Priority Area: Reimagining Policy
Related
February 04, 2026
Режим правосуб’єктності в Україні: системний збій у забезпеченні прав людей з інвалідністю
February 04, 2026
Ukraine’s Legal Capacity Regime: Failing People with Disabilities – Report (English Version)
November 13, 2025
Toronto – A Place to Call Our Own: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO TAKE ACTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
November 13, 2025
Primer on a New Disability Income Benefit
The Equal Right to Decide – Designing a Pilot Project Initiative
People with intellectual, cognitive and psychosocial or mental health disabilities often face barriers to the equal right to ‘legal capacity’. Legal capacity is the power to make and direct your own decisions about your personal life, health care, and money.
IRIS has been working on pilot projects to help people exercise their legal capacity in several jurisdictions, both in Canada and internationally.
Related
February 04, 2026
Режим правосуб’єктності в Україні: системний збій у забезпеченні прав людей з інвалідністю
February 04, 2026
Ukraine’s Legal Capacity Regime: Failing People with Disabilities – Report (English Version)
November 13, 2025
Toronto – A Place to Call Our Own: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO TAKE ACTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
November 13, 2025
Primer on a New Disability Income Benefit
Growing Number of Canadians Vulnerable to Losing the Right to Decide
In 2019, IRIS completed a study on how people with developmental, cognitive, and psychosocial disabilities lose the right to decide in their lives, and what can be done to address this growing problem.
Related
February 04, 2026
Режим правосуб’єктності в Україні: системний збій у забезпеченні прав людей з інвалідністю
February 04, 2026
Ukraine’s Legal Capacity Regime: Failing People with Disabilities – Report (English Version)
November 13, 2025
Toronto – A Place to Call Our Own: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO TAKE ACTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
November 13, 2025
Primer on a New Disability Income Benefit
The Equal Right to Decide in Canada: Closing the Gap
In 2019, IRIS completed a study on how people with developmental, cognitive, and psychosocial disabilities lose the right to decide in their lives, and what can be done to address this growing problem.
Related
February 04, 2026
Режим правосуб’єктності в Україні: системний збій у забезпеченні прав людей з інвалідністю
February 04, 2026
Ukraine’s Legal Capacity Regime: Failing People with Disabilities – Report (English Version)
November 13, 2025
Toronto – A Place to Call Our Own: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO TAKE ACTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
November 13, 2025
Primer on a New Disability Income Benefit
Justice Denied: People with Disabilities Face Multiple Barriers in Accessing Justice
IRIS recently completed a community-driven access to justice initiative (https://irisinstitute.ca/resource/access-to-justice-for-indigenous-and-racialized-victims-and-survivors-of-crime-with-intellectual-psychosocial-and-cognitive-disabilities/) and hosted an online forum “Access to Justice for Marginalized People with Disabilities” (https://irisinstitute.ca/2020/12/11/panel-presentation-videos-access-to-justice-for-indigenous-racialized-and-2slgbtq-people-with-disabilities/).
A key finding our many years of work in this area is that law enforcement is not well equipped to effectively support people with psychosocial, intellectual and cognitive disabilities in times of crisis; yet appropriate community supports do not exist for people in crisis situations. Further, our local partners demonstrate that if we are to effectively address the issue of preventing violence and increasing access to justice services for marginalized people with disabilities, we need to develop community-based solutions that are designed and delivered by grassroots service providers.
Related
February 04, 2026
Режим правосуб’єктності в Україні: системний збій у забезпеченні прав людей з інвалідністю
February 04, 2026
Ukraine’s Legal Capacity Regime: Failing People with Disabilities – Report (English Version)
November 13, 2025
Toronto – A Place to Call Our Own: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO TAKE ACTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
November 13, 2025
Primer on a New Disability Income Benefit
Supported Decision Making A Roadmap For Reform In Newfoundland & Labrador – Summary Report
IRIS was engaged by the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living, on behalf of the provincial ‘Steering Committee on Citizenship and Legal Capacity for All’ to: identify key issues and barriers to legal capacity; recommend directions for reform; and outline a ‘roadmap’ to implement them. The review involved focus groups and key informant interviews with community stakeholders and senior government officials, as well as extensive legal research. This final report summarizes findings, analysis and recommendations.
