FAQ

The purpose of the Disability Partnership to be a convenor of disability service organizations across Nova Scotia with support of a staff specifically dedicated to coordinating the efforts of group members, facilitating opportunities for connection and collaboration, and creating a strong, united disability community within Nova Scotia. The four key areas of focus are: Education and Training, Communication, Capacity Building and Informing Policy.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities describes persons with disabilities as those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. This is further supported by Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Act.

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes barriers as being more than just physical obstacles. Barriers are “factors in a person’s environment that, through their absence or presence, limit functioning and create disability. The Nova Scotia Accessibility Act defines a barrier as “anything that hinders or challenges the full and effective participation in society of persons with disabilities including a physical barrier, an architectural barrier, an information or communications barrier, an attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy or a practice.”

• Education and Training: To provide opportunities for education and training to the public and private sectors that promotes anti-ableism and breaks down barriers in society through first-voice consultation and expertise. To provide persons with disabilities an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills for greater independence and to enhance inclusive hiring and accessible workspaces.
• Communication: To enhance and empower first voice and community participation within public awareness materials and campaigns and to provide an accessible platform for all sectors to learn, share resources and build best practice.
• Capacity Building: To develop and maintain diverse partnerships in the disability, private, and public sectors. Increase disability representation and voices across all sectors, and to convene the provincial disability community to enhance knowledge sharing and collaboration opportunities.
• Informing Policy: To share first voice and lived experiences which identify gaps and barriers to ensure persons with disabilities have an equitable quality of life. To influence, inform, and participate in policy development, and to promote the importance of an intersectional understanding of accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion grounded in human rights.

If you are a non-profit or registered charity, please complete a membership form. Benefits include a unique opportunity for members to collaborate on shared goals within any of the four priority areas: Education and Training, Communication, Capacity Building and Informing Policy. The intent is to connect the disability community and create a hub of resources and connect community with government for two-way communication. For more information, please see the Terms of Reference.

There is no cost for community disability service organizations to join the Partnership.

The Disability Partnership is governed by an Operations Advisory Team consisting of representatives from the four founding organization (Easter Seals Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia League for Equal Opportunities, Autism Nova Scotia, and the Accessibility Directorate).

The Disability Partnership employs a Disability Partnership Coordinator who is the operational and administrative support for work being completed by the Partnership and its subcommittees.

Funding for the Partnership is provided by Province of Nova Scotia and administered by Easter Seals Nova Scotia. In kind support is provided by Easters Seals Nova Scotia, Autism Nova Scotia, and the Nova Scotia League for Equal Opportunities.

No. The partnership is a convenor of nonprofit organizations and public and private sector bodies as such, there is no constitution or bylaws.

First voice individuals are subject matter experts at the Disability Partnership and may be hired to provide advice on any projects undertaken by the Partnership members. 

There are plans to create a membership directory as the Partnership grows.

1. Sign up and fill in all the necessary information.
2. Navigate to the Member Directory page and locate your organization’s name (identified by a gear icon next to it).
3. Click on your organization’s name to access its profile, then click “Add Some Information” to edit.
4. Fill in the required fields and click on the gear icon at the top-right corner, then select “My Account”.
5. In the “Privacy” section of your account, find “Hide My Profile From Directory” and set it to “No”.
6. Click “Update Privacy” to save your changes. Now, your organization’s profile will be visible in the directory.