ARCH provides a Summary Advice and Referral Service directly to persons with disabilities in Ontario. This is a free, confidential, legal service. Through this service, ARCH provides advice on certain disability-related areas of practice, including: Accessibility, Developmental services, homecare/attendant services, transportation/para-transit, human rights (select areas), accommodation in the workplace (non-unionized), primary/secondary education, post-secondary education, guide dogs/service animals, supported decision-making, Public Guardian and Trustee, removing guardianship and revoking powers of attorney.
For more in-depth description of each area of practice, visit our service webpage.
Who is Eligible
All persons with disabilities who reside in Ontario can access ARCH’s Summary Advice and Referral service. For direct legal services such as legal representation, additional eligibility criteria apply including Legal Aid Ontario’s financial eligibility. In some circumstances, parents, guardians, and support persons may participate in ARCH’s Summary Advice and Referral service with consent of the person with a disability.
How to Make an Appointment
ARCH’s Summary Advice and Referral service is a telephone service. When you call , ARCH intake staff will speak with you. You will be asked for some basic information like your full name and contact information so that we can ensure there is no conflict for us to speak with you. If your matter falls within ARCH’s areas of practice, you will receive an appointment with ARCH legal staff. You can contact us by telephone at:
Telephone: 416-482-8255 ext. 0
Tel. Toll-free: 1-866-482-2724 ext. 0
Or
TTY: 416-482-1254
TTY Toll-free: 1-866-482-2728
If You Need Accommodations
Our Summary Advice and Referral service is a province-wide telephone service. If you require disability-related accommodations to access this service, we can be contacted via email at intake@arch.clcj.ca . Please include both your first and last name when emailing ARCH for legal information.
ARCH Disability Law Centre provides legal and non-legal referrals, legal information, and summary legal advice.
If you are calling when our office is closed and you require urgent legal advice, you may contact the Law Society Referral Service at 1-855-947-5255 or 416-947-5255 (within the GTA).
Other Places that can Help
If you need legal assistance with landlord and tenant or ODSP matters, contact your local community legal clinic. ARCH does not practice in these areas of law. To locate your local community legal clinic, please use the Legal Aid Ontario legal clinic directory .
For information on community, social, health and government services in Ontario, see 211ontario.ca. You may also wish to visit the Steps to Justice website for legal information.