 | |
| Young aged 15-24 | |
| Mental health | 68% |
|---|---|
| Learning impairments | 46% |
| Pain-related | 34% |
| Adults aged 25-64 | |
| Pain-related | 63% |
| Mental health | 46% |
| Flexibility issues | 36% |
| Seniors 65 and older | |
| Pain-related | 68% |
| Mobility issues | 63% |
| Flexibility issues | 59% |
| Note: Nearly 42% of seniors had four or more co-occurring disabilities, while 43% of youth and 36% of working-age adults had two or three types'[1][2] | |
Disability in Canada affects approximately 8 million individuals aged 15 and older.[1][2] According to the 2022 survey by Statistics Canada of those reporting a disability nearly 42% of seniors had four or more co-occurring disabilities, while 43% of youth and 36% of working-age adults had two or three types.[1][2] The disability rate was higher for women (30%) compared to men (24%), consistent with past trends.[1] In terms of severity of disabilities, about 59% of disabled persons were classified as having milder disabilities, while 41% had more severe disabilities.[1][2]
Despite significant gains for people with disabilities in recent decades, there is historical and modern discrimination issues.[3] From the late 1800s to the mid 20th century, Canadian immigration laws prohibited people who were perceived to have intellectual or developmental disabilities from entering the country.[4] People with disabilities within Canada have faced institutionalization, involuntary sterilization, employment denialism and emotional and physical violence.[5][6] Those with disabilities continue to have lower educational achievement, higher unemployment rates, thus are more likely to experience low income, and inadequate housing compared to those without disabilities.[3] Findings show that 72% of people with disabilities encountered one or more accessibility barriers due to their condition.[1][2]
Domestic legislation intended to protect disabled Canadians include the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and the Employment Equity Act.[7] The Accessible Canada Act aims to create a barrier-free country by 2040.[8] Internationally Canada is a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and meets regularly to address implementation of the Convention's newest recommendations.[9] Alongside social and financial support from federal and provincial governments,[10] there are a multitude of fundamental rights organizations in Canada dedicated to assisting and advocating for individuals with disabilities beginning with the War Amps after the First World War. National disability rights organizations include the Council for Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), Disabled Women's Network Canada (DAWN), and Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL).
- ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference
k471was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference
o678was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Policy on ableism and discrimination based on disability". Ontario Human Rights Commission. 2016-06-27. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- ^ "Appendix A: Historical context". Ontario Human Rights Commission. 2014-01-15. Retrieved 2025-01-05. Text was copied from this source, which is available under the Ontario Open Government License.
- ^ "Conclusions Serious Problems Experienced by Diverse People with Disabilities: Western Canada". Ministère de la Justice. 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- ^ "The Daily — Experiences of violent victimization among persons with mental health-related disabilities in Canada, 2018". Statistics Canada. 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- ^ "Canada". Disability:IN. 2024-01-22. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- ^ "About the Accessible Canada Act". Canadian Human Rights Commission. 2024-12-31. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- ^ "Promoting rights of persons with disabilities". GAC. 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- ^ Canada, Financial Consumer Agency of (2017-01-18). "Living with a disability". Canada.ca. Retrieved 2025-01-05.