Self Advocacy Federation

08/22/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/EYeeN216ZS7CkztX/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Register for this FREE webinar series hosted by AEFN and Elections Canada ⬇

This webinar series is focused on reducing barriers in voting, accessibility while working the polls and running an accessible election. These sessions are targeted towards employment service providers, people with disabilities and anyone who would like to learn how Elections Canada is focusing on accessibility. Come learn and have your voice be heard!

Live closed captioning and ASL interpretation is available.

The agenda and other related materials are accessible via the ZIP folders that will be sent to attendees prior to the webinars.

Register now : https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/reducing-barriers-in-general-federal-elections-tickets-969341635927?aff=oddtdtcreator

08/15/2024

Rally for accessibility!!

08/12/2024

Nothing beats meeting in person!

07/15/2024

Our Community Outreach Coordinator Mike Wing had a chance to interview MP Blake Desjarlais. Check out Mike's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/

Last week, I joined Mike from The Anti Ableist to discuss the anticipated but disappointing Canada Disability Benefit.

The Liberals promised people with disabilities that they were going to finally stop failing them but they short-changed them instead.

Only the Canada’s NDP is committed to lifting people with disabilities out of poverty and we will continue to fight to make this benefit work for Canadians to ensure they get the support they need to live in dignity.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/elNhw-xkFA0?si=W5Y4xZZo8Qs_uyKm

07/11/2024

How are you doing in this heat? Do you rent? Do you have A/C? Here’s Mike, our outreach coordinatorcoordinator chiming in 🥵🥵🔥🔥🥵🥵

07/09/2024

07/04/2024

We love our allies. Especially this one right here 👇👇👇 who never speaks for us, and walks the talk of “Nothing about us without us”.

July is Disability Pride Month! 🤩

Our differences CAN be accommodated and celebrated!

Check out our socials over the next few weeks as we spotlight amazing disability advocates and share the incredible achievements made within and by the disability community.

07/01/2024

July Mark Disability pride month. Here’s some history of how it started.

https://iod.unh.edu/blog/2023/07/ada-disability-pride #:~:text=Each%20color%20represents%20a%20different,disabilities%2C%20and%20green%20sensory%20disabilities.

06/28/2024

The CDB regulations are out! Here is your chance to provide some feedback. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/disabilities-benefits/summary-regulations.html

Add your voice by contacting your MP about issues that matter to you!

06/28/2024

Based in , ? RaricaNow and the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights are hosting two events this Saturday, June 29!

Learn about the solidarity march for LGBTQI+ refugee newcomers: https://bit.ly/3RKbKYm

Learn about the Peace and Unity Festival: https://bit.ly/4cBb4fN

06/18/2024

Housing Justice and Disability

06/12/2024

We are honoured to announce the launch of the Dan Atkinson and Scot Goulet Legacy awards. More information will be coming.

Dan Atkinson and Scot Goulet were original members of the Self Advocacy Federation. We are honoured to launch our awards. The award in memory of Dan will be ...

06/07/2024

It’s Pride month! If you are q***r and identify as having a disability, this group is for you 👆👆👆

06/07/2024

If you have the DTC you can apply for the Canadian Dental Program starting June 1.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will help cover some of the cost of various oral health care services for eligible Canadian residents.

06/05/2024

Join us on June 11 via Zoom . If you need ASL supports, please comment below. 👇👇👇

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82224720566

06/04/2024

Happy pride month from all of us!

06/04/2024

It’s Seniors Week. Disability affects all of us. It is the one demographic that intersects with every human being on this earth. This is why it’s important to push for Accessibility legislation! 

https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/rhdcc-hrsdc/HS64-11-1-2010-eng.pdf

05/27/2024

The SAF is proud to call John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights allies. Thank you for everything you do to ensure that our human rights are protected.

Accessibility is not just about infrastructure innovation and shifts in technology—the goal of barrier-free communities lays at the end of a long string weaving through histories of advocacy, education, and hard-fought acts of inclusion.

This week is 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗔𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 in Canada. To start things off, we're sharing the Disability Timeline, a non-exhaustive snapshot of disability experiences across time and provinces.
👉Check it out: https://shorturl.at/9CPRR



Accessible Canada | Righting Relations: Adult Education for Social Change/Apaji-wla'matulinej | Voice of Albertans with Disabilities | Self Advocacy Federation | Gateway Association | Disability Without Poverty | Race and Disability Canada | We are the Most Beautiful People | Disability: Accessible by Design

05/27/2024

We are so excited to be participating this in this event on May 29!!! Join us at our offices to 

Wear red and make a pledge to help make Canada a truly inclusive and accessible place for people of all abilities!

05/27/2024

May 26-June 1 is National Access Awareness week! What does accessibility mean to you?  . 

