ARCH Disability Law Centre

02/24/2026

ARCH welcomes a Divisional Court decision overturning a Human Rights Tribunal ruling involving the definition of disability.

This decision is an important step toward fairness and accountability.

🔗 The full press release here: https://archdisabilitylaw.ca/press-release-court-overturns-human-rights-tribunal-decisions-for-improperly-dismissing-discrimination-claim-on-grounds-of-disability/

02/13/2026

ARCH will be closed for the Family Day holiday on Monday, February 16, 2026, and will reopen Tuesday, February 17, at 9 AM.

If you need immediate legal assistance while we’re closed, the following resources may help:
• Law Society of Ontario’s Lawyer Referral Service – Connect with a lawyer for a free 30-minute consultation:
https://lsrs.lso.ca/lsrs/welcome
• Legal Aid Ontario – Apply for a legal aid certificate:
Phone: 1-800-668-8258
TTY: 711
Email: [email protected]
• 211 Ontario – Referrals to community, social, health, and government services:
https://211.ca/

We hope you have a safe and restful Family Day long weekend.

Alt text: Graphic from ARCH Disability Law Centre stating that ARCH will be closed for Family Day on Monday, February 16 and will reopen on Tuesday, February 17 at 9 a.m. The message advises that if immediate legal assistance is required, readers should see the information below. The website www.archdisabilitylaw.ca appears at the bottom of the image.

02/13/2026

ARCH Centre du droit des personnes handicapées sera fermé pour le congé de la Fête de la famille le lundi 16 février 2026, et rouvrira le mardi 17 février à 9 h.

Si vous avez besoin d’une aide juridique immédiate pendant notre fermeture, les ressources suivantes peuvent vous être utiles :
• Service de référence du Barreau de l’Ontario – Communiquez avec un avocat pour une consultation gratuite de 30 minutes :
https://lsrs.lso.ca/lsrs/welcome
• Aide juridique Ontario – Présentez une demande de certificat d’aide juridique :
Téléphone : 1-800-668-8258
ATS : 711
Courriel : [email protected]
• 211 Ontario – Références vers des services communautaires, sociaux, de santé et gouvernementaux :
https://211.ca

Nous vous souhaitons une Fête de la famille sécuritaire et reposante.

[Alt text: Affiche de l’ARCH Centre du droit des personnes handicapées indiquant que l’organisme sera fermé pour la Journée de la famille le lundi 16 février et rouvrira le mardi 17 février à 9 h. Le message précise que si une aide juridique urgente est nécessaire, il faut consulter les informations ci-dessous. Le site web www.archdisabilitylaw.ca apparaît au bas de l’image.]

02/09/2026

Toronto self-advocates!

Join us on Friday February 27th at 2:00 PM for a virtual meeting where we will learn all about our decision-making rights when it comes to relationships and friendships!

For more information or to register please e-mail Jessica at [email protected]

Image description: A dark blue and white event poster titled "Respecting Rights Toronto Coffee and Advocacy." The design includes a photo of a laptop showing a group of people on a video call. There is also an image of a person's hand holding a cup of coffee. Event details and logos for Respecting Rights, ARCH Disability Law Centre and the City of Toronto appear on the poster

02/03/2026

Février est le Mois de l’éducation inclusive — un moment pour réfléchir au droit de chaque élève d’apprendre dans un environnement accessible, inclusif et sans obstacles.

Bien que des progrès aient été réalisés, de nombreux élèves en situation de handicap continuent de faire face à des obstacles à l’école. L’éducation inclusive va au-delà de l’accès — elle vise à permettre aux élèves en situation de handicap de participer pleinement, d’apprendre et de réussir aux côtés de leurs pairs.

En Ontario, les écoles ont des obligations légales de fournir des mesures d’adaptation et des soutiens, mais ces droits ne sont pas toujours pleinement respectés dans la pratique. Il reste encore beaucoup de travail à faire.

ARCH Centre du droit des personnes handicapées soutient les élèves et les familles confrontés à des enjeux liés au handicap dans le milieu de l’éducation.

Pour en savoir plus : www.archdisabilitylaw.ca

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02/03/2026

February is Inclusive Education Month, a time to reflect on the right of every student to learn in an environment that is accessible, inclusive, and free from barriers.

