In this Issue… • ARCH News and Updates• Teresa Daw Student Internship• ARCH at the Federal Court of Appeal Arguing for Accessible Air Travel• Service de conseils juridiques sommaires et références d’ARCH• ARCH’s Summary Advice and Referral Service• Fighting the Exclusions of Students with Disabilities in Schools• ARCH’s Summary Advice and Referral Service and Decision-Making…Read More

New student-led clinic for students with disabilities…Read More

ARCH's Annual Report 2023-2024…Read More

ARCH's contribution to "Medical Assistance in Dying: Resistance in Canada" of Canadian Journal of Disability Studies…Read More

Case Summary and Analysis: J.F.R v. K.L.L, 2024 ONCA 520…Read More

ARCH’s contribution to “Law-Making Within a Critical Disability Rights Framework” of Handbook of Disability: Critical Thought and Social Change in a Globalizing World…Read More

ARCH’s contribution to “Implementing Policy and Law from a Rights Perspective” of Handbook of Disability: Critical Thought and Social Change in a Globalizing World.…Read More

Opinion piece about bringing fairness to police checks…Read More

Canadian Human Rights Commission issues statement on MAiD…Read More

Disability Rights Organizations urge Parliament not to expand Medical Assistance in Dying to People with Mental Health Disabilities…Read More

Media Coverage of ARCH Case Against Air Canada…Read More

ARCH presentation to CHS on the Accessible Canada Act.…Read More

Submission to Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying…Read More

4 videos to provide useful tips for persons registering or re-registering for TTC Wheel-Trans services.…Read More

ARCH lawyer interview for article about MAiD, Canadian Affairs…Read More

ARCH's Annual Report 2022-2023…Read More

ARCH's 43rd Annual General Meeting…Read More

ARCH lawyer interviewed for article about schools excluding students with disabilities…Read More

ARCH’s contribution to “Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada: Key Multidisciplinary Perspectives”…Read More

Media Release - Decision Finds Air Canada Must Do More to Accommodate Passengers with Mobility Devices…Read More

The latest ARCH Alert issue – Volume 24 – Issue 1 – August 3, 2023…Read More

ARCH lawyers speak on episodes of DeafDots…Read More

Access to Justice for People with Disabilities & Litigation for Women and Girls with Disabilities in Canada - Inclusive Asia…Read More

ARCH lawyer, Gabriel Reznick, interviewed for CP24 article about how Wheel-Trans re-registering rules could impact access for users…Read More

ARCH lawyer, Gabriel Reznick, interviewed for CBC Metro Morning Radio about Wheel-Trans…Read More

ARCH lawyer, Gabriel Reznick, interviewed for CBC News live about Wheel-Trans users being asked to re-register for the service…Read More

ARCH lawyer, Gabriel Reznick, quoted in CBC article about Wheel-Trans rules…Read More

Submission to Rich Donovan - 4th Independent Review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act…Read More

Submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy regarding Bill 98…Read More

Tell the Senate to Pass a Stronger Bill C-22! Send them a message.…Read More

ARCH Disability Law Centre’s Brief to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SOCI) Re: Bill C-22 - An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit and making a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act…Read More

Ontario Government to cut Critical Healthcare Program…Read More

Amendments Needed to Strengthen Bill C-22 (the Canada Disability Benefit Act) – Statement in Principle…Read More

University of Manitoba presents a webinar on MAiD: Medical Assistance in Dying – Social inequities, structural vulnerability and why does it matter?…Read More

Expert Witnesses Speak Out Against Parliamentary Committee’s MAiD Report…Read More

What Amendments Should the Senate of Canada Make to Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act? -- A Discussion Paper…Read More

ARCH publishes paper titled “The Influence of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on Canadian Jurisprudence in the First Decade Since Its Ratification” To access this paper go to: https://wyaj.uwindsor.ca/index.php/wyaj/article/view/7781 For the other papers published in this issue, go to: https://ojs.uwindsor.ca/index.php/WYAJ…Read More

Robert Lattanzio receives the prestigious Law Foundation of Ontario’s Guthrie Award…Read More

