Inclusion in Action

A newsletter from Inclusion BC

December 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.

Support Inclusion

a young woman standing in a library surrounded by shelves of books. Text in handwriting font reads: My name is Taya and I like proving people wrong. I’m pretty funny when you get to know me, and surprisingly outgoing under a few layers of anxiety. I’ve been told I’m a really good listener and people trust me. I’m in school to become an educational assistant because I’ve always wanted to support kids to have an easier time in the school system than I did. I didn’t always have the best experience in school growing up and I want to be that support for others that I didn’t have.

You can help to expand people’s ideas about what the life of a person with an intellectual or developmental disability looks like. Together we can ensure that people have choice and control over the support they need to thrive on their own terms.

Donate Now

Inclusion BC in the Community

December 3rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Our Executive Director, Karla Verschoor, will be in Ottawa to celebrate with Inclusion Canada and our National Federation Members.

We are excited to welcome Alysa Huppler-Poliak to the Inclusion BC team as our Ready Willing & Able Labour Market Facilitator.

Inclusion BC’s offices will be closed for the holidays from December 21st to January 3rd. We look forward to working with you to advance inclusion in 2024!

In black and white. A woman touching her nose to her young child who is seated. They are both smiling.

Advocating for their families with passion and patience - BC Complex Kids

“We remain hopeful because we have to, and we will persevere.” With great passion, patience and determination, Inclusion BC members, BC Complex Kids, works to make their families’ needs understood and advocate for change to the complicated systems they navigate every day.

Read about BC Complex Kids

Presenting for

Inclusive Housing

We were invited to moderate a Lived-Experience Panel to over 1700 people at Housing Central, BC Non Profit Housing Association's annual conference. We recruited three incredible housing advocates – Lauren Simpson, Larissa Gunkel and Alexis Baird. All three have been powerful advocates for inclusive housing and we were privileged to work with them and share their perspectives!

Katie Moore: Accessibility Through an International Lens

Katie is originally from the UK, and she and her family moved to Canada in 2009. “The process took a lot of work,” explains her mom, Debbie.

There are many differences in accessibility and disability inclusion between countries, but how about the experience?

A woman with long brown hair seated in an office. She is smiling and speaking. There is a label to the bottom left of the screen that reads: Karla Verschoor. Executive Director.

A Year in Review

2023 was a busy year at Inclusion BC! We connected with so many people and communities all over BC to advance inclusion and also made many memories. In this video, some of our staff members answer the question; "What was the most memorable moment for you in 2023?"

Watch our stories from 2023

Everybody Belongs! Inclusion BC 2024, Nanaimo BC, May 30 to June 1, 2024

Call for Workshop Proposals - OPEN

Submit your workshop proposal today to present at our annual conference.

Share your knowledge and experience as a workshop presenter. Inspire change, spark dialogue, generate new ideas, and deepen the learning.

The deadline to apply is January 15, 2024.

Lessons from the Inclusive Employer Awards

"A jobseeker’s ambition is only one piece of the puzzle. The other is an employer willing to take a chance".

Jillian recounts the experience of hosting an inclusive employer forum, stories of triumph, and how we can make change for more inclusive employers.

Read about the event

In The News

Richmond News

Richmond's disability community gets voice via Inclusion BC sessions

The Tyee

Developmentally Disabled People Are Being Pushed into Homelessness

Our Executive Director, Karla Verschoor, comments on the crisis

Policy Options

Dismantling systemic ableism in health research

CTV

B.C. woman's pre-booked airport wheelchairs never showed up

Georgia Straight

Designers are making a more accessible BC

CTV

Stanley Park train returning without wheelchair-accessible car

Opportunities to Get Involved

Participate in a study about mental health for youth with disability with York University

R e a d about BC engage ment proj e c t s to improve services for children and youth with s upp or t n e e d s

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

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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