While progress has been made, many students with disabilities continue to face barriers in schools. Inclusive education means more than access. It means ensuring students with disabilities can fully participate, learn, and succeed alongside their peers.
In Ontario, schools have legal obligations to provide accommodations and supports, yet these rights are not always fully realized in practice. There is still important work to be done.

ARCH Disability Law Centre supports students and families facing disability-related education issues.

Learn more: www.archdisabilitylaw.ca

01/29/2026

The recording of our December 3 virtual event with the Law Society of Ontario, Ways Forward for Disability Rights in Canada: Community involvement in UN review processes, is now available.

This program explored Canada’s recent appearance before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the release of the Committee’s Concluding Observations. The event examined what these findings mean for disability rights, advocacy, and legal practice in Canada.
• The recording includes:
• Opening remarks from the Law Society of Ontario and ARCH Disability Law Centre
• A keynote presentation from Professor Laverne Jacobs
• An overview of the CRPD Parallel Report and the UN review process
• Presentations from disability rights experts, including academic, research, legal, and community perspectives
• A moderated discussion on how Concluding Observations can support stronger advocacy
• Closing reflections and acknowledgements

If you were unable to attend or would like to revisit the conversation, you can now watch the full program at the link below.
https://archdisabilitylaw.ca/get-involved/events/access-awaress/

Thank you again to everyone who attended and contributed to this important discussion on disability rights and the UN CRPD reporting process. ARCH Disability Law Centre remains committed to advancing equality, accessibility, and the rights of persons with disabilities across Ontario.

01/20/2026

01/14/2026

Happy New Year everyone!

Toronto self-advocates - You are invited to join us on Zoom for our Coffee and Advocacy monthly meeting!

Date: Friday, January 23rd
Time: 2:00 PM

please email Jessica Field to register at [email protected]

01/13/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us on December 10th for our Human Rights Day event, What Matters Most: Human Rights from a Disability Perspective.

This conversation created space for people with lived experience to share what human rights look like in daily life, the barriers that continue to exist, and the need for meaningful and ongoing change. We’re grateful for the time, insight, and openness offered by our moderators, panelists, and attendees.

Moderators:
• Michael Gottheil, Senior Counsel, ARCH Disability Law Centre
• Jessica Field, Community Outreach and Education Coordinator, ARCH Disability Law Centre

Panelists:
• Paul Scotland – Lawyer, disability activist, and Chair of ARCH’s Board of Directors
• Brianne Taggart – Artist and disability advocate
• Tara Gibson – Respecting Rights member and disability advocate

The event recording is now available. You can access it using the link below or you can also sign up for ARCH News on our website to receive future updates and resources:
https://archdisabilitylaw.ca/archs-human-rights-day-panel/

Thank you again for being part of this important conversation on human rights from a disability perspective.

12/22/2025

Nous souhaitons à tout le monde de joyeuses et sécuritaires fêtes de la part de toute l’équipe d’ARCH Centre du droit des personnes handicapées !

ARCH sera fermé pour la période des fêtes à partir du mercredi 24 décembre et rouvrira le lundi 5 janvier 2026, selon nos heures d’ouverture habituelles.

Si vous avez besoin d’une aide juridique immédiate, vous pouvez communiquer avec :

• Le Service de référence du Barreau de l’Ontario en ligne : https://lsrs.lso.ca/lsrs/welcome
• Aide juridique Ontario pour faire une demande de certificat juridique au 1-800-668-8258, par ATS : 711

Pour des références vers des services communautaires, sociaux, de santé ou gouvernementaux, vous pouvez communiquer avec 211 Ontario en composant le 211 ou en visitant le site : https://211.ca/

Joyeuses fêtes !

12/22/2025

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday from all of us here at ARCH Disability Law Centre!

ARCH will be closed for the holidays starting Wednesday December 24th and will reopen on Monday January 5th 2026 with our regular business hours.

If you require immediate legal assistance, you can contact:

• Law Society of Ontario’s Lawyer Referral Service online at https://lsrs.lso.ca/lsrs/welcome
• Legal Aid Ontario to apply for a legal certificate at 1-800-668-8258, by TTY: 711

For referrals to community, social, health and government services, you can contact 211 Ontario by dialling 211 on your telephone or visiting their website at https://211.ca/

Happy Holidays!