Blog

COVID-19 and People with Disabilities

A magnifying glass highlighting a survey question of very satisfied, satisfied, neutral, unsatisfied.

If the experiences of people with disabilities during COVID-19 are not recorded, then it will be like they never happened. The COVID-19 Disability Survey is a special initiative to record the experiences, concerns and needs of people with disabilities.

Let's Start Now to End Disability Poverty

Bill C-35 was introduced on June 22 by the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough. This bill will be known as the proposed Canada Disability Benefit Act.

Tell Us About the Internet and You

close up photo of a computer keyboard. One key says "accessibility".

The Neil Squire Society is reaching out to Canadians with disabilities from coast to coast to coast to learn about the impact of digital technology on their lives. More and more Canadians are using digital technology to stay in contact with one another, learn, work, access health care and shop. Is this also true for Canadians with disabilities? Or is there a growing digital divide?

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

four rows of coins with a small scholar's hat on the last row

We, are reaching out to those of you who are students or who know students. We’d like to tell you about some awesome scholarships available for the next school year.

Open Letter Regarding Vaccines for Disabled Canadians Living with Chronic Medical Conditions

The following Open Letter is regarding the vaccination of disabled Canadians living with chronic medical conditions in the community. The letter was sent to all Members of Parliament on February 18th, 2021.

Death By Coercion

A panel on the impacts of changes to medical assistance in dying on Black Queer Sick and Poor communities.

Lives are at Stake

The Canadian government is considering Bill C-7 which, if passed, will threaten the lives, rights, and dignity of people with disabilities. Currently, in Canada, medical assistance in dying (MAiD) can only be provided to people who are near the end of life. If passed, Bill C-7 will no longer restrict MAiD to end of life circumstances and will make disability a justification for ending a life.

Canadian Disability Benefit: What Is It

a banner with images of people with varying disabilities and no disabilities

Never before in Canadian history, has a government had a Disability Inclusion Plan in the Throne Speech with the commitment to a "new Canadian Disability Benefit modelled after the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors". This is our community's chance to make sure this benefit is set up correctly.

Wireless Accessibility for People who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing

The CRTC has a proceeding (CRTC 2020-178) that is investigating the issues of wireless accessibility for all persons with disabilities in Canada, and that includes those who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing (DDBHH). DDBHH Canadians use more data on their wireless phones due to using their smartphones for video with sign language communications, or especially for those who are Deaf-Blind, wayfinding (GPS) to find their way around. Video communications means more data over the wireless connections. As a result, data packages are expensive. This is unfair because those who use sign language with video communications need fair costs for data packages. It is their right to have fair wireless data packages with accessibility with sign language communication.