Warmest wishes this holiday season to you!

 Members of the Disability Action Hall wish you a safe holiday season with your loved ones. 
And Happy New Year! 

Our future, Right Now. Happy International Human Rights Day, December 10th, 2024

Our future, Right Now, is this year's theme for Human Rights Day on December 10th, 2024. 

More than ever, we share a bit about ourselves in the hopes of narrowing the gap for a greater understanding of one another. 

As we observe the United Nations "International Human Rights Day", we will premiere reels each day beginning December 10th on our YouTube channel .

To learn more about how the world is honouring our human rights, please visit this link.  

We hope you also enjoy this message from the UN High Commissioner, Volker Turk  "Human Rights belong to all of us"

December 3rd for Virtual Celebration for International Day for Disabled Persons

 

IDPD Virtual Celebration Poster was held on Tuesday, December 3rd, 3 pm to 5 pm by Disability Action Hall

Thank you to everyone joining us for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities! 

To watch the footage from the celebration, visit this link 

When?         Tuesday, December 3^rd, from 3 pm to 5 pm

Where?        On Zoom

Who?           You. Come as you are!

Why?           United Nations International Day for Persons with Disabilities

ASL and Closed Captioning are provided.

 

Previous call out for presenters: 

Did you want to share how you make a difference? 

Or send art about what makes you proud?

The Deadline for presenters and artists is November 10th, 2024. 

Call out for Presenters  ⮜Link to 'Google form'

Call out for Artists: ⮜Link to 'Google form'

Proudly sponsored by Alberta’s Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

 

Download the Event Poster here 

October 17th, International Day to Eradicate Poverty - A home for all

Imagine coming home to find out your rent doubled, tripled or even quadrupled to no fault of your own? Many people live in poverty and face a great deal of confusing red tape, trapped in systems that become a full-time effort to navigate. Such a story almost happened to Mary. 

A lesson Mary would like to share is this...  "If housing was affordable and folks had the support they need, they would have the opportunity to make their place, their home."

This October 17th, Let's all hope we work towards an inclusive society for all. Learn more about Alberta's "Rent Assistance Benefit" so we can all remain safe in our homes with the support we may need. 

Zine created by Mary

The United Nations recognizes October 17th, 2024, as International Day to Eradicate Poverty. This year's theme is "End Social and Institutional Maltreatment. Act together for just, peaceful, and inclusive societies." 

Save the Date, International Day for Persons with Disabilities

Poster (PDF) IDPD 2024 Virtual Save the Date Dec 3 & Call for Presenters Artists Nov 10 by Disability Action Hall

 

Save The Date! (Download Poster PDF)

International Day for Disabled Persons Alberta Virtual Celebration

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, 3 Pm To 5 Pm

Did you know you can take part in the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on Zoom? The Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities proudly sponsors the event, which is an Alberta-wide virtual celebration.

What: 

International Day of Persons with Disabilities Virtual Celebration as recognized by the United Nations

When: Tuesday, December 3rd, from 3 pm to 5 p.m.

How: ASL and CART will be available on Zoom.

Who: You! Call-out for Presenters and artists, deadline November 10th.

Why: To promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

Call Out to Presenters and Artists

The Deadline for presenters and artists is November 10th, 2024.

Call out for Presenters: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5AfNcQb8DUrFP5qfDeyHAbaw-Otui6W0d774XIieoY-3l0w/viewform?usp=sharing 

Call out for Artists: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5Qeht6r0GCG4WTseWIUDSvGPBdrv9GDVV90DdM6mtd87BmQ/viewform?usp=sharing  

To access the imagery, website, or printed material try: Seeing AI (www.seeingai.com), Be My Eyes (https://www.bemyeyes.com/)  Google Lens ( https://lens.google/)   If you have any questions or are having any difficulty accessing the information, please feel free to contact us 

Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) October 2024

In celebration of "Disability Employment Awareness Month" (DEAM), Members of the Disability Action Hall wanted to share successful employment strategies to help employers and entrepreneurs thrive in Alberta. Alex created this comic titled "Employment through a Lived-Experience Pan-Disability Lens" joined by the voices of the Hall. 

To enjoy the stories and strategies on a large scale, visit this link.  

Happy DEAM!

