Disability

Canadians with disabilities face obstacles wherever they go. Whether it is a door threshold that is too high for a person using a wheelchair, the absence of publications in braille or large print, or inadequate tax and social security measures, people with disabilities are far too often denied full citizenship in Canadian society.

The belief that accommodating the needs of persons with disabilities is to be done out of goodwill, akin to an act of charity, is still prevalent. In fact, accommodation is a basic right, entrenched in law and affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada. Just as we no longer countenance an employer’s refusal to hire women because its workplace is not “suited” to women, neither should we tolerate people with disabilities being denied opportunities because of lack of measures that would enable them to succeed.

Table of contents  Previous page  Next page