living in poverty. Education levels for Albertans with disabilities are lower than population norms. Improving learning opportunities for all Albertans and providing adequate learning supports and resources will enable individuals with disabilities to fulfill their potential and increase their economic and social independence. 7. Income Support The Government of Alberta should separate income support programs from personal support programs, so that persons with disabilities are not automatically penalized for earning an income and becoming part of the workforce. Currently, eligibility for personal supports like home care, living aids, and access to transportation are tied to income status. Government income support programs such as Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) are connected to services that help provide for basic living needs, but these are lost once a person becomes employed or otherwise ineligible for an income support program. Personal supports, therefore, are often viewed as charity for impoverished people, rather than a support for independent living. The ability to pay for one’s own basic needs does not take into account that a person with a disability still needs personal supports to maintain work status or continue to participate in community life. Also, it does not recognize that the cost for a person with a disability to maintain a standard of living comparable to a non-disabled Albertan is substantially higher. The fear of losing invaluable personal supports once employed is a training or work disincentive for many Albertans with disabilities. More people would be encouraged to seek economic independence if this fear was removed. 8. Employment Alberta employers and governments should provide long-term support and commitment to persons with disabilities attempting to enter the workforce and to participate on public boards, commissions, or committees. Significant time and effort is needed to create and sustain job opportunities for persons with disabilities and to make them “employment ready.” An appropriate level of employment support does not currently exist in Alberta, and existing programs are not well coordinated. To achieve integrated employment supports, more ongoing partnerships among people with disabilities, service organizations, corporations, and governments are required. To meet the holistic needs of persons with disabilities, government departments must work closer together to integrate services like income support, home care, career counseling, and job training. Employment support programs must also move beyond job preparation/search and look to meeting basic workplace needs such as transportation, physical access and on the job integration. To view the full Alberta Disability Strategy document, please visit www.seniors.gov.ab.ca/css/premiers_council/ads/index.asp. Appendix II: 2005/2006 Council Members Rob Lougheed Rob Lougheed, Council Chair, has spent most of his adult life in the field of education. The MLA for Strathcona has over 28 years of experience as an Alberta educator. In addition to his position as Chair and as MLA, Rob currently serves as a member of the following committees: Treasury Board; the Standing Policy Committee on Health and Community Living; the Capital Region Caucus; the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices; and the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders, and Printing. Rob also chaired the recent MLA AISH Review Committee. Shirley Dupmeier Shirley Dupmeier has spent the past 17 years advocating for and with the disability community within the Province of Alberta. She is a liaison with many disability organizations in Medicine Hat. Shirley was instrumental in the development of the Alberta Disability Strategy, and was the winner of the 2004 Euclid Herie Leadership award. Shirley was the founding Chairman, and has been an active member on the Advisory Committee on Disability Issues for the city of Medicine Hat, and participated on the planning committee for the International Day of Disabled Persons events. Mike Hambly Mike Hambly of Calgary is currently employed with The Independent Living Resource Centre where he advocates and breaks down barriers for people with disabilities. He is a member of a number of committees such as Alberta Disabilities Forum, the Calgary chapter President of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians, National Programming Committee with VoicePrint, Access Calgary Advisory Committee, and many other related disability committees. He brings a unique perspective in both having a dual disability and working for a cross-disability organization. He is also self-employed through his business, Braille It, which converts information into Braille format. Judy Hellevang As a volunteer, Judy Hellevang has been associated with the Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre (DDRC) of Calgary for 24 years. She facilitates the DDRC's Board Advisory Committee, which is made up of people with developmental disabilities. Judy has been an advocate for many people with disabilities and promotes their rights. Linette Kelly Linette Kelly of Calgary is a public representative on the Students Finance Appeal Committee and past director of Project 118 Children Services Society. She has served on many volunteer committees as a fundraiser, including an annual benefit for the Calgary Homeless Foundation. She has been an advocate for persons with developmental disabilities for many years and is an active caregiver for a sibling who has a developmental disability. Linette is an executive assistant and corporate secretary for a Calgary consulting