What does an accessible Canada mean to you? Be part of the conversation.
Did you know that approximately 14 percent of Canadians aged 15 years or older reported having a disability that limited them in their daily activities? And that there are approximately 411,000 working-aged Canadians with disabilities who are not working but whose disability does not prevent them from doing so? Almost half of these potential workers are post-secondary graduates.
We all benefit when everyone can participate equally in everyday life. But many Canadians with disabilities and functional limitations face accessibility barriers in their communities and workplaces, which led the Government of Canada to launch a consultation process that will inform planned accessibility legislation.
By offering your input on how to shape the consultation process, you will help to ensure its success. Now is the chance to have your say! Tell the government what you think about:
- the overall goal and approach;
- whom it should cover;
- what accessibility issues and barriers it should address;
- how it could be monitored and enforced; and
- what else the Government of Canada can do to improve accessibility.
All Canadians are encouraged to take part in the consultation process, either by attending an in-person session or by participating in the online consultation. A full list of in-person sessions can be found at www.Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada. Two in-person sessions will be held in Alberta: Friday, October 7, at the Matrix Hotel, 10640 100 Ave NW, Edmonton, and Thursday, October 13, at the Telus Convention Centre, 120 Ninth Ave SE, Calgary. Times to be announced.
To pre-register for an in-person session, or to notify of accommodation needs, please notify the
Office for Disability Issues:
Phone: 1-844-836-8126
TTY: 1-819-934-6649
Fax: 1-819-953-4797
Email address: accessible-canada@hrsdc.gc.ca
Mailing address:
Consultation – Federal Accessibility Legislation
c/o Office for Disability Issues
Employment and Social Development Canada
105 Hotel-de-ville St., 1st floor, Bag 62
Gatineau QC K1A 0J9
Canadians are also encouraged to follow @AccessibleGC on Twitter, Accessible Canada on Facebook and to follow #AccessibleCanada.
The consultation process will run until February 2017. For the most up-to-date information on in-person venues and dates, and to participate online, please visit www.Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada.
“I am excited to start hearing from Canadians on how we can better address accessibility issues. This is a big step in helping to ensure our communities become more inclusive for all Canadians. From the beginning, it has been our goal to do things differently; to involve Canadians in the matters that affect them.” The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities.
ADF Biannual Forum Meeting, October 20, 2016
Topic: Transportation
The Alberta Disabilities Forum is holding its biannual meeting on October 20, 2016, in Edmonton. The primary issue being discussed is Transportation, followed by a one hour afternoon session on Caring for the Caregiver presented by the Alberta Caregivers Association.
Increasing our depth of understanding of what transportation means across the disability spectrum is what this meeting is all about. We can work toward transportation strategies across the province. The board of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities will be presenting, along with representatives from Alberta Transportation. Speakers will share their insights on Transportation and there will be an opportunity for discussion on this very important issue facing the disability community. Lunch is provided with registration.
Register at: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/adf-general-forum-biannual-meeting-tickts-27490125706
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
The theme for 2016 is Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want, which draws attention to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and how these goals can create a more inclusive and equitable world for persons with disabilities. The 17 goals can be found on the website http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html
The annual theme provides a frame for considering how people with disability are excluded from society by promoting the removal of all types of barriers; including those relating to the physical environment, information and communications technology (ICT), or attitudinal barriers. The IDPD has been occurring since 1992 when the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed December 3 as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at our annual Open House. Come and join us as we let you know about the work that Voice of Albertans with Disabilities and Alberta Disabilities Forum are doing and enjoy refreshments and good company!
Date: December 2, 2016
Time: 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Location: 106 – 10423 178 Street, Edmonton, AB
Education for Life Bursary
Ten Education for Life Bursaries for the 2016-2017 school year have been awarded. A student from Edmonton at the University of Alberta received the $2000 Pembina Pipeline Corporation Bursary and a student from Calgary attending SAIT received the Elsa Marie Lodewyk Memorial Bursary of $1000. Students from Sexsmith and Beaver County were among those receiving $500.00 towards their tuition expenses. Voice of Albertans with Disabilities is proud to be assisting students with disabilities pursue their educational goals.
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