Speak Out to Build an Inclusive and Accessible Canada

The year 2006 marks very significant anniversaries for the disability community:
* 25th anniversary of both the International Year of the Disabled and the first Parliamentary report on disability, "Obstacles"
* 10th anniversary of the Scott Task Force Report, "Equal Citizenship for Canadians with Disabilities: The Will to Act"

A national initiative is being designed to celebrate these past events and build toward a Forum in Ottawa on November 2, 2006. Building an Accessible and Inclusive Canada will bring together people from across Canada, including national, provincial and local disability groups and civil society organizations, to participate in this unique and historic initiative.
The initiative aims to:
* build broad-based public and political momentum for federal/provincial/territorial action to increase the investment in disability supports and address the poverty and exclusion of Canadians with disabilities;
* mobilize and expand collaboration within the disability community and beyond; and
* raise the profile of Canadians with disabilities and their families.

Our goal is to create AN INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE CANADA. You can be a part of this!
The initiative will include:
* An opportunity for you to Tell Your Story and bring a human face to the hopes, struggles, barriers and accomplishments of Canadians with disabilities and their families. We want to collect hundreds of stories from every region, community, city, town and constituency in Canada, stories that identify barriers and the creative solutions found.
* An opportunity for you and others to sign an online Declaration. It will call on governments to move forward an Agenda for Creating an Inclusive and Accessible Canada. We want to confront the poverty and exclusion of Canadians with disabilities, first and foremost by increasing access to disability supports.
* A website, http://www.endexclusion.ca, will connect you and/or your organization to the most up-to-date information about the initiative. The website will include the stories submitted, updates on the Forum and an opportunity to sign on as a partner in the initiative.

We need you!
Go to the website today to:
* Learn more about sharing your story
* Sign the declaration
* Tell others, spread the word
* Contribute your ideas for activities/events that will lead us to our ultimate goal

A More Inclusive and Accessible Canada
The Council of Canadians with Disabilities and Canadian Association for Community Living have begun this initiative. We invite you to join us.