ARCH interviewed on Wonderland Accessibility Pass Changes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa, June 6, 2022 – In celebration of Independent Living Day in Canada, Independent Living (IL) Canada and ARCH Disability Law Centre are pleased to release a Report with findings from a survey on disability-related barriers to COVID-19 vaccines, titled: Disability Related Barriers to COVID-19 Vaccines: Highlights from the COVID-19 Vaccination Accessibility Survey 2021.

The key tenets of the Independent Living movement in Canada are consumer control, the dignity of risk, peer support and empowerment. Consumer control means that people with disabilities are in control of their lives. To be an Independent Living Centre, 51 percent of board members and staff must be persons with disabilities. Dignity of risk, means, being able to take risks, fail, learn from our mistakes, and move on. By having access to information and peer support, people with disabilities are empowered to make their own decisions.

During this pandemic, people with disabilities in Canada have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. In many cases, people with disabilities lost consumer control, as decisions were taken out of their hands, and they lacked access to important information and became disempowered throughout this pandemic.

“We undertook this survey to listen to the voices of people with disabilities and to learn what their experiences were in accessing vaccines across the country”, said Anne MacRae, Executive Director of Independent Living Canada. “We learned that while some were able to access vaccines with minimal difficulty, many did experience barriers”. These barriers included inaccessible information, inaccessible transportation, inaccessible booking systems and vaccination sites, increased financial burden, and lack of information about how COVID-19 impacted specific disabilities.

“We hope the recommendations contained in this report will help governments and stakeholders to eliminate ongoing barriers, so that as COVID-19 continues and as we prepare for future pandemics, people with disabilities will not be forgotten again”, said Robert Lattanzio, Executive Director of ARCH Disability Law Centre.

About Independent Living (IL) Canada

Founded in 1986, Independent Living Canada is a national non-profit association of Independent Living Centres led by and for people with disabilities who promote the Independent Living Philosophy. IL Canada supports the development of Independent Living Centres, and provides education and leadership for its member organizations, partners and communities.

About ARCH Disability Law Centre:

ARCH Disability Law Centre is a disability rights speciality legal clinic in Ontario, and has been a leader in disability rights advocacy and test case litigation for almost 45 years. ARCH is dedicated to defending and advancing the equality rights, entitlements, fundamental freedoms, and inclusion of persons with disabilities with low income. ARCH is primarily funded by Legal Aid Ontario.

 -30-

Contacts:

The report is available for download below:

The Recommended Areas of Improvement One Page Summary is available for download below:

Communiqué De Presse Et Nouveau Rapport- Obstacles liés au handicap en lien avec les vaccins contre la COVID-19 faits saillants du sondage sur l’accessibilité la à vaccination contra la COVID -19                                       

POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE

Ottawa, le 6 juin 2022 – Pour célébrer la Journée de la vie autonome au Canada, Independent Living Canada – Vie autonome Canada et ARCH Disability Law Centre sont heureux de publier un rapport contenant les résultats d’un sondage sur les obstacles liés au handicap aux vaccins contre la COVID-19, intitulé : Obstacles liés au handicap en lien avec les vaccins contre la COVID-19 : faits saillants du sondage de l’enquête sur l’accessibilité à la vaccination contre la COVID-19 2021.

Les principes clés du mouvement de la vie autonome au Canada sont le contrôle du consommateur, la dignité du risque, le soutien des pairs et l’autonomie. Le contrôle des consommateurs signifie que les personnes handicapées contrôlent leur vie. Pour être un centre de vie autonome, 51 % des membres du conseil d’administration et du personnel doivent être des personnes handicapées. La dignité du risque signifie être capable de prendre des risques, d’échouer, d’apprendre de nos erreurs et d’avancer. En ayant accès à l’information et au soutien par les pairs, les personnes handicapées sont habilitées à prendre leurs propres décisions.

Au cours de cette pandémie, les personnes handicapées au Canada ont été touchées de manière disproportionnée par la COVID-19. Dans de nombreux cas, les personnes handicapées ont perdu le contrôle des consommateurs, car les décisions leur ont été retirées, et elles n’ont pas eu accès à des informations importantes et sont devenues impuissantes tout au long de cette pandémie.

« Nous avons entrepris ce sondage pour écouter les voix des personnes handicapées et connaître leurs expériences en matière d’accès aux vaccins à travers le pays », a déclaré Anne MacRae, directrice générale de Vie autonome Canada. “Nous avons appris que si certains ont pu accéder aux vaccins avec un minimum de difficultés, beaucoup ont rencontré des obstacles. Ces obstacles comprenaient des informations inaccessibles, des transports inaccessibles, des systèmes de réservation et des sites de vaccination inaccessibles, une charge financière accrue et un manque d’informations sur l’impact de COVID-19 sur des handicaps spécifiques.

