CUPW Disability-Supports.ca - A First of its Kind in Canada

We were worried members may have missed the important launch of the CUPW Disability Portal. And we want you to know about this important initiative of the CUPW Child Care Fund. The portal was launched on December 3, 2022, on International Day for Persons with Disabilities.

The portal is the first of its kind in Canada. It came about when the CUPW Child Care Fund was trying to respond to the online information needs of postal worker parents using the Special Needs and Moving On projects.

We had heard from many parents on the project about their frustrations and difficulties in trying to find online supports and services for their children with disabilities or special needs. In 2015, we undertook an exploratory project to learn about:

• The existence of user-friendly databases of disability supports and services.
• Members experiences with searching for information, and what would make it easier.
• Possible steps that CUPW could consider to meet members’ online information needs.

It was at this time that we learned about 211. 211 is Canada’s primary source of online information about government and community-based health and social services. 211 is required under law to maintain up-to-date databases of services and programs.

In 2017, we partnered with 211Ontario and 211Nova Scotia to develop the disability portal and began a six-year journey in bringing it to fruition. The partnership gives the CUPW Disability Portal access to 211 data in all provinces outside of Quebec.

In 2023, CUPW won a Canadian Association of Labour Media Award for the most innovative online tool!

Take a few minutes and check it out!

https://www.disability-supports.ca/

In Solidarity,