top of page
123849696_3625241134206740_8030066521864376100_n.png

Our Research

The Disability Justice Network of Ontario aims to be an organization that makes its research and reports publicly available to our community. On this page we will summarize policies and research relevant to disability advocacy in Ontario.

 

Alongside these summaries, DJNO will be conducting its own Community Based Participatory Action Research in Hamilton, ON, and will be releasing periodic reports of the discussions from our focus groups.

​

Over a black background with blue borders, reads “JUSTICE means a DISABILITY-CENTERED response to COVID-19.” Below is a yellow path. On the left side of the path is a brown mother in a wheelchair holding hands with her daughter. They are wearing pink and blue. Towards the front of the path is a Black woman walking with a walker, wearing blue and black. In the bottom right corner is the DJNO logo, which has the words Disability Justice Network of Ontario written in dark blue. The words Disability Justice Network are in bold, and the words of Ontario are not. Small flower petals are positioned like a crown over the words Disability and Network, in colors yellow, light blue, and dark blue. To the right of the path is a Black woman walking with a white man. They are wearing blue and red. In the center at the bottom is a wooden sign with four dark blue planks pointing in different directions of the path. From top to bottom, they read: “MUTUAL AID”, “AFFORDABILITY”, ”LIVABILITY” and "ACCESSI

2021 - JUST RECOVERY REPORT

​

​In 2021, DJNO released a survey for disabled Canadians to share their experiences and needs from the COVID-19 pandemic, titled, “Just Recovery as it relates to Disabled People in Canada”. The survey was completed by a total of 176 respondents across Canada, 156 of whom were Ontario-based. For survey analysis, DJNO reached out to the McMaster Research Shop, where researchers Manisha Pahwa (lead), Hazel Dhaliwal, Jocelyn Lee, Syed Mahamad and Em Murdoch conducted a descriptive analysis of survey responses.

Major themes that emerged from the survey were Education and Labor Force (Accessibility of Education System and Labor Force); Social Assistance (Amount of and Access to Social Assistance); Justice System; Housing (Accessible and Affordable Housing; Healthcare (Accessibility and Affordability of Healthcare, Home and Long-Term Care, Medical Assistance in Dying); Affordability and Accessibility to Goods and Services; and Gender-Based Issues. Analysis can be found in Section 5 and Appendices of the final report.

​

This project also included interviews/consultations with organizations across Ontario and Canada, including DAWN Canada, Inclusion Canada, ODSP Action Coalition, YWCA Hamilton, Ontario Disability Coalition (ODC), the Learning Disabilities Association of Hamilton-Halton (LDAHH) and Ontario Students for COVID Safety. Similar themes emerged from these organizations, who have worked directly with disabled Canadians throughout the pandemic.

​

Adjacent to the Just Recovery Coalition of Hamilton report, the final report includes several final recommendations which provide direction for decision-makers across local, municipal, provincial/territorial and federal jurisdictions, though the report is mostly Ontario-based. Most notably, key recommendations include (re)enforcing pandemic safeguards, ensuring intra-government collaboration, expanding disability supports/social assistance, and more.

​

The final report can be viewed here.
 

Recommendations:
 

  • RECOMMENDATION #1: Implement communications and information technology resource plans across jurisdictions to address ongoing isolation.

  • RECOMMENDATION #2: Immediately increase Ontario Disability Support Payment (ODSP) rates, and make them reflective of inflation rates.

  • RECOMMENDATION #3: Expand suspensions to eviction enforcements, orders and hearing (and begin rent relief post-pandemic) to eventually halt all evictions.

  • RECOMMENDATION #4: Create a disability-centered plan to address the shortfallings of Ontario’s education system with respect to pandemic safeguards and learning.

  • RECOMMENDATION #5: Amend the federal Childcare Agreement, ensuring priority access for low-income, racialized and disabled families.

  • RECOMMENDATION #6: Move away from long-term care models and expand efforts to make home care accessible to all.

  • RECOMMENDATION #7: Halt any further expansions of Bill C-7 and all other MAiD-related decisions and conduct an third-party investigation into practices of coercion.

  • RECOMMENDATION #8: Expand funding for mutual aid networks across jurisdictions.

  • RECOMMENDATION #9: Create a pandemic response plan with respect to women and LGBTQ+ communities.

  • RECOMMENDATION #10: Reinforce mask mandates and implement paid sick days.

  • RECOMMENDATION #11: Expand access to COVID-related resources for prisoners.

  • RECOMMENDATION #12: Allow children in the child welfare system to receive more support and ensure that it is not halted once they turn 18.

  • RECOMMENDATION #13: Conduct investigations into conditions of congregate living settings, similar to the LTC Commission Investigation (i.e. prisons, group homes, psychiatric wards, foster homes, rehabilitation centers, etc.).

  • RECOMMENDATION #14: Expand mobility and accessibility efforts among both infrastructure and transit.

  • RECOMMENDATION #15: Initiate a publicly accountable, intra-government coordination plan for a just recovery across local, provincial and federal levels of government.

disabledandhere-t02.jpg

2018 - SEXUAL HEALTH AND SEXUAL EDUCATION FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES: CHALLENGES and OPPORTUNITIES

Women with disabilities (both physical and intellectual) have a higher risk of experiencing sexual violence as a result of systemic oppression (the barriers we create as a society and the environment that limits access to services, information, opportunities, experiences etc.). In this report, we will explore current research about sexual violence experienced by people with disabilities, discuss the gaps in sexual education for this community, and evaluate future needs for more effective and informative education and violence prevention.

​

This report was completed for DJNO by the McMaster Research Shop.

The full report can be viewed here.
 

© 2023 by Disability Justice Network of Ontario.

  • Facebook - White Circle
  • Twitter - White Circle
bottom of page