Related
February 04, 2026
Режим правосуб’єктності в Україні: системний збій у забезпеченні прав людей з інвалідністю
February 04, 2026
Ukraine’s Legal Capacity Regime: Failing People with Disabilities – Report (English Version)
November 13, 2025
Toronto – A Place to Call Our Own: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO TAKE ACTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
November 13, 2025
Primer on a New Disability Income Benefit
Supported Decision Making A Roadmap For Reform In Newfoundland & Labrador – Final Report
IRIS was engaged by the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living, on behalf of the provincial ‘Steering Committee on Citizenship and Legal Capacity for All’ to: identify key issues and barriers to legal capacity; recommend directions for reform; and outline a ‘roadmap’ to implement them. The review involved focus groups and key informant interviews with community stakeholders and senior government officials, as well as extensive legal research. This final report presents findings, analysis and recommendations.
Related
February 04, 2026
Режим правосуб’єктності в Україні: системний збій у забезпеченні прав людей з інвалідністю
February 04, 2026
Ukraine’s Legal Capacity Regime: Failing People with Disabilities – Report (English Version)
November 13, 2025
Toronto – A Place to Call Our Own: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO TAKE ACTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
November 13, 2025
Primer on a New Disability Income Benefit
Policy Brief: The Equal Right to Decide in Canada – Closing the Gap
Over 50,000 Canadians are currently under guardianship – a system that takes away their power, choice, and control over their own lives. Many more Canadians who rely on decision-making supports and accommodations are vulnerable to losing their equal right to decide because assisted approaches are not supported in law and public policy. This policy brief outlines findings from a 2019 study IRIS conducted on how and why people with developmental disabilities lose the right to make their own decisions. It also offers recommendations about what needs to be done to address this growing problem.
Related
February 04, 2026
Режим правосуб’єктності в Україні: системний збій у забезпеченні прав людей з інвалідністю
February 04, 2026
Ukraine’s Legal Capacity Regime: Failing People with Disabilities – Report (English Version)
November 13, 2025
Toronto – A Place to Call Our Own: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO TAKE ACTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
November 13, 2025
Primer on a New Disability Income Benefit
Concerns with Expanding Access to Medical Assistance in Dying: A Review of Evidence
IRIS has issued a review titled, “Concerns with Expanding Access to Medical Assistance in Dying: A Review of Evidence”. This review of evidence examines a wide range of evidence that points to substantial legal, ethical and social concerns with expanding access to medical assistance in dying for mature minors, through advance directives, and based solely on a mental health condition.
The Canadian Association for Community Living submitted this review as part of its submission to the Council of Canadian Academies considering this issue.
Related
February 04, 2026
Режим правосуб’єктності в Україні: системний збій у забезпеченні прав людей з інвалідністю
February 04, 2026
Ukraine’s Legal Capacity Regime: Failing People with Disabilities – Report (English Version)
November 13, 2025
Toronto – A Place to Call Our Own: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO TAKE ACTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
November 13, 2025
Primer on a New Disability Income Benefit
Towards an Understanding of Effective Practices in Employment Programs for People with Disabilities in Canada
This document analyzes employment programs for people with disabilities in Canada. It identifies several effective practices: programs that focus on individualized, holistic planning; build self-confidence; and help clients achieve a good fit between their skills and available jobs. It also discusses the importance of overcoming barriers through workplace supports, employer education, and improving access to education and training.
Related
January 26, 2026
Failing at the Gateways to Legal Capacity: Assessing Equality for People with Disabilities in Canada’s Legal Capacity Regimes
November 13, 2025
Six Key Elements for an Inclusive Labour Market
November 13, 2025
Inclusive Violence Against Women Shelters for Older Women with Disabilities and Older Deaf Women: A Resource Guide by Springtide Resources
November 13, 2025