THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX: The deadline has been extended to participate in a short survey for the Mental Health Accessibility Project, an initiative that aims to promote innovation in mental health accessibility and disability accommodation in Ontario. We are looking to share information, promising practices or success stories that effectively promote mental health accessibility and/or accommodate the needs of people with mental health-related disabilities. Your story could be profiled on our resource.
**Please complete our SHORT survey by Jan. 31, 2014. Click here to participate.**
Please note: Practices can be formal or informal, and may relate to any setting or sector including transportation, education, employment, housing, justice (e.g. policing, courts, corrections etc.), customer service, or other areas. Our focus is on mental health-related disabilities, which can also be called mental health issues, mental illnesses and psychiatric disabilities among other things.
Examples of practices or policies may include:
- Asking clients about accessibility or accommodation needs
- Policies for welcoming emotional support animals/mental health service animals
- Effectively accommodating mental health-related disabilities in the workplace
- Training staff on accessible, inclusive, effective and respectful customer service for clients with mental health-related disabilities
- Partnering with a mental health agency to increase participation in programs and services
- Anything else we need to hear about!
FACT: Under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, organizations must accommodate and promote accessibility of programs and services for people with mental health disabilities.
FACT: We need to think outside the box when it comes to mental health-related accessibility. It’s not about building ramps or widening door frames – it’s about innovation and inclusion!
Think Outside the Box is a Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario initiative. Our work is advised by the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, Arch Disability Law Centre, CMHA Brant County, CMHA Champlain East, CMHA Sudbury/Manitoulin, CMHA York and South Simcoe Region, Mental Health Works and the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
For more information, please contact:
Sheela Subramanian
Planning and Policy Analyst
Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario
180 Dundas Street West, Suite 2301, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z8
Tel: 416-977-5580 Ext. 4157 or toll free in Ontario: 1-800-875-6213