I Have a Physical Disability...Can I Still Come?

            Upon entering a new country, Immigrants may feel many different struggles in order to adapt to their new environments. Sometimes, Immigrants are not treated like they are equal members of their new society and therefore it becomes very hard for them. This may be seen as a form of marginalization which Wikipedia defines as “the social process of becoming or being made marginal or relegated to the fringe of society.” Mullaly (2007) states that, “marginalization affects primarily people of colour, old and young persons, many single mothers and their children, and physically and mentally disabled people.” In this post, I will be focusing on the struggles of immigrants with physical disabilities.

            CanadaVisa states that people wanting to immigrate to Canada are required to have standard physical examinations before they are welcomed into the country. The applicants may be denied a Visa if their examination shows a condition that would endanger the health of Canadian citizens or their admission would cause extreme demand on the social and health services provided already by the Government. Canada’s policy with regard to immigrants who have mental or physical disabilities is still evolving, but in the past they were most of the time, not admitted into the country. This was to ensure that the proper “character” of immigrants was coming into Canada (Chadha, 2008). I personally find this extremely discriminatory and just plain rude. Although this was in the past and new regulations about physically disabled immigrants are being made, I do not think someone with a physical disability should be denied admission into a new country. For many immigrants, they are leaving they birth countries because of even worse conditions they would face in Canada. One of these reasons for a person living with a disability could be that Canada may offer them more resources to help them with their disability. How can we deny them admission if Canada is what will help change their quality of life?

            I think more consideration needs to take place for immigrants who want to come to Canada and have physical disabilities. Although they may not be able to work, due to their conditions, it does not mean they will not be productive and capable members of society.

- Michal B.

References:

Mullaly, R. (2007). The New Structural Social Work (3^{rd ed.).} Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press Canada.

Chadha, E. (2008). 'Mentally Defectives' Not Welcome: Mental Disability in Canadian Immigration Law, 1859-1927 | Chadha | Disability Studies Quarterly. Disability Studies Quarterly. Retrieved November 17, 2011, from http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/67/67