Browse through our extensive library.
| Title | Description | Type | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Act On The Facts | A series of infographics created as part of an advocacy campaign leading up to the 2019 Elections | Infographic | General |
| An Intersectional Understanding of Older Adults with Disabilities and the Dynamics of Abuse | This report expands awareness of the intersections of elder abuse and disability, with an emphasis on financial abuse. This funding opportunity, provided through NHSP, allows DAWN to build on an existing body of work and research in the area of violence and abuse, and identify priority areas for future research. | Brief | Life Course |
| Beijing +25 Report – Executive Summary | DAWN Canada’s report on the situation of women and girls with disabilities in North America substantially deepens our understanding of which women are experiencing the most discrimination in all the key areas that the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is intended to measure. | Report | Intersectional Human Rights |
| CBC News: Canada Post court challenge launched to save home mail delivery, October 16th, 2014 | In 2014, Representatives from seniors' groups and disability organizations joined the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to initiate a legal challenge against the plan to end home mail delivery. This is the coverage from CBC News. | Article | General |
| CityNews: Union, seniors, disabled plan legal challenge over end of home mail delivery, October 16th, 2014 | In 2014, Representatives from seniors' groups and disability organizations joined the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to initiate a legal challenge against the plan to end home mail delivery. This is the coverage from CityNews. | Article | General |
| Community Impact Statement – Women and Girls with Disabilities and the Impact of Sexual Assault | Report | Intersectional Human Rights | |
| Court Challenge Launched Against the Elimination of Door-to-Door Delivery | In 2014, Representatives from seniors' groups and disability organizations joined the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to initiate a legal challenge against the plan to end home mail delivery. This is the press release co-signed by DAWN Canada and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. | Press Release | General |
| Girls without Barriers: Intersectional feminist analysis of girls and young women with disabilities in Canada | This report begins by highlighting the underrepresentation of girls and young women with disabilities in Canada's legislative and political spheres, despite international commitments to uphold their rights. It examines violence, mistreatment, and the increasing incarceration rates of this population, especially among racialized and Indigenous girls. The report also addresses sexuality, reproductive rights, and the negative impact of ableist beauty standards on self-esteem. Lastly, it underscores the unique challenges faced by girls with invisible disabilities and emphasizes the diverse realities and resilience of girls and young women with disabilities. | Report | Life Course |
| Human Trafficking | The intersection of disability, gender-based violence, race, and human trafficking is underrecognized in Canadian anti-trafficking strategies. In this parliamentary brief, DAWN Canada emphasizes the need to address the specific vulnerabilities faced by women, girls, and gender-diverse people with disabilities, as their marginalization increases their risk of exploitation and trafficking. | Brief | General |
| Impact of COVID-19 on Women living with Disabilities in Canada | Women with disabilities in Canada face heightened risks and systemic barriers exacerbated by COVID-19, including increased transmission risk and the impact of policies that often overlook their unique needs. DAWN Canada highlights these issues in this parliamentary brief to advocate for more inclusive, holistic policy responses. | Brief | General |
| In Focus | The InFocus: Bringing People with Disabilities into the Picture project, led by DAWN Canada and CACL, takes a community-based approach to address health and wellness, as well as violence and abuse against people with disabilities and Deaf people. Implemented across 13 provinces and territories, the project focuses on creating coordinated local responses through research, workshops, and safety planning. Phase 1 develops resources for key sectors and individuals, while Phase 2 focuses on safety audits and long-term personal safety planning for people with disabilities and Deaf individuals. | Project Booklet | Life Course |
| More than a Footnote : Policy Forum Summary Report 2022 | The More than a Footnote Policy Forum Report, based on an Policy Forum of the same name hosted by DAWN Canada in December 2022, captures the outcomes of discussions on critical policy issues affecting marginalized communities. With over 100 participants, the forum addressed topics such as livelihoods, housing, gender-based violence, and Canada's international assistance. The report highlights key policy gaps and presents valuable insights and recommendations for addressing these issues, emphasizing potential avenues for meaningful change. | Report | Social Determinants of Health |
| More Than A Footnote: A Research Report on Women and Girls with Disabilities in Canada | Women and girls with disabilities face distinct challenges that require tailored approaches in research, education, policy, and practice. This report, crafted by DAWN Canada, aims to better understand the key issues affecting this population. It summarizes findings from literature, policymakers, community resources, activists, and partner organizations, offering insights for addressing these challenges. | Report | Social Determinants of Health |
