Important events that impact people with disabilities in the news
PR Newswire, September 14, 2017 The Discover Ability Network will showcase the business advantages of employing persons with disabilities. The Honourable David Onley, Special Advisor to the Government of Ontario’s Minister Responsible for Accessibility, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and the Discover Ability Network partners launched a new program and online portal that will…
Vjosa Isai, Toronto Star Staff Reporter, August 23, 2017 Federal minister of sport and persons with disabilities Carla Qualtrough heard from local and international disability experts on Tuesday as Canada prepares to introduce its first national accessibility legislation. Although the prospective act would govern only those areas under federal authority, such as banks, telecommunications and…
LUCAS OLENIUK, Toronto Star Editorial, August 7, 2017 Disability advocate David Lepofsky has worked tirelessly since the McGuinty Liberals passed the landmark Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act in 2005, holding the government to account as it moves toward its goal of a fully accessible Ontario by 2025. David Lepofsky just wants to make sure…
Jan Ditchfield, Alliance for an Inclusive and Accessible Canada, August 3, 2017 The Alliance is proud to be hosting our pioneering conference, called What Should Canada’s Promised National Accessibility Law Include? Cutting-edge ideas from Experts from Around the World. Hosted by David Lepofsky, the event will be lived streamed on August 22nd, 2017 from 10:00…
Genna Buck, Metro News, July 31, 2017 Former federal worker Abigail Shorter is taking the government to task in a human rights case. After her position was made redundant, she was not able to find a new one in the public service. Because of her disability, she claims she is not able to use much…
Michelle McQuigge, The Canadian Press, July 31, 2017 Ontario’s privacy commission says the provincial government significantly overcharged an advocacy group fighting for information on accessibility law compliance in the province and must now hand over the material. The commission’s decision says the government tried to charge the Access for Ontarians with Disabilities Alliance $4,200 for…
May Warren, Toronto MetroNews Canada, June 27, 2017 The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) is putting small battery powered beacons in 200 restaurants and shops. The beacons will transmit to an app called BlindSquare, to verbally guide people around indoor buildings. The program is funded through a grant from the the Rick Hansen…
Julie Ireton, CBC News, June 19, 2017 Thousands of federal public servants across Canada are unable to utilize internal government software programs and websites because they’re inaccessible to people with a range of disabilities. The problem has led to job losses, grievances, a human rights complaint and, as one lawyer suggests, opens the door to…
Law Office of Lainey Feingold, June 13, 2017 On June 12, a judge in the federal District Court in South Florida made history. That history came in the form of a court order in a lawsuit filed by blind Florida resident Juan Carlos Gil against regional grocer Winn-Dixie. After a two-day trial the court ruled…
Kevin Rollason, Winnipeg Free Press, June 8, 2017 David Lepofsky is in Winnipeg this week to speak during Manitoba Access Awareness Week. He spoke on Wednesday at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights about accessibility rights legislation. The world has been designed as if the only people living in it successfully are people without disabilities….
