Red Shirt Day & National AccessAbility Week - Easter Seals Canada

RED SHIRT DAYTM

of Action for Accessibility and Inclusion

Thank you, Canada, for celebrating Red Shirt Day 2023 with us!

#RedShirtDay  #RedForAccessAbility

AboutThe PledgeResourcesActivitiesPhotos

ABOUT RED SHIRT DAYTM

What is Red Shirt Day?

Photo of a group of 14 people - some standing, some seated in wheelchairs. All are wearing red t-shirts and clothing and smiling.

Photo ID: A group of 14 people, some standing, some seated in wheelchairs. All are wearing red t-shirts and clothing and smiling.

Red Shirt Day of Action for AccessAbility and Inclusion is a day when people across Canada come together and wear red to create a visible display of solidarity: to show their support for disabled people and their families, celebrate the achievements of disabled Canadians, and to pledge their commitment to help create a fully accessible and inclusive society.

Red Shirt Day is an Easter Seals initiative and was first celebrated in 2019. It takes place on the Wednesday of National AccessAbility Week each year.

Anyone can take part in Red Shirt Day. Put on your favourite red shirt, take some photos and make a pledge to help improve accessibility and inclusion in your community. Then post your photos and your pledge on social media with the hashtags. #RedShirtDay #RedForAccessAbility

What is National AccessAbility Week?

Established in 2017, National AccessAbility Week celebrates, celebrates and highlights some of the important initiatives aimed at creating an Accessible Canada.

National AccessAbility Week begins on the last Sunday in May every year. This year, National AccessAbility Week will take place from May 28 to June 3.

Countdown to Red Shirt Day

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Red Shirt Day Mailing List

Subscribe to the Red Shirt Day mailing list to receive reminders, resources and ideas to help you celebrate Red Shirt Day and National AccessAbility Week.

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Save these dates!

Red Shirt Day is on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

National AccessAbility Week runs from May 26 to June 1, 2024.

Follow Easter Seals Canada for updates about Red Shirt Day

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RED SHIRT DAY PLEDGE

Image of a blank sheet of paper with some instructions and a red paint streak on top left hand corner with the words My Red Shirt Day Pledge

A one-day annual event will not make Canada a truly accessible and inclusive society. We need constant, year-round efforts of all Canadians to raise awareness, advocate and take action to increase accessibility and inclusion for people living with disabilities.

Red Shirt Day participants are encouraged to make a commitment—a pledge —to educate and inform themselves on issues related to disability and do what they can to remove physical, attitudinal and systemic barriers and make their schools, workplaces and communities accessible and inclusive for people of all abilities.

On Red Shirt Day, write your pledge on a sheet of paper and take a selfie/group photo with your pledge(s) while wearing red. Or include your Red Shirt Day pledge in the text of your social media post.

Click on the following links to download the Red Shirt Day pledge form.

Red Shirt Day pledge form (ENGLISH)   |  Red Shirt Day pledge form (FRENCH)

Red Shirt Day Pledges from across Canada

Moncton, New Brunswick

“Most of what we do in OT focuses on accessibility and inclusion and we hope to use this opportunity to continue to spread awareness about OT and how our profession can be used to combat barriers related to disability, accessibility and inclusion in the community!”

Fort McMurray, Alberta

“We pledge to help make our library accessible and our programs to include our inclusive community!”

Markham, Ontario

“We pledge to keep on educating the general community of ensuring that accessibility doesn’t just mean physical access – it also encompasses our perceptions, biases and also includes those individuals living with a developmental disability.”

Prince George, British Columbia

“Holding an AccessAbility event at our school with interactive displays, resources and games run by staff from different areas participating, including Accessibility Services, Health& Wellness, Academic Advising, and the Students’ Union.”

Pointe-Claire, Quebec

“I wrote to the City requesting a resolution to declare National AccessAbility week a yearly event and the motion passed and it was proclaimed!”

Quispamsis, New Brunswick

“My family is working on building a new inclusive playground at my son’s elementary school. I am also a Resource teacher and always share ways to celebrate all abilities.”

Ottawa, Ontario

“Invite employees to join virtual AccessAbility week events, recognize Red Shirt Day, read articles about inclusive language and disability awareness and learn about disability sensitivity.”

RED SHIRT DAY RESOURCES

Red Shirt Day posters
Composite image of 3 posters, featuring photos of children wearing red, set against a grey background.
Recommended books for children and adults
A colourful collage of different children's books covers
Recommended TED Talks, movies and videos
Photo of a smiling woman looking into the distance. She is dressed in black and has red hair. The image is a screenshot from a video still, and has the words TED in red at the top corner, and Stella Young: I'm not your inpsiration, thank you very much at the bottom left corner
Podcasts on inclusive workplaces
Close up image of two persons engaged in a discussion. Between them is a microphone.
Articles authored by people with disabilities
Composite image featuring a lit light bulb swinging towards 2 unlit light bulbs, against a green background. There are 3 various photos inset on the right hand set.
Colouring sheets for children
More Red Shirt Day resources

RED SHIRT DAY ACTIVITIES

Here are some activities that you, your family, friends, school or workplace can do to celebrate Red Shirt Day and educate yourself about disability during National AccessAbility Week.

