Communication Intermediaries – Access to Justice for those with Communication Disabilities

Caitlin Buchel is a registered Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), Communication Intermediary (CI), and founder/Executive Director of Communication Access to Justice (CAJust) which is a national non-profit organization that promotes access to the justice system- including police, corrections, and courts – for people who have speech, language and/or cognitive disabilities. CAJust trains, supports, and publishes a national list of Communication Intermediaries (Cis) who neutrally intermediate between, victims, witness, accused persons, and justice professional. Caitlin is also an expert consultant SLP on Manitoba’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) team. She lives and works in Manitoba.

Learning Objectives:
1) What is a Communication Intermediary and what is their role in the Canadian justice and policing system?
2) Increase your awareness of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the resulting processes that have been put in place in the Ontario Court system (including accessibility coordinators) to accommodate individuals with communication disabilities (among others).
3) Explore the challenges and barriers faced by individuals with self-identified communication disabilities when navigating the justice system.
4) Learn practical strategies and tools to improve accessibility and inclusion for people with communication disabilities going through the criminal justice system.