National Celebrations

There's plenty to celebrate nationally as proud, strong persons with disabilities. Even though we celebrate our autonomy every day; we recognize and bring awareness to certain periods where we can come together as a unified voice through national celebrations in Canada. The short list below are events that we at IL Canada hold dear with all Canadians with disabilities!

National Accessibility Week

National AccessAbility Week in 2025 will be held from May 25th to May 31st. This annual week in Canada is a time to celebrate accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities. It's an opportunity to recognize the contributions of individuals with disabilities and to promote efforts to remove barriers, creating a more welcoming and inclusive society for all. 

Key aspects of National AccessAbility Week:

• Celebration of contributions:
  The week acknowledges and celebrates the achievements, leadership, and voices of Canadians with disabilities. 
• Focus on accessibility:
  It highlights the importance of accessibility in all aspects of life, including physical spaces, technology, communication, and policies. 
• Raising awareness:
  National AccessAbility Week aims to raise awareness about disability issues, the experiences of individuals with disabilities, and the need for a more inclusive society. 
• Promoting inclusion:
  The week encourages efforts to make Canada a more accessible and disability-inclusive country, where everyone can participate fully in all aspects of life. 

Ways to get involved:

• Attend events:
  Many organizations and communities host events, workshops, and campaigns during National AccessAbility Week. 
• Share resources:
  Share information about National AccessAbility Week and resources related to accessibility and disability inclusion. 
• Advocate for change:
  Speak out about issues related to accessibility and disability inclusion and advocate for policies that support these efforts. 
• Learn and engage:
  Educate yourself and others about disability issues and engage in conversations about creating a more inclusive society. 

Independent Living Across Canada Day

Independent Living Across Canada Day is celebrated annually on the first Monday in June, coinciding with the last Sunday in May's National AccessAbility Week. This day acknowledges the progress made in removing barriers for people with disabilities, enabling them to live independently, and highlights ongoing efforts towards accessibility and inclusion. In 2025, Independent Living Across Canada Day will be celebrated on June 2^nd. 

Elaboration:

• National AccessAbility Week:
  National AccessAbility Week, which runs from the last Sunday in May to the first Saturday in June, is a week-long event focused on promoting accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities in Canada. 
• Independent Living Across Canada Day:
  This day, falling on the first Monday of June, specifically celebrates the achievements and ongoing efforts in enabling independent living for Canadians with disabilities. 
• Celebrating Achievements:
  The day is a time to recognize the barriers that have been removed and the strides made towards ensuring that people with disabilities can live independently. 
• Ongoing Efforts:
  It also serves as a reminder that more work needs to be done to ensure accessibility, inclusion, and independent living for all Canadians. 
• Examples of Events:
  Most Independent Living Centers across Canada organize events or campaigns to mark the occasion, such as sharing stories of Independent Living.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 3 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This day aims to increase awareness and promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in every aspect of life.

All people in Canada have the right to take part fully in society. By working to remove barriers and break down obstacles—seen or unseen—that can hinder accessibility, inclusivity, and progress, we open our doors to a more creative, diverse, and welcoming environment.   

A barrier is anything that prevents persons with disabilities from fully and equally participating in Canadian society. Some barriers are very visible, like a building without an access ramp. Other barriers are less visible, like instructions written in complicated language or jargon.

Advancing accessibility is about creating more barrier-free communities, workplaces and services, to build a country where all people, regardless of disability, are included in society and can take full advantage of programs and services.

A key principle of the December 3rd celebration is “nothing without us,” which means that persons with disabilities should be consulted when developing laws, policies and programs that affect them. In keeping with this principle, IL Canada and our member centres work alongside persons with disabilities directly who advocate on their own behalf; bettering the full inclusion and accessible diversity of the community.

A more accessible Canada

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is important for increasing awareness of diverse abilities and promoting inclusion for all people in Canada with disabilities. Removing and preventing visible and invisible barriers to accessibility can make positive, often life-changing, differences for people with disabilities.

Creating inclusive and accessible environments for all means working together to ensure that the perspectives of persons with disabilities are considered and strategies are implemented to protect and empower all Canadians.