Lack of Relationships, Not a Lack of Bureaucracy

The issues surrounding the tragic and horrible death of Betty Anne Gagnon are now coming to the surface, over half a year after her body was discovered. The details being made public are sickening, and are inspiring outrage. It is still not clear to what degree authorities or government departments were aware of the case of Ms. Gagnon. Even without all the facts, however, much of the outrage is being focused at the provincial government, and their perceived lack of involvement. It is natural to want to find someone to blame, especially in a situation like this. It doesn’t get much worse than what Betty Anne endured. But to place the onus on the provincial government is to shift focus away from the individuals who actually perpetrated the abuse.

There are calls for a public investigation into the case, in order to prevent this from ever happening again. As attention gets paid to this case, there is an aspect that is not being considered, an area that needs attention. This case should force us to look at ourselves as a society.

According to Ben Gelinas’ June 30 Edmonton Journal article, “Calgary couple cared for woman for 14 years”, Betty Anne lived a full and meaningful life in her time in Calgary. This period of her life was marked by the number and quality of relationships she had with housemates, neighbours, co-workers and her father. She was independent, living an authentic life. She was a citizen, making a contribution to the community in which she lived. She felt good. She was safe (or at least as safe as any of us ever are). When the collective eyes and ears of a naturally supportive community were on her, Betty Anne thrived. When she moved to Strathcona County, to an isolated acreage, she was no longer benefiting from these natural connections. This made her vulnerable to the horrific abuse she would eventually suffer.

Isolation is the key factor in the perpetration of abuse. When we are watching out for those around us, the likelihood of abuse decreases. According to Information for Those Working with Persons with Disabilities from the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE), one of the main factors of vulnerability to abuse for persons with disabilities is isolation from communities: “This (isolation) leads to a lack of tools and resources to prevent abuse.” SACE also states that “lack of power to make decisions for themselves” contributes to the vulnerability to abuse for people with developmental disabilities. After her move to Strathcona County, Ms. Gagnon was hidden away on an acreage, without the relationships that sustained her in Calgary. She became, effectively invisible. This lack of visibility in society is unfortunately all too common among people with developmental disabilities.

Some are questioning why Betty Anne wasn’t in an institution, with the implication that her safety would have been guaranteed there.  This misses the heart of the matter.  Victims of abuse, Betty Anne included, are made easier targets because they have been isolated.  To think that isolation doesn’t occur in government funded and regulated institutions is absurd.  Abuse absolutely does occur in institutions.  The stories that have come to light in past years about the systematic abuses perpetrated at Michener Centre in Red Deer are grim reminders of this.

This case acts as a catalyst for us, as a society, to ask ourselves some serious questions: How many people do I know who have a developmental disability? What efforts have I made to include them? Do I work with anyone with a developmental disability? Are there any people with a developmental disability within my social circle? My children’s social circles? If not, why not? We need to ask these questions. We need the answers to make us uncomfortable. Because that discomfort could lead us to make changes, to make an effort to include ALL individuals in our own communities. And that inclusion would reduce the isolation that is at the very core of abuse.

Arguably, people with developmental disabilities are one of the last groups against whom discrimination is tolerated.   The “R” word continues to be used in everyday conversation, without many eyebrows being raised.  The developmentally disabled aren’t always able to speak out about the bigotry they experience.  That’s why it is up to us as a society, but more importantly as individuals, to eradicate this discrimination.  Viewing a person with a developmental disability as a person first is crucial.  Once we see past the disability, see the person, and have some kind of relationship with that person (be it as a friend, colleague or neighbour), we are much more likely to make sure nothing bad happens to that person. 

The true tragedy of this story is that a few relationships in Betty Anne’s life (the kind that many of us without developmental disabilities take for granted) likely could have saved her.  This is where we, as a community, failed Betty Anne.  We all need to take responsibility, and make sure this never happens again.

­Cindy de Bruijn

Executive Director, Gateway Association

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