Make it Happen – What? by E. Jayne Cardno

Low income people, people receiving disability benefits [in Ontario], and caregivers of people with disabilities, all experience assistance differently. ‘The presentation will highlight divisive interests for and against UBI .... [and] will point to the potential of building bridges for common-cause and moving change forward, in the interest of the many'.

Advancing Income Security Policy Using Universal Design: The Case of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) in Ontario, Canada by Tracy Smith-Carrier

‘Income security programs provide a vital source of income for disabled people, yet such programs are often offered at levels well below low-income thresholds, subjected to strict eligibility criteria, and shrouded in administrative complexity. Using the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) in Ontario, Canada as a case example, the author will discuss the limitations associated with income assistance programming designed exclusively for disabled people, and will outline how a transformative shift to a universally accessible basic income would anchor income security provisions to the principles of UD in policy practice.’

What We Should Give to People with Disabilities by Timothy Roscoe Carter

The author will argue that payments or services to people with disabilities should address specific individual needs, not “Disabled Status”.  Three common arguments for giving extra money or services to people with disabilities will be addressed. The first is that we need to compensate the disabled for an inability to earn an income, which the author will argue, is inherently problematic and should be replaced with a UBI.  The second is to compensate for the pain and misfortune of being disabled, which the author believes to be degrading, demoralizing, and should not be considered regardless of UBI. The last is to relieve the financial burden of specific expenses resulting from a disability, which is necessary in addition to a UBI.

After a museum career in education and curatorial roles (Diploma Museum Tech) Jayne completed 3 degrees -BA Anthropology, MSC in Adult Ed/Community Development and a PhD focused on the intersection of health information and e-technology. Unprepared for crisis requiring applications for Social Assistance she has gained lived experience and necessary advocacy knowledge and has been involved with the Hamilton Basic Income Group, the Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disability and sits on Hamilton's Sub-Committee for Accessibility For Persons with Disabilities and the Arts Advisory Commission and hopes to open a small business. She was a participant in the Basic Income pilot in Ontario.

Timothy Roscoe Carter has a law degree, a Master's of Science in Taxation, and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Tim lives in his dream city of San Francisco, where they enjoy playing video games, going to museums, and watching science fiction with their kids.  Tim has been a professional advocate for poor people's right to an income since 2000, and a public advocate for a basic income guarantee since 2004, when they published their first article advocating basic income.  Tim lives with an invisible disability, was a disability benefits attorney for two decades, and currently runs a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.

Tracy Smith-Carrier, King's University College at Western University

Tracy Smith-Carrier is an associate professor in the School of Social Work at King's University College at Western University. Her program of research touches upon a number of different fields in the social policy arena, including access to social welfare benefits, social assistance receipt, food and income security, and basic income.

UBI, Targeted Services, & Disability