August 2025

16th Annual Policy Forum on Inclusion - Registration Now Open!

Registration is now open for this year's policy forum. The theme is "What's holding us back? The future of inclusive education in Canada."

This year’s policy forum will be a 3-part virtual series exploring the realities of inclusive education in Canada. The series will bring together self-advocates, family members, educators, and policy experts. Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that people with disabilities have a right to an inclusive education at all levels. We will explore what gets in the way of these rights in Canada and highlight examples of how we can overcome these barriers together. 

Format: 3-part virtual event via Zoom webinar. The forum will include a series of panels and interactive Question & Answer periods. Panels include perspectives of lived experience from people with an intellectual disability and families, as well as research and policy expertise.

3-part virtual event via Zoom webinar

• Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 7pm-8:30pm Eastern
• Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 7pm-8:30pm Eastern
• Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 7pm-8:30pm Eastern 

Click on the links below to register.



Benefits Without Barriers Program Launching Soon

Our new program, Benefits Without Barriers, will be launching soon! We're excited to see this much-needed program finally get started for individuals and families.

Inclusion Canada’s Benefits Without Barriers program offers FREE, one-on-one help with disability benefits. Our Navigators will be here to help you apply for benefits like:

• the Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
• the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
• the new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)
• ... and others.

We can also provide general information and advice on filing your taxes and links to free services. We’ll walk you through the process — from start to finish.

We will have 5 navigators covering the Western, Northern, Central, Atlantic, and Quebec regions. Services will be tailored to each person's location and circumstances.

If you or your family member needs help navigating the process of applying for federal disability benefits, we will be there to help.

Look out for the launch in early September - we'll be sending out more information then!

Back-to-School Season is Upon Us!

Many of us are sending our kids back to school in the coming week, and this can be an exciting but challenging time for all. It can be an especially stressful time for parents of children with disabilities, as they are uncertain whether their child will receive the inclusive and quality education that they deserve. Here are some resources to support you with back-to-school:

The Source for Inclusive Education is a project of Inclusive Education Canada and Inclusion Canada that provides resources for parents, teachers, and school leaders on inclusive education strategies and best practices in Canadian schools/classrooms. Please share the website with your network - parents, schools, educators, principals - so that everyone has the resources and knowledge available to ensure that inclusion is the expectation and reality this school year.

Visit the website >

Another vital resource during these times is Inclusion BC's September Checklist! They have put together some things to do to help adjust to a new school and set you and your child up for a successful transition.

View the checklist >

Lastly, Community Living Ontario has a guide for students, parents, and others on navigating issues related to education in Ontario. Some of the material may be applicable to your area as well. It covers topics such as the legal landscape, individual education plans (IEPs), the various roles/responsibilities of people and committees, the right to be in school, and student discipline. This is a very informative guide with advice to help equip people with the information they need to navigate the education system and the challenges that could present.

View the guide >

We wish you and your child the best in the upcoming school year!

Pre-Budget Submission in Advance of the 2026 Federal Budget

Last month, Inclusion Canada submitted our 2026 Pre-Budget Brief to the Department of Finance and the House of Commons Finance Committee. Within this submission, we highlighted six key recommendations. Some of these included:

• Improving the Canada Disability Benefit
• Establishing a Disability Inclusion & CRPD Implementation Lens
• Creating a CRPD Action Fund
• Launching an Inclusive Housing Accelerator
• Investing in the Ready Willing & Able program and a Transition to Employment Fund
• Strengthening families by doubling the Child Disability Benefit

We would encourage you to reach out to your local Member of Parliament (MP) about our priorities and feel free to send them a copy of our submission.

Click here to access your MP ->

You can read the full submission here >

Plain language version >

Our Federation - Provincial/Territorial Member Updates

Did you know Inclusion Canada has a federation of 13 provincial/territorial and over 300 local member associations across Canada? In this section, you'll learn more about their work to advance inclusion across the country!

• Mid-August, the Alberta Government proposed changes to AISH that would reduce funding and leave many Albertans in an even more desperate situation. In response, Inclusion Alberta released a comprehensive guide on these changes and how people can voice their concerns in the ADAP survey. Read more here.

• Inclusion BC has opened registration for their Family Leadership Series in Campbell River! Families can register for free, and will gather for two days of learning ways to strengthen their advocacy and access resources to help build a better life for their loved ones. More information and registration can be found here.