Inclusion Matters
September 2020
Introducing Inclusion Canada!
A new milestone: On September 14, we formally adopted the name Inclusion Canada as we continue to advocate for a truly diverse and inclusive society that benefits us all.

Updated website
New name, new look! Our website has an updated look that better reflects our vision for inclusion. We've prioritized accessibility by incorporating a high-contrast colour palette and reduced inaccessible website features such as carousel images.

Image of homepage of Inclusion Canada website.
Someone using a calculator while holding a pen and referencing a sheet of paper with numbers in their other hand.
COVID-19 Disability Relief Payment coming this Fall
In July, the federal government committed to a one-time payment of $600 to eligible persons with disabilities in Canada to address the additional expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

People who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, the Canadian or Quebec Pension Plan Disability (CPPD/QPPDP), or disability supports through Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) will receive their payment starting this Fall.

Inclusion Canada in Action

  • Inclusion Canada's Income Security Advisory Committee held its first meeting in August. The committee will be updating Inclusion Canada's position statements on income security and income security for families.

  • Tara Levandier, Director of Policy & Program Operations, presented How have United Nations disability rights tools advanced disability rights in Canada?: Legal capacity research and advocacy as part of ARCH Disability Law Centre's Optional Protocol Lab for Community Champions.

  • Leadership from the Inclusion Canada federation and our national Board of Directors met to discuss feedback from our strategic planning consultations and begin framing the new plan. Inclusion Canada's new Strategic Plan will launch in December 2020 at our Annual General Meeting.
Image of Gordon Porter smiling at the camera while sitting in an elementary school classroom.
New article from Inclusive Education Canada Director, Dr. Gordon Porter

Inclusive Education Canada Director, Dr. Gordon Porter, and Inclusive Education Canada associate, Dr. Angèla Aucoin, have collaborated with the Director of New Brunswick's Education & Support Services, Kim Baker-Korotkov, on a new article exploring New Brunswick's ground-breaking journey to inclusive education.

The paper assesses New Brunswick's path to inclusive schooling and how the province's education system compares to international guidelines first developed in 1994, which created a global standard for inclusive education.
Image of text that is asking legal and financial professionals who have worked with people with an intellectual disability and their families to participate in a survey. Click the image to complete survey.
Two women at a coffee shop smiling into the camera. One of the women has a disability. Text to the left of the picture reads "Inclusive Employment Survey - looking for feedback from all providers of volunteer, training, and employment programs."
Inclusive Employment Survey - Participants Wanted!
The Institute for Research on Inclusion and Society and People First of Canada are looking for feedback from providers of volunteer, training, and/or employment programs for people with disabilities to measure the progress made in transitioning from sheltered work to inclusive employment across Canada.

Upcoming Dates & Events
October 1 - PEI ACL Housing Forum: Exploring Housing Options for Islanders with Intellectual Disabilities
October 12 - Thanksgiving (Inclusion Canada offices closed)
Save the Date!

December 3 - Inclusion Canada & People First of Canada: Annual Federal Policy Forum on Inclusion. Registration to open in October.

December 6 - 12pm-3pm ET – Inclusion Canada, IRIS, and Inclusion Canada Foundation Annual General Meetings