According to the United Nations, a disability is a temporary or permanent physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, a medical condition or a mental illness.
"Equality is a right guaranteed to all Canadian citizens. The values inherent in the concept of equality include self-determination, autonomy, dignity, respect, integration, participation and independent living." - In Unison: A Canadian Approach to Disability Issues – Values Equality and full participation are human rights. All persons are entitled to equal access to the basic rights and fundamental freedoms that most people take for granted, e.g. health care, employment, education, participation in cultural activities. Services for people with disabilities developed a long time ago but it was not until the 1970s that Canadians with disabilities formed organizations and lobby groups for demanding and receiving equal rights.
In Canada, the right to equality and the duty to accommodate are guaranteed by law. Prohibit discrimination means ensuring equal rights for all humans, including those with disabilities, and it can be a physical or mental disability. “The Canadian Charter of Rights and freedoms, enacted in 1982, includes a specific mention of physical or mental disability as a prohibited ground of discrimination.”
“Provincial and territorial governments also have various laws that prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities, including human rights codes, acts or charters. See below for suggested Web sites to obtain additional information on these laws.”
The Ministry of Housing and Social Development is committed to assisting persons with disabilities in achieving greater independence, whether in their daily life or in the workplace, while ensuring that those who are unable to work are provided with the assistance they need. As part of this commitment, the ministry has increased spending on employment-related programs for persons with disabilities by $11 million for a total of $24 million and doubled the earnings exemption to $500. By: