Disability Injustice in Canada: Understanding Ableism and Taking Action

In Canada, we pride ourselves on being a fair and inclusive society. Yet for millions of people with disabilities, systemic barriers, social exclusion, and everyday injustices remain a persistent reality. At Got Your Back (GYB), we work closely with young adults with developmental disabilities and dual diagnoses, and we see firsthand how ableism shapes their access to community, opportunity, and dignity.

What is Disability Injustice?

Disability injustice refers to the unfair treatment and systemic oppression that people with disabilities face in nearly every part of life—housing, education, employment, transportation, healthcare, and social services. This injustice is deeply rooted in ableism: the belief that "normal" bodies and minds are superior, and that those with disabilities are inherently less capable, valuable, or deserving.

Ableism can show up in many ways:

• A lack of accessible entrances, bathrooms, or signage in public spaces.

• Employers assume a person with a disability can’t handle certain tasks or roles.

• Speaking about someone with a disability instead of to them.

• Treating accommodations as a burden rather than a right.

• “I shouldn’t have to ‘overcome’ my disability to be treated with respect.”
  — Anonymous GYB Member

The Canadian Context

Canada has made progress in disability rights—our country ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2010 and launched the Accessible Canada Act in 2019, aiming to eliminate barriers in federally regulated sectors. However, the lived experiences of disabled Canadians still reveal stark gaps between policy and practice.

According to Statistics Canada:

• Over 22% of Canadians aged 15 and older identify as having a disability.

• People with disabilities are twice as likely to live in poverty.

• Disabled individuals face employment rates nearly 20% lower than those without disabilities.

• Many people with intellectual or developmental disabilities continue to be excluded from mainstream schooling, workspaces, and even social settings.

How Can You Help Combat Disability Injustice?

You don’t need to be a policymaker to make a difference. Here are several meaningful ways individuals, families, and communities can push back against ableism and foster equity:

1. Listen to Disabled Voices

Prioritize the perspectives of people with disabilities. Read their books, follow their social media, attend talks, and hire disabled consultants when designing services or spaces. Follow advocates like Inclusion Canada, Disability Without Poverty, and others.

2. Use Inclusive Language

Avoid outdated or harmful terms. Use person-first or identity-first language depending on individual preferences. For example, some prefer “person with autism,” while others prefer “autistic person.”

3. Audit Your Spaces

At work, home, or in community settings, ask: “Can everyone get in? Can everyone participate? Can everyone understand what’s going on?” Accessibility includes physical, sensory, and cognitive dimensions.

4. Challenge Everyday Ableism

Speak up when you hear jokes, stereotypes, or dismissive attitudes. Whether it's in a classroom, workplace, or family gathering, silence reinforces stigma.

5. Support Organizations Led By and For Disabled People

Donate, volunteer, or partner with grassroots groups that advocate for inclusion, access, and justice.

6. Educate Yourself and Others

Learn about disability rights history in Canada, including the closure of institutions, the independent living movement, and ongoing advocacy. Share this knowledge widely—especially with children and youth.

7. Push for Policy Change

Write to your local representative to support inclusive housing, accessible transit, or better funding for disability services. Your voice as a constituent matters.

What We’re Doing at GYB

At Got Your Back, we create inclusive spaces where young adults with disabilities are supported and celebrated. We don’t just work around barriers—we help dismantle them. Whether through life skills coaching, community engagement, or advocacy training, we stand for the dignity and autonomy of every person.

But we can’t do this work alone.

We invite you to join us in building a world that sees people with disabilities not as problems to be solved, but as full humans with talents, dreams, and the right to belong.

“Inclusion is not just letting someone in the room—it’s handing them the mic.”

#DisabilityJustice #AccessibilityMatters #EndAbleism #GYBToronto #GotYourBack #GYBFamily