Download our PDF

Plain text of the comic

Frame 1 - Six Hall members with diverse disabilities present in front of an audience. Titled "Successful Employment Strategies for a Diverse Workforce..." 
Brad: "Hello, we are members of the Disability Action Hall."
Hilary: "And we are here to talk about employment through a lived-experience pan-disability lens."

Frame 2  - Two people in an office. Titled "Flexible Work Hours"- 
Colleen: "When you live with disabilities, it can often be difficult to work a traditional 9-5 office job." 
Mike: "That's right. Flexible work hours, places and job duties that utilize a person's skills are essential. Everyone is capable of working with the right accommodations."

Frame 3 - Two people talk together with handheld technology. Titled "All communications is valid. Employees communicate in many ways."
Amber: "My disability makes it difficult to leave the house sometimes. I'm also non-verbal, and I sign and type to talk." 
Kavin: "All communication is valid. It's great that your employer recognizes that you are just as capable of doing your job even if you aren't always in the office." 

Frame 4: Two people in a commercial kitchen, one wearing a chef's hat and coat. Titled "Encourage adaptions to help employees thrive."
Lloyd: "My disability makes reading difficult, but my employer is understanding. I don't have to read for this job, and I love it! My support worker is even able to join me!"

Frame 5: Two people in an industrial scene. Titled "Learn practical ways to adapt sensory stimuli of workspaces for greater productivity..." 
Angie: "Many people have sensory issues, which make working difficult. There are easy fixes, though. 
Brad: "Bright lights bother me, but this office's lights are nice and dim."

Frame 6: Two people talk together in an office space. Titled "Many workspace adaptions cost little money to make it sensory friendly." 
Bruce: "You gotta tone it down with the cologne. My stomach is doing flip-flops!" 
Alex: "Sorry, my bad. I didn't realize it was making people need to leave the office!" 

Frame 7: Two people talk outside at a construction site, a construction worker and a person with the adaptive device. Titled "Workplace safety, include accessible ways to gain access to construction sites for all." 
Denise: "I've heard that transportation to and from work can be a struggle for many disabled folks."
Hilary: "Yes, my workplace is on the other side of this construction site, and it's pretty much impossible for me to walk there." 

Frame 8: Three people wait outside an accessible transit bus, one looking at their watch. Titled "Para-transit does not always arrive on time, flexible work hours set employees up for success."
Kirsten: "Looks like your accessible transit is here."
Mike: "And they are late... again. My boss is going to be upset with me."
Jennifer: "You don't have control over when your bus comes. Your employer needs to be more understanding."

Frame 9: Three people stand at a bus stop near a park. Titled "Wheelchair ramps are just the beginning of accessible workplace design."

Mary: "When people say a place is accessible, they need to check it out in person. Often it isn't accessible for everyone."

Jane: "Yes. Everyone has different access needs, even if they have the same disabilities."

Reggie: "People with disabilities designed this community garden. The signs are in plain language and have braille."

Frame 10: Two people talk in front of an artist's easel in a studio. Titled "We all need a living wage to thrive..."

Colleen: "I make and sell art but still need a part-time job, which I struggle with. My disability can be a real inconvenience."

Kathleen: "You did have great ideas, though. Tell us about it."

Frame 11: Two figures continue to talk about art in art studio. Titled "Entrepreneurs needs to be paid for their lifelong knowledge, skills and time."

Colleen: "If we had a gallery for artists with disabilities but priced it at the market prices instead of $5-$10, that would be a dream come true. then, I could share my art with the world and be compensated appropriately."

Frame 12: Six Hall Members before an audience, with the words 'The End" in the upper corner. Titled "American sign language and closed captioning should be automatically considerations for training, meetings, events and gatherings." 

Brad: "We want to thank our lovely ASL interpreters..."

Frame 13: Disability Pride Flag with the Disability Action Hall logo titled Tell Stories! Take Action! Change Lives! with two figures holding signs that read Rights  Now. 

Fix the Canada Disability Benefit Rules for in three steps!

Many groups created tools across Canada to help improve feedback on the draft laws governing the Canada Disability Benefit. We want to ensure the benefit reaches all who need it.  We suggest three steps: learn about the draft rules, talk with the province about no clawbacks and provide ideas to better the Canada Disability Benefit rules before they become law. 

