Skills Society 2022 Annual Report

SKILLS SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT 2022

GOOD ENOUGH ISN’T ENOUGH Never settling Striving for the ‘good life’

GOOD ENOUGH ISN’T ENOUGH Never settling - striving for the ‘good life’

Good Enough Isn’t Enough........................................................................................................................02 We are Skills Society...................................................................................................................................04 Our Strategic Priorities 2020-2023............................................................................................................14 Skills Society Board of Directors 2022-2023.............................................................................................15 Board Chair Report......................................................................................................................................16 Treasurer Report...........................................................................................................................................19 Fund Development at Skills Society......................................................................................................... 20 Donor Recognition...................................................................................................................................... 23 Executive Director Report.......................................................................................................................... 24 Weaving Meaningful Indigenous Inclusion.............................................................................................. 28 Reflections on the ‘Good Life’....................................................................................................................30 Lessons Learned in Persevering for the ‘Good Life’.................................................................................39

GOOD ENOUGH ISN’T ENOUGH Never settling - striving for the ‘good life’

Welcome everyone to our 2022 Skills Society annual general meeting (AGM) report and reflections. As you know, it’s now been over two years since some of the toughest times our Skills Society family has faced in our 41 year history.

As we hopefully continue to see the pandemic become more endemic, we are starting to be able to cautiously look ahead. No one knows exactly what the future will hold, but what we have learned from the pandemic is that we are a strong community when we look out for each other, and see how we are all interconnected. We want to once again offer our sincere gratitude to the people we serve, families, employees, allies and government funders who have stepped up and gone above and beyond to help over the past couple years. You matter and it has made the journey a little easier knowing our community is there for each other.

The theme for our AGM is partially about not settling for just ‘good enough’ as we come out of the pandemic. But the theme is also something we think is a powerful call to action that should underlie all of our collective work, vision, values, thrive in five, and deep citizenship model that underpins our

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support of people. When we reflect on what the energies are that truly push us forward in supporting the good life for people, it’s when everyone in our Skills community from front line to the board, have a deep conviction that no one should settle for people with disabilities lives just being ok, or ‘good enough’. We believe anyone can be a leader and the leaders who make a difference are the ones who don’t settle and strive against all odds and barriers to insist on figuring out how to support people with disabilities to have good lives. We are proud to present in the report, reflections on what the good life can mean, and stories of not giving up or settling when barriers and “ya buts” arise. We hope that as we all read the report and stories, we all come away with conviction to not settle, and keep working together to figure out how to keep supporting people to have good lives everyday.

We believe anyone can be a leader and the leaders who make a difference are the ones who don’t settle and strive against all odds and barriers to insist on figuring out how to support people with disabilities to have good lives.

- Skills Society Leadership

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WE ARE SKILLS SOCIETY

WHO WE SERVE

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We are one of the largest disability service organizations in the Edmonton area. For 40 years we have provided individualized support services to people with developmental disabilities, their families, and the communities in which they live. Our work is complex but our goal is simple: help people with disabilities live safe, dignified and meaningful lives.

Our organization was started in the 1980s by parents who wanted more for their sons and daughters - to reduce their sense of isolation by removing them from “institutions” and placing them back into the arms of society. Today, we remain connected to those roots by keeping our services person-centred and focused on the unique needs of every individual. In doing so, we reduce their isolation and improve their mental health, reduce their healthcare and justice costs, and help them set and achieve personal goals they (and their families) never thought possible.

We provide support services to children and adults with developmental disabilities, survivors of brain injuries, and their families. Support varies depending on the level of need and qualifications for government funding. For some, we may provide a few hours of outreach support each week. For others, it involves 24/7 supported community living. We also work with those who are defined by PDD as having complex service needs.

30 people

50 children

who are brain injury survivors

375 people served

by Skills Society 295 people with developmental disabilities (PDD)

102 people

66 people

with complex behavioural needs

with complex medical needs

PDD Funded Residential Community Living

PDD Funded Supported Independent Living

Decision making and advocacy

159 people funded 47 with complex needs

136 people funded 55 with complex needs

175 people have family to help 120 do not

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VISION A community where all individuals are valued citizens deserving respect, dignity and rights.

MISSION We support individuals with disabilities and their families in their right to learn and grow in the community. Our services strengthen belonging and encourage and support individual choice and opportunity.

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CITIZENSHIP IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO For many of us, citizenship is something we take for granted. It can be defined in many ways, but at its core ​ citizenship​is our sense of value and belonging. This sense of citizenship doesn’t always extend to people with disabilities. That’s why Skills Society was formed - to provide people with disabilities with the same opportunities and choices, the same ability to share their gifts and talents, and the same sense of belonging that we all enjoy. ​Citizenship​is what we strive for every day - and it encompasses the following:

Relationships Surrounded by people who love and care for them, sharing their lives with others

Rights Equal access to opportunities, freedom to choose, independence

CITIZENSHIP

Participation Meaningful things to do and places to go, the opportunity to share gifts and talents with others

Belonging Feeling valued, respected, and an important part of society

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OUR CORE VALUES PRACTICE IN PERSON-CENTRED WAYS

We never forget to keep the voices of those we serve at the centre of our planning and practices.

By working with others, we build a stronger community of neighbours, leaders and advocates.

Why it Matters In the past, people with disabilities were left out of important conversations that affected their lives. We believe that our planning, policies, procedures, and pathways are more effective when they are informed by and responsive to the needs of the people whose lives they impact.

Why it Matters We believe that real social change comes from collective effort. By sharing resources and working closely with other like-minded organizations, we raise the voice of the disability community and take a leading role in building more inclusive communities.

EMBRACE COMPLEXITY

We know that supporting people’s citizenship is complex. Through creativity, determination and collaboration we can tackle any challenge.

Why it Matters Helping people with disabilities live fulfilling lives is not an easy, straightforward road. It is complex work - from the needs of the people we serve to the interconnected policies that shape their world. Rather than shy away from these challenges, we meet them head-on with creativity, determination and collective effort.

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SEEK CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS

ADAPT & EVOLVE

We build our supports to adapt to the unique needs of each person. At the same time, we strive to shift our services and priorities to meet changing times.

Why it Matters Life is full of change. We know that if our strategies and systems are too rigid and static, we risk our services becoming less useful or relevant. Instead, we are stronger when we are more agile in responding to changing contexts and uncertain times.

BUILD AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE

In order to continually improve the support we provide, we’re not afraid to learn from others and try new ideas.

Why it Matters In order to become better problem solvers, we work hard to learn through our actions and study excellence in others. We are committed to trying new ideas, seeking input on our work, and building a learning organization each and every day.

ACTION LAB UPDATE As many of you know, Action Lab is a social enterprise of Skills Society. Profits from renting the space and stewarding various social innovation explorations come back to support our work at Skills Society. Action Lab continues to grow and evolve in its offerings. This year we are excited to share that we’ve launched a new Action Lab website that shares a bit about Action Lab and the important work we’ve been a part of stewarding. One of the projects featured is our recent Future of Home: Inclusive Housing Solutions Lab that co-created with people with disabilities, funders, developers, and service providers; inclusive, accessible, and affordable housing and support models for people with disabilities. Check it out! actionlab.ca @actionlabYEG

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SKILLS HELPS PEOPLE THRIVE IN FIVE PILLARS OF EVERYDAY LIFE We build each of our services to help people with disabilities thrive in five pillars of everyday life.

Supporting the Citizenship of People with Disabilities

What this looks like: • Making a house feel like a home • Building and strengthening connections with roommates, neighbours, friends and family • Establishing healthy and meaningful routines together • Completing day-to-day tasks like budgeting and grocery shopping

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What this looks like: • Making and sustaining friendships along with healthy, romantic relationships • Establishing social networks with friends, neighbors and colleagues • Nurturing family relationships

What this looks like: • Finding and maintaining paid employment • Developing new skills through volunteering • Pursuing education or jobrelated training

What this looks like: • Setting and attending medical appointments • Establishing healthy eating habits and exercise routines • Assisting with personal hygiene • Supporting medication management • Supporting mental and emotional wellbeing

What this looks like: • Participating in neighbourhood activities • Sharing talents with the community • Discovering fun and meaningful things to do

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WEAVING IT TOGETHER, A JOURNEY METAPHOR There is quite a bit of detail in our vision, mission, and values and a metaphor might help with remembering the purpose of each element, and how it contributes to our core purpose of supporting people with disabilities to lead good lives - lives that are vibrant, filled with opportunities for learning and doing, rich with relationships, and anchored in a sense of belonging.

Imagine we’re on a metaphorical journey alongside people with disabilities and families we serve.

