Our Work
Respecting Rights at the 17TH Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CoSP17)
From June 10th to 14th 2024 Respecting Rights member Judy Noonan and ARCH’s Community Outreach and Education Coordinator Jessica Field had the privilege of attending the 17TH Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CoSP17) at the United Nations in New York.
On June 12th 2024 Respecting Rights collaborated with self-advocates from My Home, My Rights in Nova Scotia and Down Syndrome Australia to host a side event called “Art of Inclusion: Human Rights Education and Advocacy Led by People Labeled with Intellectual Disabilities.” During this side event, each self-advocacy group had an opportunity to share examples of their work and discuss why teaching others about human rights in an accessible way is important. We also shared a video from the self-advocates in Kathmandu, Nepal from the organization Parent Federation of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PFPID).
During the Cosp17 conference, Judy and Jessica attended several events at the United Nations headquarters where they learned about the different ways in which governments and self-advocacy groups from across the world are working together to change the laws for persons labelled with intellectual disabilities. On June 11th 2024 Judy and Jessica attended a Canadians Mission meeting with Minister Kamal Khera; Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Ambassador Richard Arbeiter; Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations. During this meeting, representatives from Canadian Disability organizations had an opportunity to discuss their concerns, ask questions and learn about the work that Ambassador Arbeiter and Minister Khera are doing on behalf of the disability community and in support of the Convention of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). On this day Judy was also interviewed by self-advocate Nick Herd from L’ARCH International and the UN News. In the interview, Judy explains what the expression “nothing about us without us” means to her.
To access Judy’s interview visit: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/larche-internationale_unitednations-inclusionmatters-awareness-activity-7218690663310131200-yUZ6?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
To access the COSP17 video on “Art of Inclusion: Human Rights Education and Advocacy Led by People Labeled with Intellectual Disabilities.” visit: https://youtu.be/yv6uwqgvwSY
Paper – Self-Advocacy from the Ashes of the Institution (2017)
The Canadian Journal of Disability Studies published a paper co-authored by Respecting Rights members Peter Park and Sue Hutton. The paper features use of graphic data on the history of the institutions, and explores the oral stories of Peter and another survivor of Canada’s institutions for persons labelled with intellectual disability.
Go to: Self-Advocacy from the Ashes of the Institution | Canadian Journal of Disability Studies
Respecting Rights supports Institutionalization Survivors
March 19, 2019.
Respecting Rights participated in Flying to Freedom to commemorate 10 years since the closure of the last large government-run institutions for people labeled with an intellectual disability, and reflect on how we can commit to creating a fully inclusive society. The event was organized by institutional survivors and several organizations within the disability community, including People First of Ontario.
Respecting Rights spoke to The Journey from Institutionalization, and how they are addressing institutionalization and supporting people who have an intellectual disability to lead meaningful lives in the community.
Press Release – Get Connected!
This press release informs about the launch of Respecting Rights’ “Get Connected! campaign, which advocates for support to people with intellectual disabilities across Ontario to get online during times of social distancing.
Respecting Rights – My Voice, My Choice
A key part of the work we do at Respecting Rights is rights education. In 2019, we received funding to continue this important work and decided to use it to offer 6-week rights education sessions. We partnered with developmental service agencies across Ontario to launch the My Voice, My Choice initiative.
We developed and led these workshops to provide accessible information about decision-making for people with intellectual disabilities. The goal was to help them understand their rights and learn about the supports available to help them make their own decisions.
We also used part of the funding to evaluate the impact of our work. You can download the full evaluation report below.
Our Resources
Respecting Rights Toronto – Coffee and Advocacy Monthly Meeting Notes
Each month, Toronto self-advocates come together to talk about issues that are important to them. You can download the meeting notes below
5 Things Campaign
On April 8, 2021, Respecting Rights launched the 5 Things Campaign. This was a campaign to tell the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services what self-advocates across Ontario wanted the government to know about what people with disabilities want to see change in developmental services.
A growing network of self-advocates who participated in Respecting Rights workshops identified 5 key priorities they want changed in Developmental Services. These include: people’s voices need to be heard, making complaints must be accessible, the same rights should be available for everyone, better staff training, and accessible technology.
This is not a comprehensive list, but these are 5 key changes that self-advocates have identified as fundamental to any larger reform that the Ministry is undertaking. Please see the one page poster identifying and describing the 5 key changes that people with disabilities are asking for.
When Respecting Rights heard about the proposed Developmental Services reform that the Ministry of Children, Community & Social Services says it is embarking on, self-advocates gathered across Ontario to discuss it in December 2020. Letters were sent to the Ministry December 31, 2020 by Respecting Rights and ARCH about the proposed changes to Developmental Services. Respecting Rights brought 9 self-advocacy groups together to send off a letter to the government April 8 2021 to remind the government that self-advocates are asking to be involved in change for Developmental Services.
Respecting Rights will continue to advocate to make sure people with disabilities have a voice at the table about the Developmental Services they receive.
Download the 5-Things Poster below