November 18, 2022 ARCH provided expert testimony to AMAD, a Special Joint Committee of Parliament that is conducting a statutory review of medical assistance in dying legislation in Canada. To access the recording, go here: https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20221118/-1/38056?Embedded=true&globalstreamId=20&viewMode=3 To access the transcript, go here and click on the November 18th link: https://www.parl.ca/Committees/en/AMAD/meetings…Read More

ARCH is proud to announce that our staff lawyer, Kerri Joffe, has been awarded the 2022 Indigenous Partnership Award! This award was presented to Kerri by Indigenous Disability Canada at the 2022 Indigenous Disability & Wellness Gathering in Celebration of Indigenous Disability Awareness Month. We are so proud of Kerri and her relentless advocacy and commitment in all her work on…Read More

Re: Bill C-22, An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit and making a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act November 8, 2022 Introduction ARCH makes this submission to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the…Read More

Members of Respecting Rights at ARCH Disability Law Centre have thought a lot about what National Day for Truth and Reconciliation & Orange Shirt Day means to them. The group has developed a land acknowledgment with the priority being to give back and to learn and understand what Indigenous people are experiencing and have experienced…Read More

ARCH is thrilled to announce that Robert Lattanzio, our Executive Director, has won the 2022 Guthrie award! Robert has been serving as Executive Director of ARCH since 2015 and works tirelessly to advocate and defend persons with disabilities in Ontario. Robert is humbled by this prestigious award and sincerely thanks the Law Foundation of Ontario for this recognition. Learn more…Read More

The deadline to renew your Ontario Health Insurance Card is September 30, 2022. You can find information about how to renew your Ontario Insurance Health Card by visiting this webpage. You may be required to attend a ServiceOntario location to renew your health card. You may also be able to book an appointment before you…Read More

For Immediate Release September 22, 2022 A coalition of 20 Canadian disability rights groups has filed a request for a public hearing into the discrimination present in Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying legislation and its grave consequences for persons with disabilities. The request for a hearing was made to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights…Read More

August 15, 2022 A coalition of 20 disability rights groups represented by ARCH Disability Law Centre requested a public hearing about MAiD at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. …Read More

September 7, 2022 In partnership with The University of Guelph and Bodies in Translation: Activist Art, Technology and Access to Life, ARCH has helped with, Into the Light: Living Histories of Oppression and Education in Ontario their new online resource. It is a new teaching tool designed to build awareness about the ongoing effects of…Read More

September 6, 2022 The day after the Ontario government passed Bill 7, the More Beds Better Care Act on August 31, ARCH Disability Law Centre was interviewed by Meagan Gillmore, who spoke with Dave Brown about its impacts. The Act amends the Fixing Long Term Care Act 2021 and was passed without any public consultation.…Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE A Coalition of Specialty Legal Clinics comprised of Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, the ARCH Disability Law Centre, the Canadian Environmental Law Association, the Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario and the South Asian Legal Clinic Ontario intervened in this matter and were represented by…Read More

Today, on June 21, 2022, in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples across Canada, ARCH Disability Law Centre celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day. ARCH staff have and are currently participating in various workshops, training, events, and ceremonies to celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures. ARCH is fully committed…Read More

June 14, 2022 On June 14, 2022 AMI had a live radio episode featuring the main statistics and points of discussion from our Vaccine Report highlighting issues including inaccessibility and confusion on what was deemed as a priority group for obtaining the vaccine. Full Synopsis of the episode: Today on NOW with Dave Brown: Shaini…Read More

June 8, 2022 The Article by CTV News Vancouver, ‘Outraged and distraught’: Reaction to disabled B.C. woman’s approval for medically-assisted death, features the expertise of several experts on the topic of Medically Assistance in Dying, including our Staff Lawyer, Kerri Joffe. Learn More: https://bit.ly/3zrFele…Read More

June 16, 2022 Co-hosted by: ARCH Disability Law Centre, Inclusion International, & Inclusion Canada  During the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada legalized a pathway to euthanasia for people who are not terminally ill, provided they have a disability or disabling medical condition. In practice, people with disabilities are dying because they live in poverty, can’t secure affordable…Read More