1. Step one: Learn about the Canada Disability Benefit and the draft rules.

• The Disability Action Hall created an easy-to-understand one-pager of the draft rules and "Eight ideas on how to improve the benefit."   
• Vibrant Communities Calgary "Everything you need to know about the Canada Disability Benefit." in this blog post posted August 28th, 2024.
• Common questions asked about the benefit draft legislation by Momentum. You are now ready to go onto step 2, send to your MLA!  

2. Step 2: Talk to your Alberta MLA (Minister of the Legislative Assembly) immediately to ensure the benefit is not clawed back (Do before September 23rd). 

• Use this Alberta template letter to help write your letter to your Alberta Minister of Legislative Assembly MLA (Created by Momentum). Try using your postal code to find your MLA's address. You can also send your letter to all Alberta MLAS by downloading the MLA contact list. 
• Maytree Foundation also created a no-clawbacks toolkit that you can download depending on where you live. The toolkit provides letters, Contacts, and much more. If you have any problems, you can contact Maytree at info@maytree.com. 

3. Step 3: Send a letter to the Canada Gazette and your MP (Minister of Parliament) by September 23rd about the changes you would like to see to improve the benefit.

Sending a letter to the Canadian government and the Canada Gazette

Need help? Disability Without Poverty and March of Dimes created a letter to "Better the Benefit," and you can also personalize the letter.  

Inclusion Canada design recommendations with links a template letter and "Why Canada's measurement of poverty falls short" (August 28th)

Post directly to the Canada Gazette website by September 23rd, 2024, as your comments will also become public. The Gazette website is the most common way to help make the CDB rules better. But it is also easier to send an email, video or by mail to edsc.pcph-cdb.esdc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

By video: Use the email above to send a link to a recorded video of your comments.

By mail:

Canada Gazette, Part I, Canada Disability Benefit Regulations c/o Office for Disability Issues, Employment and Social Development Canada, 105 rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, 1st floor Gatineau, QC J8X 4H7

Happy Pride!

 Proud to support Queerly Disabled Calgary Pride 2024

8 Ways to improve the Canada Disability Benefit

Canadians have until September 23rd to email their changes to improve the Canada Disability Benefit regulations.  Here are some tools if you need a little bit of inspiration to get things started! 

•  8 recommendations (PDF) to improve the Canada Disability Benefit to help you get started. It is also in a pocket-sized zine (PDF) to carry with you to help spark discussion when you meet with friends and decision-makers. 
• Two example letters written by Hall members.

Stay tuned for more tools! 

 

Same 8 recommendations in slide format. 

Here are two example letters written by Hall members Mary and Kavin, which they also sent to their MLA, MP, and cabinet ministers. 

Mary's letter 

Kavin's letter

Messages are best shared with your local MP and your local MLA (to prevent provinces/territories from clawing back the benefit) as mentioned in this article by Open Policy Ontario (August 18th, 2024) 

Send your Canada Gazette website by September 23rd, 2024, as your comments will also become public, If it is easier, you may also  send an email, video or by mail: 

• By email: edsc.pcph-cdb.esdc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
• By video: use the email above to send us a link to a recorded video of your comments
• By mail:
• Canada Gazette, Part I, Canada Disability Benefit Regulations c/o Office for Disability Issues, Employment and Social Development Canada, 105 rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, 1st floor Gatineau, QC J8X 4H7

Canada Disability Benefit regulations need your improvements by September 23rd!

Here is quick guide to help you improve the Canada Disability Benefit! 

Post directly to the Canada Gazette website by September 23rd, 2024, as your comments will also become public. The Gazette website is the most common way to share your thoughts however, you may also send an email, video or by mail: 

• By email: edsc.pcph-cdb.esdc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
• By video: use the email above to send us a link to a recorded video of your comments
• By mail:
• Canada Gazette, Part I, Canada Disability Benefit Regulations c/o Office for Disability Issues, Employment and Social Development Canada, 105 rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, 1st floor Gatineau, QC J8X 4H7

Instagram Best Canada Disability Benefit draft regulations July 2024 (Instagram Post) by Disability Action Hall

Feedback on the draft rules for the Canada Disability Benefit due September 23, 2024

The draft rules to help Canadians with disabilities pay for the higher living costs are out for public feedback.  

We made a 2-page infographic guide to help readers read through "the summary" of the rules, which are also in plain text below the image.  

