Promoting Family Inclusive Accessibility Standards in Canada

The Perspectives of Parents and Caregivers with Disabilities

Be Part of the Change
A woman in a wheelchair and a young boy at a playground. The woman is wearing a pink shirt, gray pants, sunglasses, and a white cap. The boy is wearing an orange shirt and plaid shorts. They are near a yellow and blue play structure with a red steering wheel, set outdoors on a sunny day.
Dark green camera icon inside a white circle, representing documenting experiences.

Documenting experiences.

Icon of a dark green exclamation point on a white circular background for identifying barriers.

Identifying barriers.

Dark green handshake icon with a check mark above it on a white circular background, representing building solutions.

Building solutions.

More than one in four Canadians (27%) has a disability, yet parents with disabilities are rarely considered in accessibility planning.

This groundbreaking research project centers the voices and experiences of parents and caregivers with disabilities as they navigate federally regulated spaces across Canada.

Through community-led participatory research, we’re documenting the real-world barriers families encounter in national parks, museums, transportation systems, federal services, and more—and working together to propose meaningful solutions.

Meet the Researchers

Why This Research Matters

Despite representing a significant portion of the population, parents with disabilities face persistent barriers:

Family walking in a park, with a pregnant woman in a wheelchair, a young girl, and a man with a cane.

1 in 8 Ontario pregnant women has a disability

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1 in 5 Quebec parents has a health-related diagnosis, disability, or chronic condition

Checkmark icon inside a circle.

Families encounter barriers in housing, childcare, transportation, and public spaces

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Children's opportunities for community inclusion are directly impacted

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Family-oriented accessibility is essential to ensuring that families headed by parents and caregivers with disabilities can participate fully in their communities and fulfill their caregiving responsibilities like all families in Canada.

Promoting Family Inclusive Accessibility Standards in Canada

Universal Accessibility:
Perspectives of Parents with Disabilities

Explore introductory training videos in English and French featuring the lived experiences and perspectives of parents with disabilities.

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A group of people outdoors on a sunny day, with the ocean in the background. Some are standing, others are seated in wheelchairs, and one person holds a baby. A bicycle is visible in the foreground.

Photo credit: Justice Ferreira

This innovative community-led project aims to:

01.

Explore the direct experiences of parents with diverse disabilities and their families in federally regulated environments.

02.

Document barriers and accessibility features through photos, recordings, and personal narratives.

03.

Identify specific challenges in spaces including:

  • National parks and heritage sites

  • National museums and cultural institutions

  • Federal transportation (air, train, interprovincial buses and ferries)

  • Federal services (banks, passport offices, government buildings).

04.

Develop evidence-based recommendations for accessibility standards that are truly family-inclusive.

05.

Center the lived experiences and expertise of parents with disabilities throughout the research process.

We want to understand how parents with disabilities navigate everyday activities with their children:

People enjoying time at a playground with children climbing and playing, an elderly woman with a cane smiling, an African American man in a wheelchair, and a young man standing near a yellow playground frame.

Accessing playground equipment and supervising children in outdoor spaces

Person with a purple rolling suitcase and a wheelchair with a bag on it, standing on a metal boarding platform with snow on the ground.

Moving through airports, train stations, and ferry terminals with children and luggage

Person pressing the '9' button in an elevator keypad while holding a white pointer in their left hand.

Navigating architectural features like ramps, elevators, and washroom facilities with children

A man and a child standing at a bank teller window, talking to a woman behind the glass.

Interacting with federal employees and service providers

A man sitting in a green kayak on a dock, holding a newspaper, next to a wheelchair, with water and trees in the background.

Finding and using adaptive equipment (strollers, caddies) in tourist attractions and supervising children in outdoor spaces

A young girl and an adult woman, likely a teacher or caregiver, sitting at a desk in an office setting. They are smiling at each other, engaging in a friendly conversation. The woman is making a gesture with her hand as if explaining something, and there are colorful building blocks and papers on the desk in front of them.

Managing documentation and paperwork while caring for children

A young woman in a wheelchair and a young woman with a backpack standing on the sidewalk near a staircase, with several people walking up and down the stairs outside a building.

Experiencing attitudinal barriers from staff and the public

A man with a prosthetic leg, wearing a red t-shirt and camouflage shorts, standing next to a young boy with curly hair, who is holding a small toy, as they speak with a service clerk at a reception desk in a busy building lobby.

Advocating for their rights and their children's needs

Example of Photovoice in Action

Real Examples From Our Team

Below are examples of the kinds of accessibility barriers and solutions that photovoice can document:

These examples show how photovoice captures not just what barriers exist, but how they affect real families in real situations. The emotional impact—frustration, humor, resilience—comes through in ways that statistics alone cannot convey.

  • Hand-activated sensor button placed too high on a shopping mall pillar

    "If only I could STEP ON IT!"

    Context: Accessibility features that are installed but placed at heights inaccessible to wheelchair users create the illusion of accessibility without actual function.

  • Dangerous ramp with steep drop and no safety barriers

    "Yeah, right? I am not looking to die today!"

    Context: Ramps that don't meet safety standards put parents with mobility disabilities and their children at serious risk.

  • Sidewalk with raised curb making rolling access impossible

    "Great use of sidewalk... but no way for me to roll on it!"

    Context: Infrastructure improvements that ignore universal design exclude people with disabilities from public spaces.

  • Person in mobility scooter unable to reach payment terminal

    "Well... I guess I am not paying!"

    Context: Service counters and payment systems designed without considering diverse body positions create unnecessary barriers to independence.

  • Broken door handle with metal piece hanging out

    "One thing is to make it accessible, but to ensure access, you need to maintain it!"

    Context: Accessibility isn't just about initial installation—ongoing maintenance is essential for sustained access.

  • Badly cracked sidewalk creating tripping hazards and obstacles

    "One thing is to make it accessible, but to ensure access, you need to maintain it!"

    Context: Deteriorating infrastructure particularly impacts people with mobility disabilities and parents managing children and equipment.

  • Parking lot at night with cars blocking accessible spaces

    "Where am I supposed to park as a parent who needs accessible parking?"

    Context: Enforcement of accessible parking is as important as its availability.

  • Construction zone with metal fencing placed directly on accessible parking spot

    "Where am I supposed to park as a parent who needs accessible parking?"

    Context: Temporary construction often eliminates accessible parking without providing alternatives, assuming people with disabilities can "just park somewhere else."

Accessibility in Everyday Life

These images illustrate real-world accessibility challenges and opportunities for creating more inclusive communities.

Community-Led Approach

This research is guided by disability justice principles. Parents with disabilities are not just participants—they are co-researchers, steering committee members, and knowledge holders who shape every aspect of this project.

We partner with disability-led organizations across Canada to ensure authentic representation and meaningful participation throughout the research process.

Our Partners

Text reads 'Council of Canadians with Disabilities' alongside a logo of a black and orange maple leaf with radiating black lines.
ASNL Autism Society logo with colorful letters and text.
Logo of Moelle épinière et motricité Québec with a stylized figure in blue and orange, and the text 'On réinvente l'autonomie depuis 1946'.
IWK Health logo with stylized figures of people above the text.
FASD NL logo with the words 'fasd NL' in large font, 'fasd' in maroon and 'NL' in gold.
Logo for Spinal Cord Injury New Brunswick & Labrador, featuring a stylized pink and blue figure on a curved surface with a sun or burst symbol above.
Logo with puzzle piece icon and the words 'connections' in black text.
Logo for ELAEQUO with the slogan "Pour une égalité sans détour" in French.

Expected Impact

    • Document accessibility barriers and solutions across federal jurisdictions

      • Create visual and audio materials that make lived experiences visible to policymakers

      • Build partnerships between parents, community organizations, and researchers

      • Develop best practices for inclusive research methodologies

    • Inform the development of Canadian accessibility standards

      • Create lasting change in federal policies and practices

      • Build a national accessibility network committed to family inclusion

      • Contribute to a traveling museum exhibit showcasing stories of resistance and innovation

Be Part of the Change

This research is funded by Accessibility Standards Canada and conducted in partnership with disability-led organizations across the country