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Empower U: Learn to Access Your Disability Rights Training on Canadian Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol (OP) training aims to increase awareness of how to address discrimination using more familiar Canadian human rights laws such as Human Rights Codes and the newer international Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This is training for persons with disabilities by persons with disabilities. The training is part of a project funded by Employment and Social Development Canada and implemented by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) in collaboration with Canadian Multicultural Disability Centre Inc. (CMDCI), Citizens With Disabilities – Ontario (CWDO), Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities (MLPD) and National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS). Read more.
Promoting Human Rights
The CCD was founded by persons with disabilities to ensure that the voice of persons with disabilities is reflected in the development of law and policy. CCD is dedicated to promoting the rights, full participation of, and equal opportunity for, persons with disabilities in all aspects of society including employment, education, transportation and health care. CCD also works to remove barriers to accessibility and advocate for inclusive communities. The CCD engages in law reform, policy development, and strategic systemic test case litigation to further its mandate. The CCD is actively sought out and considered an expert by the Canadian government on issues concerning the rights of persons with disabilities.
CCD has a long history of working to advance the rights and full inclusion of persons with disabilities. CCD played a key role in advocating for the inclusion of disability rights in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In addition, CCD was a participant in the Canadian delegation involved in negotiating and drafting the legal language of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Recent Work
March 31, 2026
Landmark Human Rights Tribunal Decision Advances Rights and Accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People in Federal Prisons
A landmark decision by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in Timothy Lidkea v. Correctional Service Canada (2026 CHRT 19) marks a major advancement in the recognition and protection of the rights of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals within Canada’s federal prison system. Read more.
March 31, 2026
Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) and the Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD) Help Secure Another Major Win for Deaf People
In June 2024, CCD and CAD jointly applied to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for interested party status in the case of Lidkea v. Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). The Tribunal granted this request, allowing CCD and CAD to make submissions on the treatment of Deaf inmates within the federal prison system. Our primary focus was on CSC’s duty to provide accommodation to Deaf inmates to remove barriers and ensure that they have the same access to activities, programs and services available to other inmates. Read more.
March 31, 2026
A Canada where trans people can live authentically
Today, on International Trans Day of Visibility, the Canadian Human Rights Commission reaffirms its commitment to every trans, Two-Spirit, non-binary, and gender-diverse person in Canada. Read more.
More on Promoting Human Rights
April 17, 2024
Council of Canadians with Disabilities : 48 years strong and "On The Road to 50 Years"
March 21, 2024
Everyone has a responsibility to end racism
December 10, 2023
International Day of Human Rights
July 6, 2022
Sad News: Passing of Jim Derksen
April 9, 2022
Sad News
March 8, 2022
Celebrating International Women's Day
When UN Special Rapporteur on Disability Shuaib Chalklen (seated centre left), who is from South Africa, visited CCD in June 2014, one of the first stops was the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), which has adopted a high standard of inclusive design.
January 1, 1984
Bhinder Case Factum
The Latimer Case
The Latimer case directly concerned the rights of persons with disabilities. Mr. Latimer's view was that a parent has the right to kill a child with a disability if that parent decides the child's quality of life no longer warrants its continuation. CCD explained to the court and to the public how that view threatens the lives of people with disabilities and is deeply offensive to fundamental constitutional values. Learn more.