Transforming Advance Care Planning with Inclusivity: Inside the ACP Learning Community

The Accessible Advance Care Planning (ACP) Learning Community is a new program developed as part of the “Making advance care planning more accessible” project. This project is led by ACP Canada, an initiative of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association.

As awareness around advance care planning grows, the need for inclusive materials and approaches has become increasingly important. Made up of people who work in healthcare, community and social services, and disability sectors, Learning Community members share a passion for raising awareness of advance care planning, and ensuring ACP is accessible to all people in Canada.

The Community seeks to bridge gaps, address barriers, and provide resources for a broad range of individuals to help them plan for their future healthcare needs in a way that feels both approachable and empowering. The Community also aims to ensure the voices of people with real-life experience, like self-advocates and caregivers, are heard.

What is Advance Care Planning?

Advance care planning is the process of thinking about, discussing, and documenting one’s preferences for future healthcare. This approach can help ensure that a person’s values, beliefs, and wishes are respected, even if they are unable to make decisions for themselves due to illness or injury. According to a 2024 national survey conducted by Advance Care Planning Canada, 82% of people in Canada believe that recording their wishes would help take pressure off of their loved ones.  Having an advance care plan offers peace of mind and reinforces autonomy over their health and personal care preferences.

However, barriers to advance care planning remain, particularly for those who might find the traditional materials or processes inaccessible. The ACP Learning Community was created to address these needs, providing an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals and groups to learn, share, and build more accessible resources.

Goals of the Accessible ACP Learning Community

The Accessible ACP Learning Community was formed with several key goals in mind:

1. Building Connections: By helping to create strong connections between and among ACP stakeholders across sectors.
2. Improving Accessibility: By making sure advance care planning information, resources, and programs are easy to understand, the Learning Community ensures that more people can access, understand, and engage with advance care planning.
3. Encouraging Collaboration: Through partnerships with healthcare providers, non-profit organizations, community groups, and individuals, the Learning Community leverages collective knowledge to create resources that meet a wide array of needs.

Creating a Supportive Environment: The Learning Community fosters a network where people can openly discuss their questions and concerns, share experiences, and learn from each other.

Next Learning Community Meeting

The next meeting of the Accessible ACP Learning Community will take place online on Tuesday, November 26 from 11 – 12PM Eastern.

Universal Design: From Concept to action

Presenter: Joyce Barlow

What can we do in our daily practices to make things more accessible?  In a climate of financial constraints, overworked employees, and reduced resiliency for change, how do we find opportunities to make an impact? Where is our agency to remove systemic barriers and inaccessible built environments when these practices have already been historically entrenched?

In this session, Joyce will discuss how Universal Design can be used as a mindset shift, guiding you through everyday work activities to move towards a more accessible world.  Multiple areas of accessibility will be discussed (physical environment, digital, customer service, employment, etc.) and attendees will have actionable takeaways they can apply to advance accessibility in their work and organization.

Join the Accessible Learning Community

The Accessible ACP Learning Community continues to expand its reach, working to ensure that advance care planning is accessible to all people in Canada, regardless of background, ability, or circumstance.

The initiative’s commitment to inclusivity, empowerment, and support serves as a model for similar programs, underscoring the importance of accessibility in healthcare planning. The Accessible ACP Learning Community invites everyone—from individuals looking to create their own advance care plans, to organizations interested in promoting accessible planning in their communities—to join the movement for more inclusive, compassionate healthcare choices.

If you would like to join the Community, please visit https://www.advancecareplanning.ca/programs/accessible-learning-community/ and complete the registration form.