Ep. 30: Intersectionality Part 3 — Disability in the Newcomer Community

The newcomer community in Canada is huge. In 2022, the country welcomed 431,645 new permanent residents — the largest number in one year — in Canadian history.

The last time Canada welcomed that many newcomers was over a century ago, in 1913.

There was a time when almost all immigrants to Canada came from Europe.

Today, they come from countries and cultures all over the world. Asia is the continent where most come from; and India is the country where most immigrants to Canada were born, according to Statistics Canada (StatCan) data.

As StatCan notes, “immigrants come from many different countries, bringing with them their cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious heritage.”

And, as we learn in this episode, their perceptions of disability.

Just what is the perception of disability in the newcomer, or immigrant, community and cultures? How inclusive are they? And what are the challenges for people in these communities who have a disability?

These are some of the questions we explore in this episode that wraps up our three-part series on Intersectionality, and season five of You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without a D.

We get deep perspectives and insights from two guests whose work involves supporting people in the newcomer comer community who have a disability:

• Raihanna Hirji-Khalfan, the National Director of Race and Disability Canada
• Rabia Khedr, CEO of Disability Empowerment Equality Network (DEEN) Support Services

SHOW NOTES

• Race and Disability Canada website
• Race and Disability Canada resources:
  • IDEA Tool Kits
  • IDEA Practitioners & Professionals Network
  • Instagram feed storytelling program about Black leaders and South Asian leaders who have a disability
  • Other programs for Indigenous, Black and racialized people who have a disability
• DEEN Support Services website
• Episode 30 transcript (PDF)