Fact Sheet

Did you know…

that in 1981 Canada appointed an all-party House of Commons Committee to identify the challenges related to disability and to propose recommendations for change.

Did you know…

that this was the first time such an exhaustive inventory has been undertaken on disability.

Did you know…

that this all-party House of Commons Committee produced not only the milestone report called Obstacles but also influenced equality rights protections for persons with disabilities in the constitution.

Did you know…

that first drafts of the Charter equality rights protection excluded disability.

Did you know…

that the first offer of inclusion was for persons with physical disabilities only and that the community rejected this offer.

Did you know…

that CACL’s efforts to close institutions began in 1971 when Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger came to Canada as a Visiting Scholar.

Did you know…

that the Government of Canada in the 90s continued to support deinstitutionalization through a province-wide demonstration in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Did you know…

that thirty years ago the first captioned television program was broadcast in Canada.

Did you know…

that today we can boast that Canada has the most captioned programming of any country.

Did you know…

that thirty years ago no communications supports were available to Deaf or hard of hearing people in hospitals and medical centres.

Did you know…

that the Eldridge decision at the Supreme Court of Canada now requires all medical service centres to ensure equal access to communication in medical services.

Did you know…

that everything we have done for Deaf and hard of hearing Canadians has ended up benefiting all Canadians; “it is not just a Deaf thing.”

Did you know…

that one of our longtime allies has been existence of Parliamentary Committees on the Status of Persons with Disabilities and their willingness to hold government and service providers’ feet to the fire.

Did you know…

that 30 years ago many of us living with disabilities were denied basic transportation.

Did you know…

that, because of our efforts, the 1987 Canadian Transportation Act entrenched the concept of equal access by recognizing obstacles to our mobility.

Did you know…

that in 2000 VIA Rail purchased inaccessible rail cars and that we had to go all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada to get an order for retrofit of those cars.

Did you know…

that today, in many cities, people with disabilities can use regular fixed route urban transportation systems.

Did you know…

that only in Canada do we have a one person-one fare flight policy and that persons needing personal care for safety or help in-flight, or because of their size, do not need to pay for two seats.

Did you know…

that poverty is one of the most intractable issues facing people with disabilities in Canada.

Did you know…

that over a million Canadians with disabilities live on an annual income of $12,000 or less.

Did you know…

that since it came into effect over 50,000 Registered Disability Savings Plans have been opened.

Did you know…

that all provinces and territories have agreed that RDSP savings will not affect provincial financial assistance.

Did you know…

that globally the World Health Organization estimates there are 650 million people with disabilities.

Did you know…

that Canada’s work to ban landmines included work to support and assist landmines survivors.

Did you know…

that in December 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and on March 30 2007, it was opened for UN Member States to sign and ratify.

Did you know…

that Canada was among the first countries in the world to sign the treaty that day.

Did you know…

that the collaboration of government and the disability community throughout the development of CRPD is unprecedented.

Did you know…

that Canada ratified the CRPD on March 11, 2010 and by so doing Canada turned a new corner on disability rights.

You should know…

that the catalyst for building a more accessible and inclusive Canada has been, and will continue to be, the voice of Canadians with disabilities.

You should know…

that the voice of Canadians with disabilities has been supported for over 30 years through a variety of programs, grants, and initiatives by the Government of Canada.

You should know…

that our mantra of a “A Voice of Our Own” and “Nothing About Without Us” is equally true and needed today as it was in 1981.