Access to Justice is Foundational to Social Justice

February 20 marks World Day of Social Justice. This year’s theme by the United Nations, “Social Protection and Decent Work for All”, calls for practical policies that reduce poverty, strengthen public services, and ensure access to justice and wellbeing for everyone.

For people with disabilities, this isn’t theoretical. It’s personal.

Social justice is often discussed in terms of income supports, employment rates, or labor rights. Those matter profoundly, but for many people with disabilities, justice begins even earlier, with a more fundamental question: Can I access legal protection at all? 

Can I understand my rights? Challenge decisions affecting my housing, income, or healthcare? Navigate systems designed without me in mind? Afford legal guidance when I need it most? 

When the answer is no, every other social protection becomes a promise without a pathway. 

At ABLE2, the Reach Legal Referral Services exists because access to justice is not equitable. Legal systems can be overwhelming, expensive, and inaccessible, particularly for people living with disabilities or limited financial means. This service bridges that gap.

We mobilize a network of over 200 volunteer lawyers, paralegals, and mediators who provide up to 3 hours of free, confidential legal consultation. For many clients, this is the first time they’ve felt heard in a system that felt stacked against them. Sometimes it’s the difference between losing housing and maintaining stability, between exploitation and protection, or between giving up and asserting their rights. 

Access to justice underpins every other social protection system.

Without it, workers cannot defend their labor rights, tenants cannot challenge unsafe or discriminatory housing practices, families cannot secure benefits they are entitled to, and individuals cannot protect themselves from exploitation or abuse. When legal protections are inaccessible, rights are theoretical.

The UN’s theme emphasizes decent work. For people with disabilities, decent work requires more than job opportunities. It requires enforceable workplace accommodations, protection from discrimination, fair wages, and meaningful participation. 

But when you can’t access legal systems to challenge discrimination or demand accommodations, “decent work” remains out of reach, regardless of how many jobs exist. 

Employment equity laws mean nothing if people can’t exercise them. 

ABLE2’s Reach Legal Referral Services, and other programs at ABLE2 that provide navigation support and advocacy help ensure people don’t navigate fragmented systems alone. We work to reduce stigma, build understanding, and connect individuals to services that support dignity and stability.

But charities like ours cannot replace systemic responsibility.

Programs like ours should be bridges, not permanent solutions. Governments must adequately fund inclusive social protection systems. Employers must uphold labor rights and engage in meaningful social dialogue. Communities must challenge stigma and invest in local initiatives that connect people to services and opportunities.

Social justice is not achieved through statements. It is achieved through structures that work for everyone from the start. 

If we are serious about “Social Protection and Decent Work for All,” then access to justice must be non-negotiable, not a charitable service, but a fundamental right with infrastructure to support it. 

On this World Day of Social Justice, I’m challenging leaders, policymakers, employers, and community members alike: examine where barriers still exist, and remove them. Fund inclusive systems. Design services that are accessible from the start. Ensure people with disabilities can claim their rights, not just read about them.

Social cohesion strengthens when inclusion is intentional. Justice delayed for some is justice denied for all. 

Social justice is built through action. Let’s build it together.

Where do you see justice gaps in your community? What role might you play in closing them?

Published by

Heather Lacey

Experienced Non-Profit Executive Director

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