ARCH Disability Law Centre
Annual Report 2019-2020

(ARCH logo)

Advancing Disability Rights for over 40 Years

Vision Statement
 
 A society in which laws, policies and legal systems ensure full participation, inclusion, dignity, and equal rights without discrimination for persons with disabilities. 
 
Mission Statement

ARCH Disability Law Centre, as a specialty legal clinic with a provincial mandate, undertakes to achieve this Vision by:
•	Advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities, including the removal of systemic barriers;
•	Promoting awareness and providing education on the rights of persons with disabilities;
•	Addressing issues that have a particular impact on low income persons with disabilities;
•	Ensuring that ARCH’s work has Ontario-wide impact;
•	Engaging in national disability rights work and influencing the realization of international disability rights norms in Canada and Ontario; 
•	Continuously developing and utilizing ARCH’s expertise in local, provincial, national and international law as it affects persons with disabilities;
•	Addressing the heightened disadvantage and discrimination faced by persons with disabilities, including as a result of other intersecting grounds of discrimination, including gender, race, age, language, place of origin, economic status, sexual orientation, and others.
 
To know more the vision, mission, values and principles adopted by ARCH’s Board of Directors on March, 2018, go to www.archdisabilitylaw.ca/about/our-mission-vision-values .
 
ARCH Disability Law Centre is a specialty legal clinic that practices exclusively in disability rights law. ARCH is dedicated to defending and advancing the equality rights, entitlements, fundamental freedoms and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Ontario. 
ARCH provides basic legal information and summary legal advice on certain disability-related areas of law, and represents persons with disabilities and disability rights organizations in precedent setting cases.
ARCH also provides public legal education to disability communities, and conducts community development projects that support its extensive law reform practice, involving a variety of initiatives related to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.

This Annual Report is available in multiple alternate 
and accessible formats upon request.

ARCH Annual Report, 23 October 2020
© ARCH Disability Law Centre 2020

Table of Contents

Message from the Chairperson
Message from the Executive Director
Highlights 2019/2020
Advancing Disability Rights in Ontario
Celebrating 40 Years of Advocacy
Providing Legal Services across Ontario
Defending Disability Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Working with our Communities
Accessible Rights Education
Working with the Legal Community
Advancing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
OP Lab: Learning, Sharing, Actioning!
Meaningful Participation in Advancing the ACA
Into the Light: Eugenics and Education in Southern Ontario
Respecting Rights
ARCH in the Media
Financial Overview
ARCH Staff and Board of Directors
Acknowledgements

Message from the Chairperson
(Photo of Douglas Waxman)
In my Chair’s annual message, last year I said, “As Confucius says, ‘may you live in interesting times’. And this year has certainly been an interesting and challenging year, with great successes and concern for an uncertain future.” Who could have imagined that this year could be even stranger still.
The pandemic posed both operational and substantive challenges for the organization and ARCH rose to the challenge. It is to the credit of our Executive Director, Robert Lattanzio that despite the challenges of working remotely, operations continued uninterrupted. It is to the credit of our exceptional staff team, that in addition to their usual work, they produced extensive COVID-19 related resources and updates, as well as providing many clients COVID related summary advice and representation in COVID related test cases. 
Credit is also due to our Board, who despite the pandemic continued to carry on its work virtually. Board meetings continued on schedule. Our Board meetings previously had available conference call service, for those who could not attend in person. To try and lesson social isolation and foster community we added video conferencing, which has worked well and will be a permanent feature going forward. Similarly, all Board committees and Working Groups continued there excellent work. 
We continue to monitor the implementation of our strategic plan. We have now had a full years-experience with our new committee structure and can report that it is working well. Similarly, we introduced scheduling protocols to lessen consuming staff time unnecessarily.
Last fall we held a highly successful Board-Staff planning day, where we considered the strategic and organization implications of expanding our presence on the federal level. After a robust conversation and follow-up at subsequent Board meetings, it was decided that ARCH will continue to explore opportunities to conduct its national work.

ARCH is sensitive to the role that intersectional identities plays in respect to social injustice. A committee of the board continues to consider how ARCH can strengthen its internal practices and enhance and expand our relationships on issues confronting Indigenous persons with disabilities. The Board also endorsed Black Legal Action Centre’s statement on Policing and Anti-Black Racism calling on the Government of Ontario to correct policing practices that have led to systemic discrimination resulting in the over-policing of Black communities; the disproportionate rates of detention, arrest and charges and the over-incarceration of Black people in Canada. We are privileged to have an exceptionally talented group of people serving on our Board. Our Board members volunteer boundless amounts of their time to assure the good governance of the organization. They provide ARCH a reservoir of talent, expertise, community representation and enthusiasm that is an invaluable resource. 
I want to acknowledge and thank outgoing Board members Sandy Gdyczynski, Bonnie Quesnel and Effie Prattas. Lastly, I express thanks to all our volunteers, funders, donors and community partners and members, who make up our community. Specifically, acknowledgment is due to Legal Aid Ontario, our principle funder, who’s mandate and resources make it possible for ARCH to continue to advance the rights of persons with disabilities in Ontario.
As I said last year but bears repeating, “No matter how interesting times become, ARCH shall continue to persevere in the service of its mission”
Douglas Waxman
Chairperson, ARCH Disability Law Centre

Message from the Executive Director
(Photo of Robert Lattanzio)
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Staff of ARCH Disability Law Centre, it is with privilege and honour to report select highlights of ARCH’s work and achievements to our membership for the period of September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020. 
It has been a year like no other. In one where ARCH turned 40, the world is gripped with a pandemic that continues to claim lives and exposes how broken our systems are as they relate to persons with disabilities. Disability communities and other marginalized communities continue to feel acutely the failures of past and current policy and politics. The pandemic, and the legal and policy responses to it, further isolate our communities creating new vulnerabilities and exacerbating the old. The pervasive systemic racism that continues to permeate across Ontario has also reached a boiling point. The Black Lives Matter movement and many reminders close to home, signal how anti-Black racism is as alive in our systems as it is to those of our neighbours to the south. Anti-Black racism, anti-Asian racism and anti-Indigenous racism, and ongoing ableism, are further exposed by this pandemic.  
As COVID-19 presented new challenges, ARCH transitioned quickly and seamlessly to remote operations with little to no disruptions to our services. In early March, we quickly began working with our communities in identifying urgent and emerging issues. The range of work included addressing accessible communication of information, access to personal protective equipment, access and availability of COVID-19 testing, challenging a discriminatory draft triage protocol, closure of the Assistive Devices Program, visitation bans in hospitals, transportation, visitation bans and restrictions in the Developmental Services sector, and access to virtual accessible education.
As I reflected on ARCH’s work this past year in preparing this report, the breadth and range of activities and the immediate, complex, and responsive nature of the work was a dominant theme. I can think of no higher honour and validation of our work, than the recent announcement that ARCH was awarded the Pat Worth Award by People First of Canada, recognizing our work in advancing inclusion in Canada and adhering to the credo “Nothing About Us Without Us”.  
This Report highlights a few of the cases that ARCH has undertaken on behalf of persons with disabilities, and a range of other initiatives aimed at achieving systemic change.
ARCH was also funded to conduct a number of significant projects that range from research advancing more meaningful participation in regulation development under the Accessible Canada Act, human rights and employment, and advancing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