Our Vision is the destination we want to reach together.

Our Mission is like a boat we’ve built to get us to our destination.

Our Values and Thrive in Five approach are what each crew member on the ship needs to know and practice in order to be able to lead, set the sails properly and keep everyone on course towards our destination.

OUR VISION

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VALUES + THRIVE IN FIVE It takes everyone working together with Vision, Mission, Values and Thrive in Five approach to help us reach our destination.

OUR MISSION

You might wonder with this metaphorical ship, “Who is the captain?” or “Who decides who does what on the ship?”.

On this ship, everyone is a servant leader and able to step in to help where required. People we serve and families are often guiding the wheel of the ship and sometimes they need others to step in and help keep the ship moving. We can switch in and out of these roles because ideally each crew member is grounded in the values and Thrive in Five approach that enables continued progress even when we face tough waters.

Throughout the journey we all need to be checking in check the various navigation instruments and compass - and ask ourselves “Are we on course?” or even, “Is there a scenic detour showing up that we want to take that will add some richness to the journey?”. As leaders on this journey alongside people with disabilities we serve, we need to be continuously reflecting and thinking about when we need to step in to lead more, or when we need to step back and let others lead. This supports us in understanding our responsibility to ourselves and others, raising ethical questions, and taking actions to help Skills with living our shared values.

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OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 2020-2023 EMERGING PRIORITIES We focus on these emerging priorities to ensure that we continue to effectively navigate, respond to, and thrive in current policy and funding contexts.

Strategically Manage Our Work with People Labelled with Complex Needs Balancing our commitment to serving people with complex needs with the safety and needs of staff and the people we currently serve.

Increase Financial Management & Resiliency Anticipate, monitor and adapt to changes in funding models while continuing to develop new revenue streams.

Be Ready to Adapt Our Organizational Models Develop an understanding of the different organizational models available and develop the relationships and capacity to move quickly to adopt new models if the situation requires it.

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Advance Sector Priorities Be sector leaders, spearheading and participating in system level change processes that show promise of enhancing the lives of people with disabilities.

Get to the Next Level in Data & Evaluation Strengthen our organizational and measurement systems to respond to needs, help improve performance and demonstrate our value.

ONGOING PRIORITIES In addition to the emerging priorities, we continue to focus on the ongoing priorities that ensure our organization remains strong, healthy and able to fulfill our mission in the most effective way possible.

Strengthen our Capacity to Support Citizenship & Deep Belonging in the Lives of the People we Serve.

Supporting people to not just be “in” community but to be “of” community with a sense of reciprocal participation and belonging.

Reinforce Innovation Culture & Capacity Continue to foster a culture of creativity and innovation that values learning and experimentation.

Continuous Improvement of Internal organizational processes Continue to streamline internal processes to make them more effective, efficient, and user friendly.

Skills Society Board of Directors 2022-2023 Officers of the Board Debbie Royer, Chair Kate Gunn, Vice Chair Carmen Norris, Secretary Rochelle Mitchell, Treasurer The Slate of Directors to be Ratified for a First Term Bob Philp Nancy Spencer Returning as Directors Darcy McDonald Dianne McConnell The Slate of Directors to be Ratified for a Third Term Darcy McDonald Debbie Royer Carmen Norris

Strive to Maintain a ‘Family Feel’ Maintain the ‘family feel’ amongst staff amidst growth and change.

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BOARD CHAIR REPORT Welcome to the Skills Society 2021-2022 AGM Report

A Second Year Dominated by the COVID Worldwide Pandemic For the second straight year, people supported by the Skills Society, their families, allies and the Skills Society team (employees and board) lived and worked within the evolving context of the COVID pandemic. Vaccines were introduced, public health restrictions and measures were implemented, later relaxed, then reinstated as hospitalizations and deaths spiked again. This rapidly evolving context created unique challenges for the entire Skills family. Keeping the people we support and our staff team as safe as possible was an unrelenting challenge during this tumultuous year. The Skills board wishes to convey our deep and heartfelt thanks to the people we support, their families and allies, and our dedicated staff team for all your hard work and sacrifice during another difficult year.

Skills Society – A Community of Common Care During the last two years, deep cracks revealed themselves in Canada and in many other nations around the world. Even public health measures as simple as masking and social distancing became seen as significant infringements on personal freedoms. Making matters worse, public health measures became politicized between left and right leaning citizens. The air was toxic with angry division and protest. Our civic duty of common care for each other seemed to evaporate in significant proportions. I and many others felt heartsick as we witnessed the erosion of our social contract to look out for one another.

During the difficult and troubled times of the last two years, the Skills Society remained firmly committed to our duty of common care. Individuals, their families and our staff team sacrificed many personal comforts, inconveniences and freedoms to ensure the safety and well being of our entire family. It was our privilege to do so.

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While COVID numbers are declining, public health officials warn us that the pandemic is not over and that spikes in case numbers will rise again as the seasons change and as new variants evolve in our communities. Be assured the Skills Society will continue our commitment to our value of common care.

Service Provider Accreditation Once every three years, the Skills Society must undergo an accreditation review in relation to a comprehensive set of rigorous service delivery standards. The accreditation review is undertaken by the Alberta Council of Disability Services. I am pleased to report the Skills Society was accredited for the next three years and passed with 100% success. Thanks to all staff and board members who participated in the review process.

Fund Development Most organizations in the not-for-profit sector invest volunteer and staff resources to raise funds to supplement funding provided by various orders of government.

Last year, the Skills Society launched a fresh initiative to improve our fund development capacity. This year, a group of board members and staff built upon the work undertaken last year. This year was mainly focused on building a foundation of knowledge to support the development of a strategic plan for our next fiscal year. A consulting group has been retained to support the next phase of implementation. Thanks to board members Kate Gunn, Carmen Norris, Debbie Royer and Darcy McDonald.

Thanks also to senior leaders Ben Weinlick and Rebecca Rubuliak.

This year, the Skills Society improved our fund investment strategy by entering into a relationship with the Alberta Treasury Branch (ATB). ATB has a division whose sole

purpose is to advise and manage investments for not-forprofit organizations. Investment income has improved significantly as a result. As part of this initiative, the board developed a spending policy to guide the expenditure of investment income. Thanks to board Treasurer Rochelle Mitchell for guiding us through the development of this policy.

Also, a heartfelt thanks to all those who volunteered their time and energy for our casino fundraiser.

Education and Influence First off, the Skills Society is non-partisan. However, we do keep a watchful eye on issues affecting the people we exist to support, inform funders and others about these issues, and make recommendations to improve the lives of people with disabilities and service provider capacity to deliver safe, reliable and effective supports.

The next provincial election is scheduled to be held between March 1 and May 31, 2023. The Skills Society Advocacy Committee is positioning itself to inform all political parties and candidates about significant issues in need of attention in the disability support sector.

Two priority issues affecting the lives of people supported

by Skills are income support levels for people with disabilities and staff salaries for employees working in the disability sector.

A priority is that people who receive income supports from government programs such as AISH live below the poverty line. Doing so has a direct impact on their health, safety and opportunities to be fully included in community life. For example, people on income support programs experience diminished capacity to find affordable and accessible housing in safe communities. Living in substandard housing in unsafe communities poses significant risks to the health, safety and well-being of many income support recipients. Another critical example

is a diminished capacity to afford healthy, life-sustaining food. While this has been an issue for decades, it has been exacerbated recently by runaway inflation in the cost of food. Many income support recipients are faced with the heartbreaking dilemma of choosing between food, rent and medicine. The Skills Society Advocacy Committee is well positioned to bring these important issues into focus for all parties and candidates during the year ahead.

Another high priority issue is wage levels for disability sector employees. Funding for disability sector employees has not increased since 2014. That’s eight full years of stagnant income. As a result, community service providers are not able to compete in the labour market for qualified staff, resulting in diminished capacity to deliver quality services in the quantities necessary to meet the needs of people who require support. Again, the Skills Society and others in the sector will do our part to ensure all parties and candidates understand the ramifications of this circumstance.

Again, a big thanks to board members and staff who work to keep the organization informed and focused on mission-critical issues. Included are board member Amy Abbott (Committee Chair), board member Dr. Dianne McConnell, Executive Director Ben Weinlick and Senior Manager Bev Hills.

Complacency – Good Enough isn’t Enough For every person, for all of society and for all organizations (formal and informal), complacency is a daily threat to excellence in all we seek to achieve. Complacency rears its head in many forms. It often manifests itself in thoughts, attitudes, statements and performances. ‘Good enoughness’ is the enemy of excellence. The theme for this year’s AGM, and the stories and reports within this report, addresses the problem of ‘good enough-ness’ in some detail. I encourage you to read these various offerings from people we support, board members, and Skills

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leadership, and think carefully about how we can all do our part to safeguard the path to fully included and accepted lives for people with disabilities. The Skills Society board and staff are and will continue to be fiercely committed to avoiding the many pitfalls of complacency and ‘good enough-ness’, and rooting it out when we find ourselves wandering off the path that leads to deeply meaningful lives for those we support.

University of Alberta Board Internship Program There are approximately 26,000 not-for-profit organizations in Alberta. This large number is a reflection of citizen commitment to our many communities of interest and our fellow citizens. The demand for knowledgeable and experienced board members to govern these organizations is nearly unquenchable. The Skills Society believes it has a duty to help prepare the next generation of board governors. Therefore, each year the Skills Society invites students from the University of Alberta to intern with the Skills Society board. This year, University of Alberta (U of A) student Larissa Mitchell joined our ranks for several months. Thanks to Larissa for her hard work to improve the Skills website and to board member Kate Gunn for mentoring Larissa.

It Takes A Community – Donors, Grants and Endowments The Skills Society relies on the generosity of citizens, organizations and foundations to supplement funding provided for disability supports by Alberta taxpayers through the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Community and Social Services.

In addition to Alberta taxpayers, we are deeply grateful to the friends and organizations for their thoughtful contributions to the people supported by the Skills Society. Your generous gifts will make a real difference in many lives.

Doors Closing and Opening It is said, when one door closes, another door opens.

This year two doors are closing.

Amy Abbott, Skills Society Vice Chair and Advocacy Committee Chair finishes her third and final term with

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the Skills Society. We are all deeply grateful to Amy for nine years of unwavering commitment to the people we support. Amy is a rare principled gem who combines humility, clear and thoughtful analysis and insights, a penchant for practical action and a warm welcoming heart. Thank you, Amy, from the bottom of our hearts!

We’ll miss you a ton.

The second door is mine. I will be leaving the Skills board following the 2022 AGM. It has been my honour to serve the people we support and to play a small part in the 41-year life of one of Alberta’s very best not-for-profit organizations. I am exceedingly grateful to all of my board colleagues and to Ben Weinlick for partnering with me in leading the Skills Society. I will treasure many fond memories and will miss you all. I wish you every success in the years ahead.

The good news is – three doors are opening.

Please welcome Dr. Nancy Spencer to the Skills board.

Nancy is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation at the U of A and has a deep understanding of the disability sector. The research portion of her duties at the U of A focuses on issues relevant to disability and the experiences of children and youth in the contexts of physical activity, sport and play. Nancy was also the lead researcher of a 3-year collaboration between the U of A Community Service Learning and the Skills Society focused on what citizenship means in the lives of people with developmental disabilities.

Also, please welcome Robert (Bob) Philp to the Skills Board. Bob brings a wealth of knowledge, skills and governance acumen to the Skills board. Bob was previously Chief of the Alberta Human Rights Commission, a Provincial Court Judge, a respected lawyer, and an Adjunct Professor at the U of A, Faculty of Business. As a resident of Edmonton for many years, Bob has served on many community boards.

Last but not least, please welcome Debbie Royer to the position of Skills Board Chair. Debbie has served as Board Secretary for six years. Debbie brings the all-important ‘parent’ perspective to the Skills Board. She also brings

a deep understanding of the disability sector derived from decades long experience working in service delivery and academia. Debbie is a warm, wise woman with impeccable people skills, and will undoubtedly do the organization proud.

Debbie currently teaches at MacEwan University in Edmonton.

A Special Thanks The Skills Society is blessed with a highperformance leadership group, headed by our Executive Director, Ben Weinlick. In addition, our mid-managers, supervisors and front-line staff are second-to-none in your hard work and commitment to the people we support. In addition, we are fortunate to have a skilled and committed administrative support team, without which we could not function. We are proud and grateful to have you all as part of the Skills family.

The Skills Society sees itself as partnering with the family members, friends and allies of the people we support. We are deeply grateful for your contributions of love, knowledge, time, energy and flexibility during the last two challenging years.

Thank you one and all!

Hart Chapelle, Board Chair

TREASURER REPORT The pandemic has remained the largest challenge to Skills Society. However, I am pleased to say that to date it has not significantly affected our financial position.

The 2021/2022 fiscal year for Skills Society has ended on a positive note. Our prudent management has resulted in a surplus for the year.

Skills Society recorded just over $21.74 million in operating revenue for the current year which was $44,000 less than the original budget. Total operating expenses for the year were $21.65 million, or about $245,000 less than budget.

Skills Society has a small operating surplus of just over $94,000 in the current year, compared to a surplus of just over $268,000 reported in 2021. Including amortization, Casino and unrealized ATB Investment Income, Skills recorded a surplus of just over $115,000 in the current year compared to just over $229,000 in the prior year.

Looking to the 2022/2023 year, Skills Society is budgeting an operating deficit of $72,000. Inflation and administrative costs can no longer be absorbed by the agency. Skills has also not received an increase to direct wage funding in 8 years.

All government contracts are now in the last year of three year terms. Management will be requesting an increase in government funding to address the cost pressures we face.

Rochelle Mitchell, CPA, CA Treasurer

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CITIZENSHIP HIGHLIGHT B E LO N G I N G

Robin’s Story To belong includes creating shared stories and rituals with community and feeling like you are an important part of something bigger than yourself. Robin is an engaged citizen who feels a sense of belonging as a member of a Star Trek fan club that he has been a part of since 2011. Group members come together to share their passion and interest in Star Trek through live action role playing, attending local events and conventions, costuming, and chatting over a bite to eat. Robin has been watching Star Trek since he was a kid and is passionate about all things science fiction. Robin shared that the three chapters he belongs to are part of a larger community of Star Trek fans, known as Starfleet International, with over 200 members in Edmonton alone! For Robin, part of what makes life good is “being in community and having friends”. Friendships are often built by connecting with others around a shared interest.

Through the Star Trek fan club, Robin is able to share his passion with others and is a valued member of the community.

FUND DEVELOPMENT AT SKILLS SOCIETY A YEAR IN REVIEW

This piece was written by Carmen Norris, member of the Skills Society board fund development committee

Hi I’m Carmen Norris and I’ve been a member of the Skills Society board for 5 years. In more recent years, I’ve been part of the fund development committee where we’ve been working to move the needle on Skills Society’s strategic priority to increase financial resiliency. As you might remember from last year’s fund development report, we have been exploring and seeking to better understand the difference between fundraising and fund development (checkout a recap of some of the differences between these two approaches in the breakout box on page 22). This has been important foundational work as we move ahead in developing a fund development strategy and culture within Skills Society.

Reflections on some of the work that’s brought us here Reflecting back on the last year I am amazed by the amount and quality of work the fund development committee has achieved! We began by drafting a mandate statement and developing an action plan. Adopting a mindset of learning and curiosity we launched a discovery phase exploring three main areas of focus:

Robin

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1. Fund Development Culture We were so fortunate to learn from the Fund Development Survey Report produced by 2020-21 Board Intern Folakemi Jolaoso, which offers valuable insights into the existing fundraising/fund development culture within Skills Society.

This report helped us to understand perspectives of our Skills

community towards fund development, where we might improve, and opportunities to tap into. One key learning the report revealed, is that there is strong buy-in from staff to act as an ambassador or contribute their time for fund development activities, but they could benefit from tools or guidance on how to best tell the Skills Society story. Our board interns are truly the best and every year I learn as much from them (if not more) as they do from us!

3. Developing Narrative Crafting narratives for the purpose of fund development is tricky business and we wanted to unpack what makes a really good story that compels people to give. Fellow committee members Darcy McDonald and Debbie Royer researched this topic and uncovered some refreshing insights: •

Building off Fola’s work I conducted an interview with members of Skills leadership to learn more about the past and current fundraising culture within Skills Society. We learned that Skills Society is well poised for changes in this area, recognizing that fund development is a long game strategy that takes time and sustained effort, but are optimistic for change and excited to dig in.

2. What Others are Doing Well Thanks to the tremendous work of fellow committee member Kate Gunn, we conducted an enviroscan of fund development strategies across a number of comparable nonprofit organizations. All participants praised Skills Society for embarking on this shift and journey into fund development, an approach that resonated with their organizations.

Many common themes bubbled to the surface during her conversations which she distilled into a number of possible actions for the committee to take in the future.

Key takeaways include: • Fund development involves the whole organization, including the board! We aim to expand board capacity and comfort with fund development including recruitment of new board members with expertise in the field.

