Consultation of the intellectual disability community on SQDI’s orientations and demands

Context

Starting in 2018, SQDI has published an orientations and demands document. This document is used to present the demands of SQDI and its members, but also of the intellectual disability community more generally. In particular, SQDI uses this document with elected officials and government departments and agencies. The initial document was written for the 2018 provincial elections, then updated in 2022 for the elections. For the 2026 elections, SQDI will be updating the document into a third version.

While some things have remained the same, others have evolved in the province and at the federal level. SQDI has also worked on important issues for individuals and members. It is therefore time to update the SQDI demands and orientations document.

The consultation

To update the orientations and demands document, SQDI will consult its members, people with intellectual disabilities and their families, as well as partners with expertise in particular fields. This will enable the organization to ensure that it represents the community well, and that people agree with its positions.

The consultation is scheduled to take place in 2025 and 2026, with publication of a final document in early summer 2026 for the pre-election campaign (see timetable below).

Priority issues for consultation

SQDI members decided on three priority topics for 2024: housing, active social role and employment. For the consultation, the SQDI team identified the most important topics based on the priorities of members, people with intellectual disabilities and their loved ones, but also on the advances or setbacks that have taken place in relation to various topics, and the policy briefs and opinions produced since 2022. This enabled the SQDI team, in collaboration with the participants in the working groups, to decide on the priority topics for the consultation. Other topics will be updated directly by the team, and targeted consultations will be carried out with experts.

Priority issues for consultation :

• Housing,
• Active social role,
• Health and social services,
• Preemployment, employment and career development.

Other topics for consultation include inclusive education, aging and end of life, transportation and early childhood.

Consultation process

SQDI will be using several different consultation methods to update the orientations and demands document. Here’s how the consultation will take place:

1. Consultation with SQDI working groups and experts in the field ( if necessary): in certain cases, the SQDI team will consult working groups or experts in the field to clarify certain points.
2. Public surveys: surveys will be published and will be accessible to anyone with an interest in intellectual disabilities. Surveys will be bilingual and in plain language.
3. Members-only discussion groups: these discussion groups will be held online and will enable SQDI members and affiliated persons – people with an intellectual disability and their loved ones, or any other persons affiliated with SQDI member organizations – to give their opinions on various subjects.
4. Incorporating comments into the document: once these consultation methods are complete, the people in charge at SQDI will take into account all comments, survey results, etc., and write a final version of the orientations.
5. Validation with members: members will then be able to consult the final version of the document and send in their comments.
6. Adoption by the Board of Directors: once all these stages have been completed, the Board of Directors will approve the document.

Good to know: if you’re not a SQDI member, you can still become one! Contact Olivier Guérin, responsible for associative life and member relations, to become a member.

Calendar

Most of the consultation will take place in 2025, but the final document should be ready in spring or summer 2026. Here’s a preliminary timetable:

Questions about the consultation