Applying to move to a different country comes with many financial and emotional burdens but what happens when they reject your visa application due to your disabled child? I feel that within Canada, people with physical disabilities are shown high levels of equality. But when you reject someone’s application because they have a physical or mental disability, is that not discrimination? “Canada shuns immigrants with disabilities. Our government rejects newcomers with disabilities who it foresees will be costly to Canada” (White, 2010, p.18). We teach our children to be accepting of people with disabilities, we build buildings that our accessible, public transportation that they can use etc. While making Canada a place where the disabled have equal opportunity, the government in turn refuses entry to disabled people.
A person with a disability is not even eligible to apply but if they are a dependent their parents have the chance of applying. Only to have their application rejected because of their disabled child that they love just as same as any other child. This causes a lot of strain on families that are already dealing with the stress that accompanies caring for a disabled child. It also makes the child feel at fault. The reason the government declines immigration rights to families with disabled children is because they believe they will cause excessive strain on Canada’s heath system and social services.
There have been many court cases where families have filed charges against visa officers. There is website on these case commentaries that tell us what the rulings are. The case of Gau v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) on October 23, 2006 says that even though the family was willing to accept the financial burden of tending to their disabled daughter’s medical needs, their immigration was still denied.
The parents of these disabled children have been fighting back and due to all these court cases there seems to be some progress made. “It seems somewhat incongruous to interpret the legislation in such a way that they very assets that qualify these individuals for admission to Canada can simultaneously be ignored in determining the admissibility of their disabled children” (Annonymous, 2005, p.1). So they seem to be taking into consideration that it is unfair to turn away immigrants who maybe doctors or lawyers just because they have a disabled child.
“Based on a medical model of disability that is rooted in prejudices and stereotypes about persons with disabilities that reinforces their historical marginalization and exclusions” (Annonymous, 2005, p.1). So there are a few people that believe that people with disabilities need to be given a second chance and it has been ruled that each case needs individual attention. But in reality are disabled applicants seen through the same lens as every body else?
-Iresha
References
White, M. (2010, February 24) Unwelcome Burden? The Globe and Mail, A.18. Retrieved from:
Wow I can not even believe this! I have learned about immigrants and refugees in my social development class but i have never learned about this. I am shocked that they would refuse a person because they are disabled. Everyone should have the same rights, it is called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, right? I hope more cases are won.
ReplyDeleteBrittany
It truly is ironic how Canada puts so much effort into making sure citizens with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else, but deny a person entry to a country because they are disabled. Thank you for opening my eyes to this matter, Iresha! Good post!
ReplyDelete- Adrienne A.
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ReplyDeleteI really liked your comparison of how society teaches kids to treat everyone equally yet the government won't do the same. That is not setting a good example at all for the younger generation. The hypocrisy is actually quite shocking. Great entry !
ReplyDelete- Yodit