Hon. David C. Onley, stricken with polio as a child. He is a former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario. He was also was one of Canada’s first disabled on-air personalities and is a role model for the disabled.
Recognition Of Disability In Canada
The Canadian disability rights movement which arose in the latter half of the 20th century advocated civil rights for almost four million (14%) of Canadians with disabilities at the time.
Denial of civil rights to PwD saw a dramatic change after the First World War, when injured and disabled veterans returned to Canada.
Civil disabled people would later demand universal expansion of services already provided to disabled veterans.
On 9 December 1975, the UN issued a Declaration of the Rights of Disabled Persons.
Awareness surged in Canada following UN Decade of Disabled Persons 1983-92. Disability would be included in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
In 2005, Ontario legislated, Accessibility for Ontarians with the goal of becoming accessible by 2025.
In 2010 a Canadian Supreme Court case won by Donna Jodhan ensured that the Canadian Government made all of their websites accessible.
In 2019 the Accessible Canada Act became law, applying to all government departments & federally regulated agencies.
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