• To hire or not to hire? Many organizations recommend hiring dedicated fund development staff. There is no silver bullet or right answer to this question but different options to consider, given timing, goals, and organizational culture of Skills Society.

• Get support! Organizations recommended consulting agencies and foundations that can offer professional and financial support for organizations like ourselves to further their fund development initiatives.

•

We are not starting from scratch. Skills Society already has a rich collection of stories. In developing a narrative for the purpose of fundraising and fund development, we can leverage our existing body of work.

One thing Skills Society does extremely well is human-centred design. Staff work hard to ensure the people we support have as much agency and control in planning and shaping what their support from Skills looks like. So it’s only natural that we would consider taking a human-centered approach to fund development, exploring ways to put our donors at the center of our fund development narratives.

Following this vein, I recently had the opportunity to take a design thinking course in which I explored the use of storytelling to compel potential donors to make financial contributions to Skills Society. Asking for money is hard and motivating folks to get excited about what you’re saying and be inspired enough to take action is not an easy task.

But with a few expert tips and a bit of practice I was able to create a narrative I am now comfortable sharing and can easily articulate to friends, family and colleagues who are curious about Skills Society. Through this course I also came to a deeper understanding of the financial, political and social tensions that exist around supporting people with disabilities.

Through my lessons I am left with a greater appreciation for the work Skills Society commits to on a daily basis and how they continually go beyond providing basic needs to seek out innovative ways for the people they support to live meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Skills Society doesn’t settle for the ‘good enough’ life. They support people with disabilities and their pursuit of the ‘good life’!

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How is ‘fundraising’ different from ‘fund development’?

Fundraising Fundraising happens when members of a not-forprofit organization make the choice to raise money for a specific purpose.

Parents selling coupon books, or recipe books so their children have access to the supplies they need is an example of fundraising.

Fund Development Fund development is a way to get the broader community to engage with the organization’s mission over the longer-term by forging deeper relationships with potential donors while harmonizing multiple fundraising elements. It involves uncovering shared values, cultivating relationships, and then providing opportunities for people to invest in areas that are important to them.

Crafting a plan to integrate grant applications, fundraising sales, public events, and online donation pages in ways that are meaningful to potential investors is an example of fund development.

DONATE TO SKILLS SOCIETY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE There are many ways you can support our work and we appreciate any contribution. Many of our initiatives - such as CommuniTEA Infusion and the Outreach Emergency Fund - are made possible by the support of donors. To learn more about these initiatives and others, or to make a donation visit www.skillssociety.ca/contribute/donate.

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Exciting things on the horizon Over the next few months, in collaboration with a professional fund development consulting company, Skills Society will be developing a sustainable, multi-year fund development plan. Through further collaboration we will be exploring grant opportunities and continued involvement from the board to ensure Skills Society is set up for sustained success in the fund development arena. It’s truly an exciting time and I’m honored to play a role, however small, in the financial evolution of Skills Society.

As a friend of Skills Society, you are a partner in building a more inclusive society and helping to shape a world where love, belonging, and living the ‘good life’ is a reality for people with developmental disabilities. As we increase Skills Society’s capacity to develop funds, we invite you to join in on the journey. Two ways you might do this are watching for updates and supporting different aspects of our fund development plan as they are released or sharing about the work of Skills Society with your networks.

DONOR RECOGNITION We are grateful to our greater community members and committed partners for joining us in our vision to foster a community where all individuals are valued citizens deserving respect, dignity and rights. We give our heartfelt thanks for your generous support!

Donors 2021/2022 • Anne-Marie Kallal • Carol Ewanowich in honor of Graeme Szelewicki • David Gunn • Elizabeth Huzar • Kate Gunn • Marla Smith • Pat Conrad • Patricia Stackhouse • Rob Rubuliak • Robert Herring • W. David Sharp Grants & Endowments • Edmonton Community Foundation CommuniTEA Infusion Project: $10,000 • RBC Foundation: $10,000 CommuniTEA Infusion Project • Royal Alexandra Hospital Employees’ Charitable Donation Fund Outreach Emergency Fund: $2,000 • Skills Society Cable Family Endowment Fund at Edmonton Community Foundation Interest earned in 2021: $8,337 • Skills Society Endowment Fund at Edmonton Community Foundation Interest earned in 2021: $10,395 • Telus Community Fund Virtual Community Building Initiative: $8,000 Rotary Club of Edmonton Whyte Avenue Christmas stockings and meals for people supported by Skills Society’s Outreach program

DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS IN ACTION Sometimes helping people thrive starts with ensuring people’s basic needs are met, and that they have a safe and comfortable place to call home. We are grateful to have received a generous contribution from the Royal Alexandra Hospital Employees’ Charitable Donations Fund in support of the Skills Society Outreach Emergency Fund. Through the use of these funds and a donation from the Ramada Hotel, Yellowhead Trail, six people supported by Skills Society’s Outreach program who were in need received mattresses and box springs. We would also like to express our gratitude to the dedicated Skills Society Outreach staff, Larry James and Felix Dubourdieu-Greig for connecting with the Ramada and helping deliver the mattresses. “ This funding is essential for us to help people have quality lives and remain housed. We can do better than just survive, let’s thrive.” – Lasha, Manager of Community Supports

Larry and Felix

Felix, Sarah, and Larry

Shane

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT Good enough isn’t enough: never settling - striving for the ‘good life’

On behalf of the Skills Society team, I’m pleased to share our 41st Annual AGM Report with you. As we reflect on the incredible history of this organization, I think it’s fair to say the last few years have been some of our most tumultuous.

Self-advocates and allies from Skills Society came together to film a short video sharing the history and legacy of the Rights We Want!.

The near constant rollercoaster of uncertainty, stress, fear, sickness, and isolation from one another has been overwhelming. With every glimmer of optimism that the pandemic might be ending, new worries over variants, vaccination boosters and division seem to creep back in.

This is still tough on everyone and the uncertainty will likely continue a bit longer. As a community, we are learning to live with this virus as safely as possible, slowly rekindle our lost connections and live the best lives we can – however that may look like for each person! While the pandemic has challenged us all in new and difficult ways, it has also shown our strength and resilience as a community. For example, I was often blown away by employees’ selflessness to stand by people we serve as we struggled with staffing models due to the virus. I also heard many stories of people we support comforting Skills community members and being there for one another. It was heartwarming and I’m sure made us all proud. It provided some deeper conviction that whatever comes our way we have strength as a community togetherIf we remember to see our shared humanity, don’t lose compassion and look out for each other shoulder to shoulder.

Sincere gratitude to our whole Skills family for exemplifying the kindness and care we all need in the world.

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A common link in our collective work Last fall the senior leadership team of Skills had a short retreat to reflect, assess the current state of Skills and imagine what the future looks like for our organization. To help see beyond our silos, the team read and reflected on a short book by Seth Godin called Tribes. This book explores patterns and principles for what helps humans unite and work together on shared visions and movement making. Its themes resonated powerfully as we reflected on our shared vision, values, and how to support deeper belonging and engaged citizenship.

Perhaps the most impactful principle was the unifying connection between creative change-makers that often drives large-scale movements. Godin demonstrated that it is often a common, simple and powerful idea that drives people to work collectively towards a clear outcome.

At Skills, we’ve often struggled with grasping the common idea that unites us all and the energy required to make progress together. Our desire to not oversimplify our values or vision, and instead dig deeper to create lasting change, has created a unique set of challenges. We gladly embrace complexity – and as a result there is rarely a simple, single idea that drives us forward. Our leadership reflected on Godin’s thinking and how we might apply it to our collective work of making sure people with developmental disabilities have every opportunity to live ‘the good life.’

Challenging a ‘good enough’ mindset This exercise prompted me to think about my own journey in disability rights advocacy and the common patterns throughout the history of justice movements in Alberta.

The common purpose that seemed to unite the leaders, organizations and grassroots communities that made the most positive change were the ones that had an unshakeable conviction that good enough wasn’t good enough. As obstacles, challenges, and “ya buts” would arise, the real change makers were often the ones who would not settle and would keep creatively figuring out ways to support people to have every opportunity that any other citizen is afforded.

These change makers and leaders were often ordinary family members who shared their lives with a loved one with a disability, or they were passionate self-advocates, or front-line support persons who just kept going, no matter the barriers.

So, when we think about the common energy and spark that unites us all in the Skills community – both past and present – it’s this energy and conviction to never settle for good enough.

If we trust this as a core unifying spirit behind our work, an instinct we can all relate to, it makes it easier to ask ourselves:

“Are we sure we’ve done enough to help people have really good lives and be their best selves in the world?