I wish to thank our brilliant, creative, and ever so passionate staff team for their tenacity in working toward our mission on behalf of our communities no matter what happens around us. ARCH’s accomplishments would not be possible without this constant—a team of individuals with unwavering dedication. The volume and complexity of the work that this pandemic presents, and the sheer challenging conditions, have truly been like no other, but we continue to excel as a team in meeting the challenges before us. Sadly, we said goodbye to one of our staff, Mariana Versiani, who left to pursue other challenges and we thank her for her work. 
ARCH is a healthy organization and this is largely due to our Board of Directors who volunteer countless hours to ensure good governance and offer continued support. As volunteers, they continue to offer their time, skills and insight in matters that can be significantly challenging. In particular, I wish to thank our Chairperson, Douglas Waxman for his ongoing dedicated leadership, and to the Chairs of each of our standing committees and working groups for their leadership and commitment. This year, our four committees and three working groups have been very active. Our Federal Issues Working Group consulted with our partners in exploring next steps for ARCH’s national work, and our Community Partners and Membership Working Group revamped our Community Partners structure. Our Indigenous Issues Working Group was honoured to welcome numerous leaders who are not board members to assist in our work in Reconciliation and advancing the Calls to Action, and helped develop an Internship program in memory of our beloved Past President, Teresa Daw. I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to our outgoing Board members Effie Prattas, Bonnie Quesnel, and Sandy Gdyczynski for their outstanding contributions to ARCH.  
Lastly, and with great gratitude, I wish to thank our funders and donors without whom we would not be able to do what we do. We sincerely thank our primary funder, Legal Aid Ontario, for its continued support and the important role that Legal Aid Ontario has in ensuring that ARCH continues to service the most vulnerable members of our communities. I wish to acknowledge and extend my gratitude to all of our other funders listed in this report, our students, volunteers, donors, our membership and community partners, stakeholders and supporters. As we close on 40 years, I wish to take this opportunity to thank former staff, board members, volunteers and partners of ARCH whose dedication and contributions continue to be valued and lasting. 
Robert Lattanzio, Executive Director 
ARCH Disability Law Centre 

Highlights 2019/2020

ARCH helped over 1,600 persons with disabilities across Ontario.

provided rights education to almost 5,000 people across the province.

ARCH’s publications reached more than 30,000 individuals provincially, nationally, and internationally.

ARCH Alert and ARCH Blog published 48 articles.

Advancing Disability Rights in Ontario 
Through our range of systemic legal work, ARCH advocates for a disability rights perspective to guide and inform the development of laws and policies, build community capacity and provide rights education, as well as represent individuals, disability rights organizations and interveners in cases that can affect a large number of persons with disabilities and promote systemic change.

Image of Pie Chart titled ARCH Activities
•	62% of ARCH activities are cases
•	22% of ARCH activities are Rights Education
•	9% of ARCH activities are Law Reform
•	7% of ARCH activities are Community Development

Celebrating 40 Years of Advocacy
A picture of clippings of ARCH's past and recent years include:
•	Article clippings and covers from issues of ARCH*Type - titles include “People with disabilities: your vote can make a different!"; "Developing an Ontarians with Disabilities Act", "JUSTIN! Plus MORE...". 
•	A cover of an ARCH Alert issue on Accessibility Transit.
•	A more recent ARCH logo
•	The cover of the book “If Inclusion Means Everyone, Why Not Me?”,
•	A picture of a Respecting Rights presentation. 
•	A clipping listing Honourary Members of ARCH which include:
o	1984 - Roy McMurtry
o	1985 - Rosalie Abella
o	1986 - Jean Chretien
o	1987 - Emmett Hall
o	1990 - Stanley Knowledge
o	1991 - Ian Scott
o	1993 - Brian Dickson
o	1995 - Catherine Frazee
o	1998 - Gerald LaForest
•	An excerpt of an ARCH*Type:
o	"When the movement was just starting, the consumer and advocacy groups were filled with unfocussed energy. But more than energy was required in the pursuit of equality. Concrete action is what was needed. ARCH has strongly positioned itself as a catalyst and leader in the movement." Quoted from Catherine Frazee, past Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Excerpt from ARCH*Type (October-November 1990) "Celebrating 10 Years"

A picture of clippings of ARCH's past and recent years include:
•	Article clippings and covers from issues of ARCH*Type, including titles - "Judge Abella's Report on Legal Accessibility", “Discrimination HIV AIDS. It's Illegal.”
•	A drawing titled "What life is like within the institution...".
•	An older ARCH logo
•	The Respecting Rights logo
•	The logos of the Healthy Justice Initiative.
•	A clipping of an article from Helen Henderson titled "Workshop offers lawyers insight into disability issues".
•	An excerpt: "ARCH deserves to be strengthened and encouraged in its work. It has provided exceptional leadership in a new and difficult area of law, and will undoubtedly constitute a cornerstone for the future development of the delivery of legal services of the handicapped in Ontario". Quote from J Rosalie S. Abella, Access to Legal Services by the Disabled, (Toronto: Ministry of the Attorney General, 1983).
•	A clip of a February 27, 2004 article from the ARCH Alert titled "UN Convention on Disability".

