Level Playing Field

"All are equal before the law and are entitled, without any discrimination, to equal protection of the law."

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines that rights are for all people – no matter who you are or whom you love.

📷:UNAIDS

A service can exist and still be out of reach.

A form that is hard to understand.
A website that is hard to navigate.
A process that only works one way.
A delay that stops someone from getting what they need.

That is why accessible service delivery matters.

It means designing and delivering services
that everyone can easily access, understand, and use, regardless of their abilities.

And when services are accessible, people can use them independently and with dignity.

Our new standard on Accessible Service Delivery can help you remove barriers before they limit access to your services.

Use it to reach more people, build trust, and deliver more equitable and consistent service:
https://ow.ly/cc5I50Zb9GJ



Alt-text: Quote graphic with text from Dino Zuppa, Chief Executive Officer: “Everyone should be able to access the services they need, when and how they need them.” The Canada wordmark appears in the bottom right corner.

Last week Parliamentary Secretary (PS) Leslie Church attended the 19th session of the United Nations Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

While there, PS Church highlighted Canada’s commitment to advancing the full inclusion of persons with disabilities and emphasized the importance of working with partners in Canada and around the world to build a more inclusive future for everyone.

Learn more about Canada’s participation at the conference: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2026/06/parliamentary-secretary-church-shares-canadas-commitment-to-ensure-the-full-inclusion-of-persons-with-disabilities-at-the-united-nations.html

What does deafblindness mean?

Deafblindness is a unique disability that results in a combination of hearing and vision loss. It affects each person differently. Some people have significant hearing and vision loss, while others retain some degree of hearing or vision.

Some people are born deafblind. Others may lose hearing or vision later in life.
With the right supports, accessible information and inclusive environments, people who are deafblind can participate fully in their communities, build connections and thrive.

This Deafblind Awareness Month, take time to learn more about deafblindness and the importance of removing barriers through accessibility.



Alt-text: Two overlapping circles show a hearing impairment icon on the left and a vision impairment icon on the right. The word “Deafblind” appears in the centre overlap. Under the circles the text says “Deafblind Awareness Month ". The Canada wordmark appears in the bottom right corner.

Pride Season is a time to celebrate 2SLGBTQI+ communities and recognize the ongoing work needed to build a more inclusive Canada.

Accessibility and inclusion go hand in hand. Everyone should be able to take part. Everyone should be able to take part in everyday life, including in their communities and workplaces, with dignity and respect.

This Pride Season, we celebrate diversity and reaffirm our commitment to accessibility for all.



Alt-text: A collection of colourful brackets is scattered on the left. The text reads: “ Season.” The word “Pride” appears in rainbow colours. The Canada wordmark appears in the bottom right corner.

Inclusion Canada and other civil society representatives met this morning with Ambassador Michael Gort, Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York, along with Canada's COSP CRPD Head of Delegation Parliamentary Secretary Leslie Church - to discuss Canada’s international disability inclusion and accessibility priorities.

Inclusion Canada spoke about the adoption of the UN guidelines on deinstitutionalization, including in emergencies; the drafting of the UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons and its intersections with the CRPD; and Canada's implementation of recommendations by the UN Committee in the 2025 Concluding Observations.

Inclusion Canada is committed to ensuring that the barriers people face at home are reflected in international discussions and that global human rights commitments lead to meaningful change in communities across the country.

No doubt about it: hosted by was an absolute blast and a major highlight of this year’s !

Team Level Playing Field was thrilled to attend, with founder and principal strategist Darby Young representin’ this past weekend in downtown Toronto.

A huge thank you to founder for hosting an incredible “celebration of what’s possible when leads.”

Learn more at access.now/fest! 🙏💙🎉

As National AccessAbility Week wraps up, our work to advance accessibility continues.

This year’s theme, “Building a Strong, Accessible Canada,” reminds us that creating a barrier-free country is an ongoing responsibility. We all have a role to play during this week and every day after.

Here are a few ways you can act:
• Start a conversation about accessibility.
• Learn from people with disabilities and lived experience.
• Recognize the work of allies, organizations and communities removing barriers.
• Look for barriers in your workplace, services or community.
• Take steps to make your communications, spaces and events more accessible.
• Share resources that support accessibility and disability inclusion.

Tell us in the comments how you are helping to build a stronger, more accessible Canada.
Every action moves us forward.



Alt-text: The visual includes the text: National AccessAbility Week 2026. Building a Strong, Accessible Canada. May 31 to June 6, 2026.
The visual ends with the Canada wordmark.