Liberal Views on Persons with Physical Disabilities: The Registered Disability Savings Plan

“In June 1986, one out of every 30 workers in Canada had a disability that limited the kind or amount of work he or she could do. Nationwide, there were almost 380,000 such workers” (Cohen, G., L., 1989). Although the development of technology is improving conditions for persons with disabilities, this group still faces various obstacles.

Liberal ideology seems to permeate recent Conservative motivations. One example of such movements is the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) (Jennifer Moreau, October 31, 2008). What I got from this initiative was that it is similar to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESPs) in that no taxation is allotted to those putting money into the RDSP until the money is withdrawn. Instead, the federal grant matches the amount put into the RDSP (Jennifer Moreau, October 31, 2008). Contrary to the Registered Retirement Saving Plan for people without disabilities, a tax break is not given to members invested in the RDSP. Similarly to a tax break, how much money one receives from the RDSP bond will depend on how much the correspondent puts into the fund.

From this standpoint, the prevalent ideology underlying the RDSP seems to be liberal. Although the current ideology in place, liberalism, may appear as an improvement from neo-conservatism, problems affecting persons with physical disabilities only appear to be targeted by liberals on a superficial level. The notion that “The various interdependent social systems sometimes get out of tune with each other and create social disorganization” is grounded in liberal ideology (Mullaly 1997, 57). This notion then does not accept full responsibility for reviving society and is a shortfall of liberal ideology. The liberal notion that the states purpose is to help when every possible avenue has been exhausted(Straka November 3) not only supports dependency among marginalized citizens but is clearly stated in the “Founding Principles” on the Conservative parties website when they purport “A belief that it is the responsibility of individuals to provide for themselves, their families and their dependents, while recognizing that government must respond to those who require assistance and compassion” (Conservative Party Website).

Personally, I think the RDSP endorses liberal ideology in the sense that it deals with the concurrent social problems that result from capitalism (Mullaly 1997, 64). Moreover the RDSP only truly benefits those people who have a head start in the race of life (Straka 2010). In a sense this seems contradictory to the group the RDSP was developed for in the first place, for “people with low to modest incomes suffering a physical disability” (Carrick, R., February 2009). The lack of fulfillment of requirements for higher paying jobs is another problem for persons physically disabled, which generally has to do with their lower paying jobs (Cohen, G., L., 1989). One drawback of the RDSP is if you take money from the RDSP, money one has accumulated from the grant within the past ten years must be paid back to the federal government (Carrick, R., February 2009). Therein, persons with disabilities will make less in wages in comparison to those who do not have disabilities and will likely struggle paying what they owe back to the government. Getting companies on board in implementing the RDSP presents another dilemma, stated in Carricks article titled Savings plans for disabled offer long-term security: “Simple economics explain why more companies aren't offering RDSPs. There aren't enough potential customers to generate the same kind of revenues as RRSPs…. ” (Carrick, R., February 2009). With this in mind one can see how the lack of available companies could interfere with ones willingness to purchase the RDSP, for instance people in rural communities who have a limited number of companies to choose from to begin with could really feel the effects of this problem. Also, persons with interlocking oppressions may be less likely to receive the ‘fruits of their labor’ once they need to dip into the RDSP. According to Bahm and Forchuk, among the population of persons with disabilities, those most stigmatized are those who are both physically and mentally disabled (January 2009, p. 1). In light of all this, how can society generate a positive outlook for people with physical disabilities?

To target problems inherent in the RDSP, more accountability has to be directed towards the liberal ideology which motivates these initiatives in order to fix their downfalls. First off I think developing policies in all areas of primary and secondary schooling that accommodate the physically disabled could result in higher numbers attending post-secondary schools therefore, fulfilling education requirements of available jobs. Also some endorsements to influence employers to hire persons with physically disabilities possibly could be put in place. Initially maybe simply advocating and bringing awareness to the under employment of people with physical disabilities could be established. How to go about influencing companies to adopt the RDSP, is an element I am unsure how to address. Barriers like the ones described here, wherein the government has to ask how stakeholders will benefit in monetary terms has caused government to reach even further into people’s pockets. The capitalist ideology that people must compete to prosper individually has perpetuated selfishness of this sort.

On an end note, I feel a push toward a social democratic society would better address issues pertaining to people with physical disabilities. Although the efforts of them may come from a moral place, the foundational virtues of the liberals do not attend to people with physical disabilities beyond the superficial level.

Bahm, A. & Forchuk, C. (2009) Interlocking oppressions: The effect of a comorbid physical disability on perceived stigma and discrimination among mental health consumers in Canada. Health & Social Care in the Community, 17, 63-70.

Carrick, R. (2009). Savings plans for disabled offer long-term security.

Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/savings-plans-for-disabled-offer-long-term-security/article12184/singlepage/.

Conservative Party of Canada. (2010) Founding Principles. Retrieved from http://www.conservative.ca/party/founding_principles/

Moreau, J. (2008). Harper delivers the goods-

New RDSP plan devised for people with physical or intellectual disabilities.

Retrieved from http://www.burnabynow.com/health/Harper+delivers+goods/2803731/story.html

Mullaly, B. (1997). The New Structural Social Work (2nd ed.). Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press.

Strunk, J. (2010). Respite Care for Families of Special Needs Children: A Systematic Review. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 22, 615-630.

Cohen, G. L. (1989). Disabled workers. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-bin/af-fdr.cgi?l=eng&loc=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/studies-etudes/75-001/archive/e-pdf/2286-eng.pdf&t=Disabled workers

-Brooke D.