February 2020
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Celebrating Inclusive Education Month in Canada 

February is national Inclusive Education Month, when members of the Community Living federation and our partners come together to raise awareness about the value and practice of quality inclusive education. 

Over the course of February and March, look for an update of the Inclusive Education Canada (IEC) website, with new educational content, associate profiles, and expert commentaries - starting with IEC associate Diane Richler. 

Diane Richler is a former CACL Executive Vice-President and a Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation International Fellow. Diane is  calling on allies new and old to re-galvanize the movement for  quality  inclusive education in 2020. 


CACL & CCD Host National Forum on Medical Assistance in Dying

On January 30th, CACL and the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) hosted a national forum on disability and medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in Ottawa. 

Over 100 elected officials, policy makers, and members of the disability community came together to discuss the critical balance between the right to autonomy and the right to equality guaranteed in the  Charter of Rights and Freedoms . 

CACL would like to thank Minister Qualtrough and Minister Lametti for their remarks, as well as the many Senators and Members of Parliament who attended.   

A full livestream of the forum is available to view on the CACL website.

Pathways to Homeownership: A New Demonstration Initiative


My Home, My Community  i s excited to announce a new initiative looking to improve housing choice for people with developmental disabilities.

Pathways to Homeownership  will profile eight families in three provinces who have successfully implemented a model of homeownership for their family member with a developmental disability. The project will produce detailed case studies for each model and practical tools to provide individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, community organizations, financial institutions, legal professionals, and government agencies with the information they need to lead or support the recreation of these models.  Find out more.
CACL in Action!
Highlights of our recent national and international work. 
  • In partnership with IRIS, People First of Canada,  and our member association NLACL , CACL hosted community stakeholder forums on legal capacity and supports in decision-making in Steinback, Winnipeg, and Brandon (MB) and Stephenville and St. John's (NL). 
  • On January 15th CACL President Robin Acton attended a roundtable consultation in British Columbia on medical assistance in dying, hosted by the Government of Canada.
     
  • Members of the Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) National Team conducted a site visit to the New Brunswick Association for Community Living (NBACL) on February 11 as part of the launch of RWA Phase 2. 


Request For Proposals: Ready, Willing & Able Seeking ROI Research Team 

CACL and the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance (CASDA) are seeking an innovative, dynamic team to lead a highly-focused, impact-oriented analysis of RWA's economic value to both Canadian business and government. 

Proposals must be submitted no later than March 9, 2020 at 4:00pm EST. 


CACL Launches New Project: A rticle 12: Equal Recognition Before the Law Solutions Lab 

CACL's new initiative  Empowering the Most Excluded: Practical Solutions for Exercising Legal Capacity and Supports for Decision Making aims to increase knowledge and understanding of legal capacity and supports for decision-making, as outlined in Article 12 of the CRPD, and develop promising approaches for their practical implementation in Canada.

Listen to Dr. Michael Bach and our NLACL partners in a radio interview on the issue as we launch community stakeholder forums in Newfoundland and Labrador this week.
Federal Government Seeks Extension to Decision on Access to Medical Assistance in Dying

On February 17th, Minister of Justice & Attorney General David Lametti and Minister of Health Patty Hadju filed a motion to seek a 4-month extension of the Superior Court of Quebec's 2019  Truchon ruling regarding access to medical assistance in dying. 

The extension will ensure the 'reasonable foreseeability of natural death' criterion will remain applicable in every province and territory - excluding Quebec - for those 4 months, and will g ive Parliament more time to consider and enact proposed amendments.   Read the Government of Canada's press release.
CACL in the News
Upcoming Dates and Events


Our work to strengthen families, defend rights, and transform communities could not be achieved without the financial support of our dedicated donors and partners.  If the stories in this newsletter resonate with you, we  hope you will continue to support CACL through your generous donations.  Thank you.
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