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…Read More

On April 12, 2022, the Divisional Court of Ontario released a seminal decision regarding the rights of persons with disabilities in accessing paratransit services. This decision is significant because it is a rare judicial pronouncement on how accessibility legislation must be interpreted and applied.  The Divisional Court decision made several important findings. First, it affirmed…Read More

National AccessAbility Week Program 2022…Read More

ARCH and IAO Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Eaton Decision March 29, 2022 ARCH Disability Law Centre and Inclusion Action in Ontario (IAO) hosted an event commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Eaton v. Brant County Board of Education. The two panels discussed the Eaton case, the current state of the law regarding inclusive education, and perspectives…Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Landmark Decision for Equal Access Won by ARCH Disability Law Centre  (Toronto, Ont. April 22, 2022) On April 12, 2022, the Divisional Court released a decision in Hejka v. The Regional Municipality of Durham, 2022 ONSC 2233. This case involved access to accessible transportation services following the implementation of the Accessibility for…Read More

Dianne Wintermute, Staff Lawyer at ARCH, joined the panel to speak about Mandated Leave of Absence Policy. Learn More About The Panel Here:…Read More

April 6, 2022 Staff Lawyer, Kerri Joffe, was featured in the article,Canada: Federal Organizations Obligated to Prepare Accessibility Plans Review the article here: https://bit.ly/3M9ddlJ…Read More

Let’s Chat… About Inclusive Education – Episode 12 Ft. Roberto Lattanzio In this “Let’s Chat… about Inclusive Education” the hosts speak with Roberto Lattanzio. He discusses – supporting families, the inconsistencies in education policy, and the groundswell needed for change. The episode is below:…Read More

April 5, 2022 Staff Lawyer, Ilinca Stefan, was featured in the Miami Herald’s article, Families With Autistic Children Banned From Adopting Dogs From Canadian Rescue Group Learn more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article259979935.html…Read More

ARCH wins the Leadership in Advocacy Award for 2021. …Read More

We welcome the Government of Ontario's recent announcement extending the deadline to renew health cards in light of the exigencies of the pandemic, and allowing those with Ontario Photo Cards the same opportunity to renew online as those with a driver’s license in the coming months. . However, it does not remedy the discrimination of persons with disabilities without a driver’s license or an Ontario Photo Card.…Read More

We are writing with great urgency to underscore the serious impact that the upcoming renewal deadline for expired Ontario Health Cards of February 28, 2022 will have on many persons with disabilities in Ontario.…Read More

October 22, 2021 Sent via email to Christine.elliott@ontario.ca Hon. Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health of OntarioCollege Park 5th Floor,777 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M7A 2J3 Dear Hon. Deputy Premier and Minister Elliot: Re: Proof of Vaccination requirements I am writing on behalf of ARCH Disability Law Centre to express urgent concern about…Read More

Letter to College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario regarding Vaccine Passport Exemptions…Read More

Toronto, ON – August 20, 2021 – The Coalition of Speciality Community Legal Clinics (made up of Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO), ARCH Disability Law Centre (ARCH), the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA), Chinese Southeast Asian Legal Clinic (CSALC), HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario (HALCO), and South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO))…Read More

August 20, 2021 Soleiman Faqiri was killed on December 15, 2016 while in a segregated cell at the Central East Correctional Centre awaiting to be transferred to the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health in Whitby. In August 2020, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) decided not to lay charges against the correctional officers involved in…Read More

ARCH Staff co-authored article on Social Isolation during COVID-19 in the Qualitative Social Work Journal…Read More

Access the ARCH Alert of July 28, 2021…Read More

Dear Community Member, Recommendations on a new Health Care Standard under the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) has been released for public consultation.  You can find the Recommendations  here: Consultation: Initial recommendations for the development of health care accessibility standards If you want to respond directly to the government, there is a feedback…Read More

June 22, 2021 – In May of 2020, Independent Living Canada (ILC) released its findings from a survey about COVID-19 conducted with people with disabilities, staff, and volunteers of the 24 Independent Living Centres across Canada. Overall, people with disabilities surveyed were very concerned about the health threat that COVID-19 posed and were fearful of…Read More

