Full Citizenship:
A Manitoba Strategy on Disability

Appendix 1

Principles

Many concepts and values have been recommended to the Government of Manitoba over the past years for the development of a strategy on disability. Some of these speak to the rights (and responsibilities) of Manitobans with disabilities, some acknowledge the responsibilities of public and private sector organizations and institutions, and others declare the fundamental understandings, values and obligations of our society. Some of these principles are already part of public policy, others have not been declared until now.

Many of these principles are helpful in guiding broad policy directions, others deal with program design. All-in-all, these principles will be very helpful in evaluating current policies and programs as well as new policy and program proposals. As such, they will play an important role in developing the Disability Lens.

1. The Principle of Rights and Responsibilities
   Manitobans with disabilities have the same rights and the same responsibilities as other Canadians. They are entitled, as others are, to the equal protection and the equal benefit of the law and require measures for achieving equality, consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, provincial and federal human rights legislation and international human rights covenants.
   
   
2. The Equality Principle
   Manitobans with disabilities have the right to goods and services which will give them equality of opportunity and outcome.
   
   
3. The Respect Principle
   Manitobans with disabilities have the right to have their abilities, right of choice and dignity respected in all stages of their lives.
   
   
4. The Inclusion Principle
   The Government of Manitoba is committed to an inclusive way of thinking and acting that allows every Manitoban to feel accepted, valued and safe. Manitoba is an inclusive community consciously evolving to meet the changing needs of Manitobans. Through recognition and support, Manitoba strives to provide meaningful involvement and equal access to the benefits of citizenship.
   
   
5. The Access Principle
   Manitobans with disabilities have a right to places, events, services and functions that are generally available in the community.
   
   
6. The Empowerment Principle
   Manitobans with disabilities have a right to the means to maximize their independence and enhance their well-being.
   
   
7. The Universal Design Principle
   Manitobans with disabilities have a right to expect that infrastructures be designed to meet the needs of Manitoba's population made up of persons spanning the full range of functional abilities rather than of a prototypical average person or norm. Manitobans with disabilities have a right to environments that meet the needs of the range of the population to the greatest extent possible.
   
   
8. The Principle of Self Determination
   Manitobans with disabilities have the right to participate in decision-making regarding the design, organization and operation of programs providing goods and services that affect them.
   
   
9. The Freedom Principle
   Manitobans with disabilities have the right to the least restrictive environment possible.
   
   
10. The Principle of Social and Economic Integration
    Manitobans with disabilities have the right to services and programs that support integrating Manitobans with disabilities into existing social and economic structures rather than segregating such persons into parallel environments.
    
    
11. The Participation Principle
    Manitobans with disabilities have the right to participate and be invited to participate in all aspects of the economic, social and cultural life of Manitoba.
    
    
12. The Principle of Early Integration into Family and Home Community
    Manitobans with disabilities have the right to programs and services that ensure early and lasting integration into society and avoid forcing individuals to leave their families and home communities.
    
    
13. The Principle of Flexible Service Delivery
    Manitobans with disabilities have the right to programs and services that are flexible enough to accommodate individualized service delivery including options for self and family managed service delivery.
    
    
14. The Systemic Responsibility Principle
    The responsibility to include and ensure accessibility for Manitobans with disabilities to general systems of society (including education, employment, housing, transportation, communications, market and infrastructure) rests with the public and private organizations which operate these systems.
    
    
15. The Awareness Principle
    Commitment and action to raise public awareness minimizes environmental barriers, removes systemic barriers and remedies social attitudes evolving from ignorance, indifference and fear, presently impeding the full inclusion and participation of Manitobans with disabilities.
    
    
16. The Prevention Principle
    Society has an obligation to ensure that effective measures will be developed to prevent the occurrence of impairments, the disabilities that may result from impairments, and the handicaps that result when environments fail to accommodate impairments and disabilities.[Note]

Note: This paragraph is not to be interpreted in any way as supporting the termination of the lives of those with impairments.

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