Toolkits for Combating Structural Ableism and Racism in Education and Criminal Justice Systems

This project will develop two toolkits: “Navigating the Criminal Justice System as Disabled Youth”, and “Navigating the Education System as Disabled Youth”. These toolkits will be used by Black and racialized disabled youth who are navigating structural ableism and systemic racism either in the criminal justice system or in the education system in Hamilton and across Ontario. These toolkits will be a source of self-guided education and offer a list of resources to disabled youth who are facing possible arrests from police or suspensions from school. These can also be used by organizations and agencies to co-design and build capacity of disabled Black and racialized youth in self advocacy. Approximately 100 young disabled Black and racialized people across the province of Ontario will inform this project. The project will also provide an outlet for criminalized disabled youth, and allow them to acquire new skills. This will allow DJNO to equip many disabled youth with the capacity to self advocate, while building a list of resources.