In their very own phrases: Incapacity artwork hopes to impress discuss, spark change
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Striking works of art and words of experience create a portrait of British Columbians overlooked by the government: people with disabilities.
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March 17, 2021 • • 25 minutes ago • • Read for 3 minutes • • Join the conversation 
Roz MacLean. The Vancouver Island-based artist has created a new e-book entitled “Inadequate: Disability Aid Is Not Enough,” which contains 20 digitally created portraits of British Columbians expressing in their own words what it is like to receive disability benefits from To live BC. Photo by See Notes / Direction /.PNG
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Roz MacLean, a Vancouver Island-based artist, hopes her new e-book Insufficient: Disability Assistance is Not Enough, featuring portraits and the words of those living on BC’s disability benefits, will bring much-needed changes.
The e-book, which will be published online March 18, contains 20 digitally created portraits of British Columbians who express in their own words what it is like to live on the provincial disability benefits.
The amount was capped at $ 1,183.42 for those in need until the province added a COVID-19 surcharge of $ 300 last spring. The surcharge was reclaimed to $ 150 in January, causing an outcry from supporters.
On Tuesday, Minister for Social Development and Poverty Reduction Nicholas Simons announced a permanent increase of $ 175 per month from April for those receiving income and disability benefits.
The 35-year-old MacLean, who was inspired to create the book in part through the 300-to-Live campaign, called on the NDP government to make the provincial $ 300 temporary increase in income and disability benefits permanent said she didn’t think the bump was sufficient.
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“Maintaining the $ 300 benefit or bringing it to the poverty line would be respectful of what people with disabilities have asked for,” she said.
MacLean has spent a lifetime watching her own parents stand up for their 39-year-old brother, Danny, who has an intellectual disability.
“I have been aware of disability rights issues all my life because I watched my brother and all of my parents’ work to make sure he was getting the services and resources he was entitled to,” said MacLean.
“I really hope that our government will be more accountable to people with disabilities who are even more isolated from health and access issues,” said MacLean.
The latest available figures from Statistics Canada report that 546,760 disabled people aged 15 and over are living in BC
Handout digital painting by Lindsay from Roz MacLean’s new e-book “Inadequate: Disability Assistance Is Not Enough” with 20 digitally created portraits of British Columbians who express in their own words what it is like to live on BC disability assistance. Photo by See Notes / Direction /.PNG
MacLean was particularly impressed with the difference the $ 300 COVID-19 insert made to the people she interviewed and the responses to what “dream support” should look like:
“People said it wasn’t just a role in society or housing and equality – a lot of people just didn’t want to live below the poverty line. “Can we have just enough to eat and a roof over our heads, please?” ”
Another aspect that shocked MacLean was how difficult it is to access services for those who need them most.
“While this is a system for people with disabilities, so much of it is inaccessible,” said MacLean.
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Participant AJ describes the experience of dealing with government bureaucracy as “downright humiliating, as if there is an arrest warrant against me?” And “dehumanizing”.
Matthew, who lost his job as a performer with a hairdressing quartet after an accident left him in a wheelchair, dreams of a paid job: “Ask any shopkeeper if they have someone with a disability in their business or not, ask them Why! “
Sheldon reports that “Independence is nearly impossible because most people who receive disability benefits rely on grocery banks, rental banks, and other means such as asking family for help. In fact, I’ve had many times begging and begging for money on the street. “
The book also contains resources for those who want to learn more and support disability rights and accessibility.
“People with disabilities are the experts, listening to their podcasts, following people on Instagram and trying to connect wherever the arts and media exist,” MacLean said.
To download the free eBook, go to Insufficentartproject.ca
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