The report, prepared by the Canadian Council on Social Development, was commissioned by the ministers in order to acquire a high-level national picture of the extent to which the needs of Canadians with disabilities are met. Data from Statistics Canada’s Participation and Activities Limitation Survey 2001 was used as the basis of the report.

By providing a more comprehensive understanding of the problems people face accessing disability supports, the report will assist in the development of a longer-term strategy on disability investments. Federal, provincial and territorial ministers have agreed to collaborate and continue to work in partnership with the disability community.

Disability supports consist of the aids, devices and personal services that help people living with disability to actively participate at home, at work, at school and in their communities. The ministers recognize the importance of disability supports as a key building block of the full citizenship of people with disabilities.

“The report reaffirms the commitment of ministers responsible for social services to work toward ensuring that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of Canadian society,” Health and Social Services Minister Chester Gillan said.

The Department of Health and Social Services also marked International Day of Disabled Persons with the release of the Prince Edward Island Baseline Report 2004-2005 for the Multilateral Framework for Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities.

The Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities reaffirms the commitment of the provincial government and federal government to work towards ensuring Islanders with disabilities can participate successfully in the labour market. The report describes the province’s programs and services which will be funded under the Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities to help persons with disabilities integrate into the workplace. Provincial objectives, program descriptions, target populations and planned expenditures intended to increase employment opportunities and enhance the employability of Islanders with disabilities are outlined in the report.

“These two reports will provide government and non-government organizations with valuable information about what supports we currently have, and where to go from here,” the minister explained.

The Supports and Services for Adults and Children aged 5-14 with Disabilities in Canada: An Analysis of Data on Needs and Gaps report is available on the Social Union Framework Agreement Web site at http://socialunion.gc.ca or through a link on the provincial government Web site at www.gov.pe.ca/go/dsp. The Prince Edward Island Baseline Report 2004-2005 for the Multilateral Framework for Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities is now available on the provincial government Web site at www.gov.pe.ca/go/dsp.