Our Priorities
Raising Awareness
Article 8 – This article is about being able to educate and make society aware of issues facing people with disabilities.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities still face stereotypes, discrimination and misunderstanding.
We work to raise awareness and make sure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can tell their own stories and speak about the issues that affect their lives.
This article is about changing attitudes and helping people understand the rights, experiences and contributions of people with disabilities.
Legal Capacity
Article 12 –This article is called Equal Recognition Before the Law. It is about making sure that people with disabilities have the same legal rights as everybody else.
Disability should never be used to limit a person's legal capacity. Everybody has the right to make their own decisions and choices and direct their own lives.
This includes the right to make choices and decisions about their own lives. People may need support to make some decisions, but needing support should not take away their right to decide.
Living in the Community
Article 19 –This article is about living independently and being included in the community with supports and to be included. This also means making sure people don't have to live in institutions because of their disability.
We believe that no person, regardless of disability, should live in any kind of situation where they are kept apart from the community. Everybody benefits from diverse and inclusive communities.
A real home means a neighbourhood, a community, choices and opportunities.
Education
Article 24 –This article is about making sure that people with disabilities have the right to an education and the support to get it.
Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the right to an inclusive education.
This means learning alongside other students in their neighbourhood schools and getting the supports they need to learn, participate and belong. Students with intellectual disabilities must not be put into "special classrooms" away from the rest of the students.
Everybody benefits from inclusive education. Many students who learn in an inclusive classroom are more understanding and accepting of differences in other people.
Work and Employment
Article 27 –This article is about making sure that people with disabilities have the same right to work as other people. People should have opportunities for meaningful and inclusive employment. They should receive equal pay for work of equal value and have the supports and accommodations they need to succeed at work.
People with intellectual disabilities should have choice and opportunity to earn a living through paid employment in the labour market.
Along with a pay cheque, there are social, personal and community benefits that come from being in the regular workforce.
Adequate Standard of Living
Article 28 – This article is about making sure people with disabilities have an adequate standard of living. This means making sure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have enough income to afford things like food, clothing, housing, disability supports and other things they need to live a good life.
Disability should not mean living in poverty.
People First of Canada focuses on six priorities that affect the lives and rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each priority connects to a right in the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
The CRPD says that people with disabilities have the same human rights as everyone else. It also tells governments what they need to do to protect those rights.
Our work also supports the goals of the Accessible Canada Act, which works to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities.