In a viral TikTok video, Rose Finlay, a quadriplegic mother of three from Ontario, discusses her struggle to access disability support while facing a looming deadline for medical assistance in dying (MAID).
“I have 12 days left on my MAID application here in Ontario. I’m a quadriplegic single mom raising 2 kids with disabilities,” Finlay reveals in the video.
In an interview with Global News, Finlay updates the countdown, stating that she now has only eight days remaining.
“As a quadriplegic without support, my life is more dangerous than exploring the MAID process,” she emphasizes.
Finlay became quadriplegic after a severe spinal cord injury in her teens and has relied on a wheelchair ever since. While she has always been independent, she now finds herself needing assistance and falling ill as she waits for access to support.
“It takes six to eight months to receive disability support, but only 91 days to receive MAID. This indicates that my quality of life is diminished due to the lack of support I receive,” Finlay expresses in her TikTok video.
Finlay explains that she applied for MAID not because she wants to die, but because her community has failed her and she is running out of options.
“Without support in the past year, I have been getting sick more frequently. It’s better to have MAID as an option if I become extremely ill,” Finlay remarks.
Residing in Bowmanville, in Durham Region, east of Toronto, Finlay laments the lack of services available for people with disabilities in smaller communities.
“Smaller communities lack the necessary resources and infrastructure for disability services. Here in Durham, I have faced constant challenges in finding adequate personal care support. Transportation accessibility is also lacking,” she explains.
She previously lived in Toronto, where resources and programs were more accessible but came with higher costs of living.
In response to Finlay’s situation, a spokesperson for Durham Region states, “For residents who require provincial supports, such as the Ontario Disability Support Program, the Region can assist with service navigation to secure those resources. Residents are encouraged to contact the Region’s Social Services team for assistance.”
Finlay’s friend Diane Kluczynski has initiated a GoFundMe campaign called “Help Needed” to raise funds for her.
“A young lady I know is really struggling and needs your help. I read her Facebook post tonight and feel so helpless. This is the first thing that came to mind,” Kluczynski writes on the webpage. Finlay declares, “I will fight until I can’t fight anymore. I’m still actively fighting for my life and to be here with my kids. I couldn’t, in my right mind, just be okay with making the decision to not be here.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services emphasizes that the provincial government has increased ODSP rates by 5% and offers various benefits to assist social assistance recipients, including those with disabilities.
As Finlay counts down the days to access MAID, she hopes Canadians will join her in advocating for better disability support.
“Many people ignore disability issues. The average Canadian spends 8 to 11 years of their life with one or more disabilities. While it may not be their fight today, it is a fight they don’t want to face when they are in need,” Finlay states. She calls for able-bodied allies to amplify the voices of disabled individuals and fight alongside them.
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