Understanding Disability Rights Advocacy Organizations
Disability rights advocacy organizations foster equality, inclusion, and access for people with disabilities in all aspects of social life.
They advocate for legislative change, offer educational resources, and provide individual support to people facing discrimination and systemic barriers.
They can help you understand your rights in your new country and access adapted services. For instance, they can support you as you request accommodations at work, or as you look for accessible housing.
These organizations play a key role in promoting im/migrants with disabilities and d/Deaf im/migrants' independence and active participation in society.
What Are the Main Organizations and How to Contact Them?
In this section, we introduce the main disability rights advocacy organizations.
National
The Council of Canadians with Disabilities advocates to dismantle systemic barriers and for the full participation of people with disabilities in society.
Phone: 204-947-0303.
Website: Council of Canadians with Disabilities.
People First of Canada is the national organization representing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It advocates for human rights, citizenship rights, accommodation rights, and language rights, promoting freedom, choice, and equality for all. Phone: 204-784-7362.
Website: peoplefirstofcanada.ca
Alberta
The Alberta Committee of Citizens with Disabilities (ACCD) strives to improve people with disabilities' quality of life by defending their rights and promoting their social inclusion.
Phone: 780-488-9088 and 1-800-387-2514 (free).
Website: Alberta Committee of Citizens with Disabilities (ACCD).
Voice of Albertans with Disabilities (VAD) is a provincial organization supporting people with disabilities. It provides individual consultations, help to complete government forms, awareness raising activities, and accessibility evaluations. VAD also collaborates with a range of entities to promote inclusion and accessibility.
Phone: 780-488-9088.
Website: Voice of Albertans with Disabilities.
British Columbia
Disability Alliance BC is an advocacy organization for the rights of people with disabilities. It provides resources and rights advocacy.
Phone: 604-875-0188.
Website: disabilityalliancebc.org.
Manitoba
The Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities (MLPD) works to dismantle barriers and promote equal opportunities for Manitobans with disabilities.
Phone: 204-943-6099.
Website: mlpd.mb.ca.
New Brunswick
The New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities (NBCPD) provides rights advocacy, awareness raising and education services to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the province.
Phone: 506-609-1720.
Website: New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities.
The New Brunswick Human Rights Commission. Even if it's not specifically a disability rights advocacy organization, this provincial commission processes complaints for discrimination, including discrimination on disability grounds. It also offers free talks and workshops about human rights.
Phone: 1-888-471-2233
Newfoundland and Labrador
The Coalition of Persons with Disabilities Newfoundland and Labrador (COD-NL) advocates for people with disabilities' rights and works to dismantle barriers to their full participation.
Phone: 709-722-7011.
Website: codnl.ca.
Northwest Territories
The NWT Disabilities Council provides programs and services aimed at improving people with disabilities' quality of life.
Phone: 867-873-8230.
Website: NWT Disabilities Council.
Nova Scotia
The Nova Scotia League for Equal Opportunities (NSLEO) promotes equal opportunities and advocates for the rights of people with disabilities.
Phone: 902-455-6942.
Website: nsleo.com.
Nunavut
The Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society offers support services and advocates for the rights of people with disabilities.
Phone: 867-979-2228.
Ontario
The ARCH Disability Law Centre offers specialized legal services for people with disabilities in Ontario.
Phone: 416-482-8255.
Website: archdisabilitylaw.ca.
Defend Disability is an advocacy group composed of people with lived experience of disability and poverty, health care providers, social policy experts, law practitioners, specialized health NGOs, community organizations, and disability rights and antipoverty activists. It advocates for individual autonomy, self-determination, and the full economic, political, and social inclusion of people with disabilities in Ontario.
Community Living Ontario is a provincial non-profit organization advocating for persons with an intellectual disability and their families. It works with them and with its member organizations to create inclusive communities across Ontario.
Phone: 416-447-4348.
Website: communitylivingontario.ca.
ABLE2 helps people with disabilities in Ottawa and surrounding areas to get legal referrals and strives to raise awareness about their rights. In addition it empowers individuals across the disability spectrum—and their families—to live meaningful, fulfilling lives
Telephone: 613-761-9522
Toll Free: 1-866-222-2138
Email: info@able2.org
Website: www.able2.org.
The Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO) strives to build a fair and accessible Ontario, where people with disabilities have personal and political agency, can thrive and foster community, and build the power, capacity and skills needed to hold people, communities, and institutions responsible for the spaces they create.
The organization leads several projects and initiatives to educate the public, advocate for inclusive policies, and support people with disabilities' struggle for their rights.
Phone: 289-780-3566.
Website: Disability Justice Network of Ontario.
Prince Edward Island
ResourceAbilities offers support services and advocates for the rights of people with disabilities.
For more information:
Website: https://resourceabilities.ca/
Prince County Office: Summerside
Phone: 902-436-9259 and 902-436-1296
Toll Free: 1-888-473-4263
Fax: 902-436-9258
Email General Inquiries: Summerside@ResourceAbilities.ca
Employment Department Email: Darryl@ResourceAbilities.ca
MentorAbility Email: MentorWest@ResourceAbilities.ca
Queens County Office Charlottetown
Phone: 902-892-9149
Toll Free: 1-888-473-4263
Fax: 902-566-1919
Email General Inquiries: Admin@ResourceAbilities.ca
Email Employment Department: Geri@ResourceAbilities.ca
Kings County Office Montague
Phone: 902-838-5878 and 902-838-5879
Toll Free: 1-888-473-4263
Fax: 902-838-5880
Email General Inquiries: Montague@ResourceAbilities.ca
Employment Department Email: Canda@ResourceAbilities.ca
MentorAbility Email: MentorEast@ResourceAbilities.ca
Quebec
The Confédération des organismes de personnes handicapées du Québec (COPHAN) is the largest French-language multi-disability confederation in North America. With roughly 60 affiliated organizations, COPHAN advocates directly or indirectly for the rights of over 1.5 million persons with disabilities in the province of Quebec.
Phone: 514-284-0155.
Website: cophan.org.
Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission investigates and resolves discrimination complaints, including on disability grounds, and provides mediation services and human rights training.
Phone: 1-800-667-9249.
Website: saskatchewanhumanrights.ca.
Yukon
The Yukon Council on disABILITY provides support services, human rights advocacy and awareness raising to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in the Yukon.
Phone: 867-668-6703.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066445464259.
Last updated: October 28, 2025
If you are denied service or experience discrimination, you can contact one of the Disability Rights Advocacy Organizations or Legal Clinics listed under “Additional Services”. Alternatively, report the situation through our report form and our team will follow up with you.