We also created this short video if you like to see each regulation on a single slide.

Once you have read the guide, post directly to the Canada Gazette website by September 23rd, 2024, your comments will also become public. 

The Gazette website is the most common way to share your thoughts however, you may also send an email, video or by mail: 

• By email: edsc.pcph-cdb.esdc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
• By video: use the email above to send us a link to a recorded video of your comments
• By mail:
• Canada Gazette, Part I, Canada Disability Benefit Regulations c/o Office for Disability Issues, Employment and Social Development Canada, 105 rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, 1st floor Gatineau, QC J8X 4H7
• 
  

 Click here to zoom into the guide for the Canada Disability Benefit draft regulations July 2024 

(By the Disability Action Hall)

Link to the draft regulations to post comments.
Link to a summary of the draft regulations (Plain text copied below) 

Introduction
Definitions
Proposed eligibility requirements

• be a resident of Canada (for the purposes of the Income Tax Act)

• have a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate

• be between the ages of 18 and 64

• have filed an income tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency for the previous tax year. For example, to receive benefits for the July 2025 to June 2026 payment period, the person must have filed a return for the 2024 tax year

• a Canadian citizen

• a permanent resident

• a protected person

• a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the past 18 months

• someone who is registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act

Incarcerated persons
Applying for the Canada Disability Benefit

• Online: An application that could be completed and submitted online

• Hard copy: A paper application that could be printed out and completed by hand. The completed application could then be mailed to Service Canada or dropped off at a Service Canada Centre

• In person: An applicant could visit their nearest Service Canada Centre. A staff member would help them fill out and submit the application

• By phone: An applicant could call Service Canada and a staff member would help them complete the application. The application could then be mailed or dropped off at a Service Canada Centre

Proposed benefit amount
Income thresholds

• $23,000 if the beneficiary is single

• $32,500 if the beneficiary is married or has a common-law partner

• the benefit would be reduced by 10 cents for each person for every dollar of the couple's income that is above $32,500

Working income exemption

• If the beneficiary is single: The exempt amount would be $10,000

• If the beneficiary is married or has a common-law partner: The exempt amount for the couple's combined employment income would be $14,000

Adjusting for inflation
Changes in marital status

• getting married

• entering a common-law relationship

• getting divorced or separated

• being widowed (their spouse or partner died)

Start of benefit payments
Death of a beneficiary
Representative

• complete the benefit application

• receive the benefit for the beneficiary

• request that a decision be reconsidered

• appeal a decision

Requesting a reconsideration
Appealing a reconsideration decision

• Department of Employment and Social Development Act

• Tax Court of Canada Act

• Federal Courts Act

Compliance and enforcement
Financial penalties

• knowingly make false or misleading representations on an application

• apply for and receive a benefit while knowing they are not eligible to receive it

• first violation: 15% of the yearly maximum

• subsequent violations: 50% of the yearly maximum

• $360 for a first violation, and

• $1,200 for any subsequent violation

Summary offences

• knowingly use false identity information, or another person's identity information, to obtain a benefit for themselves

• counsel a person to apply for a benefit for the purpose of stealing all or a substantial part of the benefit

• knowingly make false or misleading representations on an application

Overpayments
Coming into force
Page detailsShare this pageDate modified:

 

2024-06-28

The Canada Disability Benefit Act received Royal Assent (became law) on June 22, 2023. This Act serves as a framework for the new Canada Disability Benefit.

This benefit is being created to reduce poverty and support the financial security of working-age people with disabilities. The Canada Disability Benefit Regulations will make it possible for the benefit to be paid. Payments are expected to begin in July 2025.

The following is a summary of the proposed regulations. This summary is not a legal document and is not intended for use in interpreting the regulations.

An applicant is a person who applies for the benefit. This includes a person who has an application made on their behalf.

A beneficiary is a person who has been approved to receive the benefit.

The payment period for the benefit is from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.

To receive the benefit, a person must:

Also, the person must be one of the following:

Anyone serving a sentence of imprisonment of two years or more in a federal penitentiary will not be eligible to receive the benefit while they are incarcerated (except for the first month they are incarcerated and the month they are released).

The proposed regulations allow Service Canada to design the application process. Once the regulations are finalized, there will be several ways to apply. These methods will be tested first to ensure they are accessible for people with disabilities.

