Deinstitutionalization
At the very heart of the People First movement is the issue of deinstitutionalization. People First believes in the right of every individual to live in their community and will work to close institutions and educate Canadian society about their existence and the better options available.
The PFC/CACL National Joint Task Force on Deinstutionalization define an institution as follows:
An institution is any place in which people who have been labelled as having an intellectual disability are isolated, segregated and/or congregated. An institution is any place in which people do not have, or are not allowed to exercise control over their lives and their day to day decisions. An institution is not defined merely by its size.
In order to educate society about this issue, People First has developed several tools that we use to promote awareness. These tools include the following.
The Freedom Tour
The Freedom Tour is a powerful documentary that has been raising awareness about institutions both nationally and internationally. In partnership with the National Film Board, The Freedom Tour project is unique in that the process of making this film was totally inclusive. Members of People First learned all aspects of film making – from sound, editing, camera, interviewing, working with the media, promotion and more.
On March 31, 2009, The Freedom Tour was simultaneously shown in over 30 locations in Ontario to mark the closing of the final three institutions in that province that warehoused individuals with intellectual disabilities.
To view the trailer for The Freedom Tour, please go to www.thefreedomtour.ca
It is our privilege to share with you the Remarks made as reflection and response to the closure of Ontario’s final institutions during the Association for Community Living’s closing ceremony in Ontario at Ryerson University by Dr. Catherine Frazee. These remarks followed the showing of The Freedom Tour.
REMARKS BY CATHERINE FRAZEE*
*Catherine Frazee is a Professor of Distinction in the School of Disability Studies at Ryerson University, and Co-Director of the Ryerson RBC Institute for Disability Studies Research and Education.
What can you say at a time like this?
What can you say in a moment that is heavy with the honour and fierce conviction of the men and women who have brought us this mighty film? What can you say when you are breathless from what you have just witnessed, not breathless from the crimes and degradations of these dark and ugly places, but breathless from the sheer force of so much survival, so much resistance, so much humanity.
What can we say except thank you, thank you to each and every person who contributed to the making of this monumental film. Thank you for your fearless tellings of truth, for your fearless singing of strength, for your fearless knowing of right from wrong. Thank you for the grace of your showing us what it means to be People, First.
What can you say when you share a stage with such a mother as Joe Dickey, and such a brother as Justin Clark? You represent two generations of rock stars in our long march to freedom!
What can we say except that we roll out before you the deep red carpet of our esteem and appreciation. What can we say except that we are proud to stand in your company, proud to follow the bold moves that you took so many years ago, proud to step onto the trail that you have blazed in the spirit of community living.
What can you say when the steel doors close on a dark era, when you are safely outside but your history is in shards, when the bleeding stops but the pain does not, when the buildings that housed this ugly history stand, finally, empty and silent. What can you say except never again, never again will our people be warehoused, never again abandoned, never again humiliated on such a massive scale.
What can we say except that never again will we turn away, for we have learned that the indifference of many is precisely what permits the ravages of institutional abuse. What can we say except that we know better, and we demand better.
What can we say except that we will not rest until the promise of decent lives in real communities is made real for each and every disabled Canadian.
Institution Watch Newsletter
Institution Watch Newsletter is written and produced by the People First of Canada – Canadian Association for Community Living Joint Task Force on Deinstitutionalization. This newsletter monitors and reports on the progress made in our country in terms of closing institutions and ensuring that all persons with intellectual disabilities live in the community. You can access all editions of Institution Watch at www.institutionwatch.ca
Deinstitutionalization National Task Force
People First of Canada and the Canadian Association for Community Living National Joint Task Force on Deinstitutionalization exists because many individuals with intellectual disabilities remain in institutions – segregated, isolated and often without their full citizenship rights. The Task Force works towards raising awareness of institutions and the conditions in which our fellow Canadians live within these institutions. The goals of the Task Force include closing existing institutions and ensuring that no new institutions for individuals with intellectual disabilities are opened in Canada. The vision of the Task Force includes all Canadian citizens living and participating in their communities.
The Label Free Zone
In partnership with the National Film Board, People First of Canada is developing The Label Free Zone. The Label Free Zone is a website by and for people who have been labelled with an intellectual disability to exchange stories, experiences and perspectives with everyone. We want to share our stories with Canada and the rest of the world. The website provides an opportunity for everyone to participate in challenging and changing attitudes that exclude and isolate people who have been labelled with an intellectual disability. The website will be officially launched in October 2009, and is under construction at www.labelfreezone.ca.
For more information on Deinstitutionalization, please contact us info@peoplefirstofcanada.ca
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