PEI Information and Privacy Commissioner opened an investigation against PEI Department of Social Services and Seniors.

PEI Disability Support Program wants to know about our sex life

Updated the video to H-264 on January 14, 2014 and link to story about winning the case.

By Stephen Pate – PEI Social Services Department is violating the PEI Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) by collecting unnecessary personal and disability information in the Disability Support Program (DSP).

The DSP screening tool asks 60 questions but only uses 18 questions in its evaluation. Karen Rose, Acting Information and Privacy Commissioner, has given the Province until January 26, 2007 to respond to the complaint.

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act prohibits the Government from collecting personal information about health or disability unless it is necessary for the operation of the public organization. Health information, for example, collected when one is undergoing healthcare treatments is allowed. Non-related information about disability when applying for a job or permit is not allowed.

The 42 mandatory questions on the DSP screening tool are not used in the operation of the program. They ask questions that imply mental incompetence. Other questions probe inappropriate sexual or aggressive behavior.

In 50 years of being treated by medical professionals, I have never been forced to divulge such personal information to anyone, let alone a medically untrained social worker.

If Stephen Hawking, the noted physicist who has ALS, applied for DSP would they treat him like an idiot? Would he have to answer questions about what day is this, what country are we in and are you sexually inappropriate?

Islanders with Disabilities deserve their privacy and human rights like anyone else.

Note: This story was covered today on page 2 of the Charlottetown Guardian and as the first story on CBC-TV News at Six. If you see it in other media, please leave a comment. Of course, leave a comment for any reason. I will post the video when it is available.  Posted.

I won this case a few months later and they had to remove the form – here’s the story Privacy Commissioner Rules in Favour of Disabled

Follow me on Twitter at @sdpate or on Facebook at NJN Network and OyeTimes.