Poverty and Disability: Toward a New Framework for Community Mental Health

Canadians who have disabilities are generally poor and have little if any significant attachment to the paid labour force. Income level and work have both been identified as critical factors in health and mental health. This article critically examines some of the key systemic factors responsible for the close bond that fuses disability, low participation in employment, and poverty. It outlines alternative principles for policy and program design, and examines in some detail the concrete implications of these principles as applied to the area of income programming. These alternatives could, it is argued, contribute to more inclusive workplaces and to an income system around disability that is more rational and equitable.