February 2023
Inclusion Matters
February 2023
February is Inclusive Education Month!

Every February, we join our colleagues at Inclusive Education Canada in celebrating National Inclusive Education Month! This month is all about recognizing the important role that inclusive education plays in disability inclusion across the country. We have been posting content all month on our social media channels. This month's newsletter features a selection of our work.
Is Canada meeting the obligation to provide access to inclusive education for Canadian children?

In January 2023, Inclusive Education Canada and Inclusion Canada sent a submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education. The submission provides an update on the reality of our education system for learners with
intellectual disabilities in Canada.

The intention of this document is to offer our commentary on how well the Canadian government is doing in living up to it's obligations to the international agreements it signed and committed to. People with an intellectual disability and their families have a right to an inclusive and accessible education system in every province and territory in Canada.


The content of our submission to the UN will be the featured topic at an upcoming webinar on February 28th. For more info on the webinar, see below.

Is Canada meeting the obligation to provide access to inclusive education for Canadian children?

Join Inclusion Canada Executive Director of Legal & Public Affairs Kurt Goddard on Tuesday, February 28 at 6:00pm EST for an exclusive webinar about the state of inclusive education in Canada.

Featuring expert panelists from across the country, this webinar will consider whether Canada is upholding its obligation to provide an inclusive learning experience for people with disabilities in Canada, as defined in the United Nations Charter on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
"We're all better when we're all together."
Community Living Ontario CEO Chris Beesley and President Michael Jacques recorded a short video to discuss the importance of inclusion in our education system. Check out the video above to learn more about the importance of a fully inclusive learning experience for people with disabilities and the need to end segregation in the classroom.

You can find some great inclusive education resources from Community Living Ontario here. >
Let's Chat about Inclusive Education

Over the course of 2022, Inclusive Education Canada released 30 webisodes featuring interviews facilitated by hosts Gordon Porter, Diane Richler, and Jacqueline Specht. They are joined by inclusive education experts, parents, and education professionals from across the country to discuss their experiences with inclusive education and the advocacy taking place to build truly inclusive classrooms for all students.

Accompanying every episode is a comprehensive guide with discussion questions and content for further learning.

The series is an excellent resource for educators, inclusive education advocates, parents, or anyone looking for more knowledge about how to navigate provincial and territorial education systems.

Inclusive Education: There's No Excuse!
Latest Updates on Medical Assistance in Dying
Medical Assistance in Dying - Parliamentary Committee Report Disregards Persons with Disabilities

Last week, the federal joint parliamentary committee studying the expansion of MAiD in Canada released it's report on it's findings and recommendations. Inclusion Canada has reviewed the final report of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying (AMAD). It can’t be sugar coated – people with disabilities, families, and their allies were ignored. We asked for equality-preserving changes to the law; MPs and Senators decided they knew better. Throughout the study we were shocked and outraged as to how the disability community was received and treated while appearing before the committee. Their report is not representative of the input of the greater disability community and its supporters. 

The above video sheds light on AMAD’s mistreatment of Canada’s disability community in the process as well as ignoring what they said. This has been sent to every federal parliamentarian.

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