RESPECTING RIGHTS - Statement to CRPD Committee Consultation on Deinstitutionalization…Read More

Aussi disponible en francais. This report presents research findings about barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in processes to develop new regulations. The report analyzes these barriers in the context of legal requirements in the Accessible Canada Act, Canadian human rights jurisprudence and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The…Read More

ARCH lawyer interviewed for article - Ontario Government Did Not Consult Them on Life and Death COVID-19 ‘Triage’ Decisions…Read More

“What you need to Know: Critical Care During the Pandemic and Ontario’s Triage Protocol” – Webinar Recording and Action Tools…Read More

ARCH lawyer interviewed for an article on the concerns about Triage Protocol…Read More

ARCH lawyers interviewed for Law Times article about privacy, rights of workers with disabilities at issue in commercial dispute over alleged negligence…Read More

AMI Audio - ARCH lawyer, Jessica De Marinis, discussing the important disability rights case recently decided by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.…Read More

COVID-19 Factsheet - Accessing Critical Care in Hospitals during the COVID-19 Pandemic…Read More

ARCH lawyer, interviewed by Meagan Gillmore for the show “NOW with Dave Brown” on AMI Audio discussing concerns about the Community Care Act. …Read More

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act AllianceARCH Disability Law Centre April 19, 2021 – Serious objections that have been raised by disability groups for over one year regarding Ontario’s plans for triaging life-saving critical care have been validated and echoed by a number of the very individuals that were advising the Ontario Government on it.…Read More

ARCH lawyer, guest speaker on CNIB Podcast on Built Environments…Read More

ARCH Disability Law Centre Supports Call for Ontario Government to Clarify the Status of the Triage Protocol…Read More

Letter to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario regarding Triaging of Critical Care in Ontario…Read More

For Immediate Release: Ontario Superior Court Dismisses Appeal Seeking Disclosure of Employment Records of Non-Party with a Disability…Read More

Case Summary and Analysis: JL v Empower Simcoe, 2021 HRTO 222 - First decision about human rights during the COVID-19 pandemic…Read More

ARCH Disability Law Centre Statement on Need for Transparency and Ongoing Concern with Discriminatory Measures to Address ICU Capacity …Read More

ARCH update following the completion of focus groups discussing the Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act and future Regulations.…Read More

ARCH's Summary on Government of Canada’s Consultation on Draft Accessible Canada Regulations…Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario finds that Visitor Restriction Policy Discriminated Against Child with Disabilities…Read More

Despite “Adult Chronic Home Care Recipients” being identified in Phase 1 of Ontario’s vaccine plan, it has been reported to ARCH that eligible persons with disabilities have had little to no success in accessing vaccines across the Province. Many regional health authorities are only vaccinating on an age-basis eligibility. Further, the provincial online vaccine booking system is only open to persons over 80 years of age. …Read More

ARCH’s Summary of CTA’s Accessible Transportation Planning and Reporting Regulations…Read More

ARCH lawyer, guest speaker on CNIB Podcast on Transportation…Read More

February 25, 2021 Honourable Christine Elliott, Minister of Health christine.elliott@pc.ola.org We are writing to obtain further clarity regarding the recent updates published by the Ontario Government to expand eligibility criteria for individuals during Phase I and II of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The Ontario Government now includes the following groups in its Phase I and…Read More

ARCH's Summary of CRTC's Accessibility Reporting Regulations…Read More

ARCH's Statement on Ontario Government’s recent release of new information about Vaccine Distribution…Read More

The Government of Canada, the Canadian Transportation Agency and the CRTC are asking for feedback on 3 Accessible Canada Act draft regulations. ARCH Disability Law Centre is holding virtual webinars to give people with disabilities, disabled persons organization and disability organizations more information. …Read More

Canadian Work Disability Accommodation Law Resources Digital Portal is now avaialble. It is a centralized resource of disability employment human rights literature for researchers, community members, and practitioners. …Read More

https://www.include-me.ca/covid-19/blog/2021/02/open-letter-regarding-vaccines-disabled-canadians-chronic-medical-conditions…Read More