Wear Red and Make a Pledge
On Red Shirt Day (Wednesday, May 31, 2023), wear red and post a selfie or group photo on social media with the hashtags #RedShirtDay and #RedForAcccessAbility. Share why you are wearing red, and what you pledge to do in the year ahead to enhance accessibility and inclusion in your home, workplace, school, or community.

Raise Awareness with Positive Messages
Get creative by writing positive messages of support for people living with disabilities and their families. Write them on the sidewalk with chalk or decorate posters to put up on your windows and doors or hang from your fence, deck or anywhere outdoors where they can’t be missed!

Colouring for Kids
Print out colouring sheets to engage your children in discussion about disabilities, accessibility and inclusion.

Bring Disability Awareness to Book Club
Choose a book written by an author with a disability for your book club to read and discuss. Click here to check out Easter Seals’ list of recommended books.

Host a National AccessAbility Week Watch Party
Invite friends, family or colleagues to watch films about disability, accessibility and inclusion. Then have a discussion about what you watched. Click here to find suggested films about disability.

Make an Action Plan
Think about your home, workplaces and community. How are they accessible and in what ways are they not? Make a plan of things you can do to make spaces, policies, programs, etc. more inclusive and accessible.

Get Involved
Look up your local Easter Seals or other organizations serving people with disabilities. Sign up to volunteer or donate to help these organizations provide services in support of people with disabilities and their families.

A small image of a PDF list of Red Shirt Day Activities that can be downloaded.

RED SHIRT DAY PHOTOS

  • A photo of a group of young children in a classroom smiling and wearing attires of different shades of red
  • Photo of a smiling man, wearing red and holding up a handwritten message in red.
  • Photo of a group of people all wearing red, and each holding up a sheet of paper with writing - their pledge for Red Shirt Day
  • Photo of a woman with shoulder length hair smiling. She is wearing red and holding up a sign with a handwritten message.
  • A photo of a large group of young children outside on the field. They are all wearing attires of different shades of red
  • Photo of a smiling young woman, wearing red and holding up a handwritten message in red.
  • A photo of a group of young children in a classroom smiling and wearing attires of different shades of red
  • Photo of a smiling man, wearing red and holding up a handwritten message in red.
  • A photo of a group of young children in a classroom smiling and wearing attires of different shades of red
  • Photo of a smiling man, wearing red and holding up a handwritten message in red.
  • Photo of a young woman wearing red and holding up a handwritten message in red.
  • Photo of a man and woman, both wearing red and each holding up a handwritten message in red.
  • A photo of a group of young children in a classroom smiling and wearing attires of different shades of red
  • A photo of a group of young children in a classroom smiling and wearing attires of different shades of red
  • Photo of a group of adults, some seated, most standing, wearing red. Behind them is a sign that says Kingsville
  • A photo of a group of young children in a classroom smiling and wearing attires of different shades of red
  • A photo of a group of adults in a room. They are wearing red and surrounding a man wearing a chain of office.
  • A photo of a group of young children in a classroom smiling and wearing attires of different shades of red
  • A photo of a group of young children in a classroom smiling and wearing attires of different shades of red
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Red Shirt Day on Social Media

  • Snapshot of Twitter post from Region of Waterloo Library showing photo of two staff members wearing red with their pledge signs
  • Screencapture of a post from REES showing a photo collage of individuals wearing red and holding up messages on sheets of paper
  • Screencapture of a tweet from the City of Ottawa of individuals holding up sheets of paper that adds up to a unified message that says Embrace inclusion and accessibilty. Disability is an essential part of human diversity.
  • Snapshot of Ms Fitzpatrick's Twitter post featuring a photo of a group of students with varying disabilities wearing red and celebrating red shirt day
  • Snapshot of VMES Home & School Facebook post showing photo of students wearing red
  • Snapshot of Twitter post from Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick featuring a photo of her wearing red in her garden
  • Snapshot of a Facebook post from West Kent Elementary school in New Brunswick showing photos of students wearing red during school assembly
  • Snapshot of Twitter post from Wab Kinew showing photo of him wearing red in support of Red Shirt Day
  • Snapshot of a Twitter post from EY Canada showing collage of several staff members wearing red
  • Screencapture of a tweet from BC Place showing a photo of the BC Place stadium lit in red.
  • Snapshot of Twitter post from Town of Newmarket featuring photo of several staff members wearing red
  • Snapshot of Twitter post from Town of Aurora showing photo collage of staff wearing red
  • Snapshot of Twitter post from Mental Health Commission of Canada featuring staff wearing red at a virtual meeting
  • Snapshot of a Twitter post by the Manitoba PC Caucus featuring photo of MLAs wearing red and standing in foyer of the legislature
  • Screencapture of a Tweet from the Vancouver Convention Centre with their building lit up in red
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“Red Shirt Day is an opportunity to get engaged and take action to improve accessibility and inclusion for Canadians living with disabilities. Easter Seals is committed to advocating for equity in employment, transportation and housing — areas where major barriers still exist and hinder people with disabilities from fully participating in society. On Red Shirt Day, and all throughout the year, we invite Canadians to join our efforts and make a pledge to do what they can to make their corners of the country more accessible and inclusive.”

– Dave Starrett, President and CEO, Easter Seals Canada
A photo of Dave Starrett, President & CEO of Easter Seals Canada

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