Course Description:
Why Disability Inclusion & Awareness is Important: Disabilities come in many forms—visible, hidden, permanent, temporary, and intermittent. They can result from illness, injury, or age-related conditions, and can impact individuals in various ways. By learning how to create and adapt environments that offer equal access for individuals with disabilities, you ensure service availability to all people, regardless of their abilities.
Over time, there has been an increase in service users accessing shelter services, many of whom are individuals with visible or invisible disabilities. A report released by Statistics Canada in 2022 stated that over 28% of Ontarians aged 15 and over report having a disability, including individuals with undiagnosed mental health conditions or addictions.
Building on the content from THTC’s “More Than Just Ramps” workshop, Challenging Ableism is designed to help agency staff identify and address unconscious biases and the disabling impacts of physical, environmental, and attitudinal barriers that people with disabilities face in shelter and agency settings. The training aims to equip frontline staff, management, senior leaders, volunteers, and board members with an intersectional anti-oppression framework for working with people with disabilities and practical applications of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Standards.
Course Objectives:
1. Understand the importance of disability inclusion and how to create environments that are accessible and welcoming for individuals with disabilities.
2. Recognize and address unconscious biases that contribute to ableism in agency settings.
3. Learn about the impact of physical, environmental, and attitudinal barriers on people with disabilities.
4. Gain knowledge of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Standards and how to apply them in daily work practices.
5. Incorporate an intersectional anti-oppression approach to better serve individuals with disabilities.
Course Objectives:
1. Participants will develop a broader understanding of disability inclusion and the importance of accessibility in service delivery.
2. Participants will be equipped with the tools to identify and challenge ableism in their workplace.
3. Staff will gain practical skills in creating an inclusive and accessible environment for individuals with disabilities, ensuring equal access and support for all.