It’s been a year of elections for Calgarians, and the DDRC has been working to keep the conversation going about the importance of voting. With the federal election coming up on October 19th, we want to make sure our clients and staff members have the resources and information they need to cast their ballots.
Did you know that Canada is one of only four countries in the world that allows people with developmental disabilities to vote? It’s true. In 1993, Canada removed restrictions for individuals with developmental disabilities. Italy, Ireland, and Sweden are the only other countries with the same rules as us. This is one of the many reasons that we feel it’s so important to get our clients out on election day to make their voices heard.
We will be hosting a “Vote Pop-Up” for staff and clients on October 5th to help first-time voters or those who haven’t cast a ballot for awhile learn what to expect when they get to a real polling station on election day. We’ll go over what forms of ID they’ll have to bring with them, what accessibility options will be available, how to properly mark and cast a ballot, and more. Employees will have a chance to learn how to properly support someone while they vote. We’ll also take this opportunity to confirm whether or not individuals are registered to vote, and help them register if they still need to.
The DDRC has created an election guide for staff members and a plain-language workbook for clients to learn about what we’re voting for in this election, what the main parties are, and provide answers to some frequently asked questions. Interested in learning more yourself? You can access a copy of the guide and workbook to save and go over at home.
In the latest issue of Connection, we asked people around the office what they would do if they were the Prime Minister. If you haven’t had a chance to pick up a copy, take a look here.