Navigators
Exploring the Use of Navigators to Advance Access to Federal Programs and Services for People with Disabilities
This project seeks to explore the use of “navigators” to support individuals with intellectual disabilities in identifying and accessing federal programs and supports such as the Disability Tax Credit and the Registered Disability Savings Plan.
The project involves a literature review, jurisdictional scan, focus groups with people with lived experiences and their supporters, key informant interviews, three to five case studies and a survey of persons with lived experiences and their supporters.
A jurisdictional scan provided a comprehensive lens into the existing landscape of navigator services for individuals with disabilities across Canada. We examined how these services operate in various provinces and territories, including details about eligibility criteria, accessibility, funding and geographic distribution. Gaining a holistic understanding of how navigator services operate in different regions allows for the identification of best practices, potential gaps and areas for improvement, which informs our current research.
Navigators serve as brokers who help individuals or families confront complex systems and provide information about supports and services within and across complex and inaccessible systems.
Project Team
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