Regulations about accessibility plans, reports and how new accessibility rules will be enforced – for more go to: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2021/2021-02-13/html/reg2-eng.html Regulations about accessibility plans and reports that federal transportation providers have to create – for more go to: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2021/2021-02-13/html/reg1-eng.html  Both consultations close on April 18, 2021 ARCH will host meetings about 2 Accessible Canada Act regulations…Read More

January 28, 2021 ARCH Disability Law Centre is alarmed to learn that the Ontario Critical Command Centre is seeking an Executive Order to suspend certain provisions of the Health Care Consent Act (HCCA). Currently, the HCCA requires doctors to get the consent of a patient, or if the patient is not able to consent, the…Read More

January 21, 2021 – On January 13, 2021 the latest version of a Triage Protocol was circulated to all Ontario Hospitals. Despite repeated demands by ARCH and other disability organizations to make the Protocol public, the government has chosen to circulate the document secretly demonstrating a continued failure to be transparent. ARCH managed to secure…Read More

The documentary Into the Light: Eugenics and Education in Southern Ontario, reveals over thirty years of eugenics education, including courses taught at the post-secondary level in central Canada, and highlights the efforts and stories of members of affected communities and the people who continue to work to foster social justice, including responding to Canada’s Truth…Read More

Background In March 2020, the Government created a Triage Protocol meant to guide doctors to make difficult decisions about which patients get critical health care during the pandemic. The Triage Protocol would apply if there were too many patients in the hospital and not enough critical care resources available. The Triage Protocol was given to…Read More

NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 64 Organizations Call for Immediate Action to ensure all Patients including those with Disabilities will Not be Discriminated Against if COVID Surge Requires Rationing of Critical Medical Care December 3, 2020 Toronto: Today, to mark the International Day of Persons with…Read More

The International Disability Alliance (IDA) has called upon governments and health care systems around the world to include persons with disabilities and support networks of their choice for priority access to COVID-19 vaccinations. To read the IDA’s statement go to: https://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/content/covid-19-and-disability-movement The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides that people with disabilities…Read More

Barrier Free Saskatchewan MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release                                           Monday, November 30, 2020 BLIND CANADIANS APPLAUD DECISION IN LANDMARK WEBSITE ACCESS CASEMonday, November 29, 2010 “Back in 2010 Blind persons all across Canada joined in celebrating the landmark decision in Donna Jodhan’s victory in her Charter of Rights case against the federal government for its failure…Read More

ARCH Disability Law Centre’s Comments on the Use of Electronic Proceedings at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario https://archdisabilitylaw.ca/resource/archs-submission-on-hrtos-digital-first-strategy/…Read More

Inclusive Education Canada (IEC) Webinar Series – Will Ontario schools ever be inclusive? ARCH Executive Director joins a panel discussing education for students with disabilities in Ontario. The presentation is below.…Read More

The Senate is hearing testimony about Bill C-7, a proposed law that would expand eligibility for medical assistance in dying to people with grievous and irremediable medical conditions whose death is not reasonably foreseeable. To read ARCH’s submission to the Senate go to: https://archdisabilitylaw.ca/resource/submission-to-the-senate-on-bill-c-7-medical-assistance-in-dying/For information about Bill C-7 go to: https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/LegislativeSummaries/432C7ETo read submissions that were…Read More

A Relic of the Past: Identification, Placement and Review Committees in Ontario’s Education System For the article, go to: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjeap/issue/view/5223…Read More

On November 6, 2020 the Supreme Court unanimously allowed the appeal in R v Slatter stating: “We would simply underline that when assessing the credibility and reliability of testimony given by an individual who has an intellectual or developmental disability, courts should be wary of preferring expert evidence that attributes general characteristics to that individual,…Read More

Nov 6 2020: At today’s hearing the Supreme Court allowed the appeal in R v Slatter. In its reasons the Court recognized that over-reliance on generalizations about women with disabilities can perpetuate harmful myths and stereotypes, creating barriers to justice. When assessing a witness’s evidence, the focus must be on the individual’s actual capacities, rather…Read More