A person could be authorized to complete an application for someone else using any of the above methods. However, they would need to provide documents to Service Canada to show they have the legal authority to act on behalf of the applicant. They would also need to confirm their identity.

The maximum amount of the benefit for the July 2025 to June 2026 payment period would be $2,400 ($200 per month). The actual amount a person would receive would depend on their income and the income of their spouse or common-law partner, if any.

The benefit would be reduced by 20 cents for every dollar of income that is above:

If both members of a couple are beneficiaries:

A certain amount of work income would be exempt from (not counted in) the calculation of a person's income.

The maximum benefit amount and the income thresholds and working income exemption amounts would be adjusted each payment period to account for inflation, as determined by changes in the Consumer Price Index.

If a beneficiary's marital status changes during a payment period, the amount they receive would be recalculated. Changes include:

The benefit would be payable to a person starting the month after the month that their application was approved.

Eligible individuals would be able to get up to 24 months of retroactive payments when they apply. These are payments for past months where an individual was eligible but did not apply for the benefit. There will be no payments for months prior to July 2025.

If a beneficiary dies, their heirs or estate would be eligible to receive a benefit payment for the month in which the beneficiary died (unless the beneficiary already received the payment for that month).

This is someone who acts on behalf of an applicant or beneficiary who is unable to manage their own affairs. A representative can:

A representative is a legal representative such as a guardian or trustee. If a beneficiary who is unable to manage their own affairs does not have a legal representative, Service Canada could agree to pay the benefit to someone else for the beneficiary.

If someone disagrees with a decision about their eligibility for the benefit or the amount of their benefit, they can ask for the decision to be reconsidered. In general, individuals will have 180 days from the day they find out about the decision to ask for a reconsideration. In some cases, they may be given more time.

If a person disagrees with a reconsideration decision, they will be able to appeal the decision to the Social Security Tribunal. If part of the appeal has to do with income, the Social Security Tribunal will refer that part to the Tax Court of Canada.

Note: The appeal-related sections of the regulations will work together with changes made in the Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1. These changes affect the following:

The proposed Canada Disability Benefit regulations include ways to help ensure the benefit goes only to those who are eligible. For example, the government could ask applicants and beneficiaries (or their representatives) to provide additional documents or other information.

These are also known as administrative monetary penalties. An individual can receive a financial penalty if they do the following:

These acts are called violations. The size of the penalty is based on the yearly maximum amount of the benefit, as follows:

For example, based on a yearly maximum amount of $2,400, the amounts would be:

No one would receive a penalty if they just made a mistake because they thought they were eligible for the benefit.

Under the proposed regulations, it is an offence to do any of the following:

Under the Criminal Code, individuals convicted of a summary offence can receive a fine of up to $5,000 and/or a term of imprisonment of up to 2 years.

The proposed regulations state that a person cannot be charged with an offence if they already received a financial penalty under the Canada Disability Benefit Act for the same action.

The proposed regulations allow the government to recover overpayments. This is when someone is given more of the benefit than they were eligible to receive.

After they are finalized, the regulations will come into force once they are signed by the Governor General and are registered (added to the government's list of regulations).

Link to post your comments on the Canada Disability Benefit regulations (Canada Gazette)

Calgary's 30 year Plan Phase 3

The City of Calgary is asking for feedback on phase 3 by July 24th for the 30-year municipal development plan. This plan helps us consider how our city will look when we reach about 2.1 million people in 2051. 

To have your say, visit this link. 

To view our vision, visit our PDF, which includes quotes about what kind of place we would like to live in by 2051. 

Here is what we said: 

Members of the Disability Action Hall looked at Calgary’s 30-year plan's three goals (People, environment, and economy) but found the plan document too long and overwhelming. We found that the top nine priorities (found on page 27) overlapped with our vision of the future.

Below are statements of what kind of city we would like to live in when we are 2 million people in 2051, with the relevant priorities identified.

 

Overall, the plan’s priorities left us concerned, given that many of us will be seniors at that time, about the accessibility of our city and connecting with people and places we care about. While a single-family home may be a design of the past, we are concerned about the social isolation we may all feel from being in the current design of high towers and townhomes far away from good sources of food, medical care, support, friends, nature and transit. We want to be able to visit our friends who may live across the city, and having an excellent public transit system is a part of that solution, as it will be challenging for us to operate a car safely in a high-density city.