« Nous espérons que les recommandations contenues dans ce rapport aideront les gouvernements et les parties prenantes à éliminer les obstacles actuels, de sorte que pendant que la COVID-19 se poursuit et que nous nous préparons à de futures pandémies, que les personnes handicapées ne soient plus oubliées », a déclaré Robert Lattanzio, directeur exécutif du ARCH Disability Law Centre.

À propos de Vie autonome Canada

Fondée en 1986, Vie autonome (VA) Canada est une association nationale à but non lucratif de centres de vie autonome dirigée par et pour des personnes handicapées qui font la promotion de la philosophie de vie autonome. VA Canada appuie le développement de centres de vie autonome et fournit de l’éducation et du leadership à ses organisations membres, partenaires et communautés.

À propos de ARCH Disability Law Centre

ARCH Disability Law Centre est une clinique juridique spécialisée dans les droits des personnes handicapées en Ontario et est un chef de file dans la défense des droits des personnes handicapées depuis près de 45 ans. ARCH se consacre à la défense et à l’avancement des droits à l’égalité, des libertés fondamentales et de l’inclusion des personnes handicapées à faible revenu. ARCH est principalement financé par Aide juridique Ontario.

-30-

Contacts:

le rapport est disponible en téléchargement ci-dessous:

Un resume d’une page est disponible en téléchargement ci-dessous:

Please join ARCH Disability Law Centre and the Law Society of Ontario for the annual National AccessAbility Week program, which was originally scheduled to take place in May 2025. We are hosting the program on December 3rd to coincide with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Wednesday December 3, 2025
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Virtual program

Canada ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2010, agreeing to be bound by the terms of this multilateral treaty and to take part in United Nations review processes. In March 2025, representatives of federal and provincial governments appeared before the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Geneva for their latest review.

This program will offer insight and reflections into the Committee’s recent Concluding Observations and offer reflections from experts involved in disability rights work in Canada. Attendees will learn more about the reporting and review process, and the important role that civil society can have within that process. The panel discussion will highlight key findings of the Concluding Observations, discuss how they can be used to support disability rights advocacy, and consider how these recommendations can impact and inform our practice as legal practitioners.

Keynote Speaker:
Professor Laverne Jacobs, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law

Speakers:

• A representative of the Law Society of Ontario
• Robert Lattanzio, Executive Director, ARCH Disability Law Centre
• Elsie Tellier, Staff Lawyer, ARCH Disability Law Centre
• Dr. Susan L. Hardie, PhD, Eviance Executive Director
• Rohini Peris, Présidente et cheffe de la direction / President & CEO, Environmental Health Association of Canada, Association pour la santé environnementale du Québec
• Yan Grenier, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Université Laval
• Anne MacRae

Please note that ASL interpreting and captioning will be available.

This program has been accredited for 2 hours of EDI Professionalism Content.

This public event is free. To receive the webcast link, please REGISTER

ARCH Disability Law Centre lawyer Devin Glim says the weight limit effectively denies access to air travel for most custom power wheelchair users.

WestJet article – Weight cap on power wheelchairs

Please join us on Wednesday December 10th 2025 at 2:00 PM for a panel discussion on human rights from a disability perspective, in celebration of Human Rights Day.

Our panel will feature people with disabilities sharing their experiences and perspectives on what matters most when it comes to human rights. This is a chance to learn, reflect, and engage in conversation about the rights of persons with disabilities in Ontario.

ASL interpretation and live captioning will be provided.

• My Rights at Work: The Duty to Accommodate in Ontario and its Limits
• My Rights at Work: Requesting Disability-Related Accommodations in Ontario
• What is the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Optional Protocol?
• Requesting Accommodations at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
• Service Rights in Attendant Services: Accessing Personal Information
• What is the Accessible Canada Act?
• What is the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act?

November is Indigenous Disability Awareness Month (IDAM) – A time to recognize and celebrate the leadership, strength, and resilience of Indigenous persons with disabilities across Canada. It is also a time to reflect on the ongoing work needed to advance disability rights and reconciliation together.

About Indigenous Disability Awareness Month

Indigenous Disability Awareness Month was first created in 2015 by the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS). It brings attention to the unique barriers faced by Indigenous persons with disabilities, while also celebrating their achievements and contributions to communities. This month encourages all of us to deepen our understanding and take meaningful action towards reconciliation and inclusion for all.

ARCH’s Commitment to Reconciliation and Disability Justice

At ARCH Disability Law Centre, we acknowledge that the work of advancing disability rights must also include a commitment to truth and reconciliation. We are committed to ongoing learning and relationship building with Indigenous and First Nations communities across Ontario. Our goal is to ensure that our legal work and advocacy meaningfully includes Indigenous perspectives and leadership.