In coalition with Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) and DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada (DAWN), ARCH is going to the Supreme Court to advocate for better access to justice for women labelled with intellectual disabilities who are complainants in sexual assault cases. Our intervention in R v Slatter will be argued at the…Read More

Respecting Rights – My Voice, My Choice - Final Evaluation Report, August 2020…Read More

Family of ARCH’s past client taking on a 42km marathon fundraiser…Read More

On October 17, 2020, People First of Canada presented ARCH with the Pat Worth Award. ARCH is so honoured and grateful for this prestigious and humbling recognition. This award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Inclusion Movement in Canada.…Read More

This is an article on Ontario’s critical care triage protocol in Policy's Options.…Read More

This Press Release is about a decision of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario to expedite an application that challenges the implementation of visitation ban at a group home.…Read More

This is a statement about the Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) decision not to lay charges against the correctional officers involved in the death of Soleiman Faqiri at the Central East Correctional Centre.…Read More

This is a joint letter with Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC), demanding an independent investigation into the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, and raising concern about the disproportionate violence, discrimination, and death that persons with mental health disabilities are subjected to at the hands of police across Ontario.…Read More

These submissions reflect a general legal analysis of the proposed Regulations under the Connecting Care Act in their current draft form, and provide recommendations for changes or clarifications before the Regulations are posted for public comment and consultation.…Read More

Canadian Work Disability Accommodation Law Resources Digital Portal is a centralized resource of disability employment human rights literature for researchers, community members, and practitioners. This is a free, user-friendly online tool aiming to increase awareness of existing resources through citations, annotations and access to available literature where available and as copyright permits. It is intended…Read More

This Press Release informs about ARCH's Submissions and Recommendations Regarding Ontario’s Triage Protocol Draft dated July 7, 2020.…Read More

This update provides information about the government consultation on the proposed Regulations under Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act 2020.…Read More

ARCH Board of Directors proudly pass a motion to fully endorse the June 25, 2020 Statement and Demands by the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) on Policing and Anti-Black Racism.…Read More

This bulletin provides information on Bill 175 - Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020.…Read More

ARCH’s statement on the deaths of persons with mental health disabilities as a result of interactions with police officers.…Read More

Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario application against Empower Simcoe, agency that operates a group home for children, for implementing visitation ban.…Read More

This Advocacy Toolkit provides legal information and advocacy tips to people with disabilities who need their support person, attendant or communication assistant to be with them in hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.…Read More

This bulletin focuses on the memo issued by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, recommending hospitals to revise their essential visitor policies, and considers the discriminatory impact that hospital visitation ban policies have on some persons with disabilities.…Read More

Throughout these submissions, ARCH has highlighted underlying trends in the home and community services sector that must be addressed by Bill 175, and made recommendations to help create a more comprehensive legal framework for persons with disabilities who use home and community services.…Read More

This submission was provided to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to intervene in its proceeding "Call for Comments – Regulations to be made under the Accessible Canada Act"…Read More

This Bulletin contains information about the ADP re-opening and its application process.…Read More

This Bulletin outlines developments regarding ARCH’s advocacy work on the Ontario Health’s Clinical Triage Protocol issue, and summarizes what ARCH asks the Government in its latest letter.…Read More

ARCH, with our partners, released a series of comprehensive advocacy tools and modules on human rights and education. It is aimed at parents, advocates, and students with disabilities in primary and secondary school. https://inclusiveeducation.ca/advocacy-for-inclusion/…Read More

Virtual engagement session for feedback on how the Accessible Canada Act can respond to the unique needs of Indigenous women and gender diverse people with physical, cognitive, visual, sensory, or hearing-related impairments.…Read More

ARCH has a new Advocacy Toolkit pertaining to COVID-19 on our website: Advocacy Toolkit – Advocating for Your Support Person, Attendant or Communication Assistant to be with You in Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic Go to Advocacy Toolkit – Advocating for Your Support Person, Attendant or Communication Assistant to be with You in Hospital During…Read More