Are there places or circumstances where we may have settled for good enough because it got too hard?

What do I need to spark or reignite not settling and to keep going to support the good lives of the people we serve?”

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Systems of settling for good enough Settling for good enough can happen to anyone in life and it is tough to keep trying, learning and become the best version of ourselves for the world. For people with developmental disabilities we serve, historically there often have been too many systems and experts telling people that their life is good enough and to be happy with what there is. As a result, often people have a hard time imagining what the good life means in their own way when they’re asked. Often repeated disappointments also cause people to give up and just settle.

Everyone in our Skills family I think can empathize with this and I think will recognize we often need trusted supports in our corner when repeated disappointments can cause us to settle for good enough. Whether we have a disability or not, all people at times need support to help us see our potential, imagine possibilities and figure out ways of how we want to show up in the good life and feel we belong for who we are. We need to remember that people we serve might not always be asking to explore further what living the good life might be and might just have settled because it was too hard to go against the grain. As good allies and supports, part of our role is to be tuned to this and help people explore, learn, grow and imagine the good life. This isn’t a once-a-year thing in a planning meeting, but should be reflected on regularly with people. This is not easy, but the energy once again is a motivation and mindset that we shouldn’t settle, that we see good qualities and gifts in everyone and we will keep helping people to live their lives to fullest potential - in whatever way that makes sense for a particular person.

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In 2020 we updated our Vision, Mission, Values, Engaged Citizenship model, and our Thrive In Five principles in order to focus our work and clarify our purpose. These beautiful ideas will continue to form the backbone of our commitment to the people we serve, but my hope is that as we reflect on this year’s report and its stories, we come away with an even stronger conviction to never settle and continue asking questions like…

• •

•

• •

Have we settled for ‘good enough’ in supporting people to find their gifts and ways to contribute?

Have we settled for ‘good enough’ in supporting people to build lasting connections, friendships and a deeper sense of belonging?

Have we settled for ‘good enough’ in supporting a positive home life, healthy relationships, employment possibilities, health and wellness, and strong community connections?

What is my role in supporting the ‘good life’ and not settling?

What is the good life? What is it for myself? What might it be for others? How can we help each other be our best selves and live our best lives possible?

CITIZENSHIP HIGHLIGHT RIGHTS

Michelle’s Story Exploring what the ‘good life’ is remains one of the big questions of what it means to be human. It’s never static. For people with developmental disabilities, this question is rarely explored and too often others wrongfully determine what the ‘good life’ is for someone else.

I invite you to join us in embracing this simple idea – that we won’t settle for good enough when helping people with disabilities live the fullest lives possible. This is the conviction that will keep us moving forward with our vision of a community where everyone belongs and all are treated with dignity and respect.

Ben Weinlick, Executive Director

Michelle is a self-advocate who for many years has been speaking out against the exclusion of people with disabilities, and was a member of the original self-advocacy group in the 1990s who developed the Rights We Want! A Statement of Our Rights and Responsibilities. As part of her advocacy work, Michelle has been an active participant and contributor to various projects, research and conferences, sharing her experiences and voicing her concerns related to rights, accessibility, and inclusion. For Michelle, what contributes to a good life are “friends and relationships”. Rights lay an important foundation for the ‘good life’ - all citizens have the right to determine their own relationships, who they like, love or are friends with. When asked about advocacy and what changes she hopes to see, Michelle shared: “ Everyone has a right to speak up. We can be a good advocate by standing up for our beliefs. I want people to be treated fairly and equally.”

Michelle, a self advocate passionate about speaking out about the rights of people with disabilities.

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WEAVING MEANINGFUL INDIGENOUS INCLUSION

tatawâw ᑕᑕᐊᐧᐤ Welcome! There is room here for who you are, where you are from, and who you are becoming

Ariel on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Ariel shared that he was so happy when he got his commemorative t-shirt, he is really proud of his roots and loves to support his people all the time.

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Something that is important to us at Skills Society is continually exploring ways of more intentionally weaving meaningful Indigenous inclusion throughout our organization.

This is important work in our individual and collective journey towards reconciliation.

One piece of this work has been working with Jacquelyn and Hunter Cardinal at Naheyawin to further our learning journey around reconciliation and the creation of symbols, processes, and narratives that Skills Society can ethically utilize to foster healthy, everyday treaty relationships. Naheyawin engaged several people within our Skills Society community to collaborate in the creation of a unique ceremony and Treaty Renewal Reflection Space in the Action Lab. Several artifacts and symbols have also been added to the Skills Society Office and Action Lab spaces, including a Treaty Six Medallion (see little descriptions below). It is our hope that these symbols and our ongoing celebration of them can help us remember the benefits and responsibilities we have as treaty relatives sharing lands with Indigenous peoples, and how those relationships can deepen the work we do. We look forward to continuing to learn and take meaningful action in the months and years ahead in our individual and collective journeys towards being good treaty relatives.

Learning Stewards of Action Lab participated in live virtual webinars hosted by Naheyawin to learn more about the history of Indigenous Treaties, keys to healthy treaty relationships, and avenues for continued learning.

Treaty Six Medallion A recreation of the Treaty Six Medallion has been hung in the Action Lab accompanied by a short description and the meanings of the different parts of this image.

Elder Lewis Cardinal and Hunter Cardinal next to the Treaty 6 medallion in the Action Lab after stewarding the ceremonial opening

Treaty Renewal Reflection Space A small, interactive sacred space in the Action Lab complete with materials to engage with the sacred process of renewing our treaty relationship. The station includes a small shelf with materials for smudging for those who know how to conduct these ceremonies, as well as an invitation to write down on small slips of paper people’s reflections on their journey of renewing their treaty relationship.

Ceremonial Opening A ceremonial opening was held with Elder Lewis Cardinal and was dedicated to calling-in the spirit of treaty as Skills Society takes these next steps into the future.

Renewal Ceremonies Quarterly the artifacts will be smudged by a steward or Elder or Knowledge-Keeper in order to reinforce the positive energies of the space. Annually, space will be held to renew the purpose and journey being undertaken by Skills Society.

Treaty Renewal Reflection Space in the Action Lab

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REFLECTIONS ON THE ‘GOOD LIFE’ Paige Reeves, Senior Leader of Research & Social Innovation

Rebecca Rubuliak, Senior Leader of Continuous Improvement & Innovation

Hopes for this article In writing this piece we grappled with a tricky tension - trying to strike a balance between sharing big and lofty ideas and offering practical examples and tangible ways those ideas show up in all our everyday lives. This is a tension we are continuously exploring as we strive to honour our commitment to bridging the gap between ‘theory’ and ‘practice’. While we believe creating space for exploring big ideas, dreaming, and imagining new possibilities is important work, we also recognize many in our Skills community are looking to us for ways to make life better in the here and now.

Here we try to offer a bit of both. Reading this article we hope it might make space for you to:

• • • • •

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Pause and think Shake some assumptions loose Learn something new Reflect on the way you currently do things and see some new practices you might incorporate moving forward Come away with more curiosity to explore further what the ‘good life’ means

Who defines the ‘good life’?

“What does it mean to define…the good life for [people with disabilities], and more importantly, who should be defining it?” - Carson, 2010 [1] Before we dive in, we wanted to pause and acknowledge that there isn’t one definition of the ‘good life’. Defining things like the ‘good life’ is complex and nuanced which means we should be careful not to look for ‘silver bullet solutions’ or ‘one size fits all’ definitions. What we can do though, is look for patterns and principles across people and ideas that help us understand some ‘key ingredients’ that most everyone agrees are things that make life good. Within these ‘key ingredients’ though, there is lots of room for personalization for individuals to say how they want their life to look.

It is also important to acknowledge that for many years, people with disabilities were forced to live in institutions away from family and community, and it was often the medical system that told people what a good life was. This left out the voices of people with disabilities, and since the 1970s, people with disabilities, families, and allies have fought to challenge limiting assumptions in all systems of care. Today, it is recognized that a ‘good life’ is defined and shaped by the person living it. Though we know of some key ingredients that make for a good life - as discussed in the next section - the ‘good life’ is different for each person. It is important to ask people with disabilities themselves what they want and envision for their lives.

(Some) key ingredients of the ‘good life’ If supporting the ‘good life’ is at the core of our work at Skills Society, then it is important we continue to take the time (as others before us have done) to always be learning about what the ‘good life’ means to people, how it shows up in people’s lives, and what patterns and principles support it. In this continuous learning journey we can, and have looked to many diverse perspectives including - people with disabilities we serve; the many leaders within Skills’ history who have worked tirelessly to advocate for people to have good lives; Indigenous leaders and Knowledge Keepers; research that captures the experiences of people with disabilities on a larger scale; and philosophers and other big thinkers inside and outside the disability sector. There are a lot of rich insights out there on the ‘good life’ - recognizing we couldn’t possibly capture everything, here we offer a small sample of diverse perspectives.

