November 2025

What the Federal Budget Means for People with Disabilities

Federal Budget 2025 was released on November 4. Inclusion Canada welcomed the government's commitment to implement automatic income tax filing for low-income Canadians and one-time supplements towards Disability Tax Credit medical certification costs. However, the Budget falls short of delivering real change.

More information is emerging about some of these announcements, which is a cause of concern. The DTC/CDB supplement will only be for individuals who are applying for the CDB and are approved. There are also shortfalls in the new Personal Support Worker (PSW) Tax Credit being only for PSWs who work with agencies and not those who work privately.

Read more about our analysis and commentary of the Budget in our press release, sent out earlier this month. We continue to advocate for changes.

👉 Read our press release here >

16th Annual Policy Forum on Inclusion - A Success!

Throughout three Wednesday evenings in November, we came together for our national policy forum on inclusion. With inclusive education as this year’s theme, our speakers shared a wide range of experiences—from powerful success stories to difficult realities that still need to change.

We are thankful for all of the speakers and people involved behind the scenes to make this yet another successful policy forum! Recordings have been sent out to all those who registered for the event.

2021-25 Impact Report is now live!

We’re excited to share our 2021-2025 Impact Report. In the report, we reflect on each priority area in Inclusion Canada’s 2021-2024 Strategic Plan, including:

• Our vision and objectives
• Our key impacts and achievements
• The challenges we expect to face moving forward

You will hear about how Inclusion Canada positively impacts the lives of people with an intellectual disability and families. You will read about our policy work, and how we are creating a more inclusive Canada where everyone belongs. You will learn how we are remaining a sustainable and effective organization, ready to defend rights today and for generations to come.

Read the 2021-2025 Impact Report >

Lisez le Rapport d’impact 2021-2025 >

Giving Tuesday is almost here!

Hope can’t wait - and together, we can ignite it.

This Giving Tuesday, Inclusion Canada is calling on our community to help us welcome 20 new monthly donors. Will you be one of the 20?

Every contribution opens doors, strengthens communities, and fuels possibility. 

Choose an amount that works for you - $10, $25, $50, or any amount that fits your heart. You’ll receive an annual charitable tax receipt and, more importantly, you’ll be part of a movement that transforms lives.

Learn more here and donate today! >



Day on the Hill 2025

On November 27, Inclusion Canada and our federation came to Ottawa for our annual Day on the Hill. We met with many Members of Parliament, Senators, and key political staff representing ridings across the country.

We presented five key priorities we are pressing for change. These priorities include: Canada Disability Benefit, Inclusive Housing, Employment, Supporting Families, and Medical Assistance in Dying.

Thank you to all the MPs, Senators, and staff who took time out of their busy days to meet and listen to us. Thanks as well to our federation for all their hard work. We are stronger together in our goal to create a Canada where everyone belongs!

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

November 29 was our AGM, and we welcomed a new slate of members to our Board - some new and some returning!

We want to sincerely thank those who are leaving our board after several years of service: Dennis Gill, Ben Russo, Dianne Cormier Northrup, Audra Latschislaw, and Marcel St. Jean. We have greatly valued your contributions and leadership.


And a warm welcome to our new members! We look forward to working with all of you over the course of your mandates.



Save the Date: April 23, 2026

Something big is coming. Please mark this date in your calendar and stay up-to-date with our social & email for announcements on the event. Registration to open soon!

REMINDER: Barrier-Free Benefits Program!

A reminder that our new program, Barrier-Free Benefits, is now up and running! We are so excited to see this much-needed program underway to help individuals and families.

This program offers FREE, one-on-one help with disability benefits. Our Navigators can help you apply for benefits like:

• Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
• Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
• Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)
• Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
• ... and others.

The Team 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 have 5 navigators covering the Western, Northern, Central, Quebec, and Atlantic regions. Assistance will be tailored to each person's location and circumstances. It's person-centered and person-directed.

If you or your family member needs help navigating the process of applying for federal disability benefits, we will be there to help at every step along the way, and at your pace. Contact us today at this link ->: Our Navigators

Visit our website for more information on the program, how to contact our navigators, and the various programs they provide assistance with.

We encourage you to share this news widely within your own circles and networks!


EN Website >

FR Website >



Book Launch - A Research Agenda for Inclusive Education

Check out the book launch of A Research Agenda for Inclusive Education, written by Inclusive Education Canada associates Jacqueline Specht, Steven Sider, and Kimberly Maich!

• December 9, 12PM - 1PM EST
• Hybrid and in-person at Western University

More information >

Register >



Inclusion Canada in Action

• Last month, our CEO Krista Carr spoke at the 2025 Canada Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Research Network (FASD) Conference. This year's conference theme was Shaping the Future of FASD: From Evidence to Action.

• On November 28-30, our staff, Federation, and board members came together in Ottawa for a weekend full of collaborative learning, meaningful discussion, and planning on how we can navigate the changing political environment and maintain focus of our priorities. Thank you to LIFT Impact Partners for facilitating part of this process, and we are looking forward to the action we as a federation can take moving forward.
  
• Inclusive Education Canada staff - Charlotte Pyke, Andrea Cameron, and Angela AuCoin - participated as keynote speakers in Empowering Women & Girls' webinar "Inclusive Education in Action: Unlocking Inclusive Learning Everywhere." View the recording here.

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!

• La société québécoise de la déficience intellectuellectuelle (SQDI), our Quebec federation member, launched a class action lawsuit against the Quebec government for its continued abuse of people intellectual disabilities and supporting a system that continues to use 'sheltered workshops'. Sheltered workshops and segregated employment for people with disabilities are a violation of individual rights and stream people into environments that severely limit their ability to be supported to attain real, dignified, and meaningful employment. We support SQDI and its decision to seek legal action to once and for all end these unjust practices against people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Learn more about this lawsuit here.

• Inclusion Alberta calls on their government to include family voices in 'classroom complexities' reform. Inclusion Alberta is deeply concerned that no parent representatives or organizations advocating for families of children with disabilities have been named to the Class Size and Complexity Cabinet Committee. Read more in their press release.