AMI.ca Rights of People Living with Disabilities Legal Research Project

Project Type: 

• Public Legal Education (presentations, workshops, podcasts, brochures, blogs, etc.)
  
• Research (memoranda used for internal purposes only)

Fields of Law: Human Rights, Constitutional Law (Federalism or the Charter), Health Law, Animal Law

Positions Available: 1

This is a joint project in which University of Toronto students may work with students from Lincoln Alexander Law School (TMU) and Osgoode Hall Law School (York University).

About Accessible Media Inc (AMI):

AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through accessible media, reflection and portrayal. 

Project Details:

Kelly and Ramya is a weekly 2-hour broadcast and podcast that reaches 3k-5k people each week, featuring interviews and discussions about arts, entertainment and lifestyle issues. The student volunteer will support production of the Kelly and Ramya broadcast by conducting issue-driven and legal research producing brief research memos. Once research memos are reviewed and approved by the supervising lawyer and organization contact, legal information contained within these memos will be disseminated publicly via the broadcasts. Information on the broadcast and topics can be found at https://www.ami.ca/meet-hosts-kelly-and-company

Students will complete research in the areas outlined above. The project will engage a law student in research about current legal issues that pertain to people living with disabilities in Canada. Particular focus will be on new federal legislation, as well as that of Ontario. Research may also include non-legal research to learn about public reactions of the state of the law. Further, students may be tasked with conducting outreach. Students may also have the chance to appear on the Kelly and Ramya cable TV show, if they choose to do so.

Will the student(s) be expected to show up for regular shifts each week, or is the schedule flexible?

The placement is virtual so it will be flexible. However, students are expected to have weekly touch base meetings.

Requirements and Expectations:

This project is only open to upper-year students.

Bilingualism is not required, but it would be beneficial.

The successful candidate will have an interest in the rights of people with disabilities and be able to perform both legal and non-legal research. Lived experience is an asset, but not required in order to be successful. We welcome applications from students who live with a disability, particularly low vision or blindness, as the broadcaster targets this audience. Familiarity with disability issues would be very helpful. Students with familiarity with and interest in the Charter, Constitutional, Human Rights and Disability law are preferred.