 

In summary, we all agreed on the following statement:

 

“More safe, accessible, affordable housing near transit and services (complete communities building around transit).” Kathleen (Priority 1, 3, 4 and 7)

 

 

We want to live in places full of nature, not necessarily concrete towers with poor air quality and disconnected from clean water sources. When we set out to build high-quality density, higher-density housing will also require a two-to-three-bedroom home to offset the costs of ownership and a place for our caregivers and family members to share accommodation. It is not realistic for many of us to own a home, and rental properties need to consider multi-generational members living together to help us live safely and as independently as we can.

 

“Housing needs to feel like a home, not transitional housing; it has gardens and community rooms, accessible homes with nursing staff nearby, and you are in your own home.”  – Bruce (Priority 7 and 8)

 

One of our Hall members who has been on holiday in an intentional community known as Spring Creek said that is where they see themselves living as seniors…

 

“Communities with housing community built around centers. I really like staying at the condo in Canmore’s Spring Creek. There is a place for community. It is nice, with many enjoyable pathways and walkways. It is like a vacation, yet many basic needs stores are nearby. I want to live there. In present-day Calgary, the Co-Op and Safeway are not walkable in Crescent Heights. It is important to have access to Calgary Transit. Having hours that reflect my desire to enjoy arts and culture is critical. For instance, Calgary Transit Access will not take me to the Arts Commons after 8 pm. I also want to be able to buy my low-income transit pass at the store of my choice versus outing myself as a person on a fixed income at the leisure center. Dignity is important.” – Mary (Priority 4, 7, 8 and 9)

 

Sometimes, it is an excellent money-saving idea to limit where public transit drops off people, but it also reduces safety for people who rely on Calgary Transit Access. Welcoming street furniture helps create safety. We need to increase the transportation drop-off points at community hubs, especially making it easy to get to medical services and pharmacies. We also need to have a place to wait that is clean, dry, and safe.

 

“We need access to medical services in our communities.  I want Calgary Transit Access to drop me off and other clients at the door of their choice. Places should have benches for people to wait for their transit and weather-protected accessible shelters. They took away the benches at Marlborough Mall at the Pharmacy. It doesn’t make sense to get my prescription and walk very far. We need to expand the door choices for Calgary Transit Access; for now, Calgary Transit only drops off at Marlborough Walmart. I like to wait at the stores that are closer to get to, not just one drop off point that is congested and known as the busiest Walmart in Canada.” - Kavin (Priority 1,3, 4, and 5)

 

“Our City is so darn big that other than having more Max bus Routes, not just going downtown but to many parts (I can get to Edmonton faster than to a meeting), Calgary Transit should be going everywhere in the City and also have stronger inter-city provincial transit partnerships to live, work, and play in surrounding communities.” – Reggie (Priority 1,4 and 5)

 

“We need better transit to outlying areas and more Max Routes (rapid transit).”- Brad (Priority 1, 4 and 5)

 

One of our members talked about visiting a local pub. People with disabilities would like nightlife and to be greeted warmly by restaurant workers and owners. One person described how they felt more in the way than a customer. To improve our economy, we must provide greater education and financial support for businesses to become more accessible and aligned with the incoming ‘Alberta Accessibility Act.’

“We should have more accessible restaurants and bathrooms, welcoming businesses that treat people with dignity, not like you are in the way.”  - Alison (Priority 3, 8 and 9)

 

Calgary is a winter City. In present-day Calgary, just a few inches of heavy rain and snow may stop a person's ability to get outside altogether. We need a substantial investment in snow clearing and better construction detour plans that ensure people do not have to use the road. Wide bike paths would accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, scooters and people who use high-powered wheelchairs to get around. Some sidewalks are far too narrow to allow for multi-modal use; we are as important as a car and need a city designed for pedestrians with wayfinding features to get to the store and park all year. Our mixed industrial and residential areas are overlooked, yet they are close to the LRT; improving these areas for pedestrians will help the economy as people want to work in pedestrian-friendly industrial parks with plenty of green space and bike paths.