firm. Donna Lajeunesse Donna Lajeunesse of Grande Prairie has been actively involved in her community for several years. She is an Aboriginal woman with a disability and brings a unique insight into the world of disabilities. She is currently the chair of the Urban Aboriginal Community Advisory Board and an alternate chair for the Community Advisory Board in Grande Prairie. Greg McMeekin Greg McMeekin, born and raised in Calgary, was the first person with a severe physical disability to be integrated into the regular school system in Calgary. Through hard work and determination, Greg graduated from high school and carries those values with him in all he does. He has worked with the City of Calgary Parks and Recreation - Recreational Services for the Disabled. He is a member of the Calgary Resicare Society Board of Directors, the Accessible Housing Society of Calgary Board of Directors, and the Community Relations Advisory Committee for the Calgary Handi-Bus Association. He is proud to be a member of organizations that work to enhance the lives of Calgarians with disabilities and considers it an honour and privilege to serve Albertans with disabilities. Dr. Austin Mardon Dr. Austin Mardon of Edmonton has been a member of several different committees, including the Edmonton Public Library, the Alberta Disabilities Forum, the Edmonton Clubhouse Society, the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta Edmonton Chapter, the Champion’s Centre, and the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta Provincial Chapter. He lives with a mental illness (schizophrenia) and believes that the inclusion of people with mental illness in the community is important, as it can substantially improve their quality of life. Pat Marshall Pat Marshall of Red Deer has experience with community volunteerism and development and has contributed to provincial, regional, and local committees for the development of services for persons of various populations. She currently is the vice-chair for the Persons with Developmental Disabilities Central Alberta Community Board, a board development instructor with the Alberta Board Development, and an executive committee member with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Central Alberta Region. Lawrence Noel Lawrence Noel of Bonnyville has been an advocate for persons with disabilities for several years. He lives with a disability and has been an active advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities not only within his own community, but also through cross-community and provincial boards such as the Bonnyville Community Council and the Alberta Committee of Citizens with Disabilities. He is currently president of the People First of Northern Alberta, as well as president of the Self Advocate East Network in Northeast Alberta. Diane Ridley Diane Ridley of Thorsby brings a cross-disability perspective to the Premier's Council and a wide range of experience with issues that affect persons with disabilities living in rural areas, such as transportation and isolation. She has served on several different boards at the municipal level and has extensive experience with numerous government programs including Handicapped Children's Services, Alberta Aids to Daily Living, Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), and Senior Special Needs Benefits. Diane also has a personal commitment to advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities as her daughter, now 22, has had a disability since birth. Nancy Schneider Nancy Schneider of Cold Lake is the author of a booklet about disabilities and employment challenges titled Employability: Living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. She has been involved with regional community councils for persons with disabilities and has been a part of making significant changes for persons with disabilities that live within her community. Nancy resigned from the Premier’s Council in November of 2005 due to work commitments. Robie Scholefield Robie Scholefield, formerly of Vancouver, now resides in Edmonton. He is the past executive director of the Alberta Association of the Deaf. He has several years of volunteer and work experience within the deaf community and has, for more than 20 years, been involved at local and provincial levels in advocating for persons with various disabilities. Robie brings a unique perspective to the Premier's Council as the first-appointed member who is deaf. He is dedicated to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities. Marlin Styner Marlin Styner of Red Deer has volunteered and worked within the disability community for 23 years. He has been a member of several different committees that deal with disability issues such as the Canadian Paraplegic Association Advocacy Committee, the Provincial Barrier-Free Transportation Committee, the Spinal Cord Injury Collaboration Initiative, and the Advisory Committee on Accessible Transportation (National). He has been an advocate for persons with disabilities and has been a presenter for the SMARTRISK Heroes program, the Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) Program, and the Junior P.A.R.T.Y. Program. Cheryl Taylor Cheryl Taylor of Edmonton has volunteered and worked within the brain injury community for many years. She has been a board member of several committees such as the Youth in Transition with Disability Advisory Committee, the Provincial Brain Injury Awareness Week Committee, and the Hope Foundation of Alberta. She seeks to ensure that individuals with different disabilities and abilities are supported and able to actively participate in their communities. 1