Key ingredients to a ‘good life’ from the perspective of people with disabilities In recent years, we’ve had conversations with people served

by Skills Society and learned from them what a good life looks like. In these conversations a small group of people we support identified seven key ingredients to a good life. These key ingredients resonate with recent qualitative research sharing what helps people with disabilities feel safe, happy, and satisfied with their lives.

Key ingredients to a ‘good life’ from the perspective of people we serve 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

People that care about us including: friends, loved ones, parents, extended family, and boyfriends and girlfriends Places to socialize and meet people like the Nina Haggerty Centre, ACT, and SAGE A routine that includes things to do, people to meet, places to go Work and volunteer roles: “I need my job to live”, “I’m happy with my job but need more hours” Access to support and resources such as: AISH, Food Bank, and the Mustard Seed Money for things we need and things we want A place to call home: “I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else”

CITIZENSHIP HIGHLIGHT PA RT I C I PAT I O N

Jennie’s Story Having meaningful things to do, and sharing your gifts and talents with others is an important part of citizenship. Jennie is a friendly, thoughtful and caring young woman who works in a variety of roles where she contributes her talent for connecting with people and building community. Jennie has been working for several years as an Action Lab host, and recently took on a larger role hosting guests and supporting with the upkeep of the space. Jennie is a valued member of the Action Lab team and takes great pride in her work, always striving to create a space that is warm and welcoming for all. When asked about her job as an Action Lab host Jennie shared: “ My job means a lot to me. I just love doing it and it makes me happy. I like meeting new people and being able to make some money.”

How the ‘good life’ shows up within our work at Skills Another way to think about the ‘good life’ is through our Skills vision and citizenship model. Much of what people with disabilities have shared is part of a ‘good life’ for them, fits within the four categories of citizenship we use to guide our work. At Skills we often talk about a ‘good life’ as one where people are full citizens given the same rights, respect and dignity as everyone else; where they have meaningful things to do; people who love and care about them; opportunities to contribute; and where they feel valued and as though they belong.

Jennie, an Action Lab Host, working in the Action Lab

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CITIZENSHIP HIGHLIGHT R E L AT I O N S H I P S

Pattie and Jamie’s Story Relationships are an important part of citizenship being surrounded by people who love and care about you, and being able to share your life with others.

Jamie and Pattie share their life together as husband and wife. They enjoy spending time together, trying new experiences, and doing the things they love, like walks outdoors, swimming and catching a movie.

They have a strong relationship founded out of love and a deep sense of care for one another. When asked what they love about each other they responded:

“She’s romantic and curious.

She cares for me” - Jamie “I clean the house and he cooks for me. We take care of each other” - Pattie They were married on July 11th, 2018 alongside family and friends, and every year do something special to celebrate this important day. This year, they will be celebrating their 4th wedding anniversary, and have planned a getaway to the Fantasyland Hotel with a nice night out with dinner.

How the ‘good life’ is talked about from different worldviews Miyo-pimatisiwin in the Cree language means “living your best life”. In order to live your best life or the good life from Cree perspective “it means that you’re eating the traditional foods, that means moose meat, berries, medicines; that you have access to whole, non-GMO foods that grow right here in our backyard.. It also means that you are participating in ceremony, that you can go to the sweat lodge, to the Sun Dance, that you’re able to pray with your loved ones, your community. That you’re able to be challenged intellectually and think critically in your community. The pimatisiwin, the good life, is balanced in the Medicine Wheel, our physical wellbeing, our intellectual wellbeing, our spiritual wellbeing, and our mental wellbeing. So it means taking care of all four areas per person, and pitmatisiwin is a collective identity. So it means not only my own wellbeing but the wellbeing of my relatives, and making sure that they have accessibility, to eating good food, eating nourishing food, to having the good life, to having ceremony, being part of a community, and accessibility has always been part of the good life. Ensuring that everyone is part of the circle and everyone can live their best possible life”.

- Jodi-Calahoo Stonehouse, Executive Director, Yellowhead Indigenous Education Foundation

Pattie and Jamie celebrating their 3rd wedding anniversary

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Philosophers writing from a Western worldview talk about the good life as ‘a life shared with friends’ [2]; a life that is fulfilling, meaningful, and satisfying [3]; and a ‘way of being’ described as thriving or flourishing [3]. One recent research article highlights six common themes of what contributes to a good life [4]: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Higher meaning and purpose Respect - being treated with dignity and respect Social inclusion and belonging - in a wide variety of memberships, relationships, and spaces Relationships - close relationships and a variety of relationships Contributions - contributing and having those contributions recognized and valued Voice and choice - having a say in the decisions that affect one’s life

You might notice that these themes resonate with the ‘good life’ from the perspective of people we serve and with our Skills vision and citizenship model.

It’s a mix of the ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ that makes life good Looking across these diverse perspectives on the ‘good life’ some common threads jump out. The ‘good life’ is a mix of what you might call the ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ [2]. Essential to a ‘good life’ is the recognition of rights of people with disabilities in the formal aspects of society - to be recognized as full citizens; to have the right to live in your own home; to have the opportunity to participate in different activities, groups, and events; to have the right to work; and the right to make choices that shape your life. But equally as important to a ‘good life’, and often forgotten, is inclusion in the more informal aspects of life - things not governed by laws, rules, or regulations, but instead shaped by attitudes, perspectives, and culture. This includes things like: having a variety of freely given relationships - people who are your friends not because they are paid but because they love and care about you; feeling a sense of value and belonging; and being able to explore and connect with spirituality or a higher purpose or meaning in life. An example like employment, can help to illustrate the importance and need for all these pieces: I t is important that people have the opportunity and right to work, and be compensated for their contributions. But what is even better is if they have a job that is meaningful to them and that fosters personal growth; where they contribute their unique abilities, talents, and passion with community; have colleagues who care about them that value and appreciate the contributions they make; and develop friendship and connections. As Reinders (2002) says: “Having the right to work is one thing, flourishing as a human being in one’s job is something else” [2].

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Where have we come from and where are we now in striving for the ‘good life’ for all people with disabilities? e can often forget “to recognize that respect for selfW determination, individual choice and the equal rights of citizens is a necessary precondition for the good life, but that it is not the good life itself” - Reinders, 2002 [2] Today, it is recognized that people with disabilities deserve the same respect, dignity, and rights as any other citizen.

However, this has not always been the case. There is a long history of exclusion and marginalisation of people with developmental disabilities in Alberta. People were forced to live in institutions, faced terrible abuse and harm like eugenics, and were not given the opportunity to share their lives with others. The recognition of rights of people with disabilities today, is in large part, thanks to the efforts of self advocates, families, and allies who, in the 1970s, worked tirelessly to speak out against the exclusion and negative treatment of people with disabilities and support them in moving out of institutions into neighbourhoods. There is no doubt - these community living and self-advocacy movements have led to significant positive change in the lives of people with disabilities. Most people with disabilities now live in neighbourhoods alongside other community members, their rights as citizens are recognized, and they can more freely move about and participate in their communities.

The progress and changes that have been made over the last several decades can sometimes lead people to believe that inclusion of people with disabilities in community life has been ‘achieved’. However, when we listen closely to people with disabilities, their families, and allies, we learn there is still much work to be done in striving for a ‘good life’. What’s often still missing in the lives of people with disabilities are the relational parts of life or a sense of belonging and connectedness. These parts can be hard to describe and put our finger on, but are the parts of life that make it ‘good’ - full, rich, exciting, hard, and meaningful. What we are talking about here is much more than just doing something beside someone. What we mean is really connecting, feeling, engaging, and knowing another person. We’re talking about the feeling and fulfilment you get when you have a good chat with an old friend, when a friend goes out of their way to think of you and do something nice for you, when you realise someone you work with really values and appreciates your work.

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Supporting the ‘good life’

“We create space and include people with disabilities as citizens in our institutions [education systems, communities, healthcare systems], but do we also include them in our lives as human beings? Is that also part of our politics of inclusion?” - Reinders, 2002 [2] Too often, people with disabilities face barriers in growing belonging in their life. Belonging can also be hard to notice and tricky to know how to support. Sometimes we might get tricked into thinking someone feels belonging because they are busy - they have lots of places to go each day. But when we get curious, ask questions, and pay closer attention, we might discover many of the places they go are empty of the social spark that makes things great, fun, worthwhile, or delightful.