Providing Legal Services across Ontario
ARCH provides direct legal services to persons with disabilities across Ontario. During this reporting period, ARCH provided a range of legal services in over 1,600 matters, including the provision of summary legal advice, limited retainer cases, and test cases. ARCH opened over 570 cases assisting people with disabilities in Ontario in a variety of legal issues including human rights law, capacity and decision making rights, attendant services, education law, accommodation in employment, accessibility laws, transportation, access to services and others. Advancing test cases is one important way for ARCH to pursue systemic change.
Fighting for Access to Justice 
ARCH, in coalition with the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) and DisAbled Women’s Network Canada (DAWN Canada), are intervening in the appeal of R v Slatter, a sexual assault case to be heard at the Supreme Court of Canada. This case involves a woman labelled with an intellectual disability who disclosed sexual assault. At trial, defence counsel argued that her evidence was unreliable, because her disability made her suggestible. Nevertheless, the trial judge convicted the accused of sexual assault. The majority of the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial, finding the trial judge’s reasons were not sufficient. In particular, the majority held that that the trial judge failed to address what they found to be a central issue: the complainant’s reliability and suggestibility. LEAF-DAWN-ARCH’s intervention will provide the Supreme Court with an intersectional equality analysis highlighting the implications of the case on the substantive equality rights of women labelled with intellectual disabilities, and on their access to justice. The Court of Appeal’s majority judgment suggests that trial judges must apply a more onerous standard when assessing the reliability of evidence of complainants labelled with an intellectual and/or developmental disability. This reasoning is rooted in harmful generalizations and stereotypes about women with disabilities. 
(Picture of a courthouse)

Advancing Education Rights
ARCH represented a student in an appeal to the Child and Family Services Review Board challenging an expulsion of a student with multiple disabilities from high school and reached an effective resolution for the student. 
ARCH supported a parent in their efforts to get their child’s suspension record        expunged.
ARCH assisted a student to obtain accommodations needed to provide specific medication. The school board is now working to get full time nurses as staff at the school to provide the student the medication when necessary.
(Picture of children working at desks.)
ARCH represented a student with disabilities at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario regarding a failure to provide disability related accommodations. The college program included a practical work placement at an institution. ARCH negotiated a settlement that included individual and systemic remedies.
ARCH supported an elementary school student navigate the IPRC process in their small Northern community to obtain appropriate accommodations. ARCH represented the student and parents in an appeal to the Special Education Appeal Board.
(Education Advocacy for Students with a Disability image)

 

Fighting for appropriate Attendant Services 
ARCH assisted numerous consumers of attendant services to initiate formal complaints to their service providers. ARCH participated in meetings with consumers and their service providers to expediently and effectively resolve complaints. A number of cases involved agencies’ failure to provide the services outlined in service agreements. ARCH lawyers assisted clients in getting their services that are necessary to the clients’ wellbeing.
Access to Public Hearings
ARCH represents two complainants in cases before the Canadian Human Rights Commission about a Tribunal's failure to provide disability-related accommodations during a hearing process. The cases raise important issues about the obligations of Tribunals under the human rights law and the rights of persons with disabilities to have full and equal access to public hearings.
Access to Hospital services 
ARCH lawyers successfully advocated on behalf of a client to allow their       essential supporter to visit the client each day the client was in the hospital notwithstanding COVID-19 related restrictions. 
Accessible Transportation 
In December 2019, ARCH represented a client in an oral hearing at the     Canadian Transportation Agency. The issue to be determined was whether Air Canada, who had denied ARCH’s client access to any trans-border flight due to disability, could accommodate up to the point of undue hardship. A decision in the case is still pending. 
Challenging COVID-19 Visitation Bans  
ARCH represents a client in a case at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario about visitor bans in a group home and the lack of disability-related                accommodations during the COVID pandemic. ARCH successfully advocated for the case to proceed on an expedited basis and the hearing is scheduled to take place this fall. This case raises very important and pressing issues about the right to disability-related accommodations for persons living in group home settings, and how those rights must be maintained while pandemic safety measures are in place.
Advocating for Accessible Legal Processes 
Ontario Courts Accessibility Committee
ARCH continues to participate on the Ontario Courts Accessibility Committee. ARCH attended quarterly meetings of the Committee, and provided input to the Committee and the Ministry of the Attorney General on access to justice issues affecting persons with disabilities in Ontario. In particular, ARCH provided extensive input into the development of materials on accessibility and accommodations aimed at people with disabilities in courthouses across Ontario.
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal Rules of Procedure
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal revised its Rules of Procedure. In response to its request for comment, ARCH filed submissions making recommendations to the Tribunal that it ought to have a stronger and more clearly set out process for complainants to make requests for accommodation to participate in the hearing process, including how to make requests for accommodations, to whom to send those requests, and how those requests would be addressed.
Canadian Human Rights Commission’s Complaint Rules
The Canadian Human Rights Commission created and implemented a set of Rules of Procedure - the first time the organization has had a set of rules in place and available for the public. The Commission reached out to ARCH, among other organizations to provide comment and feedback on its drafts. ARCH made several recommendations, both orally and in writing, including that the Commission ought to have a stronger and more clearly set out process for complainants to make requests for accommodation to participate in the process. These submissions also included recommendations about clarifying the Commission’s existing practices around limitation periods and the role of support persons.
ARCH is pleased that the vast majority of our comments and recommendations have been adopted.

