Disability and MAiD: Disrupting Death with Rose Finlay

“We are an ecosystem……if our vulnerable citizens are at risk, we are all at risk.” 

In this episode Kathy and Keri speak with the “wheelchair wonder woman,” Rose Finlay. As an advocate and member of the disabled community, Rose has been using her story to shed light on the ways in which a lack of proper and timely government support results in Canadians with disabilities being “ushered” towards medical assistance in dying. 

 

Trigger warning: Themes of death, dying and suicide

 

Rose Finlay, quadriplegic single mom to three boys, has lived 17 years disabled after suffering a spinal cord injury in her teens. For the last few years as a business owner, Rose has found it increasingly more difficult to keep things afloat. She hasn't been able to find adequate personal care support or get community access in her small, suburban town in Ontario. She now has recurring health issues that are directly related to not having the care she needs. As a last attempt at survival, Rose applied for ODSP. The wait time to receive assistance is between 6 to 8 months, with many appeals taking up to 2 years. However, the wait time to access the MAiD program is only 91 days - based on her permanent disability, poor quality of life and declining health. True to her nature, Rose is using her story to help create awareness about how much work needs to be done to close the cracks that our most vulnerable citizens are falling through. 

 

You can follow Rose's story on Tiktok at @Wheelchair1derWoman or receive her newsletter by signing up on her website, www.wheelchair1derwoman.com

 

Music for Disrupting Death was created by the ever lovely Sarah McInnis. Sarah is a music therapist, a songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist and End-of-Life Doula. In 2021, Sarah began The Legacy Song Project, writing original songs for folks at the end-of-life, and for folks who have lost loved ones. To learn more about Sarah, visit her website https://sarahmcinnis.com

 

This episode of Disrupting Death was edited by Sadie Mallon.