Built environments and accessibility of persons with disabilities 2014-2015

The concept of “built environment” refers to all environments constructed by humans. Built environments are not only physical constructs but also social, legal and economic constructs such as families, schools and workplaces. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) recognizes the “importance of accessibility to the physical, social, economic and cultural environment, to health and education and to information and communication, in enabling persons with disabilities to fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

It is important to grasp the wide nature of the concept of environment in exploring accessibility for people with various types of disabilities. Physically accessible buildings, legally accessible institutions such as families, parenthood and professions, and socially inclusive environments such as schools, work and public spaces are all important to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

This seminar series provided insights into the reality of different environments, whether or not people with disabilities are fully able to benefit from them, and the barriers that may be preventing full and equal access.

We examined four topics through the lens of built environments: education, public spaces, workplaces, and family. In particular we asked to what extent each of these built environments is accessible, if people with disabilities are involved in the decision-making process of building these environments, and how these environments can be restructured to become more accessible and inclusive.

Format and details

Support for this seminar series was generously provided by the Rathlyn Foundation, and the Aisenstadt Community Justice Initiatives.

The four seminars in this cycle were (click to jump down to each):

• 22 September 2014 - Inclusive Education: Implementing the CRPD in Canada and the Global South
• 20 October 2014 - Universal Design & Accessible Public Spaces
• 26 January 2015 - Work and Economic Security
• 16 March 2015 - Family and Sexuality

Inclusive Education: Implementing the CRPD in Canada and the Global South

September 22, 2014 - 13:00 – 14:30 - New Chancellor Day Hall, Room 202

Moderator

Frédéric Mégret (Associate Professor of Law at McGill, Canada Research Chair in the Law of Human Rights and Legal Pluralism)

Resource Persons

Charles Ngwena (O’Brien Fellow in Residence), Futsum Abbay (Research Associate, CHRLP), Roberta Thomson (Accessible and Inclusive Education Course Instructor, UDL Faculty Toolkit Project Coordinator).

Our first seminar investigates the institution of education as a built environment. The right to an education is enshrined in article 24 of the CRPD. The effective implementation of the Convention, however, requires translation to a domestic context. This seminar will explore whether and how the CRPD may be implemented in a meaningful way for rights-holders. Investigating the global and the local, it will bring together South African and Canadian perspectives on inclusive education to explore both challenges and best practices, as well as revealing the drawbacks of rhetorical posturing.

Update: Download a summary of the seminar [.pdf]

Universal Design and Accessible Public Spaces

October 20, 2014 - 13:00 – 14:30 - New Chancellor Day Hall, Room 202

Resource Persons

John Radford (Professor, York University, Critical Disability Studies), Mélanie Benard (Disability Rights Activist), Béatrice Vizkelety (Visiting Fellow, McGill Faculty of Law)

Barrier-free environment is an evolving concept that benefits everyone, not only people with recognized disabilities. Making buildings and other physical spaces accessible to people with disabilities is about more than just building ramps. From bathrooms to crowded classrooms, from stop announcements on the bus to elevators in buildings, how do Canada, and Montreal in particular, “stack up on the ground”? The session will engage with the concept of universal design and explore the extent to which the physical environment is accessible for people with disabilities.

Update: Summary of the event on Universal Design and Accessible Public Spaces

Update: Béatrice Vizkelety's presentation references

Work and Economic Security

January 26, 2015 - 13:00 – 14:30 - New Chancellor Day Hall, Room 202

Barriers faced by people with disabilities seeking to enter the job market are numerous: physically inaccessible workplaces, employers' prejudices, lack of experience or education due to a vicious cycle of inaccessible educational institutions and workplaces, etc. These barriers affect economic security: the poverty rate of people with disabilities in Canada is 14.4%, compared to a rate of 9.7% for people without disabilities. Article 27 of the CRPD acknowledges the “the right of persons with disabilities to work, on an equal basis with others; this includes the right to the opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities.” Recognizing that engagement in meaningful work is a basic human need, how can employment and other non-remunerated occupations enhance the quality of life of persons with disabilities? Furthermore, how can the economic security of people with disabilities be secured? The session will draw on the insights of individuals and organizations with first-hand experience in contributing to the economic security of persons with disabilities. Best practices will be discussed. [.docx]

Update:  Summary [.docx]

Moderator

Colleen Sheppard (Professor of Law at McGill, Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism)

Resource Persons

Anne-Marie LaFlamme (Professor of Law at Laval University), Carole Foisy (Chef d'équipe au Comité d’adaptation de la main-d’œuvre [CAMO])

Family and Sexuality

March 16, 2015 - 13:00 – 14:30 New Chancellor Day Hall, Room 202

Article 23 of the CRPD requires state signatories to “take effective and appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities in all matters relating to marriage, family, parenthood and relationships, on an equal basis with others”. Using the Convention as a backdrop, this seminar will examine issues surrounding disability and family matters. In particular, it will examine how legal and social constructs of parenthood, sexuality and sexual health have a dangerous potential to exclude people with disabilities. We will discuss parenting and adoption for disabled parents and children with disabilities, as well as the issue of forced sterilization.

CLE accreditation pending.

Update: Download a summary of the seminar [.doc]. A recording of the seminar is available upon request to chrlp.law [at] mcgill.ca.

Moderator: Izabella Karapetyan (BCL/LLB candidate, McGill Faculty of Law)

Resource Persons: Natalia Acevedo Guerrero  (LLM candidate, McGill Faculty of Law); Bonnie Brayton (National Executive Director, Disabled Women' Network [DAWN-RAFH Canada]) and Angela Campbell (Professor, McGill Faculty of Law).