Carrie–Ann Bugden’s Story Part#2

 By – Kendall Worth!

 

 

 On August 19^th 2023 I brought you the Story of Carrie-Ann, who is a student with disabilities, studying at Mount Saint Vincent University.

Yesterday, August 30th 2023 she was moved from her Westwood residence to her current housing at Assisi Hall. I was present for the move , and stayed with her for support and to help her unpack in her  new room. As I said back on August 19^th 2023 when I first got wind of this story, “I will keep an eye on this story and will continue to be there for Carrie-Ann for support.” Some who saw part #1 asked me about what her former room mates had to say. I want to be clear that I never had the opportunity to meet Carrie-Ann’s former room-mates. There was no opportunity, while investigating this story, for me to meet them, and Carrie-Ann says they have graduated,  so cannot be reached.

There was a delay in completing this story as on August 20^th, the day after Part#1 was posted, Carrie-Ann felt sick and tested positive for COVID. Having COVID meant a delay not only in getting this story out, but has also delayed hooking her up with some other community support, I had hoped to connect her with.

Carrie-Ann hoped the university would allow her a couple of extra days to move out of Westwood in light of her COVID infection., but they would not… so on August 30^th she had no choice but to move to her new residence. The Good News is Carrie-Ann has fully recovered from her COVID symptoms, but, of course, the move,  which she did not want, came with a lot of anxiety.

Part I outlined the many different aspects about how she was discriminated against by other students at the University, and suggested that these students should have been disciplined by the university, and NOT Carrie-Ann. Carrie -Ann herself is not blameless. I previously covered the fact that her behaviour toward some University staff, and toward the staff at Westwood could have potentially got her expelled if she did not stop. 

Carrie-Ann feels strongly, that this behaviour would not have even been expressed by she herself if her former roommates had been disciplined for their ableist and discriminatory behaviour while living at Westwood. Carrie-Ann is considering leaving the province if no improvement happens soon. Her family, back home in Newfoundland, are somewhat concerned about her well being at this point, especially her mental health. Family members are frustrated that she has lived in Halifax for the past year and little has been done to help her situation and transition.

In Nova Scotia, Carrie-Ann has not been able to access the resources, to help her fight the systems and policies,  that are not available to her. Carrie-Ann feels that if she had the better supports from both the university and the province of Nova Scotia for her disabilities, some of her concerns could have been addressed or avoided all together. That, if appropriate meditation had been offered, then some concerns she has had could have been avoided. If Carrie-Ann’s roommates were nicer people, or if the university administration was more educated and understanding about ableism, then she believes she would not have been moved out of Westwood.

Since moving into Assisi Hall, Carrie-Ann has discovered that her new living arrangements are not as wheelchair accessible as the University suggested, or claimed, prior to moving in. I went to visit her the next day and found that everything she brought to my attention was true. There are concerns about the actual accessibility within her new residence at Assisi Hall. Without getting into details of these concerns, hopefully they will be addressed by the university, moving forward.

Another thing I heard from a security guard, but have been unable to verify, is that the university wanted Carrie-Ann out of Westwood because of regular complaints about her wheelchair on Seton Road. From Westwood she did have to wheel along Seton to campus. They say, although she was unbothered, that wheeling regularly along Seton Rd was holding up and impeding traffic,  and they wanted it to stop, as they were regularly getting complaints from motorists.

Carrie-Ann is currently living on a student loan of $16K for the full academic year. This includes her expenses for books and tuition, accommodation and food etc.

• In my view, the new Disability Benefit should not be only for people who work or those who already have part-time jobs before qualifying. Carrie-Ann’s story shows yet another example of the difficulties of being disabled. The upcoming Disability Benefit should also cover those who have interest pursuing post Seconder Education. Considering that this is not going to become available to Canadians with Disabilities for another 12 to 16 months I hope that education will be allowed while living with the benefit.

• If any person with disabilities, was already receiving a $2000 a month – that is the same amount as CERB, during it’s short lived time, then they would have enough to live on and be more socially active in their community, including on campus. In Carrie Ann’s case she would have more freedom to live off campus, in appropriate designed for accessibility housing, which is her dream.

If Carrie-Ann had applied to Department of Community Services before getting the student loan? Carrie-Ann could have potentially qualified for the Career Seek Program, if she had been on income assistance for a year… and this may have benefited her. It is a difficult program to get access to. According to sources in my community (two income assistance recipients, known to me personally) who are getting supported by this program,  anyone who qualifies would have money within their allotted Student Loan amount to live on. Also anyone who qualifies would also I have access to a Employment Support Worker through Community Services. So Carrie-Ann would also have had employment counselling support. Also according to sources who know the Career Seek Program, her on campus meal plan and some other expenses for going to school would have been covered by the program if she had qualified.

All we can do is hope for the best for Carrie-Ann’s future. 

 

If you comment, know that: Anonymous, libelous comments cannot remain.  Kendall is not an "unbiassed and without opinion"  journalist but an advocate for people with disabilities, and those on income assistance. We have removed the ability to post anonymously.  All comments must be free of racism sexism abelism etc. Anonymous personal attacks will not be tolerated.