Defending Disability Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic 
Hospital Visitation Bans
One of the many ways in which COVID-19 policies impacted persons with disabilities in Ontario was the creation of visitation bans in hospitals. These bans prevented people with disabilities from getting access to the supports needed to ensure their equal access to health care services. ARCH worked with disability communities in Ontario to develop an advocacy toolkit for people with disabilities to assist them to advocate for access to essential supports, despite hospital visitation bans. ARCH wrote to the Government of Ontario explaining the discriminatory impact of these bans, and proposing a number of ways that hospitals could protect against the transmission of COVID-19 while still protecting the rights of persons with disabilities to equal access to health care. 
(Image of front cover of COVID-19 Advocacy Tips publication titled “Advocating for your Support Person or Attendant to be with You in Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic, May 5, 2020)
Get Connected Campaign
During COVID-19 people around the world joined together on online meeting sites. But many self-advocates told us that people with intellectual disabilities were left behind. Self-advocates spearheaded the Get Connected campaign, which asks families, agencies, and developmental services providers to do better at helping people with intellectual disabilities get online to connect safely with friends and family and participate in virtual activities.
(Picture of people in a Zoom meeting)
Visitation Bans in Group Homes 
Following recommendations from Ontario Ministries of Health and of Children, Community and Social Services, developmental services group homes created policies to limit or completely restrict visitors. These policies have had deeply damaging impacts on persons labelled with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who live in group homes. ARCH heard from many people with disabilities and their families about serious impacts to people’s mental health, well-being, and ability to communicate or participate in day-to-day decision making. Persons with disabilities and their families are also concerned about isolation, neglect and abuse. ARCH provided legal information and advice to assist in these situations. In addition, ARCH met with developmental services agencies and wrote to the Government of Ontario to raise awareness of these concerns and propose alternative approaches in keeping with disability rights. 
Triage Protocol
In March 2020, and in response to COVID-19, Ontario released a document to hospitals all over Ontario titled, Clinical Triage Protocol for Major Surge in COVID Pandemic, but did not distribute it publicly. After getting a copy of the Protocol, ARCH released an open letter signed by 4828 individuals and 204 organizations/groups and struck an Advisory Committee representing persons from various disability communities as well as disability rights experts and began advocating for changes to be made to the Triage Protocol to ensure that it did not discriminate against persons with disabilities. From April to September 2020, ARCH delivered four separate submissions to the Ontario           Government expressing concern over the human rights and Charter violations that would flow from the Triage Protocol and advocating for changes. ARCH is currently awaiting the latest version of the Triage Protocol.
(Image of a woman at a computer. The text reads: Respecting Rights has a message for families, agencies, and developmental services providers:
During COVID-19, let’s do better at helping people with intellectual disabilities get online to connect safely with friends and family and participate in virtual activities.)
Togetherness/Connectedness in a time of Social Distancing 
“What’s Up Wednesdays” brought self-advocates together online during COVID-19.
People labelled with intellectual disabilities have told us that coming together for peer support is one of the most important pieces of Self Advocacy. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for peer support and education but limited opportunities for in-person meetings. In response, ARCH partnered with People First of Ontario & H-CARDD (Health Care Access & Research in Developmental Disability) to host What’s Up Wednesdays, an online weekly session that offered plain Language information about COVID-19 to self-advocates across Ontario.
(Image of woman sitting and imagining herself being happy, connecting to family and friends while using a device. The message reads: Many people with intellectual disabilities do not have online social supports. Without social connections like friends and family, many people are feeling very lonely, sad, isolated, and worried about their mental health.)
Assistive Devices Program
On March 24, 2020, ARCH learned that Ontario’s Assistive Devices Program (ADP) was not considered to be an essential program, and would be closed for new applications. We informed our communities and released a survey to gauge the effect of the ADP closure on persons with disabilities. Once the data was collected, results from the survey were released. This information will help ARCH determine a strategy for addressing issues that arise under ADP.
Working with our Communities
ARCH’s law reform and policy activities ensure that the disability perspective is considered in the development and revision of laws and policies. ARCH often consults with other disability rights groups, members of our communities, and other specialty and community legal clinics to analyze and comment on the impact of current and proposed laws.
(Picture of people in a group. One person using a wheelchair is holding a sign that reads “BLACK LIVES MATTER” and another person is holding a megaphone).
Ableism, Racism and Police Services
ARCH released numerous statements decrying the deaths of persons with mental health disabilities by Police, and partnered with the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) calling for justice and demanding an independent investigation into the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet. ARCH also released a statement regarding the failure to lay charges connected with the death of Soleiman Faqiri.
Environmental Health and Legal Challenges Report
ARCH and the Canadian Environmental Law Association co-authored a report that was released in September 2019. The Report includes an analysis of environmental health cases at the provincial and federal human rights tribunals, and identifies themes that impact persons with environmental health disabilities who seek to assert their human rights in service delivery and housing. ARCH continues to respond to callers with environmental health disabilities facing discrimination and to monitor provincial and federal cases that raise issues about environmental sensitivities.
Presenting to Standards Development Committees
ARCH was invited to present to two Standards Development Committees under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, on primary and secondary education, and post-secondary education. ARCH presented on the barriers that our communities continue to face when accessing education services.    

Submissions on the new Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act (Bill 175) 
The Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act (Bill 175) was passed into law on July 8, 2020. Introduced in the Legislature on February 25, 2020, its stated purpose was to modernize the delivery of home and community attendant services in Ontario.  It repealed and replaced the Home Care and Community Services Act 1994 (HCCSA) and revamped service delivery. However, it became clear early on that the focus of the new Act was not on persons with disabilities, but rather on “patients”, which includes persons discharged from hospital or in need of rehabilitation. The new Act conflates home and community services for persons with disabilities, which are important for persons with disabilities to live independently and participate in their communities, with primary and acute care services. Many issues that are important to persons with disabilities, like the Bill of Rights, were removed from the Act and are now proposed in Regulation.
ARCH responded quickly with an initial analysis and a series of Fact Sheets to advise our communities of the concerns we had identified in the new Bill. ARCH made oral submissions before the Standing Committee on the Legislature on June 15, 2020, and written submissions on June 17, 2020. Despite the significant issues raised by ARCH, other disability rights organizations and members of disability communities, the Bill became law without any amendments. ARCH continues to be engaged with this issue and in ongoing consultations regarding the development of regulations.
Submissions on Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities                 Regulations (ATPDR)
In February, ARCH delivered its submissions on Phase II of the ATPDR to the                 Canadian Transportation Agency.  The purpose of the ATPDR is to implement and             enforce accessibility requirements across all modes of transportation within the federal transportation network. ARCH's submissions and recommendations on Phase II addressed issues including whether the regulations can and should extend to small transportation providers, whether the one person, one fare policy that currently only applies to domestic travel should extend to international flights and small transportation providers, and whether animals other than dogs should be recognized as emotional support animals and service animals. ARCH also made submissions on the regulation of accessibility plans created by transportation providers, the measures that should be included in progress reports, how often transportation providers should make public their progress reports, and the development of feedback mechanisms. ARCH is currently awaiting the Agency's determinations following the consultation.
Attendant Services Workshop + Legal Clinic
ARCH collaborated with the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) to deliver 4 workshops about the rights of consumers of attendant services. ARCH also held free legal clinics after each of these workshops to address problems encountered by users of attendant services and reviewing service plans and contracts for services.
ARCH also partnered with Citizens with Disabilities Ontario to deliver three virtual workshops on the rights of persons using attendant services.
(Picture of people at a large table having a meeting).
Do the Rights Thing
In partnership with DAWN Canada, ARCH led a 2-phased project called Do the Rights Thing about developing and implementing a system-level response to address systemic barriers to services and employment faced by women with disabilities and Deaf women. In phase 1, ARCH invited women with disabilities and Deaf women to attend focus groups and fill out questionnaires and participate in key informant interviews, to learn about the barriers they face when seeking and maintaining employment. Flowing from the information gathered, phase 2 involved hosting 2 virtual workshops, the first directed to women with disabilities and Deaf women, with the goal of providing rights-based legal education, practical tools, and strategies about accessing and navigating employment with a disability. The second workshop is for employers and service providers to educate them on their human rights and accessibility obligations with respect to persons with disabilities. 
The workshops were a huge success. With over 100 individuals, employers, and service providers registered from across the Province, the workshops created a place for engaging discussion about disability rights and accessibility laws, and how to use these as advocacy tools in the workplace.   
(Logo of Do the Rights Thing)

