Living with SCI and similar physical disabilities is expensive and brings some unique challenges to making a steady, liveable income. This spring, when the provincial government asked for input on a future poverty reduction strategy, our SCI BC Peers made their voices heard.
The BC Government has been working towards the creation and implementation of a poverty reduction strategy, which has included extensive consultation with the public. “Poverty affects everyone – seniors and children, families and individuals. It affects those who don’t work and those who do. Its impact can be felt in our communities and throughout our province.
B.C. has the second highest rate of poverty in Canada and the B.C. Government is taking action to address this.”
In February and March of 2018, SCI BC held in-person and online discussions with peer members across the province and used an online survey to collect input from their perspectives living with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and similar disabilities to inform the development of a BC poverty reduction strategy.
Over 15,000 people live with a spinal cord injury (SCI) in BC, and SCI BC felt it was incredibly important to elevate these voices in this province-wide discussion on how mitigate poverty across the province. Individuals with SCI and related disabilities have a variety of extra expenses, including but not limited to accessible housing and transportation, daily living, mobility, social, and health.
Heather Lamb, Information Resource Specialist on SCI BC’s Infoline, organized the questions and results of the feedback sessions, had lots to say about the importance of this work within BC.
The results were summarized in a report to the Province of BC through SPARC BC, the organization that facilitated regional consultations around the province.
Here’s a summary of SCI BC’s Poverty Reduction Consultations:
