Advocate says too many Nova Scotians with disabilities still live in institutions
An advocate for people with disabilities in Nova Scotia is speaking out against the continued institutionalization of individuals with disabilities in the province. Despite the release of an interim progress report by the government outlining the movement of hundreds of adults with disabilities into community homes, there are still 702 individuals living in institutions as of December 31, 2024.
This issue has been brought to light by a Nova Scotia Court of Appeal ruling in 2021, which stated that the government’s failure to provide meaningful access to housing for people with disabilities violated their basic rights. This decision was a result of a human rights case filed by three individuals who were confined to a psychiatric hospital for years.
Vicky Levack, a spokesperson for the Disability Rights Coalition, knows firsthand the challenges of institutionalization. She spent 10 years in a nursing home before finally finding her own apartment in south-end Halifax. Levack expressed disappointment in the government’s failure to meet its legal obligations to Nova Scotians, especially those who remain institutionalized despite promises of change.
Premier Tim Houston issued a public apology in November 2023 for the situation faced by adults in institutionalized care, calling it “deeply shameful.” However, Levack believes that the apology lacks sincerity due to the apparent lack of urgency in addressing the issue. The Department of Opportunities and Social Development has outlined a five-year phased approach to closing institution-style homes, with all residents expected to transition into the community by March 2028.
This approach aims to ensure that necessary supports are in place at the community level to assist individuals with disabilities as they move out of institutions. It also allows service providers time to transition to community-based care. Despite these efforts, advocates like Vicky Levack continue to push for faster and more effective action to end the institutionalization of people with disabilities in Nova Scotia.
