Forum 2026: Disability Justice Means Closing Access Gaps, says Dr. Jennifer Zwicker

The growing conversation around disability justice is encouraging policymakers across Canada to look beyond the existence of programs and focus on how accessible and effective they are in practice.

In a recent School of Public Policy Forum, Dr. Jennifer Zwicker, Director of Health and Social Policy,  shared insights into how disability policies operate across Canadian jurisdictions, including the Disability Tax Credit, income assistance programs and childhood supports.

“Disability justice is not abstract. It asks: Who gets access to what is needed to live well and who is systematically excluded?” Zwicker told the lunch hour audience.

Her presentation, Navigating Disability Policy in Canada, was part of the School’s Forum Speaker Series and explored how policy design and implementation can shape real-world outcomes for individuals and families.

Zwicker highlighted the distinction between potential access and realized access, pointing to challenges such as varying eligibility criteria across programs, coordination across federal and provincial systems, and barriers in accessing medical providers. While Canada has established a range of disability supports, she noted that navigating them can be complex.

She explained that differences between federal and provincial approaches can sometimes create unintended gaps, but also present opportunities for better alignment and collaboration.

Zwicker’s work centers on incorporating community perspectives and lived experiences to better understand how policies function on the ground and to develop practical options for improvement.

Among the solutions she discussed was moving toward more functional disability criteria, rather than relying solely on diagnostic categories, alongside more flexible and coordinated policies, particularly to better support youth with disabilities and their families.

Drawing on research from her Disability Policy Research Program, Zwicker emphasized the importance of translating evidence into action. The program works in partnership with policymakers, service providers and people with lived experience to identify barriers, strengthen coordination and improve access to supports.

She also highlighted the Alliance for Disability Voices, Advocacy, and National Community Empowerment (ADVANCE) Network, a national collaborative initiative focused on strengthening the role of disability communities in shaping policy and systems change. The ADVANCE Network brings together researchers, advocacy organizations, community leaders and people with lived experience to promote more coordinated, inclusive and responsive disability policy across Canada.

As disability policy continues to evolve, Zwicker underscored that lasting progress depends not only on strong program design, but on national collaboration that centers lived experience and supports meaningful community engagement in decision-making.