At any given time, shelter staff respond to individuals who bring a wide range of experiences associated with trauma, homelessness and violence.  Over the years, we have also seen an increase in who is accessing services, which include people with disabilities.  Over 15% of Ontario’s population has a disability; this means that approximately one in 7 people. This workshop is designed to support staff to understanding the attitudinal and environmental barriers facing people with disabilities in accessing services within the shelter system. The purpose of this training is to provide all organizational staff, including facilities staff and board members, with the foundation for incorporating an intersectional anti-oppression approach to working with people with disabilities.  This approach works from a place of dignity and respect in all aspects of care; from intake procedures, organizational policies to physical space.

Learning Objectives:

• To help shelter providers reduce and eliminate barriers faced by people with disabilities in accessing shelter beds and services.
• To help shelter staff better understand barriers to people with disabilities in the context of shelter services
• To help shelter providers recognize the need for diverse approaches to responding to access needs and better understand how they can adjust their programs and services to better meet the diverse needs of people with disabilities.
• To help shelter staff identify strategies for addressing barriers including physical/built environment, information and communication, systemic barriers and attitudinal barriers and other factors that are unique to people with disabilities who are homeless and/or lacking appropriate supports to reduce the impact of barriers within the shelter system.