The Teresa Daw Student Internship

In 2017, ARCH established the Moving Together Toward Supporting Reconciliation Committee. This committee consists of ARCH Board members, and Indigenous community leaders and has been the driving force in the development of ARCH’s Teresa Daw Student Internship. This internship honours the memory of Teresa Daw, past ARCH Board President who was a tireless and passionate leader and advocate for disability rights.

This internship provided an opportunity for one Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, Inuit) law student with demonstrated interest in disability rights to earn a paid two (2) month internship with ARCH that began in the spring of this year. This internship aims at providing support to law students through the mentorship of ARCH and its diverse partners to explore, reflect, and work through timely legal and disability related issues that are of utmost importance to the student and their Indigenous community.

In May 2025, ARCH was pleased to welcome Cameron Smith as the successful inaugural candidate for the Teresa Daw Student Internship. Cameron recently completed his internship at ARCH, and we are deeply grateful for his hard work and the valuable contributions he made during his time at ARCH. We also extend our appreciation to the Moving Together Toward Supporting Reconciliation Committee, and to Teresa Daw and her family for their ongoing support in making this opportunity possible.

Continuing the Journey

During Indigenous Disability Awareness Month, ARCH invites our communities to reflect on how we can be effective allies and continue to advance disability justice and reconciliation together. We encourage learning from Indigenous-led organizations and create spaces for learning and actioning.

ARCH also acknowledges the leadership and advocacy of the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS), which paved the way for this important month of recognition. Together, we continue to learn, build relationships, and take action alongside Indigenous peoples with disabilities.

ARCH’s Annual Report 2024-2025 is now available in Word and PDF. Previous Annual Reports are also available – Annual Report 2024-2025

You are invited to ARCH’s Virtual
45th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

On Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. ET
Presentation at 6:00 pm – Members only meeting at 7:00 pm

Register using this link Meeting Registration
or contact Theresa at 1-866-482-2724 ext. 2229
or by e-mail at theresa.sciberras@arch.clcj.ca

Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email
with details on how to join the Meeting. Please keep this email.

Please Note: ASL Interpreters and CART (captioning) will be provided. If you require accommodations other than these, please contact Theresa Sciberras at ARCH by phone at 1-866-482-2724 ext 2229 or e-mail at theresa.sciberras@arch.clcj.ca by October 1, 2025.

Presenter’s Bio

Dr. Susan L. Hardie, PhD, MSW, Eviance Executive Director

Susan is the Executive Director of Eviance. She has a PhD from Wilfrid Laurier University and completed her post-doctoral research at the Centre for the Study of Gender, Social Inequalities and Mental Health (CGSM).

Susan has worked for over three decades in various capacities in the cross-disability and mental health fields. She is a knowledge leader and educator on emerging issues and has built Eviance into a national organization that champions authentic engagement and builds collaborations with historically siloed groups. These collaborations are informed by intersectionality, human rights and reflexivity, with a vision of making a difference in people’s lives.

Her achievements with Eviance include being an honoured presenter on intersectionality and disability at the Global Action of Disability Network Meeting hosted by Global Affairs Canada and working on inclusive education in the Ukraine, a project that received a Zero Project Award for innovation. Susan received this honour on behalf of Eviance at the United Nations in Vienna in 2016.

Areas of Significant Contribution: intersectionality, human rights and reflexivity, transformative leadership, ethics of care, justice and critique, meaningful engagement, transformative structural and system change, cross-disability and mental health, social development and welfare.

More details: Annual General Meeting and AGM Package

Learn about ARCH Disability Law Centre — who we are, what we do, and how we support persons with disabilities across Ontario. In this webinar, we explain ARCH’s areas of legal practice, how we provide free, confidential legal services, and how you can contact us for help.

Join us for a free, live online information session to learn more about ARCH Disability Law Centre and the legal services we provide to people with disabilities across Ontario.

This session will be recorded and is open to people with disabilities, family members, service providers, community organizations and anyone interested in learning more about ARCH. We will share information about ARCH’s work, the areas of law we practice in, the types of services we provide, and how to connect with us.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, July 30th, 2025
Time:  11:00 am – 11:45 am EST
Location: Online (a zoom link will be provided upon registration)

Please feel free to share this invitation with your networks and anyone who may be interested.

ASL interpretation and automated captioning will be provided.


Note:
If you see an error message after submitting your registration, please don’t worry — your registration was received successfully. Due to a technical issue, confirmation emails are delayed. You will receive an email with the webinar details from our Community Education and Outreach Coordinator within the next couple of days

Thank you for your patience!

June 3, 2025

CP24 News article: Canada’s Wonderland new accessibility pass changes child with autism’s experience