Supported Decision-Making 
ARCH collaborated with law Professor Ruby Dhand to research, write and publish a paper examining mental health laws, their impact on legal capacity and their compliance with sections 15 and 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The paper focuses on involuntary detention of persons with mental health disabilities in psychiatric facilities, and the administration of involuntary psychiatric treatment. It examines the ways in which these laws deny people decision-making rights, and the impact this has on their Charter rights. The research for this paper was funded by the Government of Canada’s Office of Disability Issues. This research was conducted as part of a larger research project entitled, “Implementing Equal Access to Legal Capacity in Canada: Experience, Evidence and Legal Imperative”, prepared for the Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society (IRIS). 
Advocacy Toolkit 
ARCH partnered with the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research (Laurentian University) to provide legal support in their development of a disability advocacy toolkit. The toolkit is called Individualized Accessible Home Accommodations and focuses on some particular needs of children with vision disabilities in the North.  
Osgoode Certificate on Human Rights  
ARCH once again presented at the Osgoode Certificate on Human Rights, Practice and Procedure, which is an annual four day training series geared towards union executives, equity and diversity officers, teachers and others. ARCH has participated for the past 5 years, and focuses on the duty to accommodate for person with disabilities.  
Health Justice Program
ARCH continues to be a partner in the Health Justice Program, a partnership of legal clinics and health service providers at St. Michael’s Hospital, Family Health Team. Neighbourhood Legal Services is the lead legal clinic on this project. ARCH led the creation of this initiative and the first 3 years of its operations.  
CNIB Know Your Rights 
ARCH lawyers participated in three episodes of CNIB’s Know Your Rights podcast series. The episodes respectively provided legal information about transportation, education, and the built environment directly focused on communities' specific needs.

Accessible Rights Education
ARCH continues to promote awareness and education on disability rights, by offering presentations, workshops and seminars, as well as developing a wide range of resources with its partners. 
ARCH Alert 
ARCH Alert is ARCH’s free quarterly newsletter. It provides timely information on legislation developments, significant court decisions, government consultations, community initiatives, and other disability-related legal issues. ARCH Alert has over 3,600 subscribers who receive the newsletter directly. It is also available on our website for anyone to access.
(Picture of a few ARCH Alert newsletters).
Factsheets, Guides and Toolkits
ARCH frequently publishes concise learning and reference materials that are often developed with our partners in 3 distinct formats. Factsheets provide concise information on particular issue identified by the community. Guides provide more extensive information on a topic. Toolkits provide the necessary resources to support persons with disabilities to advocate for their rights. These resources are available at www.archdisabilitylaw.ca/resources and can also be provided in alternate formats.
(Picture of approximately 10 Factsheets, Guides and Toolkits). 

ARCH Library and Resource Centre
A key ARCH goal from its earliest days was the development of an “accessible law library.” Over the years, while maintaining an in-house ‘working’ legal library of core law texts, ARCH has steadily expanded its public collection beyond disability law and policy to include resources in a variety of formats and on multiple topics relevant to our community including ethics, abuse and safety, health care, education, and transportation. As well as chronicling the history of the disability movement, the ARCH library holds practical guides, for example on financial planning, and seeks to collect published memoirs and experiences of persons with disabilities. Clients, researchers and the public are invited to use the materials in-house at the 15th floor Resource Centre. 
(Picture catalogued books on a shelf at ARCH’s Library and Resource Centre)
Over the years, grant programs and the generosity of donors, including the Atkinson Foundation and National Library (1994) and Law Foundation of Ontario (2011) have provided computers with assistive technology for library users. Their funding has also enabled an online catalogue to make the collection searchable by users anywhere and able to access full-text electronic documents. 
Among the former librarians, staff, Board members and volunteers over the past 40 years whose dedication to increasing access to disability information has built up ARCH’s collection, our thanks go to Liz Anderson, John Plater, William Land, Fraser Valentine, Wayne Johnston, Lishanthi Caldera, and our current librarian, Mary Hanson.  
Human Rights High School  
ARCH was invited by the East York Collegiate Institute to deliver human rights sessions to high school students about discrimination and ableism, and the duty to accommodate under the Human Rights Code. The students all participated in a moot case about accommodating a student with disabilities in school.
Duty to Accommodate and Return to Work
ARCH was invited by IAVGO to present to their Injured Workers Action for Justice Group on the WSIB’s duty to accommodate injured workers under the Human Rights Code. Many of the workers advised that they will use the lessons they learned from the presentation in their ongoing cases with the WSIB. 
Early childhood education and transition to school
ARCH presented to a number of early childhood consultants about the duty to accommodate children under the Human Rights Code. During this presentation one of ARCH’s DLI students provided a detailed review of the role of IPRC meetings and the drafting of IEP’s for students with disabilities. 
Working with the Legal Community
In addition to offering a free Case Consult service for Lawyers and Paralegals across Ontario, ARCH provides continuing legal education to lawyers, paralegals and law students in the form of publications, seminars, panels, webinars, internships and placements.
Disability Law Intensive (DLI) Program 
ARCH continues its exciting partnership with Osgoode Hall Law School at York University to offer a program that is the first of its kind in Canada. Nine students participated in the 2019-20 Disability Law Intensive at ARCH. 
(Picture of DLI students during orientation). 
Federal Tribunal Training 
ARCH delivered training sessions to adjudicators and staff at the federal Social Security Tribunal.
As part of ARCH's goal to assist those working in the justice sector provide          accessible services, ARCH provided training to adjudicators and front line staff at the federal Social Security Tribunal. Topics covered included how to receive and put in place accommodation requests from applicants, and outlining what are the               obligations of the Tribunal as a service provider. 
Toronto Clinic Training Conference                
ARCH co-delivered two presentations at the annual Toronto Clinic Training Conference, presenting alongside the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) on providing legal services to clients who have capacity issues, and presenting alongside the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) on practical tools to legal professionals who represent clients requiring accommodation in housing in               accordance with the Human Rights Code.

Association for Human Rights Lawyers 
ARCH continues to host, organize, and chair monthly meetings of the Association of Human Rights Lawyers. This network of lawyers, law students and legal workers monitors human rights legal developments in Ontario, nationally and internationally; coordinates law reform efforts; and provides case consultation and professional development opportunities for its members.
(Picture of an Association for Human Rights Lawyers meeting). 
(Image of a computer screen with the text “Association of Human Rights Lawyers”)
Lawyers’ Obligation to Accommodate Clients
ARCH was invited by the Ontario Bar Association’s Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Law Section to present to lawyers about their obligations to             accommodate clients as per their professional responsibilities and under human rights law. ARCH presented at this popular session alongside scholars and mental health experts in the legal profession.
Private Bar Referral Roster
ARCH maintains a private bar referral list, and provides a free Case Consult service to lawyers and paralegals. ARCH also offers Continuing Professional Development on disability related issues.

