Senior Research Associate and the External Relations Coordinator University of Calgary
Sponsored By:
How can we reshape disability services to better meet the needs of children, youth, and families across Canada? Join us for a dynamic, cross-sectoral workshop that brings together researchers, providers, and individuals with lived experience to examine and discuss the state of disability policies and services in Canada. This session will present our Disability Policy in Canada: Provincial and Territorial Report, an analysis of disability programs, legislation, and action plans across all Canadian provinces and territories. The report connects these policies with key articles from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), offering a critical lens on how well Canadian policies align with global human rights standards.
Drawing on the lived experiences of parents and caregivers, we will highlight the practical challenges families face in accessing services and navigating the often fragmented disability system. These perspectives reveal the gaps and barriers that continue to impede equitable access to the support.
After the report presentation, we will facilitate an interactive discussion aimed at deepening our collective understanding of these challenges and shifting knowledge into action. Attendees will have the opportunity to identify knowledge gaps, share insights, and collaborate on next steps for transforming disability policy in Canada. This session will also introduce plans for a pan-Canadian disability policy network, focused on enhancing the design, delivery, and equitable access to services for youth (ages 0-25) with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families.
We invite all participants—whether researchers, providers, community partners, families or self-advocates—to contribute their expertise and experiences, and to explore opportunities for creating a more inclusive, responsive, and rights-based disability system across Canada.
