Service Provider Web Links

General Information on Disability

Independent Living is about respect, among other things. It is important not to judge or make assumptions about people with disabilities. The following links contain information about how people with disabilities like to be treated and the language that is appropriate when interacting with people with disabilities.

Canadian Association for Community Living:
The Canadian Association for Community Living is a Canada-wide association of family members and others working for the benefit of persons of all ages who have an intellectual disability.

Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres What is Independent Living?
Independent Living is founded on the right of people with disabilities to live with dignity in their chosen community, participate in all aspects of their life and control and make decisions about their own lives.

Council of Canadians with Disabiliities:
The Council of Canadians with Disabilities advocates at the federal level to improve the lives of men and women with disabilities in Canada, by eliminating inequality and discrimination. CCD's members include national, regional and local advocacy organizations that are controlled by persons with disabilities.

Canada Health Network - Where can I find information about specific types of disabilities?
This website has general information about different kinds of disabilities and includes links to organizations where people can find general information about disabilities.

Independent Living Resource Centres:
Here is a list of all the Independent Living Centres in our network.

Accessibility

Access Guide Canada Disability Organizations:
Access Guide Canada has listings of a wide variety of community resources which are accessible to people with disabilities.

Augmentative Communication Community Partnerships Canada:
ACCPC is a federal, non-profit, community-based organization which provides education, research and resources for people who have severe speech impairments and who use other ways to communicate such as picture displays, alphabet boards and voice-output devices.

Queen's University Accessibility Guidelines:
The document describes the technical requirements for accessibility which are to be applied in the design, evaluation and modification of university facilities.

Treasury Board of Canada Guide to Planning Inclusive Meetings and Conferences:
This guide provides meeting and conference organizers with practical tips and advice to ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities.

Volunteer Board of Canada:
Creating an Accessible and Inclusive Environment
This manual aims to assist organizations in diversifying their volunteer force to be inclusive of persons with a variety of disabilities, and discusses the impact,
opportunities and challenges this presents.

Website Accessibility Tips:
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) develops interoperable technologies (specifications, guidelines, software, and tools) to lead the Web to its full potential.

Harm Reduction

Canada's Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Health Canada:
Canada's Drug Strategy is the federal government's response in addressing the harmful use of substances. Its ultimate goal is to see Canadians living in a society increasingly free of the harms associated with substance use

Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse Harm Reduction for Special Populations in Canada:
This is a list of CCSA publications about harm reduction for special populations.

Harm Reduction Coalition:
The Harm Reduction Coalition (HRC) is committed to reducing drug-related harm among individuals and communities by initiating and promoting local, regional, and national harm reduction education, interventions, and community organizing.

Harm Reduction Forum Canadian Harm Reduction Network:
The Canadian Harm Reduction Network is the virtual meeting place for individuals and organizations dedicated to reducing the social, health and economic harms associated with drugs and drug policies.

Here To Help:
This organization is a group of seven leading provincial mental health and addictions nonprofit agencies are working together as the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information

Women's Addiction Foundation:
The Women's Addiction Foundation is a public foundation committed to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness of women whose lives have been affected by their misuse of, or dependency on alcohol or other drugs.

Resources

A Profile of Disability in Canada 2001-- Statistics Canada:
The Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS) is a national survey designed to collect information on adults and children who have a disability, that is, whose everyday activities are limited because of a condition or health problem.

A Way Out: Women with Disabilities and Smoking A workbook written for Health Canada by DAWN Canada:
This workbook was written by women with disabilities for women with disabilities who smoke. We hope that it will help you understand why you smoke. We also hope it will give you facts so you can make choices. It is very hard to change your smoking habits, But if and when you're ready, this workbook might help.

Best Practices Concurrent Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders-- Health Canada:
The purpose of this project is to identify best practices related to concurrent mental health and substance use disorders.

Best Practices Early Intervention, Outreach and Community Linkages for Women with Substance Use Problems-- Health Canada:
The purpose of this project is to present best practice guidelines related to early intervention, outreach and community linkages for women with substance use problems.

Best Practices in Mental Health and Addictions in BC:
British Columbia's Mental Health and Addictions Reform initiative provides the vision for a comprehensive, evidence-based continuum of mental health and addictions services in the province.

Bill of Client Rights--Centre for Addictions and Mental Health:
The Bill of Client Rights has been developed to assert and promote the dignity and worth of all of the people who use the services of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The Bill of Client Rights expresses the truth that clients are first and foremost human beings with the same rights as every Canadian.

Illicit Drug Abuse by Women with Disabilities American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse:
This article examines the trends in women with disabilities who abuse drugs.

Information about Concurrent Disorders-- Centre for Addictions and Mental Health:
Concurrent disorders (CD for short) generally describes a situation in which a person experiences a psychiatric disorder and either a substance use disorder and/or a gambling disorder.

Publications

Substance Abuse and Physical Disability (Haworth Addictions Treatment) - This book provides a wealth of clinical and research knowledge in the areas of substance abuse and physical disability. The first section of the book introduces the two issues. The second section explains the causes, types and prevalence of substance abuse. The third segment of the book covers assessment, treatment and prevention issues and the last part summarizes the overall topics.
1993

Dyter, R. & Mitchell, T. Drug Misuse Amongst People with Disabilities: A Scoping Study. 2003