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Building a Strong, Accessible Canada

National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) 2026 takes place from May 31st to June 6th. It’s a time to promote accessibility and inclusion across Canada. This week recognizes the important contributions of people with disabilities and encourages efforts to remove barriers, creating a fair and welcoming society for everyone. Get involved and help support greater accessibility!

This year’s theme is “Building a Strong, Accessible Canada,” reminding us that we all benefit when everyone has an equal opportunity to reach their full potential.

Sign Up Here

There are three ways for individuals, schools, communities, and workplaces across Canada to participate in NAAW, and you’re welcome to choose any or all of these self-directed activities. No matter how you choose to take part, you’ll be helping us spread awareness of accessibility and disability inclusion.

Activity #1: Watch a Virtual Presentation

Primarily geared towards school aged children, our virtual presentations feature inspiring speakers with disabilities who share their personal stories, achievements, and challenges. Our videos will go live during NAAW and you may watch them on your own or with a group at any time.

English Language Presentation: Erica Scarff

Erica Scarff is a Paralympic athlete from Mississauga, Ontario.  She has competed in Paracanoeing at both the 2016 and 2024 Paralympic games, as well as at 9 world championships. Childhood cancer led Erica to have one leg amputated, and despite that being a setback, she found ways to remain active and enjoys swimming, cycling and alpine skiing.

French Language Presentation: Marjorie Aunos

Marjorie Aunos, Ph.D. is a researcher, speaker, and consultant on accessibility and inclusion. She teaches organizations and educators to solution-find and build environments that are accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to young families with disabilities. Her TEDx talk “What we can learn from disabled parents” was viewed over 50,000 times in the first week.

Activity #2: Organize a Buildathon

Are you interested in organizing a buildathon during NAAW? Funded by the Government of Canada, Clubs That Care Micro-grants supports youth leaders ages 15-30 in building affordable assistive technology for their community.

Successful applicants will:

• • Receive a $3,000 micro-grant
  • Engage 10 volunteers through build events
  • Complete and deliver 20 assistive technologies to Canadians with disabilities
  • Purchase tools, 3D printers, and supplies to host build events
  • Be supported by Makers Making Change staff and fellow leaders across Canada

Read Nico’s Clubs That Care success story here(new window).

Watch our latest MMC Live for an overview and update on Clubs That Care:

Activity #3: Join or Organize a Walk and Roll Event

Take a walk or roll in your neighbourhood with family, friends, classmates, colleagues, or on your own at any time during NAAW, and reflect on accessibility where you live or work.

How to Walk and Roll

• • Choose your route: Walk around the block, to a nearby park, or even a lap or two around your school track or field.
  • Bring others: Go with family, friends, classmates, colleagues, or even take part on your own.
  • Reflect as you go: What makes your community accessible? How could you help to remove barriers?
  • Keep it simple: Your walk doesn’t have to be long. A few minutes is all it takes to participate.

Download our printable How to Walk and Roll Poster.

You can also choose from our growing list of events taking place across Canada, leading up to and during NAAW:

• • May 24^th: Walk & Roll Accessibility Parade, Surrey, British Columbia
  • May 26^th: Connecting the Dots Lite, Kelowna, British Columbia
  • May 26^th: Legislative Lunch, Fredericton, New Brunswick
  • May 27^th: Inclusive Job Fair and Career Expo: Saint John, New Brunswick
  • May 28^th: Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion, 2026, Virtual
  • May 28^th: KPU Accessibility Week Event, Richmond, British Columbia
  • May 28^th and 29^th: Canada Wide Science Fair, Edmonton, Alberta
  • May 28^th and 29^th: Skills Canada National Competition, Toronto, Ontario
  • May 30^th: Ocean Wise Accessible Shoreline Cleanup
  • May 31^st: Kick Off Event: Saint John, New Brunswick
  • June 2^nd: Many in Motion Day, Canada
  • June 4^th: Walk and Roll: Burnaby, British Columbia

Find more events happening during NAAW by visiting our events calendar(new window).

For additional events in New Brunswick, please visit the Premier’s Council on Disabilities website(new window).

Downloadable Resources

          

Download our printable How to Walk and Roll Poster here.

Download our printable National AccessAbility Week Poster here.

Download our printable Colouring Pages here.

You may also visit the Government of Canada’s National AccessAbility 2026 page for links to more information and resources.

About National AccessAbility Week

NAAW 2026 takes place from May 31st to June 6th. It’s a time to promote accessibility and inclusion across Canada. This week recognizes the important contributions of people with disabilities and encourages efforts to remove barriers, creating a fair and welcoming society for everyone. Get involved and help support greater accessibility!

If you have any questions about NAAW activities, please email us at info@neilsquire.ca.

Sign Up Here

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who can take part in NAAW?
A: Anyone in Canada (or the world) can take part in NAAW. We’re spreading the word and hope to have people in every province and territory across Canada take part in some way.

Q: How can I take part in NAAW?
A: You can take part in NAAW in one of three ways:

• • 1. Watch a Virtual Presentation
    2. Organize a Buildathon
    3. Join or Organize a Walk and Roll Event

Q: Why do I need to sign up and pledge my commitment to celebrate NAAW?
A: By signing up and pledging your commitment to celebrate NAAW in advance it helps us track the impact of NAAW, and plan events across the country.

Q: When will the virtual presentations be available to watch?
A: The virtual presentations (in both English and French) will be hosted on YouTube and will be available to watch as soon as NAAW begins on the morning of May 31st. You may watch the presentations at any time you like during NAAW. The link to view the presentations will be email to everyone who signs up in advance, or via www.naaw.ca.

Q: How do I organize my own Walk and Roll?
A: Easy, just gather your family, friends, classmates, colleagues, or walk and roll on your own during NAAW, and reflect on accessibility where you live or work. It can be as simple as walking around your block, or to your neighbourhood park.

Q: Can I take part in multiple NAAW activities?
A: Yes! How about watching one of our virtual presentations and then going for a walk afterwards to reflect on what you’ve watched? This is an easy activity that offices or schools can take part in.

Q: Can I share what I do for NAAW on social media?
A: Absolutely! Feel free to use the following hashtags: #NAAW #NAAW2026 #AccessibleCanada