Action on Ableism


JHC has evolved into a hub for People Living with Disabilities (PWD) who are actively working as leaders to advance human rights within their communities. In 2021, JHC led a group of PWD in crafting a shadow report for the UN Committee for Persons with Disabilities. The report highlighted barriers to inclusion in a multitude of areas including the public sector. Notably, after a visit to Canada in 2019, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reported that Canadian responses to support people with disabilities need to shift from a social assistance framework to a human rights-based approach of which these leaders continue to advocate for. 

Action on Ableism seeks to call attention to how ableist policies, practices, and service provision create barriers to the realization of dignity and human rights within disability communities across Alberta and the country. PWD educators are leading the development of training tools and workshops to enhance awareness of ableism and improve understanding among the public sector and other organizations.

A focus of this project is to also address the barriers faced by artists in the disability community, amplifying their profiles and creating spaces for engagement. Traditional arts spaces often overlook the unique needs and barriers faced by artists with disabilities, creating an environment where PWD may hesitate to engage due to fear of barriers and reluctance to consistently seek accommodations and support. Using the arts, Action on Ableism seeks to amplify artists living with disabilities while also challenging ableism within the sector.

The Action on Ableism team launched educational workshops as part of National AccessAbility Week. These sessions aim to:

  • educate public sector and service provider organizations on inclusion practices for people with disabilities;

  • raise awareness about discriminatory attitudes (often unconscious); and, 

  • provide tools and strategies for creating more inclusive environments. 

These trainings provide organizations the opportunity to enhance their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, contributing to a more accessible and equitable society.

If your organization is interested in receiving training, please fill in and submit a form via the link below.

Action on Ableism is able to offer a limited number of workshops free of charge during National AccessAbility Week - NAAW (May 26 - June 1), thanks to the support of the Government of Canada and Canada Council for the Arts. Outside of NAAW, workshops are available at a cost. For more information, contact us at info@jhcentre.org.

  • Employment Inclusion
    Participants learn from people living with disabilities how ableism manifests in systemic, relational and internalized ways in workplaces. Facilitators discuss shortcomings of hiring practices and assumptions frequently made relating to applicants who live with disabilities. Approaches to accommodations in the workplace as well as the importance of planning for visible and invisible disabilities will be discussed using real life examples.


    Disability Timeline Workshop
    While the history of people living with disability in Canada may not be as familiar to us as the history of other minorities; there are many milestones which have had long-term and ongoing systemic, discriminatory and exclusive implications in our day to day lives. This workshop aims to shine light on experiences throughout Canada’s history which have impacted the status of people with disabilities today and continue to slow progress in inclusivity, belonging and well-being.


    Disability Awareness Workshop
    Living with a disability does not mean living with “no abilities”. Often the assumption made around people living with a disability is that we need constant help, supervision, direction and are not capable of living our lives on our own terms. Facilitators in this workshop live with a disability and their lives are as rich, diverse and complicated as those who do not. Their goal is to challenge common misconceptions of able people, increase awareness of ableist attitudes and give a truer concept of disability through the eyes of people with lived experience.


    Developing a Culture of Inclusion and Confronting Ableism Workshop
    This workshop aims to explore what a culture of inclusion can look like and how we can confront ableist attitudes ingrained in all areas of society. People living with disabilities are frequently fighting battles to have their rights acknowledged and to be included - the same rights every human being is entitled to. Being included in all sectors and decreasing ableist assumptions can go a long way in winning those battles. The facilitators of this workshop believe a cultural change is necessary, one where inclusion of people living with disabilities becomes normalized rather than an afterthought.


    Ableism in Education Workshop
    Ensuring that people living with disabilities are included and valued should not fall solely on education. Those decision-makers, government officials, board members, parents, etc, who direct how schools operate, play critical roles in changing ableist prejudices and have responsibility to ensure schools are inclusive for both students and employees. However, the classroom is where many of us get some of our first chances to succeed, take risks safely, and build confidence and self-esteem, outside of our family. This workshop will explore ways in which ableist attitudes isolate students with disabilities in classroom activities and strategies which can be developed to ensure they are included in these activities.

 

2023 Action on Ableism Retreat: A Journey of Inclusion, Art and Empowerment

The Action on Ableism Retreat, organized by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights and supported by the Government of Canada, was held during 2023 National AccessAbility Week. The retreat proved to be both transformative and empowering for all involved. This blog post brings together the perspectives of facilitators, project coordinators and participants, offering a glimpse into the emotions, connections, and learning that took place during this significant event. From battling performance anxiety, taking action against ableism, to embracing accessibility, the retreat aimed to create a safe and inclusive space for individuals with disabilities to explore their creative potential to advance dignity, accessibility and disability rights.