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Inclusion Matters
September 2026
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Inclusive Education
September ushers in the return of school for children and educators across Canada. We wish everyone a great year.
The new Exclusion Tracker Survey is now available. Families are encouraged to report any exclusion their child experiences whether it's a field trip or an ongoing formal exclusion:
National Exclusion Tracker – Report an exclusion
The Exclusion Tracker Report for 2025-2026, created in partnership with the Family Support Institute of BC, will be available at the end of September. This will present the findings of the first year of the National Exclusion Tracker.
As many of you know, it is an exceptionally stressful time for parents of children with disabilities due to a widespread lack of resources for inclusive education and proper classroom support.
Inclusion Canada CEO Krista Carr was a guest on CBC Television's "The National" about some of the anxieties the start of new school year brings. She shared how many parents worry their child will be segregated, pushed out or denied full access to inclusive learning. The piece also aired on national CBC Radio.
Please visit our curated news page to watch the news item.
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A reminder to join us on December 3, 2026, at the Palais des congrès de Gatineau for our 17th Annual Federal Policy Forum on Inclusion, From getting by to getting ahead: Eliminating poverty and building financial stability.
This year's policy forum will explore what it takes to eliminate poverty and build financial stability for people with an intellectual disability and their families. This in-person event will feature a series of panels and interactive question & answer periods.
Panels include lived-experience perspectives from people with an intellectual disability and families, as well as research and policy expertise.
Learn more and register today at
https://www.inclusioncanada.ca/page/2026-policy-forum
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A FORMAL REMINDER FROM INCLUSION CANADA
We’re sorry to inform you that November 23rd - 26th are no longer just four ordinary days.
If you received our notice last week, you already know what’s coming: four regional broadcasts, inspiring stories, powerful voices, community connection, and a national movement for inclusion.
We’re sorry for any disruption to your calendar. But we do hope you’ll clear your calendar, gather your people, and join us.
The impact of Inclusion Canada isn’t always easy to see. In communities across the country, work is happening every day to create greater opportunities, strengthen belonging, and make inclusion a reality for people with intellectual disabilities. You may not always know we’re there, but we are.
Our regional broadcasts will bring that work into focus, sharing what’s happening across Canada and, importantly, what’s happening right in your region.
With more than 400 participants each year, this is an opportunity to turn stories into action, conversations into change, and generosity into greater opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.
Four regional broadcasts. One shared vision: a Canada where everyone belongs.
Consider this your formal reminder, and your invitation to be part of it.
Find your regional broadcast, see the impact happening in your community, and register today!
Inclusion starts with recognizing the potential in every person.
This November, let’s recognize it together.
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The Challenge
Inclusion Canada is part of a national disability rights coalition taking action, and we need you with us.
The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), DAWN Canada, Inclusion Canada, and Indigenous Disability Canada (IDC/BCANDS) have joined together in a Charter Challenge to repeal Track 2 MAiD and defend the equality rights of people with disabilities in Canada.
As you know Track 2 MAiD allows people whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable to access medical assistance in dying on the basis of disability or chronic illness leading to disability. The Coalition believes that when people are facing poverty, isolation, inadequate housing, gaps in supports, or barriers to healthcare, then Canada should offer help, hope, and community, not assisted suicide.
This legal fight is underway. But pursuing justice through the courts takes significant resources. That’s why the Coalition launched The Challenge - a $1 million campaign to support this critical legal action and build a national movement for change. We want to express our thanks to all those that have donated to this critical campaign so far.
Now we need to ask that you follow their leadership and support the campaign.
We are excited to announce that we have a new section on Inclusion Canada's website dedicated to the coalition's "Challenge". This section will provide you with easy to understand information on the topic you can share with others, progress made, and clear ways to support this effort.
Every action matters. Every voice matters. Every dollar counts.
This is about more than one court case. It is about the kind of country we want Canada to be, one where people with disabilities are valued equally and have access to the supports they need to live with dignity.
The legal fight is underway. The need is urgent. We cannot do this without you.
Join The Challenge today.
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Inclusion Canada in Action
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- Krista Carr, CEO was in Ottawa in September meeting with MP Wayne Long, Secretary of State for Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions, in advance of the Federal Budget. In this meeting, she briefed him on Inclusion Canada's budget submission which calls for renewed and expanded funding for the RWA Program, increased funding for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), transforming the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and inclusive housing initiatives.
