Access to Healthcare

Our Objectives

Successfully influence the review of Canada’s medical assistance in dying legislation to protect the rights of people with disabilities.

Identify and promote solutions to address the inequities experienced by people with an intellectual disability and their families in accessing healthcare during the pandemic.

Proactively work with partners to advance access to mental health services for people with an intellectual disability and their families.

Why It Matters

People with an intellectual disability have worse health outcomes compared to other people in Canada.

The physical and mental health of people with an intellectual disability is impacted by ableism, poverty, lack of accessible affordable housing, forced institutionalization, and inadequate disability support.

Instead of providing the support that people with an intellectual disability need to live good quality lives, in 2021, the government passed a federal law making it legal for people with disabilities who are not terminally ill to be assisted to die.

Our Vision

People with an intellectual disability have access to quality healthcare, including mental health services, on an equal basis with others free from bias and discrimination.

How You Can Help

Inclusion Canada hosts free, 45-minute Inspiring Inclusion Tours to raise awareness of Inclusion Canada’s work toward building an inclusive Canada for people with an intellectual disability and their families.

Host an Inspiring Inclusion Tour

Inclusion Canada works to end exclusion and create a Canada in which people with disabilities are free and supported to build a rich and beautiful life. You can make this possible with a donation today.

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Our Work

What We're Doing

Inclusion Canada is working with the Public Health Agency of Canada to make public health information easier to understand. This will help people with an intellectual disability and their families make well-informed medical decisions, including during public health emergencies.

We’re also working to make sure that people with an intellectual disability are included in initiatives that improve access to maternal healthcare, sexual and reproductive healthcare, and mental healthcare.

We’re fighting for the lives of people with disabilities to be equally valued and protected in Canadian healthcare systems and laws. This includes explaining why current Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) laws are discriminatory, pushing for better monitoring of MAiD, and exploring Canadian and international legal challenges to the MAiD law.