05/27/2024

Accessibility is not just about infrastructure innovation and shifts in technology—the goal of barrier-free communities lays at the end of a long string weaving through histories of advocacy, education, and hard-fought acts of inclusion.

This week is 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗔𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 in Canada. To start things off, we're sharing the Disability Timeline, a non-exhaustive snapshot of disability experiences across time and provinces.
👉Check it out: https://shorturl.at/9CPRR



Accessible Canada | Righting Relations: Adult Education for Social Change/Apaji-wla'matulinej | Voice of Albertans with Disabilities | Self Advocacy Federation | Gateway Association | Disability Without Poverty | Race and Disability Canada | We are the Most Beautiful People | Disability: Accessible by Design

05/07/2024

The ombudsman has just released a report on PDD eligibility.

The Alberta Ombudsman works to ensure fair treatment through independent investigations, recommendations and education for all Albertans.

04/29/2024

A clear plain language article about the CDB.

To me, it's not that the federal government is implementing nothing close to what they promised nor that they have the wrong definition and delivery mechanism for the CDB. It's not that they gamed the disability advocacy community. It's also not that they will mount the CDB on top of social assistan...

04/25/2024

Please take a moment and sign this petition.

https://act.leadnow.ca/CDB-1000/?source=fb

04/24/2024

We will continue the fight to belong.

04/18/2024

Feel free to use this template to write your MPs and tell them that they need to do better.

https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/search

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a constituent in your riding and are writing to you as my Member of Parliament in Canada, to talk about something very important to us as disabled Canadians – the Canada Disability Benefit announced in the Federal Budget on April 16th.
​​
​​Back in September 2020, when it was first mentioned in the Speech From the Throne, many of us with disabilities were hopeful and thought this new benefit, which was compared to the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors, would make a real difference in our lives. The goal, as stated, was to lift us up to the poverty line and give us more financial security. A recent poll showed that 91% of Canadians supported this idea, so we were excited for what it could mean for us.
​​
​​But now, learning that the benefit won't kick in until July 2025 and that it will only be $200 per month for those with a Disability Tax Credit certificate, feels like a letdown. This amount isn't enough to lift anyone out of poverty. Plus, not everyone who needs it will qualify, and getting the required certificate is tough and costly. Many of us don't even have access to the medical help needed to fill out the paperwork.
​​
​​This benefit was supposed to be a game-changer, but instead, it feels like the government dangled a carrot. It's not fair that after years of struggling, we're still being left behind. $200 a month won't make housing more secure, won't guarantee better nutrition and health, and won't help us meet our basic needs.
​​
​​I'm asking you to urge the government to rethink this benefit before it's too late. There are no guarantees that this won’t be clawed back from provincial benefits. People with disabilities are more likely to face extreme poverty, homelessness, and malnutrition. We've been told to be patient, but this benefit isn't getting it right. It's not taking our needs seriously and many more people will be forced to choose MAID because of legislated poverty. Also, many on AISH are not eligible for the DTC and many with the DTC are not eligible for AISH.
​​
​​We need a benefit that makes a difference, like the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors. People with disabilities are a big part of our society – 27% of Canadians live with disabilities, and 79% of us are eligible to vote. We can't ignore such a significant part of the population.
​​
​​The anger and disappointment in the disability community over this benefit shouldn't be ignored. It's a sign that something needs to change. We need to challenge this proposal if we want Canada to live up to its reputation as a fair and caring society.
​​
​​Please use your position to speak up for us, to give a voice to those who aren't being heard. Help us fix this injustice before it's too late. Thank you for taking the time to hear my concerns.

Current Members of Parliament - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada

04/17/2024

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5sptjilp03cuaue4y914m/Template-Letter-to-Send-to-MPs-About-Canadian-Disability-Benefit.paper?rlkey=64bfe7qfvz97rfo1fm9gmed0p&dl=0

Link to a template you can use to write your MP

04/17/2024

https://inclusioncanada.ca/2024/04/17/press-release-budget-2024-disappoints-major-shortfalls-in-canada-disability-benefit-funding-eligibility/

PRESS RELEASE: Budget 2024 Disappoints – Major Shortfalls in Canada Disability Benefit Funding & Eligibility For Immediate ReleaseApril 17, 2024OTTAWA, ON – Inclusion Canada expresses profound disappointment over the inadequate funding allocated to the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) in Budget ....

04/10/2024

Here are 8 ways that you can be an ally and support Disability Justice.

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/02/01/Support-Disability-Justice-Counter-Ableism/?n=&fbclid=IwAR3zMDE6JK6un1EFNq-ShY2Eom0C9PRu8ItQxHOY1h0rrlvXD04-XXTIpiE*

And what not to do, from two experts.

04/04/2024

Good news! More transportation options for rural folks

Transportation options are growing in Alberta, with a new economical intercity coach bus option operated by FlixBus starting this week.