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On September 21st, we were in Winnipeg at the Canadian Human Rights Museum to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD). For 50 years, CCD has been a steadfast force in Canada's disability rights movement - bringing people and organizations together, advancing equality, and ensuring people with disabilities shape the decisions that affect their lives.
For five decades CCD has helped shape pivotal moments for disability rights in Canada - building coalitions, challenging governments, influencing law and policy, and strenghthening our collective movement. Its 50-year history represents generations of leaders and advocates who have refused to accept exclusion, and worked tirelessly to advance equality and human rights.
We have been happy to partner with CCD and we offer our sincerest congratulations on their extrodinary decades of impactful leadership, advocacy and action which has changed the lives of people with disabilities in Canada. We are deeply grateful for the decades of partnership and solidarity, and are committed to continue this important work together. Congratulations CCD!
Pictured below ,on the right, Heather Walkus, CCD Chaiperson, on the left, Carly Fox, event co-emcee.
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Andrea Cameron, Executive Director of Inclusive Education Initiatives, delivered an update on the activities of Inclusion Canada at the recent Community Living Ontario "Inspiring Possibilities" Conference. She focused on the work we're doing at a national level to advocate for an inclusive education for children with disabilities.
There was also a session called "School Transitions as an Opportunity to Open Doors" with Kabira Jamal, the Central Region Navigator with Inclusion Canada and Natalia Hicks, National Program Manager from Ready, Willing, and Able.
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Inclusion Canada in the News
Our work continued to make headlines in September
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We wish to share a tremendous TV story by CBC North highlighting the Ready Willing and Able Program that also aired on the CBC World Report National Radio newscast.
Thanks to Inclusion NWT for helping us make the connections with Maxie Hayes, his Mom and an employer. It provided a powerful story. Frank Fagan, assistant national director with Ready, Willing and Able did a zoom interview and provided a national perspective.
Please see the links below.
Yellowknife family fears job program loss as Inclusion Canada funding ends in 2027 | CBC.ca (TV story)
Yellowknife family urges Ottawa to renew support for employment program that helped their son | CBC News (web story)
In addition to Inclusion NWT, thank you to our colleagues at PEI Community Living, Inclusion NS, Inclusion NB, Société québécoise de la déficience intellectuelle, Inclusion Saskatchewan and Inclusion Yukon for making time to do media interviews and promoting the importance of RWA locally to your media.
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Our Federation - Provincial/Territorial Member Updates
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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!
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Inclusion BC is holding a youth employment summit November 27th in Burnaby. It is inviting local employers to become exhibitors and connect with youth ages 15-30 with disabilities who are exploring their future careers. The purpose is to have employers meet emerging talent, inspire career possibilities and build a more inclusive workforce. For more details and to register, please contact employment@inclusionbc.org.
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Inclusion NWT is holding its Annual General Meeting on October 15, 2026, from 5:30–7:00 p.m. Supporters are welcome as we reflect on the past year, celebrate progress, and look ahead to the year to come. To learn more visit info@inclusionnwt.ca.
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Inclusion Alberta is hosting its Changing Lives, Changing Communities Fundraising Breakfast Events. They are scheduled for: Nov 5th, 7:30am - 8:30am Edmonton Inn (11834 Kingsway) and Nov 17th, 7:30am - 8:30am Calgary Sheraton Eau Claire (255 Barclay Parade SW). Learn more here
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Inclusion NB has released its 2025–2026 Impact Report. It is an opportunity to reflect on the progress achieved over the past year and, importantly, on the continued commitment of Inclusion NB to advancing inclusion, equality, and belonging for people with an intellectual disability. Impact Report - Inclusion NB
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Prince Edward Island Association for Community Living (PEIACL) executive director Julie Smith was a guest on the CBC Compass Evening News to discuss the importance of the Ready, Willing and Able Program in the province and the need for its funding to be renewed. You can watch the interview here.
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Inclusion Nova Scotia’s National Exclusion Tracker report documents reported experiences of exclusion in education, child care, and out of school care. Among respondents who answered the relevant questions, 73.68% described exclusion as ongoing and 97.43% did not report successfully resolving the exclusion with their child or youth. The report explains what families and students reported, and what needs to change so students can learn, participate, build relationships, and belong. Read the report
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