The status report highlights several actions that have been taken, including:
- A select committee on accessibility in New Brunswick has been established. It is charged with consulting with stakeholders and government departments involved with the disability community and reporting to the legislative assembly with recommendations.
- As part of Social Assistance Reform 2021, a task force has been established to review disability support services and programs offered by the Department of Social Development, including income support. The task force includes representatives from primary and allied health care, the Premier’s Council on Disabilities, and the New Brunswick Disability Executives Network, as well as individuals and family members who have had first-hand experience with disability support services and programs.
- The provincial government, through the Equal Employment Opportunity Program, has received approval for a federal grant of about $190,000. This will go toward a one-year project aimed at creating more provincial government employment opportunities for people with intellectual and development disabilities.
“The pandemic has compounded the many inequities faced by persons with disabilities,” said Christyne Allain, the council’s executive director. “Addressing the recommendations outlined in the disability action plan is an important step towards eliminating many of the barriers preventing persons with disabilities from fully participating in society.”
Released in July 2020, the action plan is a multi-year strategy that includes 43 recommendations with a focus on: employment, education, poverty, housing, disability supports, accessibility, transportation, and recreation and wellness.
