It’s National Volunteer Week! This blog is about the highs and lows of volunteering as a person with an intellectual disability. There are quotes from a self-advocate named Michael from British Columbia and a family member named Evelyn from New Brunswick. Evelyn McNulty’s daughter Lily has volunteered in her community for most of her life. … Continued
Sophia was confident. She knew exactly what she needed to live well. That is an affordable, smoke and chemical free home to accommodate her recognized disability: Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS). There is no cure for MCS. MCS is managed by limiting exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Sophia was persistent. She asked for help again … Continued
Inclusion Canada made recommendations to the Government of Canada for Federal Budget 2023. The federal budget tells us what initiatives and programs the government plans to spend money on in the coming year. It is important that we provide our community’s priorities. Federal Budget 2023 will come out next month. Inclusion Canada’s recommendations were chosen … Continued
On November 28, 2022, Inclusion Canada and People First of Canada hosted their 13th federal policy forum on inclusion. This year’s event was called Demanding Better: How the Disability Inclusion Action Plan could change the lives of people with an intellectual/developmental disability. The full day event explored the 4 pillars of Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action … Continued
by Natalia Hicks, Director of Community Justice & Health Equity, Inclusion Canada December 1st is World AIDS Day. The theme for 2022 is “Equalize.” As the Director of Community Justice and Health Equity at Inclusion Canada, I have been participating in Realize’s National Guiding Circle on HIV and Disability. The Guiding Circle is a cross … Continued
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week this week! Have you had trouble finding mental health care that you can afford? Have you found it hard to find a therapist who is a good fit? Have you had health care providers brush off concerns about your mental health? If you said “yes” to any of these questions, … Continued
Hosted by Inclusion Canada & People First of Canada in collaboration with Office for Disability Issues, Employment and Social Development Canada November 28th, 2022 – Shaw Centre, Ottawa, Ontario (in-person event) Canada’s federal government is working on our country’s first Disability Inclusion Action Plan. The Plan’s 4 pillars explore areas that deeply impact the lives of … Continued
Only 6% of survey respondents agreed that the Employment Equity Act has made a big difference in people with an intellectual disability getting and keeping good jobs. The Employment Equity Act is a law that aims to make jobs opportunities and workplaces fairer. It focuses on people with disabilities, women, indigenous people, and members of … Continued
On March 17, 2021, the lives of people with disabilities in Canada changed forever, when Canada made it legal to receive Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) based on disability. MAiD on the basis of disability continues to be a leading topic for debate in Canada as the Special Joint Committee on MAiD reviews the recent … Continued
Happy National AccessAbility Week! Although I’ve been working in the disability and inclusion space for almost 8 years, I’m always learning new ways to make my writing more accessible and inclusive. Here are my top 5 tips! Plan for accessibility from the start. Trying to fix issues later is almost always more time consuming, expensive, … Continued
