As part of our free monthly webinar series, we invite you to discover the “Territorialized Food Systems” initiative, led by Professor Laurence Guillaumie from Université Laval.

Overview

In Quebec, food insecurity has risen dramatically in recent years, disproportionately affecting people with disabilities. Food insecurity rates are three times higher in households where the primary income earner lives with a disability, and in Montreal, nearly one in three people with disabilities experiences hunger.

While international studies have examined the barriers people with disabilities face when accessing food sources, no Quebec-based research had previously explored the relationship between disability and food security. What obstacles do people with disabilities encounter when trying to access food in Quebec? What are their needs to facilitate this access?

This webinar presents the findings of a study conducted by Ex aequo with 19 individuals living with different types of disabilities and health conditions. The results suggest that many of the difficulties people with disabilities face in accessing food are driven by ableism and are therefore preventable. The findings point to avenues for improving the accessibility of food security initiatives and enhancing programs and services that influence the ability of people with disabilities to obtain adequate food.

Biography of Élodie Fournier

Élodie Fournier is a Research Coordinator and Food Security Advocacy Officer at Ex aequo, a Montreal-based organization dedicated to defending the rights of people living with mobility impairments.

Holding a Master’s degree in Sociology from the Université de Montréal, she began doctoral studies in the same discipline in the fall of 2026. Her research focuses on the ways ableism permeates Quebec society and shapes both the exclusion of people with disabilities and the social inequalities they experience. Her work also contributes to broader reflections on promoting and protecting human rights.