“Citizen Walk About” raising funds & awareness for people with disabilities

“The funds raised will be split between us and they’ll be going towards different advocacy initiatives. SRSAN does things, for example, lobbying the government for specific needs or putting on events or workshops. SAIPA, as well, for our resource library, our self-advocacy workshops, as well as any events we host to raise awareness. SACLA has its own advocacy committee.”

Throughout the month of August, the groups will be encouraging people to walk or donate as well as doing what Davids calls “People of New York-style interviews” where they aim to showcase the stories of people from the area who have disabilities.

The goal is to walk a total of 9,557 kilometres and to raise that many dollars.

At the conclusion of the 2021 Citizen Walk About, it will have been 9,557 days since the lawsuit of Leilani Muir was declared successful.

The Calgary woman sued the Government of Alberta in 1995 after being forcibly sterilized while institutionalized at the Provincial Training Centre in Red Deer. The board used her low IQ score as sufficient grounds for sterilization, categorizing her as a “mental defective moron.” She was awarded $740,780 in damages with another $230,000 for legal fees.

Since the landmark case, the province has apologized for the forced sterilizations of over 2,800 people, nearly 850 of whom were awarded a combined $142-million in damages under the Sexual Sterilization Act.

More details on the Citizen Walk About, including how to take part, here.

by David Opinko

“Citizen Walk About” raising funds & awareness for people with disabilities

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