CCD is a national human rights organization of people with disabilities working for an accessible and inclusive Canada. Learn more.
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Empower U: Learn to Access Your Disability Rights Training on Canadian Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol (OP) training aims to increase awareness of how to address discrimination using more familiar Canadian human rights laws such as Human Rights Codes and the newer international Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This is training for persons with disabilities by persons with disabilities. The training is part of a project funded by Employment and Social Development Canada and implemented by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) in collaboration with Canadian Multicultural Disability Centre Inc. (CMDCI), Citizens With Disabilities – Ontario (CWDO), Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities (MLPD) and National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS). Read more.
April 20, 2021
The Wait Continues for a National Disability Benefit, CCD States after Release of Budget 2021
“It is good news the national disability benefit has not fallen off the Government’s radar as people with disabilities face a disproportionate level of poverty,” states Jewelles Smith, CCD Communications & Government Relations Coordinator. “However, our community often feels that we are in an endless consultation loop so we would have liked Minister Freeland to make a commitment on when the benefit is to be up and running.” “We always seem to be a community in waiting,” added Smith. Read more
February 17, 2021
Dear Health Ministers- Remember us? People with disabilities, the most vulnerable and ignored in the vaccine rollout?
The federal government is responsible for procurement of the vaccinations and has a duty to take leadership in regard to protecting vulnerable citizens. Provincial and territorial governments are responsible under human rights legislation to ensure that vaccines are delivered to people with disabilities in a timely manner and that folks with disabilities are in the vaccine delivery plans. We call on all levels of government in Canada to look at their vaccination plans and reconsider where at risk disabled Canadians, their families and caregivers fall into these plans. Read more
January 29, 2021
UN Human Rights Experts' Statement Condemning Medically-Assisted Death for People with Disabilities Not at End-of-Life Means that Canada is No Longer an International Leader in Human Rights
The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a national disability rights organization, is highlighting a recent statement by United Nations human rights experts condemning the growing trend towards legalizing Medically Assisted Death for people with disabilities who are not at end-of-life as “definitive evidence” that Bill C-7, the Liberal government’s proposed expansion of Canada’s MAiD law, is a direct violation of Canada’s commitments as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Read more
More on Our Issues
March 15, 2021
CCD Disappointed by House of Commons Yes Vote on Bill C-7 (Medical Aid in Dying)
January 7, 2021
Jewelles Smith Welcomed to CCD Staff
December 17, 2020
Victims and Survivors of Crime Week 2020: Video Now Available
December 16, 2020
Disability Rights Online
December 8, 2020
Claiming the right to housing and the rights of persons with disabilities to community inclusion
December 3, 2020
December 3, 2020: Do Better Now Says the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD)!
In Memorium: Carmela Hutchison (1961 - 2019)
(Row 1 L-R Carmela Hutchison, with CCD colleagues Pat Danforth; Row 2: L-R Jewelles Smith, Frank Folino Roxana Jahani Aval, Kathleen Thompson). "First the National Network for Mental Health appointed Carmela as their representative on Council and then DAWN Canada appointed her to Council. Carmela also served on our Ending of Life Ethics Committee and served on several Nominating and Bylaws Committees during her time with CCD." ~ Jewelles Smith
Videos
September 30, 2015
Voting at an Elections Canada Office
After an election is called, you can vote at any Election Canada office across the country.
Weblog
February 17, 2021
Dear Health Ministers- Remember us? People with disabilities, the most vulnerable and ignored in the vaccine rollout?
The federal government is responsible for procurement of the vaccinations and has a duty to take leadership in regard to protecting vulnerable citizens. Provincial and territorial governments are responsible under human rights legislation to ensure that vaccines are delivered to people with disabilities in a timely manner and that folks with disabilities are in the vaccine delivery plans. We call on all levels of government in Canada to look at their vaccination plans and reconsider where at risk disabled Canadians, their families and caregivers fall into these plans. Read more.
Press Release
April 20, 2021
The Wait Continues for a National Disability Benefit, CCD States after Release of Budget 2021
“It is good news the national disability benefit has not fallen off the Government’s radar as people with disabilities face a disproportionate level of poverty,” states Jewelles Smith, CCD Communications & Government Relations Coordinator. “However, our community often feels that we are in an endless consultation loop so we would have liked Minister Freeland to make a commitment on when the benefit is to be up and running.” “We always seem to be a community in waiting,” added Smith. Read more.