Advancing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
ARCH continues its work in advancing the rights framework set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 
ARCH continues to work with disability community organizations, disabled people’s organizations and civil society groups to provide input to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for its second review of Canada’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This work is being led by the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS), ARCH Disability law Centre and Steven Estey, independent human rights consultant. 
In September 2019, ARCH was part of a delegation of Canadian disability organizations who met with the UN CRPD Committee in Geneva and made oral submissions for the first stage in the Committee’s second review. 
In October 2019, the UN released a List of Issues Prior to Reporting for Canada, which provides a framework for the issues that will be the focus of its review of Canada’s implementation of the CRPD. Over 50 disability community organizations, disabled people’s organizations and civil society groups, including ARCH, provided input for this document by way of a written submission to the UN in July 2019. Originally, the UN’s second review of Canada’s implementation of the CRPD was scheduled to take place in early 2021, but it has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this delay, ARCH continued to work with our partners by co-hosting a number of meetings with disability community organizations and disabled people’s organizations to build community capacity and facilitate participation in the UN process. ARCH is also involved in outreach to disability community organizations and disabled people’s organizations across Canada to promote their participation in this work.
Pictures:
•	People with disabilities and disability rights advocates from Canada, including ARCH, participate in the UN's review of Canada's implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
•	People with disabilities and disability rights advocates from Canada, including ARCH, meet with Catalina Devandas, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
•	People with disabilities and disability rights advocates from Canada, including ARCH, meet with the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in Geneva. 
Advancing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Supporting CRPD related projects
ARCH supported and partnered on a number of projects funded by the Federal Government including Empower U, lead by Council of Canadians with Disabilities. ARCH hosted and co-presented at the Toronto Empower U session. ARCH also supported the Canadian Association of the Deaf’s project called The Optional Protocol: What It Is, How To Use It, and Communications Disabilities Access Canada’s project on Communication Supports in Exercising Legal Capacity and Decision-Making. ARCH was a member of the National Working Group for the Awareness of the Optional Protocol and supported the CNIB’s project focused on the development of awareness raising materials. 
CHRC Advisory Committee 
The CRPD requires countries to appoint an independent agency to monitor the implementation of the CRPD, and also requires that people with disabilities be involved and participate fully in this monitoring. In 2019, with the passing of the Accessible Canada Act, the Canadian Human Rights Commission became the independent national monitoring mechanism for the CRPD in Canada. ARCH, along with other disability community organizations and disabled people’s organizations, participated in an advisory committee to provide input to the Commission on monitoring the CRPD in Canada. 
Speaking about the CRPD 
ARCH was invited to speak at the Bancroft Institute for Studies on Workers’ Compensation and Work Injury conference “Injured Workers, Human Rights and the U.N.”. ARCH presented on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, its Optional Protocol and various ways to use these human rights tools to address issues of concern to injured workers in Ontario and Canada.
Pictures:
•	People with disabilities and disability rights advocates meet for the Toronto Empower U session hosted and co-presented by ARCH. 
•	Information sheets produced as part of a project led by the CNIB to raise awareness of the CRPD and its Optional Protocol
OP Lab: Learning, Sharing, Actioning!
OP Lab is a project led by ARCH which aims to develop awareness of the CRPD, its Optional Protocol and other UN disability rights tools. It also aims to build capacity within disability and legal communities to use the CRPD and other UN disability rights tools to advance disability rights in Canada. OP Lab offers a series of 8 training sessions for disability community members and their allies, and a series of 3 training sessions for disability rights lawyers. Training sessions and course materials are in English, French, American Sign Language, Langue des signes Quebecoises, English captioning and French captioning to make them as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. Participants from across Canada attend these trainings, access course materials, participate in an online discussion forum, and together build a network of people committed to CRPD implementation in Canada. ARCH thanks Employment and Social Development Canada through the Social Development and Partnership Program – Disability for funding this project. We are grateful to our disability community project partners for their support of the project.
 
Our project partners are: 
•	Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC)
•	British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS)
•	Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) (now operating as Inclusion Canada)
•	Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD)
•	Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW)
•	Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC)
•	Confédération des organismes de personnes handicapées du Québec (COPHAN)
•	Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD)
•	DAWN Canada
•	Independent Living Canada (ILC)
•	People First of Canada
•	National Coalition of People who use Guide and Service Dogs in Canada
•	National Network for Mental Health (NNMH)
•	Tlingit Sovereign Nation
•	York University – Osgoode Hall Law School
Meaningful Participation in Advancing the ACA
As regulation development under the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) began, ARCH commenced a project entitled Meaningful Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Regulation Making. The goal of this project is to identify barriers within existing federal regulatory development processes and develop recommendations for regulators, aimed at removing those barriers and creating more accessible processes. This project is also intended to build capacity of disability communities to participate in regulatory development processes, and to create resources and training to facilitate this participation.
ARCH has undertaken this work in collaboration with five disability community project partners: Canadian Association of the Deaf, Council of Canadians with Disabilities, Communication Disabilities Access Canada, National Coalition of People Who Use Guide and Service Dogs in Canada, and People First of Canada. Osgoode Hall Law School is also a project partner. ARCH thanks its project partners, as their experiences and input have been invaluable to our research and analysis. ARCH thanks Employment and Social Development Canada for funding this project through its Social Development and Partnership Program – Disability.
ARCH’s work so far focuses on researching barriers in the regulatory development process, informed by the lived experience of persons with disabilities, and providing support to our project partners during ongoing regulation development. We conducted legal research regarding how substantive equality, intersectionality, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities should inform the regulatory development process. ARCH also worked with Professor Keiko Shikako-Thomas at McGill University to conduct interviews with persons with disabilities, focusing on barriers in the context of regulation development, as well as potential solutions. Meanwhile, ARCH has collaborated with its project partners during consultations held by federal regulators regarding accessibility plans, progress reports, feedback mechanisms, and enforcement of the ACA. ARCH has supported the project partners in participating in these consultations, and the feedback from the project partners has also informed ARCH’s own submissions. 
Into the Light: Eugenics and Education in Southern Ontario 
Pictures of the Into the Light Exhibit:
•	The entrance of the Into The Light Exhibit shows a large sized poster with the words: “Into the Light: Eugenics and Education in Southern Ontario. Co Curators: Mona Stonefish Peter Park Evadne Kelly Seika Boyle Sky Stonefish Dolleen Tisawii'ashi Manning”
•	The entrance of the exhibit shows a large industrial metal doorway with small slits. Inside that door is a Projection of an image of Peter Park lying on the floor in a concrete cell where he was sent in the institution for solitary confinement for punishment.
•	An image of a pile of potato sacks. Survivors of residential schools speak of potato sacks. They were forced to move from place to place, often filled with rotten potatoes.
•	A picture of the panel of speaker at the Into the Light talk at the Museum of Guelph
•	A picture of Peter Park and Mona Stonefish standing together 

