The Canadian Government is in the process of consulting Canadians on the development of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP).

If you aren’t aware of this plan, what it is, or why it is so important, we’re going to delve into that today and hopefully clarify a few things.

The Disability Inclusion Action Plan is the first of its kind in Canada. Nothing like this existed prior to 2021, outside the passing of the Accessible Canada Act, and the real driver of its existence now has been the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the lives of Canadians with disabilities,” reads the press release from the federal government released on June 4^, 2021.

“The pandemic has shed a light on the long-standing challenges that negatively affect the health, financial security and social well-being of persons with disabilities. As part of its response, the Government of Canada is moving forward with its first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) and wants to engage all Canadians in the process.”

The plan is meant to cover things, according to the aforementioned press release, such as; financial security, employment, disability-inclusive spaces, and building a modern approach to disability within the Government of Canada.

“… The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, officially launched a public engagement process to help guide the development of the DIAP. An accessible survey is now available online to allow Canadians to provide valuable insights and feedback on priority areas of the plan.”

We are so happy to see a plan like this come to light and, most importantly, that the federal government is including actual disabled voices while it works to develop the DIAP. The opportunity to participate in a survey and answer questions about things that directly impact an individual living with a disability every day is a step in the right direction to a more inclusive Canada.

And according to the survey, that is all part of the plan. It lists these five plan objectives:

1. Reduce poverty among Canadians with disabilities.
2. Get more persons with disabilities into good quality jobs.
3. Help meet the Accessible Canada Act goal of a barrier-free Canada by 2040.
4. Make it easier for persons with disabilities to access federal programs and services.
5. Foster a culture of inclusion.

“In leading by example and working with partners, our goal is a disability-inclusive Canada that celebrates the diversity, creativity, innovation and contributions of persons with disabilities,” the survey goes on to explain.

“The Plan will be ambitious, it will evolve over time, and it will have a focus on action.”

So, if you have some extra time, fill out the survey (found here) and help our part of the world become a bit more accessible.

The consultation window remains open until September 30, 2021.