| More Than A Footnote: Canada Human Rights and Treaty Obligations | While many gender-based violence policies mention "vulnerable groups" in their preambles, women with disabilities and Deaf women are often reduced to footnotes. They are generally referred to broadly as people with disabilities or categorized as part of a vulnerable group, failing to fully address their specific needs and experiences. This infographic highlights the gap between acknowledgment and meaningful inclusion in these policies. | Infographic | Social Determinants of Health |
| More Than A Footnote: Gaps in Current Policies and Programs | While many gender-based violence policies mention "vulnerable groups" in their preambles, women with disabilities and Deaf women are often reduced to footnotes. They are generally referred to broadly as people with disabilities or categorized as part of a vulnerable group, failing to fully address their specific needs and experiences. This infographic highlights the gap between acknowledgment and meaningful inclusion in these policies. | Infographic | Social Determinants of Health |
| Ottawa Citizen: Postal workers go to court to challenge Canada Post home delivery decision, October 16th, 2014 | In 2014, Representatives from seniors' groups and disability organizations joined the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to initiate a legal challenge against the plan to end home mail delivery. This is the coverage from the Ottawa Citizen. | Article | General |
| Our Health Matters | A two-year project, which began in 2012, “Our Health Matters” provides a framework for implementing an inclusive approach to health care services in order to ensure equitable access for all Canadians. | Project Booklet | General |
| Parliamentary Submission FEWO: Economic Security of Women in Canada | Women with disabilities in Canada are the poorest and most economically excluded group, particularly when intersecting with identities such as being mothers, seniors, or racialized. In this brief prepared for the Standing Committee on the Status of Women in Canada (FEWO), DAWN Canada calls for an equity-first approach in addressing economic security, emphasizing the need for accurate data and long-term strategies that include policy and fiscal commitments to support this vulnerable population. | Brief | General |
| Parliamentary Submission FEWO: Challenges faced by Senior Women with a focus on the factors contributing to their poverty and vulnerability | In this brief prepared for the Standing Committee on the Status of Women in Canada (FEWO), DAWN Canada highlights that it is essential to include a disability lens in examining the gendered dynamics of aging, as the prevalence of disability rises with age. Senior women, who are more likely to have disabilities, face similar barriers to those experienced by women with disabilities, and these challenges are further shaped by intersecting identities such as race and ethnicity. | Brief | General |
| Parliamentary Submission FEWO: Impact of COVID-19 on Women living with Disabilities in Canada | Women with disabilities in Canada face heightened risks and systemic barriers exacerbated by COVID-19, including increased transmission risk and the impact of policies that often overlook their unique needs. DAWN Canada highlights these issues in this parliamentary brief submitted to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women in Canada (FEWO) and advocates for more inclusive, holistic policy responses. | Brief | General |
| Parliamentary Submission FEWO: Promising Practices to End Violence against Women Study | This document submitted to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women in Canada (FEWO) outlines the disproportionate rates of violence faced by women with disabilities and Deaf women, including physical, sexual, and financial abuse, often exacerbated by systemic barriers like inaccessible services and a lack of culturally relevant support. It calls for comprehensive reforms, including the development of targeted programs, improved access to resources, and enhanced policy and funding initiatives to better protect and support women with disabilities and Deaf women in Canada. | Brief | General |
| Parliamentary Submission FEWO: Women with Disabilities and Access to Shelters and Transition Houses | Shelters and transition houses remain inaccessible and under-resourced for women with disabilities, despite their crucial role in providing safety. DAWN Canada highlights the systemic neglect in addressing the needs of women experiencing violence, including brain injury and PTSD, while calling for comprehensive solutions that go beyond shelter capacity to address the broader range of issues affecting women with disabilities. | Brief | General |
| Parliamentary Submission JUST: Bill C-14 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (Medical Assistance in Dying) | In this document, DAWN Canada expresses concern over the lack of consultation and the rapid passage of legislation through Parliament, noting that the protective principles outlined in the Preamble are not reflected in the body of the legislation. They stress the need for measures addressing intersectional barriers faced by women with disabilities and urge compliance with Article 6 of the CRPD. | Brief | General |
| Parliamentary Submission JUST: Canadian Women and Girls with disabilities and Human Trafficking | Women and girls with disabilities, especially those with invisible disabilities, are disproportionately affected by sex trafficking, yet they remain underrepresented in data that could inform policy change. Indigenous, racialized, immigrant, and undocumented women with disabilities are even more vulnerable. In this brief, DAWN Canada calls for a feminist disability lens in addressing human trafficking to better prevent it and support survivors, a perspective largely missing from current national strategies. | Brief | General |
