Our Legal Action

CCD advances disability rights through our involvement in equality rights cases at all levels of court. When a case has the potential to change the law to reduce discrimination against people with disabilities, we consider whether we have the resources to become involved. CCD is only able to take on cases that will have the greatest impact on disability rights in Canada.

CCD has participated in many important cases that have helped establish disability rights in Canada. 

CCD's members are provincial/territorial cross-disability, consumer-controlled, human rights organizations and national uni- and cross-disability, consumer-controlled, human rights organizations and six individual members at large ensuring a intersectional council.

The member organizations and members at large are:

The CCD has intervened in landmark disability rights cases before the Supreme Court of Canada including:

Andrews v Law Society of British Columbia, [1989] 1 SCR 143, establishing the discrimination analysis under section 15 of the Charter;

Battlefords and District Co-operative Ltd v Gibbs, [1996] 3 SCR 566, involving discrimination against employees with mental health disabilities under the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, S.S. 1979, c. S-24.l;

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.

CCD seeks to focus attention on and prevent private and societal actions that make people with disabilities die prematurely. Death-making is rooted in fear, prejudice and negative perceptions about life with a disability.

Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD)
P.O. Box 26063
Winnipeg, MB
R3G 3R3

Email: ccd@ccdonline.ca

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.

CCD has worked for almost 35 years to build a more inclusive and accessible Canada.  Our work has had significant results.   Through the hard work of CCD volunteers and staff, in partnership with others, we have made transportation systems more accessible, elections more barrier free, students have better access to education and jobs, human rights have been expanded through court interventions, the Registered Disability Savings Plan and tax measures have put more dollars in  people’s pockets, new data is being genera