TORONTO, April 22, 2020 – An open letter from the Ontario Government was delivered to various recipients, including ARCH Disability Law Centre, on April 21, 2020.  The letter, which is undated, appears to be a response to the grave concerns raised by major disability organizations in regards to the Clinical Triage Protocol for Major Surge…Read More

TORONTO, April 8, 2020 – An open letter to the Ontario Government from over 200 disability and community organizations and over 4,800 individuals raises grave concerns about the Clinical Triage Protocol for Major Surge in COVID Pandemic (Ontario Health), dated March 28, 2020, because it threatens to deprioritize access to critical care to some patients…Read More

Ontario puts in place emergency measures for administrative tribunals in response to COVID-19, including enacting Hearings in Tribunal Proceedings (Temporary Measures) Act, 2020, and suspending limitation and other procedural time periods.…Read More

Letter calling on the Government of Canada to recognize the unique vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities and their families during COVID-19.…Read More

Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario releases decision about public disclosure of adjudicative records and confidentiality orders…Read More

Canadian Human Rights Commission Releases Rules for its Process…Read More

Launch of the OP Lab, a project that offers the opportunity to learn more about the Optional Protocol and form a Canada-wide network engaged in advancing the CRPD!…Read More

Notice: ARCH is currently working on the French translation of our website. …Read More

This post sets out the background of Matson and Andrews, and some of the concerns raised by persons with disabilities and other equity-seeking groups with respect to access to justice. It then highlights one case, Reed v Province of Nova Scotia (Department of Environment) (Reed), which applies Matson and Andrews in a way that does not operate as a complete bar to human rights challenges to the wording of a statute.…Read More

An analysis of the consequences of differing tests for family status discrimination amongst Canadian jurisdictions, and discussion of the troubling re-introduction of the distinction between direct and indirect discrimination.…Read More

Divisional Court confirms that a contextual, human rights analysis is required where a person with an addictions disability is terminated.…Read More

Practice tips to secure accommodations clients need and ensure that they can participate in the administrative process in a meaningful way. …Read More

In solidarity with Indigenous Peoples across Canada, and in the spirit of the journey to Reconciliation, ARCH Disability Law Centre celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day.…Read More

A Summary and Analysis of Tribunal Adjudicative Records Act, 2019, in light of the Toronto Star v AG case and the Charter challenge targeting the application of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to align administrative tribunals more closely with the open-court principle.…Read More

Press Release on the passage of the Accessible Canada Act.…Read More

Open Letter on the Need to Swiftly Pass All Senate Amendments to Bill C-81- Accessible Canada Act…Read More

Follow Bill C-81's journey through the legislative process towards An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada. Find out what's next after the Senate's amendments to this Bill. …Read More

An analysis of the denial of OW and ODSP monthly Guide Dog Benefit to persons whose dog does not meet the specified training criteria, under a human rights perspective.…Read More

An analysis of how fundamental principles of discrimination law apply in cases where employees with disabilities are terminated for misconduct.…Read More

A further analysis of the development of the test for family status discrimination in different jurisdictions, considering a recent decision from the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.…Read More

The test for prima facie discrimination on the protected ground of family status - an overview of the current legal framework and a brief analysis of a recent BCCA decision.…Read More

About the jurisdiction to decide questions of law related to the decisions within HRTO's mandate and to grant Charter remedies in relation to issues arising in the course of their decisions.…Read More

A decision of significance to persons with disabilities: about the nature of Henson trusts and its relationship with social assistance programming.…Read More

MEDIA ADVISORY                                 January 25, 2019 COUNCIL OF CANADIANS WITH DISABILITIES APPLAUDS DECISION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF CANADA Today, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) released a landmark decision in S.A. v. Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation. This case is of national…Read More

[Le français suit] Open Letter Regarding the Need to Strengthen Bill C-81 – Accessible Canada Act October 30, 2018 Dear Minister Qualtrough and HUMA Committee Members: We the undersigned commend the Federal Government for committing to enact national accessibility legislation.  As provincial and national disability rights organizations, we write to express significant concerns regarding Bill…Read More

