November 2021
a group of friends smiling at the camera. the friend in the middle has a disability. Text reads "Inclusion Matters - News from Inclusion Canada"
Inclusion Matters
November 2021
Registration now open - 12th Annual Federal Policy Forum for Inclusion

Join us next week on November 30 and December 1 for Inclusion Canada and People First of Canada's 12th Annual Federal Policy Forum for Inclusion. This year's theme is "Right at Home: Advancing Article 19 - The Right to Live in Community." The forum will include a series of panels and interactive Question & Answer periods. Panels include perspectives of lived experience from people with an intellectual disability and families, as well as research and policy expertise from both government and community.

The forum will be held in English. French simultaneous interpretation will be provided. English and French virtual CART services, ASL and LSQ will be available.
a woman of colour sitting at a table speaking into a microphone.
Our Current Work - Legal Capacity Updates

Every person has the right to make and guide decisions about their life. However, people with an intellectual disability are often denied this right because their ability to decide is not accepted or recognized.

Over the course of the last several months, we have worked with the Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society (IRIS) to develop a series of resources that will help you better understand the importance of legal capacity and how to ensure conversations about legal capacity are happening in your community.

Two men and a woman stand in front of a jet engine for a plane. One of the men has a disability.
Advancing Equal Access in the Workplace Survey

Inclusion Canada, People First of Canada, and UBC’s Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, are working on a project called Advancing Equal Access for People with Intellectual Disabilities in the Workplace.

We need your help! Tell us about your experiences with inclusive employment. We have a survey for Self-advocates, Employers, and Employment agencies.

Surveys are available in English and French. Your answers are anonymous.

The information you share with us will help improve employment experiences for people with an intellectual disability across the country. 
Inclusion Canada in Action
  • On November 16, Inclusion Canada Executive Vice President, Krista Carr, participated in The Royal Society of Canada's panel on COVID-19 and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The panel discusses the impact that COVID-19 has had on the lives of people with disabilities. Their report, "Time to Be Counted: COVID-19 and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities," can be found here.

  • On November 19-21, Inclusion Canada and the New Brunswick Association for Community Living (NBACL) hosted the first weekend workshop in our Family Leadership & Movement Building series. The series brings together family members and self-advocates from across New Brunswick to help them create a vision for an inclusive life and support them to make the vision a reality.
Image of Dianne Corimier Northrup presenting in front of a room full of family members about inclusion and disability.
Dianne Cormier Northrup presenting to a group of families and self-advocates.
Image of Parliament with text reading "Speech from the Throne - What If? The most Disability-Centred Speech form the Throne in Canada's history."
Speech from the Throne - the Disability Community must be a Priority

On Tuesday, November 23 the government delivered their Speech from the Throne, where they outlined their priorities and vision for the current mandate and set the agenda for this new Parliament.

Inclusion Canada echoes the sentiments of the rest of the disability community in expressing our disappointment with their Speech. Not a single mention of disability was made.

Inclusion Canada and the pan-Canadian disability coalition developed a Speech from the Throne with the priorities we wanted to see.

We have also offered suggestions for the Ministerial mandate letters which are expected to be delivered soon to Ministers from the Prime Minister where he will set out direction on what must be priority areas of work during their time as Minister. Accessibility, disability rights and full inclusion are a shared responsibility and must be evident in every Cabinet Minister’s mandate.

Image with text reading "Thanks to your generous donations, the inspiring inclusion fundraising event raised $120,000! Thank you to everyone who donated and to our wonderful sponsors for making this possible!"
Image of text with social media icons below. Text reads "calling all creators and advocates with disabilities! Inclusion Canada is looking for participants in the This is Ableism Campaign."
Call for Submissions - This is Ableism Campaign

Ableism is the belief that it is normal to not have a disability and that “normal” is preferred. We are now accepting applications from Canadian creators and activists who identify as having a disability and would like to take part.

Inclusion Canada will be selecting 60 submissions from creators and activities making content about ableism. Selected artists will receive honorariums for their submission.

Please make your submissions by December 6.

Upcoming Dates & Events
Dec 3 - International Day of People with Disabilities
Dec 4 - Inclusion Canada Annual General Meeting
Dec 10 - Human Rights Day

Our work to strengthen families, defend rights, and transform communities would not be possible without your financial support. If these stories resonate with you, please consider making a donation. Thank you.