Accessibility
Accessibility means that all people, including people with disabilities, can access services, infrastructure, information, and activities without barriers. According to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, accessibility means the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communication technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public.
Accessible and affordable housing
An accessible and affordable home is a housing unit designed to respond to the needs of persons with physical limitations or disabilities, while being financially affordable for low- or moderate-income households. Accessibility may include facilities such as access ramps, elevators, wider doorways, or adapted bathrooms.
Accessible transit
Accessible transit is a transportation service specially designed to respond to the needs of people with disabilities, offering equipped vehicles and personalized assistance.
Barriers
According to the Accessible Canada Act, a barrier means anything, including anything physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal, anything that is based on information or communications, or anything that is the result of a policy or a practice, that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation.
Disability documentation
A formal process to obtain an official certificate confirming a person's disability status. It's a certification that is recognized by Canadian public and private institutions. It is often delivered when applying for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).
Family doctor
In Canada, a family doctor is a health professional providing comprehensive and ongoing medical care to individuals and families, regardless of age, gender, or the nature of the health issues involved. These doctors are often the first contact point in the health system, and they ensure the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various health problems, as well as coordination with other specialists as needed.
Food bank
In Canada, a food bank is a non-profit organization that collects, manages, and distributes food items to people facing food insecurity. These organizations play a crucial role providing emergency food support to individuals and families who find it difficult to secure sufficient food.
Health insurance
Health insurance is a provincial or territorial program covering essential health care fees. Im/migrants must register to obtain a health insurance card.
Homelessness
Homelessness is a situation where a person does not have stable, safe, and permanent housing. Homelessness can take different forms, such as living in the street, in temporary shelters or in precarious housing conditions. It is often the result of multiple factors, including economic hardship, mental health challenges, addiction, or lack of access to adapted support services.
Im/migrant
In this guide it signifies an inclusion of permanent residents (often termed as immigrants) and migrant workers, international students and other migrants.
People with disabilities
The Accessible Canada Act defines disability as: any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment — or a functional limitation — whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.
Public health insurance card
A public health insurance card is an official document delivered by a province or territory certifying that a person is registered for the corresponding health insurance program. It is required to access public health services. In Canada, the public health insurance card is considered as a piece of identification just like a driver's licence or a passport.
Reasonable accommodations
Reasonable accommodations, sometimes called reasonable adaptations, are the set of modifications or adjustments made to an environment, a job, or a service to enable persons with disabilities' full and equitable participation in different sectors, including transportation and health.
Sign Language Interpretation
Sign language interpretation is a service enabling communication between d/Deaf or hard of hearing persons and hearing persons through an interpreter that is proficient in sign language. In Canada, the two official sign languages are the ASL or American Sign Language, mainly used by the Anglophone d/Deaf community, and the LSQ or Langue des signes québécoise, mainly used by the Francophone d/Deaf community.
Last updated: September 26, 2025