Best Place To Live For The Disabled: Comparison Of Three Cities In Canada

            When it comes to living a quality lifestyle, living in Canada is undeniably one of the places to go to. They offer various services and amenities, thus giving the people a better quality of life. They have various rules and laws that protect the interests of the people, keeping them secured and safe in their homes. Job opportunities are plenty, wherein there’s a lot to offer for the people. It offers high-paying jobs with sufficient benefits not only for the workers but also for their families. These include health benefits and insurance, loans, housing and car plans. This is what living a normal life in Canada means. But what about those who doesn’t have a normal life, how would they live a life in Canada? This includes people who are not capable of functioning fully like normal people, those who are burdened with a disability, making them handicapped when it comes to doing normal things that a normal person can do. Luckily, Canada offers a lot of supports not only to those who are normal or fully functioning humans, but also to those who are disabled and handicapped people. This extends to helping them with their families, when it comes to job opportunities, benefits like healthcare and housing, and recreational, like public places for the disabled, somewhere where they could hang out and have some fun.

            Cities in Canada offer a lot of opportunities to a lot of people, including those who have disabilities or handicaps. They have extensive projects and activities which benefit the disabled, in order for them to live a better life, without letting them feel that they are a lesser person because they are incomplete or handicapped. These cities promote the wellness of these people, giving them a normal life just like anybody else does. These cities in Canada include Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary.

Job Opportunities

            Being able to provide the handicapped people a source of income would mean taking care of their major concerns in life. Giving them a job means giving them a source of livelihood, an income-generating work to finance their basic needs: food, shelter and clothing. This would also fund certain matters concerning the family, which include payment for children’s education and maintenance of their well-being.

            Job opportunities in Vancouver. Vancouver offers a wide range of job opportunities for the disabled and handicapped. The government is committed into helping the disabled and the handicapped to attain better independence, wherein they are able to work and provide for themselves. They are given a full range of support that will help these people with disabilities so that they will be able to join the workforce, so that the working class will be given another supporting arm. These jobs vary in type, from office jobs to manual labor, depending on the capacity of the person. There are also various institutions that promote jobs for persons who have disabilities. They strive to increase the awareness and knowledge in the part of the business community regarding people with handicaps and disabilities (Chambers, 2003). They are also responsible for creating a chain or network of various businesses that sustains and teaches business establishments to hire, retain and develop the employment chances for disabled people.

            Job opportunities in Toronto. Toronto also has a lot to offer when it comes to jobs. There are various support programs that help disabled people land a good job. This includes Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) – Employment Supports provides people with the necessary resources that removes or takes away the unnecessary barriers or problems that is related to disability or having a handicap to competitive employment especially for those people who are burdened with various disabilities, yet are still able to meet the requirements that makes them eligible for the job. These jobs range form full-time, part-time, and contractual or self-employment. They offer these jobs to people who are willing and able to partake and maintain in a competitive employment, and lives in the area for already 16 years.

            Job opportunities in Calgary. Job opportunities for the disabled in Calgary were mostly headed by non-profit disability organizations. These organizations aim to assist and incorporate disabled people in the workplace of the present. They help the individuals with impairments or handicaps to get employed, get educated and to have their career aims fulfilled and realized.

Benefits for the disabled

            Disabled people may have handicaps or impairments, but their needs are just the same with other normal people. But in the society, they are often given improper considerations, since they do lack certain characteristics. But nonetheless, their needs need to be addressed just like anyone else.

            Benefits for the disabled in Vancouver. Along with employment, disabled people in Vancouver receive certain benefits. This covers their health benefits, insurance and other medical concerns. There are also housing benefits for those who can’t afford to have a house of their own. Education benefits for those who want to study are also given; wherein some of these are offered by the jobs they are employed. Some jobs require a certain educational attainment or degree, that is why they are given special training sessions or study groups, or sometimes they are enrolled in classes in certain schools. These people also receive allowances amounting to $70 dollars for a given time. Considering this person doesn’t have any stable source of income, this amount is a very big help for them. These and many more are considered as the disabled benefits.

