Government provides exciting opportunity for youth to share their vision for an accessible Canada

GATINEAU, QC, Aug. 4, 2016 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is inviting youth to take part in a national conversation to discuss what accessibility means to them and to share their vision of an accessible Canada.

Youth with disabilities and youth who have life experience, work experience or academic experience related to disability can apply to be part of a day-long National Youth Forum taking place this November in Ottawa. The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Canada's first Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, will host the Forum. The Youth Forum is an important part of the Government's national consultation process and will inform the development of planned accessibility legislation to promote equality of opportunity and increase the inclusion and participation of Canadians who have disabilities or functional limitations.

Youth can submit their applications at Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada. Applicants must:

• be between 15 and 30 years old in November 2016;
• be residents of Canada;
• have a disability or have life experience, academic experience or work experience related to disability and accessibility; and
• demonstrate their leadership or involvement in an area related to disability and accessibility in their community, their region, or nationally.

The deadline to submit an application is September 15, 2016. The Office for Disability Issues will contact successful applicants in the fall.

There are many other ways to participate in this national consultation, including online through Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada, or by attending one of the public sessions. Public sessions start in September and will take place across Canada. Continue to check the consultation website for updates, and follow @AccessibleGC on Twitter, Accessible Canada on Facebook and the hashtag #AccessibleCanada. The consultation process will run until February 2017.

Quote

"As leaders of today and the future, Canadian youth have an important voice in creating a more accessible Canada. Their leadership and new ideas will be vital to the success of this planned new legislation, which aims to help increase the inclusion and participation of all Canadians."
– The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

Further information

News Release: What does an accessible Canada mean to you?
Planned Accessibility Legislation
#AccessibleCanada

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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Ashley Michnowski, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, 819-934-1122 / TTY: 1-866-702-6967; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]