Annex: Intersectional and cultural considerations

On this page

• Introduction
• Language
• Intersecting factors
  • Additional resources
• Identity factors in planning consultations
• Cultural factors in planning consultations

Introduction

Everyone is different – for each of us, multiple and diverse factors define our identity.

These identity factors can include sex, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, geography, culture, income, sexual orientation and education, among others.

These factors affect how we understand and experience the world. Some factors can be intersectional, combining to affect our understanding and experience in new ways. Some factors, both historically and in the present, have also been targets of discrimination.

Below are some things to consider as you plan your consultations. These lists are not exhaustive; some examples may apply to some persons with disabilities and not to others. Take them as a starting point for thinking about how different cultural and identity factors can intersect with disability and contribute to barriers.

Language

Because everyone is different, remember that different people may also prefer that you use different words or terms to address or describe them. Language and usage are also constantly evolving, and different words may become more or less accepted over time.

These guidance materials use terminology consistent with other Government of Canada publications. Nevertheless, it is always best to follow the lead set by the people you meet and consult. If they prefer a certain vocabulary, you may wish to use those words as well.

Read the annex on inclusive language relating to accessibility and disability. Remember also to use respectful, culturally sensitive, and culturally safe wording when referring to different persons, groups, and communities. For example:

• persons with disabilities or differing abilities
• Indigenous Peoples or Persons, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis
• refugees, newcomers, or migrants
• equity-seeking groups
• priority populations
• LGBTQ2+ or 2SLGBTQ+
• racialized persons, people, or communities
• members of official language minority communities

Intersecting factors

Here are a few examples of how identity-based discrimination can affect the barriers persons with disabilities face:

• an Indigenous Person with a disability may face different or greater barriers than someone with the same disability who is not Indigenous
  • disability-related barriers may be compounded by discrimination based on other factors
  • depending on where they live, Indigenous Persons with disabilities can experience additional challenges accessing needed services due to jurisdictional issues
    • these issues may include a lack of disability-related services on reserve or being blocked from accessing services off reserve
• persons with disabilities may also experience age discrimination
  • someone with a disability for all or most of their life can experience greater poverty and social discrimination as they age
  • passengers on public transit may not recognize or accept that a young person with a hidden disability may need priority seating
    • persons with hidden or non-visible disabilities may face the same barriers with parking spots, restrooms, waiting areas, or their use of available supports and services
• persons with disabilities who are also members of equity-seeking groups are more likely to be unemployed or under-employed
  • similarly, persons with disabilities who are members of equity-seeking groups or of official language minority communities may encounter racism and discrimination when accessing services
• women with disabilities can experience additional barriers
  • they may be less likely than a man with a disability to be hired for the same job
  • women with disabilities who are racialized or members of equity-seeking groups have reported that they are sometimes taken less seriously when accessing medical care
  • accessible cribs, accessible and affordable childcare, and other services for parents with disabilities are also often lacking
• LGBTQ2+ persons with disabilities experience many barriers and forms of discrimination
  • an LGBTQ2+ person is more likely to experience discrimination in the workplace if they have a disability
  • a transgender or non-binary person with disabilities may experience barriers when seeking an accessible washroom that is gender-neutral

Additional resources

• Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE)’s Gender-based analysis plus course can help you start thinking about how some of these factors intersect
• WAGE also provides a helpful glossary of common LGBTQ2+ terminology
• The Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) offers courses on delivering inclusive client service (registration required)
• The CSPS also offers a free guide on unconscious bias in facilitating meetings and events
• Building a foundation for change: Canada’s anti-racism strategy 2019-2022 provides additional information and links to resources

Identity factors in planning consultations

You should keep in mind how different identity factors matter for persons with disabilities as you plan your consultations. These factors could affect how invitees participate in your consultations, for example, or create barriers to accessibility for some participants.

Here are some things to consider when planning your consultations:

• identify any negative attitudes, myths or stereotypes that may arise during your consultations
  • make plans to prevent them, if possible, by setting out ground rules for communication and confidentiality at the start of the consultation process
  • make plans to address them if they occur
    • ensure facilitators of in-person events encourage respectful dialogue and are able to resolve conflicts in a constructive manner
    • ensure moderators of virtual or digital consultations encourage respectful dialogue and are familiar with the software tools available in a given platform to prevent or remove disruptions
• consider which beliefs, attitudes and norms might limit the range of accessibility options you take into account in planning your consultation
  • these beliefs, attitudes and norms might be
    • your own
    • those of your organization
    • those of the institutions and society around you
    • generational or cultural
• when preparing your consultations, consider whether the approach you are proposing may create barriers for some participants and not for others; for example:
  • a consultation with only in-person elements may not be accessible to persons with mobility disabilities or who live in rural or remote communities
  • a consultation relying primarily on telephone surveys or interviews may not be accessible to persons with hearing disabilities
• seek out participation from persons with disabilities from different communities and demographics
  • your consultations will benefit from diverse perspectives, including those of Indigenous Persons, older adults, women, Black Canadians, people from other racialized communities, newcomers to Canada, LGBTQ2+ persons, residents of rural or remote communities, members of official language minority communities, and many other persons with disabilities
• consider that some persons with disabilities may understand their disability as a factor in their cultural or personal identity in ways that may require additional considerations; for example:
  • some people who are Deaf may have a sign language as their first language; in Canada, the most commonly used sign languages are
    • American Sign Language (ASL)
    • Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ)
    • Indigenous Sign Languages like Plains Sign Language (PSL) or Inuit Sign Language (IUR)
    • to learn more about these sign languages, consult the Language Portal of Canada’s list of ASL, LSQ and Indigenous Sign Language resources 
  • some people who are blind or who have low vision may use documents written in braille, and some may not
  • some people who use wheelchairs, prosthetics, or other mobility or dexterity aids may view these aids as extensions of their living body, while others may view them as tools or objects

Cultural factors in planning consultations

Here are some other cultural factors to consider when planning your consultation:

• begin each event, whether in-person or virtual, by acknowledging that you are on the traditional territory of an Indigenous Nation or Nations
  • for more information on territorial acknowledgements, please read the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) “Learning Insights” on Territorial Acknowledgments
  • for guidance on identifying the traditional territories of Indigenous communities, please consult the Aboriginal and Treaty Rights Information System (ATRIS)
• recall and acknowledge the diversity of Indigenous Peoples (including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), as well as the diversity found within each group
• consider that different cultures and communities may have different attitudes towards, and understandings of, disability
• consider participants’ religious or philosophical identities; for example:
  • plan consultation events and deadlines to avoid coinciding with holidays or days of rest, fasting, or other obligations
  • be open to comments from participants about how their religious or philosophical identities may contribute to the barriers they face
• allow participants to specify religious or cultural dietary requirements as well as those that relate to allergies or other medical factors