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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.
Promoting Human Rights
The CCD was founded by persons with disabilities to ensure that the voice of persons with disabilities is reflected in the development of law and policy. CCD is dedicated to promoting the rights, full participation of, and equal opportunity for, persons with disabilities in all aspects of society including employment, education, transportation and health care. CCD also works to remove barriers to accessibility and advocate for inclusive communities. The CCD engages in law reform, policy development, and strategic systemic test case litigation to further its mandate. The CCD is actively sought out and considered an expert by the Canadian government on issues concerning the rights of persons with disabilities.
CCD has a long history of working to advance the rights and full inclusion of persons with disabilities. CCD played a key role in advocating for the inclusion of disability rights in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In addition, CCD was a participant in the Canadian delegation involved in negotiating and drafting the legal language of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Recent Work
April 17, 2024
Council of Canadians with Disabilities : 48 years strong and "On The Road to 50 Years"
In this Chapter I recount how COPOH, through skilled leadership and a fierce determination to change the course of history, persuaded Canada to become one of the first countries to accord persons with disabilities Constitutional protection of their equality rights. I begin the Chapter with a brief background on the evolution of a disability rights analysis and its impact on the development of the disability rights movement as a political actor. I then discuss the patriation of Canada's Constitution and how it affected Canadians with disabilities. Finally, I describe some of the strategies used by people with disabilities to illustrate their passion and will to achieve recognition in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. ~ Yvonne Peters Read more.
March 21, 2024
Everyone has a responsibility to end racism
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Read more.
December 10, 2023
International Day of Human Rights
Today, December 10th, 2023, CCD commemorates International Human Rights Day. The theme for this year is Freedom, Equality and Justice for All. Read more.
More on Promoting Human Rights
July 6, 2022
Sad News: Passing of Jim Derksen
April 9, 2022
Sad News
March 8, 2022
Celebrating International Women's Day
February 17, 2021
Dear Health Ministers- Remember us? People with disabilities, the most vulnerable and ignored in the vaccine rollout?
January 7, 2021
Jewelles Smith Welcomed to CCD Staff
December 17, 2020
Victims and Survivors of Crime Week 2020: Video Now Available
When UN Special Rapporteur on Disability Shuaib Chalklen (seated centre left), who is from South Africa, visited CCD in June 2014, one of the first stops was the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), which has adopted a high standard of inclusive design.
January 1, 1984
Bhinder Case Factum
The Latimer Case
The Latimer case directly concerned the rights of persons with disabilities. Mr. Latimer's view was that a parent has the right to kill a child with a disability if that parent decides the child's quality of life no longer warrants its continuation. CCD explained to the court and to the public how that view threatens the lives of people with disabilities and is deeply offensive to fundamental constitutional values. Learn more.