Category Archives: Advocacy

“If you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism.” — Dr. Stephen Shore

Autism affects how a person communicates and processes information. It’s a type of neurodiversity, with varying needs and experiences across cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Support can range from occasional help to full-time care, and sensory processing differences are common.
Awareness is key to supporting autistic individuals and inclusivity. Learn more by checking out Autism Ontario’s About Autism infographic!

🏫Reflecting on our Practice: Ten Ways Schools Can Foster Belonging Among Students With and Without Disabilities

Suggested reading by OIFN: Ontario Independent Facilitation Network

Check out this reflection guide from the PROGRESS Center at the American Institutes for Research. Although the questions are asked from an education lens, they can easily be applied to thinking about our communities and social groups.

https://promotingprogress.org/sites/default/files/2022-02/Fostering_Belonging_Handout.pdf

✊The Audacity of Inclusion: Fighting for the Equality of Persons Labelled Intellectually Disabled

Inclusion Canada recommends this book:
The Audacity of Inclusion: Fighting for the Equality of Persons Labelled Intellectually Disabled

Details on the book can be found here: 👇
https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000433366040/Dulcie-McCallum-The-Audacity-of-Inclusion

« The Audacity of Inclusion cracks open the vault of injustices perpetrated against people who have an intellectual disability, helping shatter preconceptions and opening new ways of seeing people who are forced to live with a legally sanctioned label. »

🎙️Podcast on Disrupting Ableism in the Workplace

In this episode of You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without A D podcast, Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) got a perspective on Ableism in the workplace: Why it’s happening, its many forms, its impact and what can, and needs to be, done about it.

The two guests for this episode had many powerful insights on ableism.

Sree Nallamothu is the Co-Executive Director of Toronto Neighbourhood Centres. She’s also a documentary film-maker and an advocate for social change.

Fran Odette has more than 25 years of experience in disability advocacy, activism and education. She co-designed and co-teaches a critical disability studies course titled, Disability Discourse: The Experienced Life, at George Brown College in Toronto.

Their insights will get you thinking more consciously about ableism.

Read this excerpt from the conversation: https://www.odenetwork.com/qa-excerpt-disrupting-ableism-in-the-workplace/
Then, to get the full impact of their guests’ insights on ableism, catch the full episode: https://youcantspellinclusionwithoutad.podbean.com/e/episode-20-disrupting-ableism-in-the-workplace/

🗺️Consultation on the Accessible Canada Roadmap

📣 Accessible Canada wants to hear from you!
A consultation has just launched to get your feedback on the draft Accessible Canada Roadmap. They invite all Canadians who are passionate about advancing accessibility to share their input on areas of action that can help us achieve a barrier-free Canada by 2040.
Share your views before January 8, 2025: https://ow.ly/EkaN50TxftN