Help CIHR identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility in the health research funding system
CIHR is co-developing an accessibility and systemic ableism action plan that aligns with the requirements of the Accessible Canada Act (2019). This is a commitment in CIHR’s Strategic Plan 2021-2031. We are co-developing the action plan with the CIHR External Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Systemic Ableism. The goal of the action plan is to make our funding fully accessible to all health researchers, trainees, and students.
CIHR would like to learn first-hand from individuals with lived and living experience related to issues of inaccessibility in the health research funding system. We are offering two ways to connect with us.
Option 1: CIHR is inviting people with a disability or health condition that affects how they interact with the health research funding system to participate in two-part virtual discussion sessions. These sessions are open to health researchers, trainees and students, patients, community partners, and users or holders of knowledge related to health research. We know there are many ways of understanding, experiencing, and identifying with disability. We welcome all disability identities and experiences. This includes identities and experiences that are medical, social, or cultural.
Option 2: A survey will be launched this summer, to invite input from people with a disability or health condition that affects how they interact with the health research funding system. Experienced allies are also invited to complete the survey.
Keep reading to learn more about the virtual discussion sessions and the survey, including how to sign up.
Option 1: Virtual Discussion Sessions
CIHR invites people with a disability or health condition that affects how they interact with the health research funding system to participate in small group discussion sessions.
The virtual discussion sessions will be held in two rounds.
- Round one (June 2022): Participants will talk about issues of ableism and barriers to accessibility in the health research funding system to help CIHR’s understanding.
- Round two (July 2022): Participants will share ideas about how CIHR can remove and prevent ableism and barriers to accessibility in the health research funding system to help CIHR develop an action plan.
Participants will be asked to commit to a session in Round One and a session in Round Two. Each session will be about 90 minutes and include 10 – 12 participants.
If you would like to participate in the two-part a virtual discussion sessions, please submit an online expression of interest by June 1, 2022.
You may also submit your application electronically by email, PDF, or Word document, or by pre-recorded audio or video recording. You can also contact us by phone or videoconference.
To request a phone or videoconference submission, or for help submitting your application, please write to us at edi@cihr-irsc.gc.ca, or call 1 888 603 4178 (for communication in English press 1, for French press 2. After selecting a language, press 4 for general inquiries and to speak to a staff member).
There are limited spots to participate in the discussion sessions. We will contact you to confirm your participation or to inform you if you have been placed on a waitlist.
For more information on the two-part virtual discussion sessions, please go to the additional information section below.
Option 2: Survey
In summer 2022, CIHR will be launching a survey to learn more about barriers to accessibility and issues of ableism in the health research funding system, and specifically at CIHR. This survey will welcome input from people with a disability or health condition that affects how they interact with the health research funding system. We also encourage experienced allies to complete the survey.
The survey will be available online, in written format including large print Word or PDF documents, audio file, video with ASL and LSQ, and braille, in both official languages. All analyses and reporting of the survey data will be done in aggregate form (i.e., high-level summaries with no personally-identifying information).
If you would like to be notified and receive a link to the survey when it launches, please write to us at edi@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
Additional information about the virtual discussion sessions
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What accessibility features are being offered in the sessions?
All discussion sessions will include live CART captioning and sign language interpretation (ASL and LSQ). Other accessibility services will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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Will there be compensation for participating?
Yes. We know that your lived experience is valuable knowledge and that sharing it may cause harm. We will provide $350 for participating in the two-part virtual discussion session ($175 per round).
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Who designed the sessions?
The sessions were designed with guidance from the CIHR External Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Systemic Ableism. This committee is made up of health researchers, trainees and patient or community partners with lived/living experience with disability and/or accessibility. The committee also includes allies with ties to the health research community.
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How will participants be chosen?
We want to learn from as many different perspectives as possible. We will review the applications to try to maximize the diversity of participants around:
- Experience and roles within the health research funding system
- Experience related to the types of barriers and issues of ableism
- Geographic location
- Factors of identity
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Who will see my application?
Only CIHR staff coordinating the virtual engagement sessions will see your application. The information you provide will be kept in our secure computer system
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How will the discussions at the sessions be captured?
Consultants from One World Inc. will be facilitating the sessions. Once the sessions are done, the consultants will write a report for CIHR that summarizes the discussions. Individuals will not be identified in the reports given to CIHR.
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