WHAT IS NATIONAL ACCESSABILITY WEEK?
Established in 2017, National AccessAbility Week celebrates, promotes and showcases the diversity, inclusion and accessibility in this country, and highlights some of the important initiatives aimed at creating an Accessible Canada.
National AccessAbility Week is observed starting the last Sunday of every May.
“…when we include people with disabilities, we create a stronger Canada for everyone. We’ve made great strides in promoting inclusion for Canadians with disabilities, but there is still much work to do…We need to change the way we think, talk and act about barriers to participation and accessibility, and we need to do it right from the start, not as an afterthought. An inclusive Canada is one where all Canadians can participate and have an equal opportunity to succeed.”’
– The Hon. Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
Check out Minister Qualtrough’s 2021 National AccessAbility Week message by clicking on the video above, or visit the Government of Canada’s National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) website for more information.
WHAT IS RED SHIRT DAY?
Easter Seals Canada is proud to do its part to promote and celebrate National AccessAbility Week. Red Shirt Day (#RedShirtDay, #RedForAccessAbility) is an initiative promulgated by Easter Seals Canada to promote National AccessAbility Week and was first observed in 2019.
Students and Canadians across the country are encouraged to observe National AccessAbility Week and to wear Red on Red Shirt Day to show their support for people living with disability, celebrate the achievements and contributions of persons with disabilities, and pledge their commitment to helping create an accessible and inclusive Canada.
Red Shirt Day is celebrated on the Wednesday of National AccessAbility Week each year. In 2021, Red Shirt Day falls on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021.
Red Shirt Day 2021 Message from Easter Seals Canada’s President & CEO
Easter Seals Canada, along with Canadians from coast to coast, will mark the third annual Red Shirt Day in a show of solidarity for people and families living with disabilities on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
Our aim is to empower Canadians of all abilities with the awareness, knowledge and the tools to create real change and build a more inclusive and accessible country. There are still major barriers – both physical and attitudinal – that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in society and this should concern all Canadians.
It is really encouraging to see so many people getting behind this movement, in the disability community and beyond. There is a greater understanding that barriers to accessibility concerns all Canadians and not just people living with disabilities, but if we can break down the barriers that people with disabilities face every day, it benefits us all.
– Dave Starrett, President & CEO, Easter Seals Canada
Special NAAW message in support of Indigenous persons with disabilities and First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities
Note: Click on the video above to view control functions like volume, captions and to increase size of video.
Easter Seals Canada is proud to be accredited by Imagine Canada’s Standards Program for excellence in financial accountability and transparency, board governance, fundraising, staff management and volunteer involvement.
