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.

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

Date modified: