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My Dad the Social Media Activist

Published on 04/01/07
by willpate

My Dad, Stephen Pate, is using social media to fight the power in our home province of Prince Edward Island, Canada. When the provincial government cut $600,000 in funding for people on disability support, without public notice, he decided to take them on using the power of the internet. He’s blogging about the sad story of disability on PEI and posting clips on YouTube of question period in the legislature and news coverage. He’s already third on Google for “PEI disability”.

Despite implementing the Disability Support Program (PEI DSP) in October 2001, the Province of Prince Edward Island has failed to meet the needs of Islanders with disabilities. Only 1 in 19 Islanders with disabilities receives assistance from the Province and Seniors are excluded from any help. Further, the Province recently cut back $600,000 from the budget for the DSP without public notice. As a result, 50% of the complaints to the Information and Privacy Commissioner are concerning the DSP program.
Disability Alert Blog - Province of PEI Gets Failing Grade for DSP

I’m so proud of my Dad, I never would have guessed that he’d learn all about the stuff I work with every day. This gives me great hope that social media can empower the little guy to have a voice and be heard. Godspeed to my Dad and everyone using these tools to make positive change in the world.

technorati tags:disability, pei, socialmedia, princeedwardisland, activism

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