ARCH Disability Law Centre, Community Living Ontario, Brockville and District Association for Community Involvement, Inclusion Research Team Brock University, Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education Western University and Inclusive Education Canada submitted a joint submission to the Government of Ontario for their recent consultation on education in Ontario:https://archdisabilitylaw.ca/resource/arch-and-partners-submission-for-2018-consultation-on-education-system/…Read More

This report provides a legal analysis of Bill C-81, An Act to ensure a barrier free Canada. It incorporates feedback that ARCH received from persons with disabilities and disability organizations on the first draft of this report. A plain language summary is also provided. ARCH’s recommendations for strengthening Bill C-81 will be available shortly.…Read More

Practice tips for maintaining privilege and confidentiality for a client accompanied by a support person…Read More

ARCH was at the House of Commons’ HUMA committee to talk about strengthening the proposed Accessible Canada Act. To watch go to:  https://www.ourcommons.ca/Committees/en/HUMA/StudyActivity?studyActivityId=10268658 and go to meetings, then select October 23.…Read More

About HRTO's new case processing system, in response to its caseload increase and administrative backlog.…Read More

Read ARCH’s recommendations for strengthening Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act.…Read More

A question of jurisdiction for challenging the authority of the LSO to require that all licensees create and abide by a Statement of Principles that acknowledges their obligation to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion.…Read More

Ontario Human Rights Commission released a new Policy on Accessible Education for Students with Disabilities…Read More

Dear Premier and Ministers, 

We write to you to endorse the recent recommendations put forward by the Ontario Human Rights Commission to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities (attached). 

What to consider when deciding who to name as respondents and the legal test for adding respondents later in Human Rights Tribunal proceedings.…Read More

About the legislation in Ontario that specifically addresses rights and restrictions for persons who use service animals.…Read More

ARCH co-hosted its annual Access Awareness event with the Law Society of Ontario on June 5, 2018.  The theme of this year’s event was privacy as it relates to persons with disabilities.  The panel consisted of: Sunil Gurmukh from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Mariam Shanouda, Staff Lawyer at ARCH, Maureen Haan, President & CEO…Read More

An analysis of a recent decision that allows for more applications to be heard provided their filing delay has a reasonable explanation. …Read More

An interview with Neil Belanger, Executive Director of British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS)…Read More

About privacy concerns that are specific to clients with disabilities and what you can do in your legal practice to proactively address these issues.…Read More

June 14, 2018 – Today the Supreme Court released its judgment in Canada (Canadian Human Rights Commission) v. Canada (Attorney General), 2018 SCC 31, also known as Matson and Andrews. To read the full decision go to:  https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/17134/index.do. In its judgment the Supreme Court found that challenges to discrimination that result from the wording of a federal…Read More

About a new legislation intended to increase accessibility and remove barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in society.…Read More

Alternatives for clients who have legal capacity, but who, because of a physical or sensory disability, cannot sign documents.…Read More

As we celebrate National AccessAbility Week 2018, ARCH Executive Director invites you to join us in this week’s events and in promoting an inclusive society that is accessible to all and which promotes the full participation of all persons. …Read More

Post                                                                                                             …Read More

In partnership with Brock University, Western University, Community Living Ontario, Inclusive Education Canada, and Brockville and District Association for Community Living, ARCH conducted extensive research on the barriers to meaningful and inclusive education from K to 12 in Ontario. The final report, titled ‘If Inclusion Means Everyone, Why Not Me?’, was released in English and…Read More

May 1, 2018 Media Advisory – Many Ontario schools failing students who have an intellectual disability Toronto, ON – Many students who have an intellectual disability continue to face academic and social barriers in Ontario’s public school system, as well as instances of exclusion, conflicts with other students, staff and boards, poor planning and communication, and…Read More

                     MEDIA ADVISORYApril 24, 2018 On April 25, 2018, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) is intervening in a very important case before the Supreme Court of Canada. This case could have a significant  impact on persons with disabilities, affecting their autonomy, independenceM and inclusion.…Read More

Attached below is ARCH’s endorsement to the Statement from the Southwest Indigenous Justice Coordinators dated February 23, 2018.…Read More