 

“We need for our city to be accessible all year, with snow clearing, great sidewalks/bike lanes, and curb cuts, even in industrial areas near transit. If a bus goes by, there better be a bike lane or accessible sidewalk, and the snow shovelled from sidewalks and wind rows.” – Colleen (Priority 3, 4 and 5)

 

 

Boundless Access for All! New Alberta Accessible Building Code!

Excited to hear the Alberta Government announce the accessible building standards code. 

Read the Alberta Government News release here. 

Plain text from Alberta government website

Albertans with disabilities deserve to have safe and reliable access to public buildings and spaces everywhere they go. To ensure safe and reliable access, it is critical that provincial and national partners work together to improve accessibility in Alberta communities. In order to collaborate and co-ordinate efforts to further develop accessibility standards for provincial building codes, Alberta’s government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Accessibility Standards Canada.
“We are pleased to be working more closely with Accessibility Standards Canada to support our commitment to creating more accessible, inclusive communities. Accessibility standards in our building codes means greater accessibility in all our communities, and I’m grateful to our partners for helping us advance accessibility in Alberta.”
Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs
Accessibility Standards Canada is a federal organization responsible for developing standards, advancing accessibility research and sharing information about accessibility. Through this partnership, Accessibility Standards Canada and Alberta’s government are better positioned to deliver on the mutual goal to improve accessibility in building development – whether that’s homes, community facilities or other buildings.
Under the agreement, Alberta’s government and Accessibility Standards Canada may share research and results, as well as work together on developing and implementing accessibility standards. By advancing standards for barrier-free design, Alberta can help eliminate barriers to accessibility and improve safety and quality of life for people with sensory, cognitive, communication and physical disabilities.
“At Accessibility Standards Canada, we wholeheartedly welcome this agreement with the Province of Alberta. It will help advance equity and accessibility for all people with disabilities. Our unwavering commitment to inclusivity fuels our work, and we take pride in our shared vision. By aligning our efforts to achieve an accessible society, regardless of jurisdiction, we are doing what is right. Thank you to the Province of Alberta for actively participating in this momentum toward a barrier-free Canada.”
Philip Rizcallah, chief executive officer, Accessibility Standards Canada
 
“Ensuring all people, regardless of ability, have access to public and private spaces is a cornerstone of all accessibility work. The Premier’s Council is pleased to see government listening to the voices of the disability community and taking this step forward in jurisdictional collaboration and appreciate the dedication this shows to inclusion for all Albertans.”
Dominic Shaw, chair, Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with DisabilitiesQuick Facts

• The Alberta government is responsible for administering provincial legislation that relates to people with disabilities and accessibility.

• In Alberta, accessibility requirements in buildings are contained in the Alberta edition of the National Building Code, which is adopted by regulation under the Safety Codes Act.

• Alberta’s safety codes establish a minimum standard for the safe design, construction and accessibility of buildings in the province.

• Alberta’s Safety Codes Council includes a barrier-free sub-council that helps make recommendations to the Minister of Municipal Affairs on issues related to barrier-free access. Organizations represented on the council include persons with disabilities groups, seniors, designers and municipal associations.

Related information

• Alberta’s building codes accessibility standards

• Accessibility Standards Canada

Thank you too all who took part in Red Shirt Day for National Access Awareness Week

We sure had a great time today wearing red and taking the pledge for AccessAbility for #RedShirtDay

Thank You!!! 

Thank you to all the amazing volunteers, Easter Seals Alberta, Alberta Ability Network, Barrier Free Alberta, Self-Advocacy Edmonton, Global TV Calgary, City Councillor Ward 10 Andre Chabot, MLA Lizette Tejada for Calgary Klein, Premiers Council on the Status of Person with Disabilities Shilo and Dominic Shaw, members of the Disability Action Hall and Calgary Scope Society who helped make the day memorable and possible. 

Media coverage here

Global TV Calgary 7:15 am morning show (4 minutes)(4 minutes)

Easter Seals Media Coverage (National) 

Hall members and Friends media coverage

Alison, the Camtographer (wheelchair-cam footage)

Lloyd's photography here! 

Dan Pederson speaking about Barrier-Free Alberta here! 

Self-Advocacy Federation on TikTok #access #roarforaccess

Taking the Pledge 

To see what everyone said feel free to visit this link and zoom in to see your photo visit this link and zoom in to see your photo by clicking on this link. 

Enjoy these 1:1 photos (1-minute video pledge) also posted on our Instagram