Another thing that happens sometimes is people might accidentally take away people with disabilities’ opportunities to make decisions, take risks, fail, and imagine possibilities for themselves because they want to keep them safe and protect them. A common misconception of the ‘good life’ is often that it is a life without failure or hardship. However this isn’t the case. A ‘good life’ often includes opportunities to try new things, make mistakes, fail, and take risks. What is important though, is that people are supported in doing so and have a network of people in their life who love and care about them and are willing to help them as they try.

Supporting belonging in the lives of people with disabilities takes a commitment to not settling; a genuine desire to know the person, their hopes, dreams, wants, and needs; and careful observation and sense making to uncover if the feeling is there and if it isn’t, careful reflection around what you can do to create space for it to grow. Supporting belonging

requires a commitment to both creating opportunities for people to do things but also to having a critical eye to what is happening in those spaces and being ready to be a social bridge and connector - helping people introduce themselves, find ways to contribute, and understand the norms of the group.

Perhaps instead of just asking ourselves ‘what is the person I am supporting doing today?’, a better set of questions might be ‘What is the person I am supporting doing today, who are they doing it with, why does it matter to them, and how can I make space for a ‘social spark’?’.

Never settling - reflecting on your role in supporting the ‘good life’ To close, we want to bring your thoughts back to yourself.

What is your role in supporting the ‘good life’ of people with disabilities?

Are you settling for ‘good enough’? Or are you really striving, working, pushing, advocating for, the ‘good life’ for people with disabilities?

We recognize this is big, hard, tedious, emotional, and heavy work. If you’re feeling stuck or in a rut you’re not alone - there are people here to support you and tools and initiatives to help. If you’re a Skills’ employee, don’t be afraid to lean on your team and ask for help when things get hard or frustrating. In the pages that follow we’ve highlighted some of the creative ways Skills is working on unpacking the ‘how’ of supporting a ‘good life’ - a sample of the tools and initiatives we’ve collectively co-created with people with disabilities in trying to get better at supporting the ‘good life’. These are some tangible tools Skills employees can leverage in never settling.

References 1. Carson, L. (2010) Who’s the Expert? Rethinking authority in the face of intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability, 54(1), 58-65 2. Reinders, J.S. (2002) The good life for citizens with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 46(1), 1-5 3. Guignon C (ed) (1999) The Good Life. Indianapolis: Hackett.

4. Elks, M. (2020) Remarkable similarities in four list theories of a good life for people with intellectual disability.

Journal of Intellectual Disability, 24(3), 418-426 Articles that spurred our thinking in writing this piece • Duffy, S (2010) The citizenship theory of social justice: exploring the meaning of personalisation for social workers. Journal of Social Work Practice 24(3): 253–267 • Hodge, N., & Runswick-Cole, K. (2013). ‘They never pass me the ball’: Exposing ableism through the leisure experiences of disabled children, young people and their families. Children’s Geographies, 11(3), 311-325. doi:10.1080/ 14733285.2013.812275 • Kendrick, M. J. (2006) False Realism And The Unexplored Potential In People’s Lives. Families for Change, 2(18).

Family Advocacy, Sydney, Australia • O’Brien, J (2011) What is disability? In: O’Brien J and Blessing C (eds) Conversations on Citizenship and Personcentered Work, Vol. 3. Toronto: Inclusion, 109–133.

• Schalock, RL & Siperstein, GN (1996) Quality of Life: Volume 1 Conceptualization and Measurement.

Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Retardation.

• Strnadová, I. & Nind, M. (2020) Belonging and people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities: pushing the boundaries • Wolfensberger, WTS & Caruso, G (1996) Some of the universal “Good things of life” which the implementation of social role valorization can be expected to make more accessible to devalued people. The International Social Role Valorization Journal 2(2), 12–14.

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TOOLS & INITIATIVES AT SKILLS WE CAN ALL LEVERAGE TO SUPPORT THE ‘GOOD LIFE’ Skills Society has a long history as a learning organization seeking to improve services and systems to work better for people. Alongside people with disabilities, their families, and allies, we are continuously learning and exploring ways to support people in leading meaningful lives in community reminding ourselves to not settle and to keep moving forward in supporting the ‘good life’ for the people we serve. This learning and conviction is built from the legacies of those who came before us, and we never forget the tireless efforts and courage - still happening today - of the people we serve, their families, and allies.

In the section that follows, you can get updated on a few of Skills Society’s current innovations, how they work to move the needle on supporting the ‘good life’ for people with developmental disabilities, and if you are a paid support, ways you can engage with these tools in supporting the people you serve.

CommuniTEA Infusion Project

CommuniTEA is a mobile tea house, run by people with disabilities, that travels to neighbourhoods around our city creating “pop-up” town squares for people to come together, get to know each other and strengthen connections. At the heart of the CommuniTEA Infusion project is a drive to spark connections amongst diverse community members, shifting attitudes and perspectives, and laying the foundation for feelings of inclusion and belonging.

How it supports the ‘good life’ • People with disabilities are key leaders of the initiative and are builders of community • Challenging assumptions, CommuniTEA spreads awareness about the valuable contributions people with disabilities make in our communities, and breaks down barriers to community connecting • CommuniTEA block parties provide opportunities to strengthen relationships between neighbours Call to Action: People served by Skills can invite CommuniTEA Infusion Van to their neighbourhood and host a block party or sign up to be a Community Builder with the project by sending a note to communiteainfusion@gmail. com.

Erin holding her 5 year employee recognition award from Petland.

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MyCompass Planning Labs

Evolving from the Citizen Action Lab, MyCompass Planning Lab is our 1.5 hour think tank process that helps supports, families, and allies break open creative thinking and generate creative ideas and action, alongside people served, to connect with all the things that make life great.

How it supports the ‘good life’ • Explores new ways for people to share their unique gifts and talents and become more included in community life • MyCompass Planning Labs help to shake up people’s thinking to break free from assumptions and challenge the status quo - not settling for the good enough life

MyCompass Planning App

The MyCompass Planning App continues to be used by the people we serve - helping them take the lead in planning and shaping their supports. We continue to grow and imagine new ways MyCompass Planning can support people with disabilities to lead good lives, and have recently added some new features such as:

•

•

Call to Action: Teams looking for some inspiration, fresh ideas and a simple action plan they can work with right away can book a MyCompass Planning Lab by connecting with their Manager.

•

the ability for people served to upload videos to their timelines sharing a moment of connection or highlight, offering another inclusive way of communicating and sharing updates with the important people in the person’s life the ability for people served to complete surveys and share stories and/or a picture highlight from the year.

Centering the voices of people served, these stories and insights help influence positive change, by supporting Skills leaders to get a sense of what people really care about, and the real strengths and needs of people a new innovative module to support people served in exploring about themselves and fostering more meaningful connections. More on this cool new feature, called Missions, below!

How it supports the ‘good life’ Empowers people with disabilities to take the lead on charting the course for the ‘good life’. Charting the course for the ‘good life’ is not a one time thing, or something to be done alone. A tool like MyCompass helps supports be alongside people served, reflecting and dreaming together to broaden horizons; and helps shape the way staff approach their work, encouraging a more person-centred approach and strengthening a growth mindset Call to Action: Log onto MyCompass with the intention of learning one new feature or tool. Summaries and help guides can be found on www.mycompassplanning.com.

A MyCompass Planning Lab taking place in the Action Lab

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MyCompass Missions Feature

The MyCompass Missions feature provides guided “choose your own adventures” for the people we serve to discover themselves - their gifts, wishes, and new things to try as an engaged community member. The Missions feature helps people to learn by doing; taking people step-by-step through different experiences to try new things, and reflect on whether they would like to explore something similar or incorporate that activity into their routine. Currently in its pilot phase, this feature is soon to be launched to everyone within Skills Society with information on how to explore and engage with it!

How it supports the ‘good life’ • People who have had limited experiences in the world often need support to imagine new possibilities for themselves - just asking often isn’t quite enough • Opportunities to learn, grow, try new things, and build connections contribute to a good life • The Missions feature is rooted in fostering connections with others and people with disabilities having the same opportunities and experiences as any other citizen Call to Action: Once live, people we support can access the Missions feature through their MyCompass page. Supports can help them browse missions and make time to explore.

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People we support alongside fellow community members participating in the monthly inclusive art class offered in the Melcor building as part of a collaboration between Skills Society, YMCA Melcor Welcome Village, and the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts.

