Inclusion in Action

A newsletter from Inclusion BC

October 2023

Find out how Inclusion BC and our partners are advancing the rights and opportunities of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

October 2023 is Community Inclusion Month, a time to celebrate people with lived experience of disability, highlight the progress made for disability inclusion in British Columbia, and raise awareness about the ongoing efforts for an inclusive future for all.

Follow Inclusion BC on social media as we share what’s going on in BC throughout the month.

Inclusion BC in the Community

Our Employer Outreach team has partnered with Aspire Richmond to host an Employer Forum and Appreciation Breakfast on October 3rd. Find more information and register here

The Community-Led Collaboration Project is hitting the road again this month and will be in Kamloops on October 12 -14 and in Port Alberni on October 17-19. We want to hear from you about improving services and supports for children and youth with support needs. Find more information and register here

On October 25 Inclusion BC will be at the Victoria Legislature with our partners the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) to celebrate Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Awareness Month and Community Inclusion Month. Come by and say hi, we’d love to see you there!

We are excited to introduce our new Inclusion BC MentorAbility team for inclusive employment, Sonali Kuber and Tina Dam!

A woman wearing a baseball cap and pink-rimmed round glasses smiling. She is wearing a white shirt with a red heart on it and black text.

Teresa Heartchild - Art, Family, and Freedom

Teresa describes herself in many ways – a "self-activist," a "wounded daughter," and perhaps most importantly, an artist. Before she became an accomplished illustrator and poet and published two books of her work, she was at the centre of a fierce conflict between her family members about where she belonged.

Read Teresa's story

Talking with the Minister of Education and Child Care

In our meeting with Rachna Singh, we shared our beliefs that all students who learn in inclusive classrooms gain the skills and mindset to create inclusive spaces in their adult lives and that it's our shared responsibility to provide quality education. We also discussed the current reality of inclusive education in BC.

a woman with long brown hair smiling. She is wearing a business suit

An elderly woman with short brown hair stands in front of a large painting of a white rose. She is wearing glasses, and a purple jacket over a pink shirt

Making Community Inclusion History - Barb Goode’s Advocacy Journey

In recent history, the forced sterilization of people with disabilities was stopped by a group of self advocates including Barb Goode and her colleagues. This is the story of her experience and how a movement was started for human rights.

Find out more about Barb Goode's Journey for Inclusion

The INCLUSION

Art Show & Sale by posAbilities

This October our member, posAbilities, will be hosting the INCLUSION Art Show & Sale in Vancouver. In this article, they outline their inclusive event, and how a community of people come together every year to celebrate Community Inclusion Month with art!

Read about posAbilities and their commitment to community and the arts

a young woman with purple hair wearing a grey apron outside beside a sign that reads: welcome, please enter here.

Empowering Youth Through the Impact Project: A Journey of Transformation

In the heart of British Columbia, The Impact Project is making waves. It's changing the lives of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are getting ready to transition to post-secondary school and/or employment.

Inclusive Housing talks with BC Municipal Leaders

We spoke to representatives from more than 60 municipalities and regional districts across the province at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention, hearing from every single one that housing security was one of the main topics that their communities were concerned about.

Read about our conversations with municipal leaders

Two women standing at an exhibit table with colourful papers on it. Behind them are two brightly colored banners with facts on inclusive housing on them and illustrations of diverse communities

Support our work

Inclusion BC brings people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families together to strengthen their personal advocacy efforts, share resources, and build community. Help us to provide opportunities like this across the province by signing up as a Circle of Friends monthly donor. With as little as $5 a month, you are helping to advocate for the rights and opportunities of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

a group of people mid-discussion around a large round table with a large piece of paper on it. One woman in the group is looking at the camera and smiling

"I am a self-advocate; I am also a mamma and a grandmama. Going to an event like the Family Leadership Series as a parent and self advocate, I was able to share my story. More work needs to be done for us [persons with disabilities] to really be included. I asked the other parents to help us speak up but not to speak for us. Having a self advocate panel at these events is very important, people need to hear more from self-advocates and how they live their lives. "

-Parent

Donate Today

In The News

Opportunities to Take Action

Read about BC engagement projects to improve services for children and youth with support needs

Share your hopes and dreams for public education in BC

Take part in a paid study with UBC about the relationship between social-emotional processing and wellbeing in young adulthood

Join in on the City of Richmond's 2023 Diversity Symposium

Share this entrepreneur training program by Vancouver Island University for people with disabilities

You may have noticed we changed the format of our newsletter…we want to know what you think! Give us feedback about the new format here

If you know someone who would be interested in the work of Inclusion BC, please spread the word, share this email, and ask them to sign up for Inclusion in Action here

Inclusion BC is a non-profit federation working with partners to build community and enhance the lives of children, youth, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families. They do this by supporting people’s abilities, promoting positive action, and advocating for rights, responsibilities, and social justice. Inclusion BC is supported by a membership of individuals, families, and 65 member organizations that are working together to build inclusive communities across the province of British Columbia.

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