This article was written by Bounmy Inthavong, a researcher with Race and Disability Canada. It originally appeared in the edition of DABC’s Transition magazine, Welcome to BC: Challenges and Supports for Newcomers with Disabilities (Spring 2024).

Read the full edition in PDF format here and in text-only format here.

If you’re interested in contributing to Transition as an individual or an organization, please email transition@dabc.ca.
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When I envision Canada, I see a vibrant canvas with tales of fresh beginnings. Embedded within these narratives are the intricate stories of newcomers navigating the pathways of immigration, intertwined with journeys of race and disability.

It’s a tapestry woven with hues of resilience amidst adversity, where profound experiences often dwell in the margins—the struggles of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities intersecting with the complex challenges of disability. Together, these stories paint a poignant picture, shining a light on the multifaceted realities newcomers face upon their arrival in Canada.

Canada’s history, marked by colonization, enslavement, racial discrimination and exclusionary immigration policies, casts a shadow on the experiences of these communities.

From the erasure of Indigenous sovereignty to systemic racism within the immigration system, past injustices echo in the lived experiences of newcomers grappling with disabilities. These experiences call for urgent change—a transformation of policies, perspectives and a commitment to breaking down barriers.

Within this landscape, Race and Disability Canada has undertaken an ambitious review to unravel the intricacies of these intersections, spotlight stories and emphasize the urgent need for systemic changes. Our review is based on an IDEA. The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility (IDEA) Project encompasses:

• Intersectional Analysis: Understanding the unique experiences of racialized people with disabilities, including newcomers facing barriers due to their race and disability.
• Data Collection: Delving into literature, and gathering survey and focus group data to comprehend:
  • Challenges faced by racialized people with disabilities.
  • Barriers encountered by advocates and organizations working on race, disability, and inclusion in the non-profit sector.
  • Efforts of mainstream disability organizations to achieve diversity and inclusion goals concerning race and disability, and how we can support them.

Our work goes beyond raising awareness. It’s a call to action. It’s about reshaping policies and amplifying narratives. It’s about advocating for systemic changes that acknowledge the multifaceted challenges faced by newcomers at the intersections of race and disability.

Canada’s promise of inclusivity and diversity beckons, but it necessitates collective effort—crafting policies to dismantle systemic barriers, and fostering a culture of understanding, support and equity for newcomers with disabilities.

These stories, woven with hardship, speak of resilience and determination. They urge us to build a Canada where every newcomer, regardless of race or disability, finds genuine support, recognition and a true sense of belonging—a Canada where every story contributes to the vibrant narrative of the nation’s identity.

The results will catalyze further research, community-based projects and collaborations beyond the disability sector to advance accessibility and inclusion for racialized people with disabilities. As part of our commitment to change, we’re actively involved in:

• Empowering Non-Profits: Developing communities of practice in Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. These forums allow organizations to unlearn and relearn, implementing sustainable systemic changes that include racialized people with disabilities in their policies and services.
• Education and Training: Leveraging outcomes from research and communities of practice to develop training programs and educational initiatives supporting broader accessibility and inclusion goals for racialized people with disabilities in Canada.

Readers can join our newsletter to stay updated with the latest developments at Race and Disability Canada. Visit www.racedisability.ca to subscribe and stay informed.

Bounmy Inthavong is a researcher with Race and Disability Canada. Follow Race and Disability Canada:

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X @Race_Disability.

This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnerships Program-Disability Component (SDPP-D).

This editorial was written by Chantelle MacIsaac, Senior Manager of Interdepartmental and Strategic Initiatives at MOSAIC. It originally appeared in the edition of DABC’s Transition magazine, Welcome to BC: Challenges and Supports for Newcomers with Disabilities (Spring 2024).

Read the full edition in PDF format here and in text-only format here.

If you’re interested in contributing to Transition as an individual or an organization, please email transition@disabilityalliancebc.org.

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Imagine being a newcomer to Canada. You need to navigate a new culture and new systems, with rules that are written and unwritten, spoken and unspoken–all through a second language.

Newcomers to Canada experience many varied challenges in the settlement process. The road to stable housing, employment and community inclusion can be a windy one, with frustrating detours along the way.

Then imagine also living with a disability. All these challenges are multiplied.

You will face a dizzying array of services, and complicated eligibility and application processes for government and community programs. Systemic ableism will create further roadblocks for you because services, policies and spaces are often designed without people with disabilities in mind, despite 1 in 4 Canadians having a disability.

Newcomers who are looking for information and support also find that immigration and disability services are often not available through the same organization. Immigrant services have not always had training in disability-aware services and disability services may not have the tools or capacity help newcomers settle safely in our communities.

A final and crucial piece of the settlement challenge for newcomers living with disability is mental health. Immigrants and refugees too often arrive in Canada having experienced trauma, such as social instability or violence, domestic violence or the perils of the journey to Canada itself. The ability to offer mental health supports and trauma-informed services is vital to truly meet the needs of these newcomers.

As a result of these intersectional barriers, newcomers with disabilities may find a closed door when they reach their destination here in BC and Canada.

Work Supporting Newcomers

In 2022, MOSAIC launched a program called the Accessibility for Newcomers Program to begin addressing some of these barriers.

With initial funding from the City of Vancouver and additional funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), MOSAIC has developed a circle of care approach where newcomers with disabilities complete a needs assessment with multilingual settlement workers and receive supported referrals to settlement, employment and disability services.

Participants are connected to multilingual programming within MOSAIC, such as WorkBC and employment services, violence prevention programs, legal advocacy pertaining to tax benefits, 2SLGBTQIA+ programming, seniors clubs and multilingual settlement workers.

Before making referrals to external services, staff first “knock on the door.” If no one answers, or when someone answers but doesn’t invite the client in, we support clients to navigate their way to another door. This approach facilitates successful connections to programs and services, and reduces frustration and isolation.

In addition to this program, MOSAIC led focus groups at a 2022 newcomers’ forum (please see Newcomers Speak Out at Forum on page 6). We also led a group at a 2023 forum on Mental Wellness for People with Disabilities, with the aim of amplifying the impact of people with lived experience on the services designed to support them.

The theme that emerged out of the Mental Wellness focus groups with newcomers with disabilities was the importance of community connection and belonging.

To meet this call, the Accessibility for Newcomers Program plans to enhance services in the coming year with regularly scheduled activities for newcomers with disabilities to come together, network, socialize and create community. Check out the program website for emerging opportunities to be a part of the community!

We are also jointly offering a new program in partnership with Disability Alliance BC (please see MOSAIC and DABC Partner to Support Newcomers on page 9) called the Newcomers with Disabilities project. With this program, we hope to build a service that not only better meets the needs of newcomers, but provides a model for intersectional community programs.

In This Transition

In this Transition, you’ll see more pieces of the big picture for newcomers. Race and Disability Canada talks about their work gathering the experiences of racialized people with disabilities, and their calls to action for education and training. You’ll learn more about the Newcomers with Disabilities forum and hear directly from newcomers about their settlement challenges. Plus, you’ll see more details about our newcomers partnership with DABC.

Last but not least, you’ll find out how to connect with some of the key groups offering information, support and resources to newcomers with disabilities.

Chantelle MacIsaac is the Senior Manager of Interdepartmental and Strategic Initiatives at MOSAIC, and oversees the Volunteer Program and Accessibility Services. Chantelle values and creates space for the voices of people who will utilize the services to be heard.

Accessibility for Newcomers Program Url: https://mosaicbc.org/our-programs/support-for-newcomers-with-disabilities/