Into the Light examined the histories and ongoing legacies of the eugenics movement in southern Ontario. This exhibition centres on the voices of members of Indigenous and disability communities affected and who continue to work to prevent institutional brutality, oppose colonialism, reject ableism, and foster social justice. ARCH is a proud partner and contributor and Respecting Rights member, Peter Park, was a co-curator of this exhibit. 
This exhibit generated significant interest and attention and received the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation. 
ARCH is proud to support this project and we continue to work with our exceptional partners on next phases. 
Pictures of the Into the Light Exhibit:
•	A picture of the audience at the Into the Light panel talk at Museum of Guelph. 
•	A graphic recording done at the Into the Light panel. 
•	Pictures of archives of newspaper articles that were part of the Into the Light exhibit.

 

Respecting Rights
Respecting Rights is a project at ARCH that is led by self advocates labelled with intellectual disabilities. Since 2011, Respecting Rights works on accessible law reform projects and provides accessible rights education to persons labelled with intellectual disabilities and their support networks across Ontario. 
When the pandemic hit, Respecting Rights had to stop doing in person groups, and switched to an online weekly group for self-advocates across Ontario, to make sure people still had accessible information about their rights during Covid-19.
We teamed up with the mental health team from the Azrieli Centre at CAMH and People First of Ontario. We all wanted to work together to make sure people with intellectual disabilities were getting accessible information about Covid-19. People also told us they wanted to be more connected.
Respecting Rights then launched the Get Connected campaign to encourage developmental services agencies to help people with intellectual disabilities to get online to connect safely with friends and family.
Respecting Rights presented workshops to almost 1,000 attendees across the Province.  
Pictures during Respecting Rights sessions:
•	A picture of a group of people meeting and discussing.
•	A picture of a group of people laughing at a session
•	A picture of a group of people meeting around a table
•	A picture of a group of people sitting around a table and talking
•	A picture of Stop Light cards used during Respecting Rights sessions

My Voice My Choice 
ARCH received its final evaluation report for the My Voice, My Choice initiative (MVMC). MVMC was led by and for people labelled with an intellectual disability and their support networks and focused on promoting rights of self-advocates in three pilot sites across Ontario. The evaluation was conducted by the Canadian Centre on Disability Studies Inc., operating as Eviance. 
Shared Learning Forum
Respecting Rights participated in an online presentation hosted by Shared Learning Forum for developmental services staff and management in which we shared results of the MVMC evaluation report and provided legal information on decision making rights in Ontario.
Pictures during Respecting Rights sessions:
•	A picture of people in a Zoom meeting
•	A picture of people sitting around a small table having a meeting
•	A picture of 3 people standing and smiling
•	A picture of an evaluation. The question reads – “Did you learn anything new?” Answer – “yes”. The follow up question is “If yes, what are one or two things you learned that are important to you?”. Answer – “I can make my own decisions even with my parents. We get to choose who we have relationships with”.
•	Respecting Rights logo

ARCH in the Media
ARCH continues to pursue conveying information about disability rights through media platforms.
Transition back to school is ‘going to be awful’ for special needs kids, advocacy group warns August 23, 2020—The Standard, Allan Benner
Important voices under-represented in new home and community care legislation July 21, 2020—The Lawyer's Daily, Anjanee Naidu
What new legislation means for home and community care in Ontario July 20, 2020—TVO, Mary Baxter
Why don’t we know how many home-care workers have COVID-19? July 15, 2020—TVO, Mary Baxter  
Hospital ban on 'essential supporters' discriminatory - June 11, 2020—Toronto Sun, Sue-Ann Levy  
People with severe disabilities feel especially vulnerable in COVID-19 shutdown April 17, 2020—Toronto Star, Laurie Monsebraaten 
“People are really scared”: Ontarians with disabilities worry they’ll be denied care April 15, 2020—TVO, Meagan Gillmore 
Feds name group to help Canadians with disabilities during COVID-19 crisis April 13, 2020—National Observer, Michelle McQuigge
Federal government names group to ensure disabled Canadians included in COVID-19 response  April 10, 2020—Globe and Mail, Michelle McQuigge
Disabled to be denied COVID-19 care?  April 8, 2020—Toronto Sun, Anotenella Artuso
Ontario Health drafts a triage protocol if hospitals hit surge capacity                      April 7, 2020—CHCH, News Staff
Law society could dismantle another equity provision, bencher says	
February 24, 2020—Law Times, Anita Balakrishnan
Guelph Museum recognized for exhibition on eugenics survivors February 21, 2020—GuelphToday, GuelphToday Staff 
Universities must share their oppressive pasts January 25, 2020—University World News, Evadne Kelly, Carla Rice
LSO diversity debate reignited after alleged conflict between equity advisor, bencher January 24, 2020—Law Times, Anita Balakrishnan
Universities must open their archives and share their oppressive pasts
January 16, 2020—The Conversation, Evadne Kelly, Carla Rice
Taking the pulse of disability rights in Canada December 24, 2019—The Lawyer's Daily, Kaitlyn MacDonell
Radio Interview with host Cam Wells December 20, 2019—Handi-Link 
Everyone has a right to accessible transit in Toronto, December 17, 2019—Toronto.com, Dianne Wintermute 
Respecting Rights Coordinator Sue Hutton shares her journey at ARCH Disability Law Centre November 22, 2019—CanFASD, Sue Hutton 
Medically assisted dying rulling denies important safeguard for persons with disabilities November 1, 2019—Hospital News, Robert Lattanzio 
Aide médicale à mourir : une importante mesure de protection des personnes handicapées est invalidée October 17, 2019—L'Aut' Journal, Robert Lattanzio 
La décision sur l’aide médicale à mourir invalide une importante mesure de protection des personnes handicapées October 10, 2020—Le Droit, Robert Lattanzio 
Waterloo University case sheds light on after-the-fact accommodation
October 7, 2019—Law Times, Anita Balakrishnan
Financial Overview
2019—2020
 
(Images of ARCH Disability Law Centre Statement of Financial Position, March 31, 2020)

ARCH Financial Supporters
(Image of ARCH Disability Law Centre Statement of Financial Position, March 31, 2020)
ARCH is grateful to the ongoing funding and support of Legal Aid Ontario (LAO). LAO is ARCH’s primary funder and a critical partner in all our work.
(Logo of Legal Aid Ontario)
The City of Toronto has once again provided ARCH with a Community Service Partnership Grant that supports our Education, Information and Reference Program. 
ARCH is licensed by the Ontario Lottery Corporation to participate in the Break Open Ticket program. Receipts from this initiative support our disability accommodations, our website and our Resource Centre. 
ARCH is grateful to the Government of Canada’s Social Development and Partnerships Program – Disability which has funded two substantial national initiatives. 
ARCH was granted funds through the Special Projects Initiative pursuant to the class action settlement of Dolmage v. Ontario to fund Respecting Rights programming.  
ARCH also received funding from numerous organizations for project specific work.
ARCH would like to thank the above funders for their support, and also thank members of the public for their ongoing support through their generous donations.

