This means that most lawyers, regardless of the area of law they practice, will represent
at least some clients who have disabilities or otherwise encounter issues of significance
to people with disabilities. For example, you may represent a client who has a disability or
an individual who provides financial and other supports to a person with a disability. It is
therefore incumbent on each lawyer to be aware of legislation, jurisprudence, services
and programs of significance to people with disabilities.
When representing clients with disabilities it is useful, and may be necessary, to refer to
the statistical profile of disability in Canada. Until recently Statistics Canada conducted
the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (“PALS”), which provided an excellent
national database on disability statistics.^18 However, this survey is no longer being
carried out by the Federal Government.^19
The Canadian Survey on Disability is a survey of disability issues in Canada, including
type and severity of disability; use of aids and assistive devices; help received or
required; educational attainment and accommodations; labour force status; and mobility
within the community. Statistics Canada plans to release survey data in 2013, and
quinquennially thereafter.^20
The most recent PALS was conducted in 2006. The following data have been extracted
from that report and provide a general picture of disability in Canada:
• 4,417,870 Canadians reported some level of disability
• the incidence of disability increases with age, from 3.7% of children under 15 to
43.4% of those over 65, to 56.3% of those over 75Statistics Canada http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/89-628-XIE/2007003/series5-en.htm.
17 Statistics Canada, A Profile of Disability in Canada, 2001 by Lucie Cossette & Édith Duclos (Ottawa:
Minister of Industry, 2002) at 7-8 [PALS]. See also Human Resources Development Canada, Disability
in Canada: A 2001 Profile (Gatineau: Queen’s Printer, 2003).
18 PALS, supra note 17.
19 Tony Dolan, “CCD Chairperson’s Update: July-August 2010” (August 2010), online: Council of
Canadians with Disabilities http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/publications/chairpersons-update/2010/july-
august
20 For infomraiton on the Canadian Survey on Disability see: Statistics Canada, online: <
http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=3251&Item_Id=133011&lang=e
n>.