| Parliamentary Submission prepared for the Standing Committee on the Status of Women: “There is No Health without Mental Health” | In this brief, DAWN Canada highlights that mental health is a critical issue for young women and girls, particularly those from racialized and marginalized communities, who face stigma, disparities in treatment, and barriers to accessing resources. The dominant Eurocentric, bio-medical model fails to account for cultural differences and systemic inequalities, further disadvantaging these vulnerable groups. | Brief | General |
| Preventing and Responding to Elder Abuse in the Lives of People with Disabilities and Deaf People | The InFocus: Bringing People with Disabilities into the Picture project, led by DAWN Canada and CACL, takes a community-based approach to address health and wellness, as well as violence and abuse against people with disabilities and Deaf people. Implemented across 13 provinces and territories, the project focuses on creating coordinated local responses through research, workshops, and safety planning. Phase 1 develops resources for key sectors and individuals, while Phase 2 focuses on safety audits and long-term personal safety planning for people with disabilities and Deaf individuals. | Project Booklet | General |
| Rooting Resilience: A Needs Assessment about Women with Disabilities, Gender-Based violence, and the Potential of Peer Support Services | Women and girls with disabilities experience gender-based violence at disproportionately high rates, facing unique barriers in accessing services. DAWN Canada highlights the potential of peer support models, which can be adapted to meet their specific needs. This needs assessment emphasizes the importance of intersectional, trauma-informed, and grassroots approaches, grounded in lived experiences, as existing literature often overlooks or simplifies the diverse realities of women with disabilities. | Report | Social Determinants of Health |
| Rooting Resilience: Women, Girls, and Non-binary people with Disabilities and the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence: A beginning | DAWN Canada consulted with subject matter experts to provide recommendations for Canada’s National Action Plan to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV), focusing on gaps related to women, girls, non-binary, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals with disabilities. The report emphasizes the need for intersectional, cross-disability approaches to GBV prevention, support, and justice, while recognizing the ongoing challenges in fully centering disability in GBV discussions. This report is a first step toward fostering collaboration and stronger frameworks for accessibility and inclusivity in future work. | Report | Social Determinants of Health |
| Submission to the National Housing Council: Financialization of Purpose-Built Rental Housing | The Financialization of Purpose-Built Rental Housing report by DAWN Canada addresses the significant challenges women, girls, and gender-diverse people with disabilities face in accessing affordable, accessible, and safe housing. The report highlights the systemic barriers exacerbated by the financialization of housing and the housing affordability crisis, which disproportionately impact marginalized communities. It also examines the intersection of housing with gender-based violence, renovictions, and inadequate housing stock for people with disabilities. Key recommendations include policy reforms, accessibility mandates, and sustained funding to ensure housing solutions that meet the needs of diverse individuals with disabilities. | Brief | General |
| Toronto Star: Postal workers go to court to save home delivery, October 16th, 2014 | In 2014, Representatives from seniors' groups and disability organizations joined the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to initiate a legal challenge against the plan to end home mail delivery. This is the coverage from the Toronto Star. | Article | General |
| Toronto Star: Postal workers go to court to save home delivery, October 16th, 2014 | In 2014, Representatives from seniors' groups and disability organizations joined the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to initiate a legal challenge against the plan to end home mail delivery. This is the coverage from the Toronto Star. | Article | General |
| We Can Tell And We Will | Disabled Womens Network of Canada (DAWN-RAFH Canada) launched a campaign for National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, April 6-12, 2014, featuring a Public Service Announcement based on the D.A.I Supreme Court case that recognizes the right of people with disabilities to be believed when they report sexual assault and abuse. | Video | General |
| We Can Tell And We Will – Information for women with disabilities aboutidentifying and reporting abuse | Disabled Womens Network of Canada (DAWN-RAFH Canada) launched a campaign for National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, April 6-12, 2014, featuring a Public Service Announcement based on the D.A.I Supreme Court case that recognizes the right of people with disabilities to be believed when they report sexual assault and abuse. | Factsheet | General |
| We Can Tell And We Will (Captioned) | Disabled Womens Network of Canada (DAWN-RAFH Canada) launched a campaign for National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, April 6-12, 2014, featuring a Public Service Announcement based on the D.A.I Supreme Court case that recognizes the right of people with disabilities to be believed when they report sexual assault and abuse. | Video | General |
