Currently, no AODA standards require provincial or municipal elections in Ontario to be accessible. However, the Third Review of the AODA recommends the creation of standards mandating accessibility in politics and elections. In this article, we will outline the need for political candidates with disabilities.
Political Candidates with Disabilities
At least fifteen percent (15%) of Ontario citizens have disabilities. Therefore, to represent the people of Ontario, at least fifteen percent (15%) of people holding political office should have disabilities. For instance, some of the political offices that citizens with disabilities could hold are:
- Members of provincial Parliament (MPPs)
- Ministers in the Premier’s cabinet
- Mayors
- City counsellors
- School board trustees
The shortage of politicians with disabilities may be due in part to attitudinal barriers. Many voters may not have friends, family members, or colleagues with disabilities. As a result, they may know little about the every-day lives and capabilities of people with disabilities. Instead, voters might assume that a political candidate with a disability could not perform a politician’s duties, including:
- Travelling around the city or province, to campaign for office
- Attending meetings of the Ontario Legislature or a city council
- Meeting with constituents, or responding to their concerns in writing
A public awareness campaign describing how candidates with disabilities would complete these tasks may help to remove attitudinal barriers. For instance, a campaign could reveal how a candidate who is deaf could use communication supports in meetings. Likewise, voters could learn how a candidate who is blind could use orientation skills to travel, and accessible formats to read and write. Similarly, a campaign could help voters accept the competence of candidates who use other supports in daily life, such as:
Moreover, a public awareness campaign could profile successful politicians with disabilities:
- In other provinces
- At the federal level
- In other countries
Voters may be more likely to elect candidates with disabilities when they know how such candidates would fulfill their political responsibilities.
Accommodating Candidates with Disabilities
Alternatively, the shortage of politicians with disabilities may also be due to financial barriers in implementing accommodations. In other words, candidates may have difficulty funding the supports they need while campaigning. For instance, in Manitoba, British Columbia, and federally, the government reimburses candidates for the cost of accommodations. In contrast, Ontario candidates must pay for their own accommodations. However, this arrangement could be seen as discrimination. Just as the government requires employers to accommodate workers with disabilities, it should fund the accommodations candidates need to run for political office. Only then will potential politicians with disabilities have equal opportunity to campaign.
Physical Barriers
Finally, citizens with disabilities may face physical barriers while campaigning, or while in office. For instance, some city halls may not be physically accessible. Likewise, other spaces that politicians visit may not be equipped to host someone with a disability. Moreover, there is currently no provision in the AODA to retrofit buildings, unless those buildings need significant renovations. However, the Third Review of the AODA recommends developing guidelines and incentives to retrofit buildings. Accessibility in these spaces would expand the opportunities of political candidates, and of all citizens with disabilities.
More political candidates with disabilities would help to create a truly inclusive political system. These politicians would help their colleagues understand the need to accommodate citizens with disabilities. Furthermore, colleagues with disabilities would give their coworkers clearer ideas about the capabilities and needs of their constituents. Finally, when political spaces become accessible for politicians with disabilities, constituents with the same disabilities can also access them.