The statistics on disability poverty in Canada are stark. In 2022, 1 in 6 disabled people lived in poverty, representing over 1.5 million people, and 1 in 3 disabled people living alone lived in poverty.[1] Not a single provincial/territorial social assistance payment reaches the poverty line, and only two are greater than the Deep Income Poverty Threshold.[2]

Perhaps the most shocking thing about these statistics is that few people know about the extent of disability poverty in Canada. However, this cannot continue to be true. We must call this out for the national emergency it is and work together to lift disabled people out of poverty.

Call for Submissions

On December 3rd, 2026, UN International Day for Persons with Disabilities, Disability Without Poverty will be hosting a virtual research symposium, so that we can learn from our situation today and aim to make changes for tomorrow.

At this time, we welcome expressions of interest to be part of this day:

  • We encourage applications that focus on the Determinants of Disability Poverty:
    • Financial Security
    • Policy Design
    • Administrative Accessibility
    • Social Inequities
    • Political Will
  • We encourage researchers 
    • from any background, 
    • attached to academic institutions, 
    • those with other organizations, 
    • and those working independently to apply.
  • We encourage disabled researchers, students and early career researchers, as well as researchers conducting work at the intersections in which disabled people live, including:
    • Racialized people
    • Indigenous people
    • Refugees and recent immigrants
    • Members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community
    • Unhoused and impoverished people
    • Institutionalized people
    • Previously incarcerated people
    • And any other marginalized communities we have not listed.
  • In lieu of poster sessions typically seen at conferences, we encourage those who want to deliver updates on their research to submit a video that we will showcase throughout the day.

Deadline to apply is September 30th, 2026.

To apply, please complete our online submission form.

[1] https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/FIN…;

[2] https://maytree.com/changing-systems/data-measuring/welfare-in-canada/