Your Move, Ontario

Election day in Ontario is June 7, 2018

Thank you

Our great thanks to the SCI community for making noise in this election campaign about accessibility in this province. I know how much effort went into raising awareness with candidates about the importance of these issues, and it had impact.

In the next coming weeks, we will be congratulating all elected MPPs, monitoring who will form cabinet and lead ministries. Stay connected with http://yourmoveontario.ca/ as we will be preparing new ways on how our community can continue to engage with this new government.

Check out some of our campaign results.

Peter Athanasopoulos
Senior Manager, Government Relations & Public Policy
Spinal Cord Injury Ontario

Spinal Cord Injury Ontario is part of a network of autonomous spinal cord injury organizations across the country that grew out of the Canadian Paraplegic Association, founded in 1945 and renamed Spinal Cord Injury Canada.

You are in a powerful position to inspire important change in this province. Leading up to Election Day, you can highlight critical issues and encourage candidates to weigh in on what matters to us all – an equitable and accessible province. And we're here to help.

Spinal Cord Injury Ontario (SCIO) has led the way to profound change for more than 70 years and is still fiercely committed to our vision: People with spinal cord injuries living the life they choose in a fully inclusive Ontario.

We've sent a questionnaire to all candidates and are starting to get responses.
Take a look at the four urgent issues we're spearheading and how you can help change things for the better:

Access to Mobility Devices

Mobility devices – manual and motorized wheelchairs - allow people to live, play and work independently and, for those with a permanent disability, should be considered a human right over their lifetime.

What needs to change?

The Ontario government needs to review and change the mobility device sector, with an aim to raise standards of practice and move toward a human rights model to improve access and independence.

Read more about Access to Mobility Devices

Access to Medical Supplies

There is currently no province-wide comprehensive medical supply coverage program for those with permanent medical supply needs. For instance, every person who uses intermittent catheterization should be able to rely on full coverage of catheters, so they can use a clean catheter each time they need one. Of the 25 top economic countries in the world, Canada is one of only two that does not have policies restricting the re-use of a catheter.

What needs to change?

The Ontario government needs to introduce a province-wide comprehensive medical supply coverage program for people with disabilities. Without this coverage, health risks increase.

Read more about Access to Medical Supplies

Accessible Health Care for All

In Ontario, if a person has a heart condition, there are defined processes and supports in place to ensure optimal health care. Similarly, for those who are diagnosed with cancer, each individual is guided by a health care team and goes through a process that defines the best treatment. What happens if you have a spinal cord injury? There is a clear road map for the first four months and then... it gets a little foggy. Health care gets harder to get and further from home.

What needs to change?

The Ontario government needs to ensure people with spinal cord injuries have fully inclusive access, in their own community, to family doctors with relevant knowledge and experience.

Read more about Accessible Health Care for All

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

Ontario has in place the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act to adopt practices that eliminate barriers to participation of individuals with disabilities. The province undertook to be fully accessible by 2025. We are off course. We need a government that will make accessibility a priority.

What needs to change?

The Ontario government needs to ensure the province is fully accessible in seven short years.

Read more about Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

SCI Ontario Public Policy Program

Your Move, Ontario

Election day in Ontario is June 7, 2018

Thank you

Access to Mobility Devices

What needs to change?

Access to Medical Supplies

What needs to change?

Accessible Health Care for All

What needs to change?

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

What needs to change?

News

Peer Activist Feedback from Candidate Debates on Disability Issues

A Guide to Voting in Ontario

The Agenda with Steve Paikin

Province-Wide Parties Debate on Accessibility and Disability Issues

How to vote-Advance Polls Open!