National AccessAbility Week: May 26 to June 1, 2024
Forward Together: Accessibility and Inclusion for All
Join us from May 26 to June 1, 2024, to celebrate:
- the valuable contributions and leadership of persons with disabilities in Canada
- the work of allies, organizations and communities that are removing barriers
- ongoing efforts to become a more accessible and disability inclusive Canada
This year, the theme for National AccessAbility Week is "Forward Together: Accessibility and Inclusion for All," emphasizing the need for collective efforts to create a barrier-free Canada. Our country's strength lies in the diversity of its people—all its people—and we can all contribute to this vision.
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Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion
The Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion is taking place on May 23, 2024.
The Congress will kickstart National AccessAbility Week. It will be a virtual event, accessible, free, and open to all. It will bring together persons with disabilities, disability organizations, public and private sector organizations, employers, academics, innovators and thought leaders to share their insights to help shape accessible and inclusive communities and workplaces across Canada.
For 2024, the Congress will feature:
- panel discussions on the Accessible Canada Act, inclusive built environment, and accessible employment
- keynote speaker Prasanna Ranganathan, founding board member of the Disability Screen Office
- celebrations of Canadian athletes and artists with disabilities
For more information and to register, visit the Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion page. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to find out how you can participate in the various activities during National AccessAbility Week.
Message from the Minister
Transcript
Title: Minister Khera launches National AccessAbility Week 2024
[The Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera, appears on screen and begins to speak.]
Happy National AccessAbility Week, Canada!
The theme for National AccessAbility Week 2024 is “Forward Together: Accessibility and Inclusion for All.”
[While the Minister speaks, a sequence of videos appears on the screen with upbeat music playing in the background. The sequence includes: a group of children with disabilities sitting on a classroom floor; a person with a prosthetic arm holding hands with another person; a person in a wheelchair in an office; a person with a prosthetic arm sitting at a desk reading documents; a person in a wheelchair giving a presentation; a group of persons with invisible disabilities with a person in a wheelchair together in an office; a person with a prosthetic leg sitting holding a pen; and a person with a visual impairment walking on a sidewalk using a cane.]
This is a time to celebrate the many incredible contributions that more than 8 million Canadians with disabilities have made to our country.
This week is a chance to highlight the leadership of all those who work tirelessly to make our country a more accessible and inclusive place.
[The Minister comes back on screen and continues her speech.]
Five years ago, our government created the Accessible Canada Act, and since then, we’ve made a lot of progress.
Progress that has only been possible because we worked together.
The advocacy, advice and invaluable partnership we’ve received from the disability community have helped us improve the lives of thousands of Canadians with disabilities.
[While the Minister speaks, a sequence of videos appears on the screen with upbeat music playing in the background. The sequence includes: a group of people sitting together with a few people in wheelchairs, a young person with disabilities sitting smiling and raising her arms in the air, a person in a wheelchair in an office speaking to a co-worker, a person in a wheelchair making coffee, a person in an electric wheelchair going up a ramp.]
But we know there is still a lot more that needs to be done.
Our work continues on the implementation of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, which is our government’s roadmap to build a barrier-free Canada in the true spirit of “Nothing Without Us.”
[The Minister comes back on screen and continues her speech.]
In Budget 2024, we put forward a significant investment of 6.1 billion dollars for the Canada Disability Benefit to support working-age persons with disabilities who need it the most.
[While the Minister speaks, a sequence of videos appears on the screen with upbeat music playing in the background. The sequence includes: a person with a prosthetic leg standing in a workshop; a person with a disability working behind the counter in a coffee shop; a person with a prosthetic leg walking outside; several people at a park, including one person holding a basketball and one person in a wheelchair; a person in a wheelchair in an office speaking to a co-worker; a person with a visual impairment being assisted by another person to read a book in Braille; a video of Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer, Stephanie Cadieux, with Minister Kamal Khera interviewing her; a person with a prosthetic leg sitting and typing on a computer and answering a cell phone; a person with a visual impairment reading a book in Braille, a person with prosthetic legs running on a racetrack.]
At the same time, we are also making critical investments through the Enabling Accessibility Fund, the Opportunities Fund to make our communities and our workplaces more accessible.
And earlier this year, we welcomed the first ever report from Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer, who talks about the progress being made under the Accessible Canada Act and the barriers to accessibility that we still need to break down.
[The Minister comes back on screen and continues her speech.]
While this week is a chance to celebrate, it is also a time to recommit ourselves to doing more to create a barrier-free Canada.
Once again, I want to wish everyone from coast to coast to coast a very happy National AccessAbility Week.
[The final screen shows the Canada wordmark with the animated waving flag.]
Get involved
Services and information
Canada Disability Benefit
Learn about the progress made toward the proposed Canada Disability Benefit which intends to support the financial security of working age, low-income persons with disabilities.
Disability Inclusion Action Plan
Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan is a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to disability inclusion.
Making an accessible Canada for persons with disabilities
Find out how communities, workplaces and services can contribute to a Canada without barriers where everyone can fully take part.
Canada Pension Plan disability benefit
A taxable benefit that individuals may be eligible for if they are unable to work because of a disability.
Registered Disability Savings Plan
A savings plan to help participants save for the long-term financial security of a person with a disability tax credit certificate. To help savings grow, the government provides matching grants, as well as bonds for low- and modest-income beneficiaries.
Enabling Accessibility Fund
Supports community and workplace-based projects across Canada aimed at improving accessibility and safety in communities and workplaces.
Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities
Contributes to projects that help persons with disabilities find jobs in Canada.
Social Development Partnerships Program - Disability
Supports activities from social not-for-profit organizations that help persons with disabilities to take part in all aspects of Canadian society.
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