            Benefits for the disabled in Toronto. When a resident qualifies for the ODSP category, he then becomes a recipient of a $979 dollars monthly income supplement and drug and dental benefits. These benefits are deemed essential, especially for those who need it the most, those who aren’t able to work fully because of their disability. This is a very substantial amount that could play an important part in a recipient’s daily life. This amount may be broken down to various expenses in their household (Clarke, 2004).

            Benefits for the disabled in Calgary. In Calgary, there are private institutions that promise a good compensation plan for those who are handicapped, burdened with disability. There are salary benefits which gives additional increments which are earned by the disabled employees. They are also given pension plans, insurance and necessary benefits like car loans and housing plans (Hull, 2007).

Recreation for the disabled

            Not only were the cities in Canada excellent for jobs and benefits, they also provide areas for recreation and relaxation for the disabled. Just like any other normal person, relaxation and recreation is a part of a health lifestyle. Through this, they are able to feel that they are living their lives to the fullest, even though they may be incapacitated or burdened by any disability or handicap. There are public places where disable citizens could enjoy themselves, have fun just like any other human person. This serves as an outlet of stress from work, thus making them feel better and healthier.

Recreation in Vancouver. Vancouver boasts to be one of the best cities when it comes to accessibility for people who have special needs, when it comes to tourism and recreation. People with disabilities are able to enjoy traveling, sight seeing and relaxing at the same time. The Vancouver International Airport is a very welcoming place especially for the disabled. It is barrier-free and has adaptations to various impairments as the need be for the tourists and travelers. For transportation, Vancouver was the first city ever to provide bus services for the disabled. Attractions in Vancouver are all accessible, including competitive and recreational events like skiing, sailing, and more.

            Recreation in Toronto. Just like Vancouver, Toronto offers a good deal of recreational areas for skiing, hockey, and sailing for patients with disabilities. Outdoor activities like camping are offered to promote independence for people with disability. Competitions and activities are also being held in order to promote camaraderie and unity with every member (Trono, 2003).

            Recreation in Calgary. Same activities like sailing, yachting and more are also being offered for disabled people in this place. There some special ball clubs and sports associations that sponsor activities and competition for the disabled. This promotes self-esteem, acceptance, and belongingness from the participating disabled people, thus strengthening their relationships with other people.

Conclusion

            Clearly, we can see that the best place for disabled people in terms of job opportunities, benefits, and recreational aspect is Vancouver. It is undeniably true that in this city, the disabled were given a lot of importance, by giving signs of encouragement and support, thus making them want to live their lives to the fullest.

References:

Long Term Disability Insurance Plan. (2003).   Retrieved February 27, 2007, from http://www.ucalgary.ca/hr/bendesc/as-ltd.html

People with Disabilities in the Food Bank Line. (2003).   Retrieved February 27, 2007, from http://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/CSPC-T%20Current%20Projects/Food%20Share/people%20with%20disabilities%20in%20the%20food%20bank%20line.htm

ONTARIO DISABILITY SUPPORT PROGRAM (ODSP) – EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS. (2005).   Retrieved February 27, 2007, from http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/on/epb/disabilities/pd.shtml

Employment. (2006).   Retrieved February 27, 2007, from http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/audiences/disabilities/employment.shtml

Province must provide benefits to disabled teen with high IQ: court. (2007).   Retrieved February 27, 2007, from http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=5e60c445-979e-4538-a53e-208efaf9bc14&k=62434

Special Needs Travelers. (2007).   Retrieved February 27, 2007, from http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/travel_tips/special_needs_travelers

Chambers, R. (2003). $20 MILLION HELPS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ACCESS JOBS.   Retrieved February 27, 2007, from http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/nrm_news_releases/2003MHR0006-000382.htm

Clarke, B. (2004). Increase in disabled benefits still doesn’t cover Liberal cuts.   Retrieved February 27, 2007, from http://www.avi.org/node/view/965

Hull. (2007). Providing For Disabled Beneficiaries.   Retrieved February 27, 2007, from http://estatelaw.hullandhull.com/2007/01/articles/blog-posts-hull-on-estates/providing-for-disabled-beneficiaries/

Trono, M. (2003). Champions Career Centre: An Overview.   Retrieved February 27, 2007, from http://www.neads.ca/en/about/projects/student_leadership/access_to_success/access_champions.php