In March 2026, DABC learned that our federal Reaching Home funding for the Right Fit Program would not be renewed after six years of continuous support. This decision was unexpected and placed the future of our program at immediate risk.

The Right Fit Program supports wheelchair users in finding accessible housing; preventing homelessness, institutionalization, and unsafe housing situations for people with disabilities. Since its launch, the Right Fit has helped 373 individuals secure stable, accessible housing.

In the past several weeks, we have been determined to raise awareness about the Right Fit program; calling upon the federal government to support our impactful work and ensure that this program stays alive. On April 2^nd, we conducted a press conference and on April 22^nd, we held a rally in front of Gregor Robertson’s constituency office.

We have been deeply grateful for the overwhelming support from Right Fit clients, community members, partner organizations, housing providers, advocates, and members of the public who have spoken out, attended rallies, shared our message, and supported our calls to action. Your advocacy has made a difference.

DABC has now secured partial funding from Reaching Home, however this funding covers only 38% of the annual costs required to operate the Right Fit Program in Vancouver. As a result, the program cannot continue operating at full capacity, and its long-term future remains uncertain. Without stable funding, wheelchair users in need of accessible housing will continue to face significant barriers and increased risk of homelessness and housing instability.

DABC continues to call on both the federal and provincial governments to recognize accessible housing as a critical priority and to commit to sustainable, long-term funding for the Right Fit Program.

DABC has not yet received a response from Minister Robertson; we continue to request a meeting with him to discuss the urgent need for long-term engagement and solutions around accessible housing for people with disabilities.

Please stay tuned for further advocacy efforts that will continue in the coming weeks. DABC will be encouraging constituents in the Lower Mainland and the Capital Regional District to contact and meet with their Members of Parliament to share concerns about the future of the Right Fit Program and the importance of stable funding for accessible housing supports.

If you have the financial capacity to make a donation to our Right Fit program, we would be grateful for your support during this time. This will directly help to ensure that we continue operating the Right Fit Program while we work to advocate for stable, long-term funding. Donate here: https://give-can.keela.co/save-the-right-fit-program

The City of Vancouver Accessibility Committee is seeking members with a wide range of lived experiences and disabilities!

You can apply if:

• You identify as having a disability
• You live in Vancouver

What the Committee Does:

• Provide guidance and advice on the City of Vancouver’s Accessibility Strategy and its renewal
• Review and provide feedback on the Accessibility Strategy departmental action plans with the Multi-Year Action Plan
• Help with the review of public feedback to identify barriers and solutions

To learn more: https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/accessibility-committee.aspx

Call 604-675-5926 to ask for support with the application if needed.

Questions? Call 604-675-5926 or accessibility@vancouver.ca

On Tuesday, the federal government released its Spring Economic Update, and we have compiled some key proposals relevant to people with disabilities. 

Disability Tax Credit 

Changes to DTC Eligibility 

The Disability Tax Credit, currently does much more than just reduce taxes. It is the gateway to other important financial programs, like the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), the Registered Disability Savings Plan. 

The Spring Economic Update proposes a new a streamlined application process for certain medical conditions. 

The following conditions will qualify based on diagnosis alone: 

• Alzheimer’s disease 
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / Lou Gehrig disease
• Angelman syndrome
• Autism spectrum disorder, level 3
• Bilateral blindness (legally blind)
• Bilateral hearing loss (severe or profound)
• Cardiac functional class of 4/IV or an ejection fraction of 20% or less
• Cerebral palsy (severe)
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, stage III or higher
• Colostomy (permanent)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Dementia
• Down syndrome / Trisomy 21
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy (advanced or severe)
• Edwards syndrome / Trisomy 18
• Hemipelvectomy
• Hemophilia A (severe)
• Hip disarticulation
• Huntington disease
• Ileostomy (permanent)
• Intellectual disability (severe, profound or IQ of 70 or below)
• Lower limb amputation (leg or foot)
• Microcephaly
• Paraplegia
• Parkinson’s disease (advanced or severe)
• Patau syndrome / Trisomy 13
• Phenylketonuria
• Prader Willi syndrome
• Profound hearing loss in one ear and severe hearing loss in the other ear
• Progeria
• Quadriplegia or tetraplegia
• Relies only on lip-reading and / or use sign language to understand conversations or communicate
• Renal (kidney) failure requiring lifelong hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis
• Requires lifelong continuous supplemental oxygen (O2)
• Schizophrenia
• Sickle cell disease (severe) requiring transfusions
• Sign language is primary means of communicating due to profound hearing loss or expressive aphasia
• Spinal muscular atrophy, type 1 and 2
• Stroke (severe) no functional recovery
• Tay-Sachs disease (infantile/juvenile)
• Total mutism
• Traumatic brain injury (severe)
• Upper limb amputations (trans carpal or higher) 

This means that medical practitioners will no longer need to add descriptive text outlining an applicant’s restrictions unless the CRA asks for more medical information.   

Expanding list of Medical Practitioners: 

The update also proposed to expand the list of practitioners that can support with the application: 

• Occupational therapists will be able to certify eliminating (using the toilet) 
• Physiotherapists can now certify feeding and dressing
• Speech Language Pathologists can now certify feeding or hearing
• Podiatrists will be able to certify walking 

Streamlined Application Process for Those Under the Care of Public Guardians and Trustees 

Provincial/Territorial public guardians, trustees, and curators will be able to certify the DTC for adults under their care for property matters if they already have a document issued by a healthcare professional stating that they do not have decision-making capacity. They will not need to have the DTC recertified by the medical practitioner unless the CRA asks. 

Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada will be able to provide similar certification for adult dependants in their care under the Indian Act. 

These measures are set to apply to DTC certifications from 2027 onwards. 

Additional changes to tax measures to note: 

Home Buyer’s Plan 

Right now, people who want to purchase or build their first home, or a home for a specified disabled person, can withdraw $60,00 from an RRSP without having to pay tax on the withdrawal. 

They will have to repay the money back to the RRSP over 15 years, but the spring update proposes a 5-year grace period before the 15-year window begins. This will be in effect for anyone who withdraws until 2028. 

Labour Mobility Deduction for Tradespeople 

From the 2026 tax year onwards, tradespeople working in the construction industry will be able to claim up to $10,000 (previously $4,000) in relocation expenses if they move at least 120 km closer to their work. 

DABC welcomes the small changes, particularly in relation to the DTC application, that will reduce administrative barriers for those living with long term health conditions, and healthcare barriers for those who struggle to access supportive health services. However, we hope these changes open the door for continued conversation around more meaningful policy reform. Namely, we call on the government to reduce application barriers for all DTC applicants, to ensure financial supports like the Canada Disability Benefit more adequately address disability poverty, and to move away from application models that require people to medically prove their disability.  

The update has shown that change is possible, but this change must be centred around lived experience.