From Surviving to Thriving: Reimagining Disability Supports in Canada

Please join us for the hybrid public panel, From Surviving to Thriving: Reimagining Disability Supports in Canada, with Dr. Christine Sheppard, Hubert Van Niekerk, and Nadia, hosted by Eun Jung, Senior Research Associate in Sociology of Health at the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing. This event is free of charge and open to the public.

Abstract: This panel will explore how Canada can move beyond basic survival supports toward enabling people with disabilities to truly thrive. The ability to thrive by participating fully in community, work, and social life is central to achieving good health and wellbeing. However, many Canadian residents with disabilities are left to merely survive, as current disability-related policies often focus on providing minimal support for basic needs. At CERC, the Thriving vs. Surviving project seeks to understand what thriving means for people with disabilities from a holistic perspective of health and wellbeing. The project examines how Canadian disability policies and programs enable or limit opportunities for people with disabilities to live full, healthy, and engaged lives. This panel brings together leading experts in the field of disability policy to discuss diverse ways of understanding and achieving thriving. The panel will discuss the limitations in current policies and highlight the policy changes needed to better support people with disabilities in moving beyond survival toward thriving. The discussions will inform the Thriving vs. Surviving project by providing guiding principles of thriving and highlighting gaps in existing research and policy landscapes.

At this launch event,

- Dr. Christine Sheppard, Wellesley Institute - Christine is a social work researcher whose work advances health equity, social inclusion, and well-being among older adults. She is the co-author of a report that identifies and quantifies the resources people with disabilities need to live a thriving life.
- Hubert Van Niekerk, Every Canadian Counts. - Hubert is the Executive Director of Every Canadian Counts whose advocacy centres on improving supports and services for Canadians that have long-term, chronic disabilities. He also worked as a special education specialist teacher. 
- Dr. Nadia Carvalho, CERC-HECW, TMU - Nadia is a Research Associate consultant at CERC-HECW whose previous work as Senior Associate at Avenir Health has involved developing policy frameworks for youth, and supporting countries to meet global commitments to family planning and reproductive health.

Together, this discussion will open up a lively dialogue about what kind of policy changes are needed to better support people with disabilities in moving beyond survival toward thriving.