About the Wellness and Disability Initiative

WDI offers health and wellness information for Canadians with disabilities through our web site, Resource Centre and telephone/fax service.

Our focus is on health and wellness information in plain language and alternative formats. Plain language information is written in reader-friendly, everyday words with few medical or scientific terms. When medical or scientific words must be used, plain language writers explain what they mean.

How we do it

Customized research service

WDI staff will search our Library, the Internet and databases to find information on your topic. We specialize in health information for people with disabilities and information in plain language and alternative formats.

Library & Information Services

We specialize in customized research on health topics for people with disabilities, family members, healthcare workers, students and educators.

We lend books, videos, and cassettes from our Library to people across Canada.

Our subject areas include:

• HIV/AIDS prevention for people with disabilities
• information about sexuality and disability
• health and wellness for people with disabilities
• plain language writing
• health literacy
• access to information Virtual library

Alternative formats include plain language, videos, closed/open captioned videos, cassettes, large print, braille, American Sign Language (ASL), computer output in the form of voice, large print, or braille.

Why we do it

Our experience with HIV/AIDS prevention for people with disabilities told us that many Canadians need accessible health information (information in plain language and alternative formats).

• help people with disabilities stay well
• help people make decisions about their health
• give people more control over their lives
• help people get the most from our healthcare system