ARCH Staff and Board of Directors
ARCH Board of Directors
2019-2020
Douglas Waxman			Chairperson
Wade Poziomka			1st Vice-Chairperson
Bonnie Quesnel			2nd Vice-Chairperson
Jennifer Hiseller			Treasurer  
Roxanne Mykitiuk			Secretary 
Effie Prattas			Director
Emily Gillespie			Director
Harjot Dosanjh			Director
Jason Mitschele			Director
Laura Upans			Director
Michelle Woolfrey			Director
Sandi Bell				Director
Sandy Gdyczynski		Director
Susan Docherty Skippen	Director
Yvonne Simpson			Director
 ARCH Staff
2019-2020
Amanda Ward		Intake Coordinator
Dianne Wintermute	Staff Lawyer
Doreen Way		Office Manager
Gabriel Reznick		Staff Lawyer
Hina Ghaus			Staff Lawyer
Jessica DeMarinis	Staff Lawyer 
Kerri Joffe			Staff Lawyer
Lila Refaie			Staff Lawyer
Mariam Shanouda	Staff Lawyer
Mariana Versiani		Communications Coordinator
Mary Hanson		Librarian 
Melissa Way		Project Staff 
Rachel Weiner		Research Project Lawyer
Robert Lattanzio		Executive Director
Sue Hutton			Respecting Rights Coordinator
Theresa Sciberras	Administrative Assistant
Yangtzee Tamang	Litigation Assistant
Acknowledgements
ARCH is very appreciative of the support of legal clinics, the private bar, and the pro bono assistance of lawyers and law students. ARCH thanks the many volunteers who have given ongoing support and offered insight, expertise and information that has advanced our work. 
ARCH gratefully acknowledges the contributions from our volunteers, lawyers and supporters:
Akanksha Tripathi			Co-operative of Specialty Legal Clinics
Carla Rice				ReVision Centre
Cat Cayuga				ARCH Working Group member—Indigenous Issues  
Chris Beesley			Community Living Ontario
Claudette Paul			ARCH Working Group member—Indigenous Issues
David Lepofsky			AODA Alliance
David McGeary			D2L 
David Shannon			Shannon Law Office
Dawn Owen				Guelph Civic Museum  
Dolleen Tisawii’ashii Manning	Into the Light Co-creator
Evadne Kelly			Into the Light Co-creator
Gaye Jackson			Bookkeeper
Giuliana Barrow Lattanzio	Volunteer
Homira Osman			Muscular Dystrophy Canada
Jennifer Stone			Health Justice Initiative, Neighborhood Legal Services
Josee Boulanger			DANEO
Krystal Nausbaum			Respecting Rights
Laura LaChance			Canadian Down Syndrome Society 
Leanne Mielczarek		Lupus Canada
Marissa Blake			Respecting Rights 
Marissa Forturne-Hall		Co-operative of Specialty Legal Clinics
Melanie Marsden			ARCH Working Group member—Indigenous Issues
Mona Stonefish			Into the Light Co-creator, project Elder
Paul Cochrane			Respecting Rights
Peter Park				Into the Light Co-creator, Respecting Rights
René Guitard			Réseau Francophone and of la Clinique francophone 
					de'Est d'Ottawa

 
Roberta Oshkabewisens		ARCH Working Group member—Indigenous Issues 
Roxanne Mykitiuk			York University
Ruby Dhand			Thompson Rivers University
Seika Boye				Into the Light Co-creator 
Shaheen Azmi 			Ontario Human Rights Commission 
Sheila Wildeman			Associate Professor of Law, Dalhousie University
Shineeca McLeod			Respecting Rights 
Sky Stonefish			Into the Light Co-creator 
Steven Estey			Co-ordinator Canada’s Parallel Report on the CRPD
Susan Fraser			Fraser Advocacy 
Tara Bates				Community Living Toronto 
Tracy Odell				Citizens with Disabilities Ontario (CWDO)
Trudo Lemmens			University of Toronto
Vicky Pearson			Community Living London 
Wendy Porch			Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT)

Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE)
Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) 
Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC)
AODA Alliance
Association of Community Legal Clinics of Ontario (ACLCO) 
Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC)
British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS)
Canadian Association for Community Living (now operating as Inclusion Canada)
Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD)
Canadian Centre on Disability Studies operating as Eviance
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW)
Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA)
Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT)
Citizens with Disabilities Ontario (CWDO)
Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC)
Community Living Six Nations ‘Ronatahskats’
Confédération des organismes de personnes handicapées du Québec (COPHAN)
Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD)
DAWN Canada
Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities (H-CARDD) 
Inclusive Education Canada 
Independent Living Canada (ILC)
Industrial Accident Victims’ Group of Ontario (IAVGO)
National Coalition of People who use Guide and Service Dogs in Canada
National Network for Mental Health (NNMH)
People First of Canada
People Frist of Ontario 
The Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research (CRaNHR)  
The Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society (IRIS) 
Tlingit Sovereign Nation
Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
York University – Osgoode Hall Law School
ARCH sincerely thanks all of our disability accommodation service providers. 
ARCH gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the following students:
Emily Prosser, Disability Law Intensive 
Cynthia Larue, Disability Law Intensive Student
Sarah Crittenden, Disability Law Intensive Student
Fatema Lotia, Disability Law Intensive Student
Emily Goetz, Disability Law Intensive Student
Oliver Backman, Disability Law Intensive Student, summer Internship student 
Ryan Bowes, Disability Law Intensive Student
Emma Vleming, Disability Law Intensive Student, summer Internship student 
Jennifer Lee, Disability Law Intensive Student
Kurt Goddard, LPP 
Brittany DiTrani, summer Internship student 
Courtney Po, summer Internship student 
Esma Haider, summer student 			

 

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Toronto, ON, M5J 2H7
 
Phone: 416-482-8255  1-866-482-2724
TTY: 416-482-1254  1-866-482-2728
 
www.archdisabilitylaw.ca 

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