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

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

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

As of September 22, 2021, the Ontario Government has put in place a Proof of Vaccination rule for some establishments. This bulletin provides more information about the rule and what it means for persons who cannot get the COVID-19 vaccine because of a disability-related reason. Ontario’s human rights law says that persons who cannot get…Read More

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

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

Article written and published in Qualitative Social Work Journal. 2021, Vol. 20 (1-2) 83-89 Go here for the for article on the Qualitative Social Work Journal: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1473325020981755…Read More

April 19, 2021 This is a plain language version of “Accessing Critical Care in Hospitals during the COVID-19 Pandemic This Factsheet gives information about the law. This information is for people with disabilities who may need critical medical care in hospitals in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. The information in this Factsheet is about laws…Read More

National AccessAbility Week 2021 - Advocacy strategies for persons with disabilities during COVID-19…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

April 19, 2021 (disponible en français) This Factsheet provides legal information and advocacy tips to people with disabilities who require critical health care in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. This Factsheet contains information about laws and policies in Ontario. This legal information may not apply to you if you live outside of Ontario. To access…Read More

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

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

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 Statement on Ontario Government’s recent release of new information about Vaccine Distribution…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

ARCH signed open letter led by TB-Net drawing attention to COVID disruptions and urging UN to schedule State reviews no later than 2021.…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 Press Release informs about ARCH's Submissions and Recommendations Regarding Ontario’s Triage Protocol Draft dated July 7, 2020.…Read More

Sent via email to COVIDUpdates@ontariohealth.ca July 20, 2020 Joint Centre for BioethicsUniversity of Toronto155 College Street, Suite 754Toronto, ON M5T 1P8Canada Dear Ms. Gibson and Mr. Smith: Re:  ARCH Disability Law Centre Submissions and Recommendations Regarding Ontario’s Triage Protocol Draft dated July 7, 2020 The within document is the written submission of ARCH Disability Law…Read More

ARCH Disability Law Centre  Submission to Ontario Ministry of Education Regarding Access to Education for Students with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Crisis To: Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of EducationSent via email: EDU.consultation@Ontario.ca July 3, 2020 I) Introduction In March 2020, Ontario schools closed indefinitely as part of a response to the COVID-19 pandemic with an…Read More

Invitation from Statistics Canada to participate in a crowdsourcing initiative to collect data on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting people who live with long-term conditions or disabilities.…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

Chief Medical Officer of Health Recommends Hospitals Allow Visitors On June 15, 2020 Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, issued a memo recommending that hospitals and other acute care health settings begin allowing visitors for patients in these facilities. Dr. Williams’ memo stated that hospitals and other health care settings should revise…Read More

Apply for Standing to Present to the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly on Bill 175 The Ontario government has announced that it is moving forward with online hearings for various bills.  ARCH has learned that that the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly will hear submissions on Bill 175, Connecting People to Home and Community…Read More

Thank You for Participating in ARCH`s Questionnaire About ADP ARCH is pleased to let you know that we received a large number of responses to our ADP Questionnaire.  The responses were from all over the province, including northern, southwestern, eastern and central Ontario.  ARCH believes that your answers give us enough information to understand some…Read More

ARCH letter highlights serious concerns about the discriminatory impact of hospital visitation bans on people with disabilities in Ontario. ARCH is calling upon the Government of Ontario to urgently revise the essential visitor definition to ensure that people with disabilities get equal access to hospitals and health care services. The Honourable Doug FordPremier of Ontariodoug.fordco@pc.ola.org…Read More

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

ADP is Accepting All Applications for Assistive Devices ADP has advised ARCH that it has now re-opened and is making decisions about applications for assistive devices.  The ADP Office permanently re-opened for business on April 29, 2020. ADP says that it closed temporarily so it could move to a paperless approval process. This means that…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

What is Ontario’s Clinical Triage Protocol? A draft document called the Clinical Triage Protocol for Major Surge in COVID Pandemic, dated March 28, 2020 from Ontario Health, is meant to help doctors make difficult decisions about who will receive critical health care during the COVID-19 pandemic if there are not enough medical resources. Doctors will…Read More

Sent via email to info@ontariohealth.ca and christine.elliott@pc.ola.org May 13, 2020 Hon. Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of HealthCollege Park, 5th Floor777 Bay StreetToronto, ON M7A 2J3 Mr. Matthew AndersonChief Executive OfficerOntario Health Dear Hon. Minister Elliott and Mr. Anderson: Re: Ontario’s Clinical Triage Protocol for Major Surge in COVID Pandemic We write further to…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. This Toolkit contains information about laws and policies in Ontario. This legal information may not apply to you if you live outside of…Read More

This is a plain language version of “COVID-19 Advocacy Tool Kit: Advocating for Your Support Person, Attendant or Communication Assistant to be with You in Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic”. This paper gives information about the law and tips. This information is for people with disabilities who need their support person or attendant to be…Read More

To access the plain language version of this bulletin, go to ARCH Bulletin on COVID-19: Visitation Bans in Developmental Services Group Homes – PLAIN LANGUAGE VERSION People with Disabilities are Concerned about Group Home Visitation Bans In Ontario, some people labelled with intellectual or developmental disabilities live in group homes or other congregate care residences.…Read More

This is a plain language summary of “ARCH Bulletin on COVID-19: People Living in Developmental Services Group Homes Need Access to Essential Support Persons” Many developmental services agencies in Ontario have visitation bans. These bans say that family and friends are not allowed to visit or go into a group home. Visitation bans are an…Read More

Passport Funds can Temporarily be Used for More Types of Expenses  On April 23, 2020, the government shared the COVID-19 action plan: protecting vulnerable Ontarians. This is a document that explains how the government will help persons that live or work in residential settings stay safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19.  As part of…Read More

Over the last month, testing to control the spread of COVID-19 has become an important issue for persons with disabilities across Ontario. On April 16, 2020, Premier Ford announced new guidelines that expand the groups of people who can receive priority COVID-19 testing.  Under the new guidelines the following people can get priority testing: Individuals…Read More

Ontario’s Emergency Orders and Directive for Long-Term Care Homes ARCH acknowledges the disproportionate vulnerability of residents in long-term care (LTC) homes who are seniors and persons with disabilities. LTC home residents are at higher risk of infection from COVID-19 for reasons such as advanced age, chronic conditions, and the institutional environment.  We are deeply saddened…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

On March 24, 2020, the Ontario Government decided that the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) was no longer going to be considered an essential service, as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that the ADP offices are closed until further notice because of COVID-19. Many types of devices are covered under the…Read More

COVID-19 related materials produced by ARCH…Read More

April 8, 2020 Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of OntarioLegislative BuildingQueen’s ParkToronto, ON M7A 1A1 Hon. Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health of OntarioCollege Park 5th Floor, 777 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M7A 2J3 Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility of OntarioMinistry for Seniors and AccessibilityCollege Park, 5th Floor777 Bay Street,…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

All Official Communications About COVID-19 Directed to the Public Must be Accessible to All Persons In response to COVID-19, officials from all levels of government have provided daily news updates about how to stop the spread of the virus, what to do if you are sick, and how to get support if you are affected.…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

ARCH Disability Law Centre is a specialty legal clinic that practices exclusively in disability rights law.…Read More