Beyond Limits: How to Support and Advocate for Ontarians Living with Disabilities

In recent years, there has been an increasing awareness of the importance of serving marginalized groups in our society. These groups have historically been excluded from mainstream society, and as a result, face significant barriers to accessing essential resources and services. One group that has been particularly overlooked is individuals with disabilities.

People with disabilities make up approximately 16% of the world's population, and yet they continue to face significant challenges in accessing basic services and resources (Disability Fact Sheet, 2023). These challenges include physical and social barriers, as well as discrimination and stigmatization (Disability Fact Sheet, 2023). In this blog post, we will explore some of the ways that individuals with disabilities can be better served. In Ontario, there are more than 2.5 million people living with a disability (Ontario Establishes a New Framework to Continue Progress on Accessibility, 2020)

1. Increase Accessibility

One of the most significant barriers that individuals with disabilities face is physical accessibility. Many buildings and public spaces are not designed with the needs of individuals with disabilities in mind. This can include things like stairs instead of ramps, narrow doorways, and inadequate restroom facilities. To better serve this marginalized group, it is essential to increase accessibility by making sure that buildings, public spaces, and transportation systems are designed with the needs of individuals with disabilities in mind. Ontario is the first province to enact legislation outlining a goal and timing for accessibility. The aim is to have Ontario accessible by 2025 (About Accessibility Laws, 2022). This is a complex and challenging task and one that requires organizations to work collaboratively with the government.

2. Provide Assistive Technology

Another way to better serve individuals with disabilities is by providing assistive technology. This includes hearing aids, screen readers, and speech recognition software (What is AT?, n.d.). Assistive technology can help individuals with disabilities to better access education, employment opportunities, and other essential resources. There are several programs in Ontario that fund these devices such as the Ontario Government (Assistive Devices Program, 2022) and the March of Dimes of Canada (Assistive Devices Program, 2022). There are still strides to be made, however, as many of these processes are complicated to navigate and require a significant amount of attention and support to complete. In my opinion, an ideal way to advance how we as a population serve this group is to ensure each person completing an application is paired up with an ambassador to support them through the application process through the delivery and utilization of the devices. The extension of the program to include an ambassador could also serve to create employment or volunteer opportunities for other Ontarians living with disabilities creating a sustainability circle and providing increased quality of life. The next section goes on to discuss the importance of addressing stigma.

3. Address Stigma and Discrimination

Individuals with disabilities also face significant stigma and discrimination. This can include being excluded from social activities, being denied employment opportunities, and being subjected to negative stereotypes. To better serve this group, it is essential to address stigma and discrimination by promoting awareness and education about disabilities. In Ontario, The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), makes AODA training required for all employers and workers in Ontario (AODA Training Requirements: Who needs it and why? 2019). This training has been mandatory in Ontario for over 10 years, however, there remain employers underserving people and workers in Ontario by violating this legislation.

In conclusion, individuals with disabilities are a marginalized group that continues to face significant barriers to accessing essential resources and services. To better serve this group, it is essential to increase accessibility, provide assistive technology, and address stigma and discrimination. By taking these steps, we can create a more inclusive society that values and respects the needs and rights of all individuals.

References

About Accessibility Laws. (2022, December 9). Retrieved from Ontario: https://www.ontario.ca/page/about-accessibility-laws#:~:text=The%20Accessibility%20for%20Ontarians%20with%20Disabilities%20Act%20(AODA)%20is%20a,government%20to%20develop%20the%20standards.

AODA Training Requirements: Who needs it and why? (2019). Retrieved from Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act: https://www.aoda.ca/aoda-training-requirements-who-needs-it-and-why/

Assistive Devices Program. (2022). Retrieved from March of Dimes of Canada: https://www.marchofdimes.ca/en-ca/programs/am/adp

Assistive Devices Program. (2022, December 12). Retrieved from Ontario: https://www.ontario.ca/page/assistive-devices-program

Disability Fact Sheet. (2023, March 7). Retrieved from World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health

Ontario Establishes a New Framework to Continue Progress on Accessibility. (2020, January 8). Retrieved from Ontario: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/55522/ontario-establishes-a-new-framework-to-continue-progress-on-accessibility

What is AT? (n.d.). Retrieved from Assistive Technology Industry Association: https://www.atia.org/home/at-resources/what-is-at/