Equality versus Equitable Care - Is it one in the same?

Does equality and equity mean the same thing? Just because we treat everyone equally does that mean things are equitable?

Diffen Equality vs. Equity Retrieved January 20, 2021 from

https://www.diffen.com/difference/Equality-vs-Equity

Equality means giving everyone the same thing, whereas equity means giving people what they need to reach their full potential. I love the picture above as it explains a very simple concept that many of us forget. We talk about equality all the time, equal rights for everyone. Where this is true we also need to make sure that things are equitable. Equality will only work if we all start from the same place and things can only be equitable if things are equal. I know confusing right? Let me explain it this way, everyone differs in their abilities, which why we can say no two people are alike, we are unique. Therefore to say everyone is equal is admirable but for those that face barriers ie: low income families or people with disabilities, we need to remove the barriers so that they can catch up to be equal - by doing this we are making things equitable.

"Nothing for us, without us."

I work in a program called Jordan's Principle. My organization is one of the service providers that works within this program providing services to children in First Nations communities. I never really fully understood about the continued detrimental effects of the residential schools and how the trauma faced and how it is still evident in today's communities and the inequities faced by First Nations people. The whole concept behind Jordan's Principle was to ensure that First Nations children do not experience any delays or disruptions of services. This includes occupational health, speech and language, physiotherapy, counselling, behaviour analysts, nursing, education services and dietician. The largest difference is, these services were always available but never within their home communities. They would always have to travel to a larger city center to receive those types of services. This meant travelling hours on plane and bus with small children to receive the same services that children living in a larger city center do. We in the Jordan's Principle program provide services within their home community and ask what can we do for you, not tell them what they have to do. It is important to get their input, for only they can explain what they need.

Jordan River Anderson's story is powerful. This little boy, because of him and his families circumstances, he has been able to touch so many children due to the inequitable service he received. Jordan died in hospital at the age of 5 without ever having an opportunity to live at home due to government disputes over funding for equipment and services. Out of this tragedy Jordan’s Principle - Child First Initiative was born with the concept to eventually build capacity within each community to be able to provide the services that we do but by an organization run by a First Nations organization. I am essentially working myself out of a job. Jordan encountered delays in services that would have allowed him to go home and live amongst his family and community. The inequities faced by First Nations people, especially their children is disproportionately higher than children of non-indigenous dissent.

I am so honored to be able to work with this program. The people I have met with in the communities have enveloped me and made me feel so welcome. I have learned so much in the last 4 years about their culture, passion and absolute resilience to the hardships and historical traumas faced. I have met residential school survivors and and listened to their stories and experiences that have shaped their outlook. The one thing that is so embodied within their culture is the love, protection and high importance they place on their children. Children are everything, the future, so with me going into the communities improve the quality and assist in bridging the gaps of inequities, places me in the unique position. I am passionate in helping to right the inequities that many of the children I support are still facing today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8qLxrFkcjQ