LESSONS LEARNED IN PERSEVERING FOR THE ‘GOOD LIFE’ Reflections from members of the Skills Society leadership team

In preparation for writing this piece, members of the Skills Society leadership team came together in reflective conversation. We shared experiences and insights that surfaced for us as we reflected on our work in striving to support people with disabilities to lead good lives. We then looked at our collective reflections and pulled out themes patterns that showed up across our stories. In this thought piece we share some of these insights in hopes of:

• • • •

Sparking reflection on the ‘good life’ and how to support more of it in people’s lives Sharing our current collective understanding of what it means to ‘not settle’ and how it shows up in our work Showing you are not alone in this work of trying your best to support the ‘good life’ of people with disabilities Leaving with a renewed conviction and some promising practices to help support the ‘good life’ of people with disabilities

A quick note before you dive in: While we always strive to write in ways that resonate with everyone in the Skills community - people we serve, families, guardians, and community support workers - this piece leans more towards speaking to support workers and the important role they play in opening up opportunities in pursuit of the ‘good life’ of the people we serve.

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What is our role in supporting the ‘good life’?

“As we know, many dreams will not always come to be, but this should not stop us from dreaming. We dream not because we are assured that what we explore will be guaranteed, but rather that dreams link us to the deep promise of life and its potential. It is this potential that rightfully belongs to people with disabilities as much as anyone else” - Michael Kendrick, 2006 (Long time disability rights advocate and systems change leader) As paid supports in the lives of people with disabilities, we feel like a big part of our role is upholding people’s right to dream and direct their own lives. Historically, in times of institutionalization, people with disabilities were not really allowed to dream. Too often others in their lives made assumptions about what they wanted or needed and told people with disabilities what a ‘good life’ is and looks like for them. Stories from people with disabilities who were institutionalized have shared in the past that these were often dark times where hopes, dreams and wishes were ignored. In current times, it is now more widely accepted that people with disabilities should be the leaders of their lives and we need to learn ways of centering people we serve in defining what it means to live a ‘good life’ - a life that is vibrant, meaningful to them, with opportunities to try new things, learn, make mistakes and have support to try again.

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Coming alongside as mindful sense makers Mindful sense making is the act of noticing, reflecting, and digging deep into the ‘why’, the meaning and/or motivations behind something. Mindful sense making is not decision making, rather it is a way of trying to make sense of information and experiences by sensing and meaningfully listening. Supporting a personalised ‘good life’ requires us as fellow community members, allies, and supports in people’s lives, to come alongside people - truly listen to and be with people. This might look different for each person, but no matter who the person supported is and their disability, there are ways to carefully and meaningfully listen, look, and sense what is important to that person and what helps make their life great. This work requires being-in-good relationship with people and a genuine desire to get to know the person for who they are - creating space for people to imagine, express, and share what the ‘good life’ looks like to them, and then taking the appropriate steps to support them in achieving it. When people might not have clear ways of communicating wishes and hopes, then we often have to get more creative to go and explore things in community together-to learn by hanging out with people and paying attention to what resonates with a person by how they react and respond. We also should ensure we learn from and listen to people that know a person well (like family members) to understand a bit better what might be important to a person for a ‘good life’.

Promising signals of a ‘good life’ As mindful sense makers, we can always be on the lookout for signals or hints that someone is leading a ‘good life’.

Periodically asking ourselves: “is the person I’m supporting really living a good life?” can help us know if our support is on the right track or if we need to pause and re-evaluate.

Below are four ‘signals’ that emerged from our collective reflections, that can help us know a bit better if someone is living their good life. We call these “signals” on purpose - they are not meant to be taken as absolutes and there is always room within them for the person we are serving to express themselves in the ways they want! For example - a general hope is that everyone have at least a few freely given(unpaid) relationships in their life, but how many and the form these take is very personal! Some people might enjoy having many friends and acquaintances while others prefer to just have a few close friends.

#1 A person tells us their life is good!

Of course, a big piece of knowing if someone is living a ‘good life’ is asking them! Some people can tell us outright if they are happy and satisfied with their life. Other people might not be able to tell us with their words, but they can show us with their body language, pictures, emotions, and behavior.

One piece to keep in mind though when asking people about their life, hopes, and dreams, is that sometimes it can be hard for people to imagine different possibilities for themselves.

Sometimes, when someone hasn’t had a lot of opportunities to try new things, learn, or explore, it can be difficult to see how else their life might look. For example, if someone has only ever gone bowling or swimming, it might be hard for them to imagine doing something else and considering trying something new might be scary. An important tension we must always explore as supports in people’s lives is how do we both respect their wishes but also help them see new possibilities for themselves? One way we continuously navigate this tension is by being mindful sense makers as described above - being-in-relationship with people, truly listening, and fostering trust. Coming alongside people with disabilities - as allies - exploring new possibilities and what the ‘good life’ is for them.

Emma with Josh Ramsay, the lead singer of one of Emma’s favorite bands, following their solo tour concert.

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#2 A person has opportunities to make choices and set the direction of their life A big piece of a ‘good life’ is having opportunities to make choices and set the direction of your life. Just like anyone else, people with disabilities need to have their rights respected, space to make decisions, and be empowered to be the leaders of their lives. This shows up in more formal ways - through things like person-centered planning meetings - but also in more informal ways - such as in the ways supports talk to people, seek input from people, and approach their work.

For example, if someone needs some new art for their place, instead of saying ‘I’m going to buy some art for Julia’, it can be reframed as ‘I’m going to support Julia in choosing some art for her place’. Opportunities for Julia to browse different types of art and show what she likes and doesn’t like, and supporting Julia in choosing where it goes in her home can be built into the process. #3 A person has people who love and care about them in their life Another ‘signal’ that someone is living a ‘good life’ is relationships - having people who love and care about you.

Having many different kinds of relationships - acquaintances, close friends, family, colleagues - and not just having to rely on paid supports is important. As human beings, we are social creatures, literally wired to connect with others and do life together with other people. So when these relational pieces are missing it hits us hard - as Brené Brown says, when our needs for a deep sense of love and belonging are not met “we don’t function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart.

We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick.”. A big part of our role as supports then is to help be social bridges for people - help people find opportunities to meet others, help people connect with others in those spaces, and help people nurture and deepen those connections over time. This can be tough and can take time and creativity, but even if not saying it regularly, people we serve really rely on support to help bridge and sustain healthy relationships.

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#4 A person has meaningful things to do and places to go The 4th insight we had of a ‘signal’ of a good life that surfaced in our reflections, was one around having meaningful roles, things to do and places to go. If we reflect on our own lives, most of us can name several different activities, places, and spaces that hold meaning in our lives and that we are connected to. Unfortunately, many people with disabilities face barriers in connecting to activities, places, and spaces and haven’t been given the opportunity to really explore and try new experiences. We use the word ‘meaningful’ very intentionally here - to draw attention to the fact that it’s not just about the person being busy - it’s about the people we serve having opportunities to try new things, explore and land on some things that they really love. When places in community have been found that are meaningful to a person, one further question we have often asked ourselves is if people we serve are simply “in” a community setting, or if they really are “of” the community setting. Being “of community” has to do with having relationships and connections and being known and welcomed as one is.

A helpful tool that can support us in remembering and looking for these ‘signals’ of the good life is the Skills Society vision and citizenship model. The four ‘signals’ above fit within the citizenship model used to guide our work, and can support us when asking ourselves: “is the person I’m supporting really living a good life?”.

Never settling, continuously learning “ It is in seeing that we need to be open to the unknown, because somewhere in its depths are ideas, options and potentials that are genuine and authentically good for people with disability” - Kendrick, 2006 The theme of this annual report - “Good enough isn’t enough: Never settling - striving for the ‘good life’” resonated with what emerged from our collective reflections. A common thread amongst all our stories was that we strive to never settle for good enough and recognize we are continuously learning and growing in our efforts to support people to lead good lives. We hope you can gain some energy in knowing you are not alone - we are right there alongside you not settling and moving ahead.

What ‘not settling’ looks like

Mathew with his sister, brother, and nephews riding the Banff Gondola.

Not settling involves perseverance.

This might look like: • Not giving up or backing down when faced with barriers and ‘ya buts’ • Having a curious explorer mindset • Being creative, and alongside people served to help imagine possibilities We recognize that ‘not settling’ is really hard work. We too see the barriers that people we serve, families, allies, and supports often face in striving for the ‘good life’. Not settling “in no way requires us to wear rose-coloured glasses” or to ignore these barriers; “it simply asks that we not become so preoccupied with the barriers in life that we no longer dream” (Kendrick, 2006). That we not give up, and are relentless in our efforts to support the ‘good life’.

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Not settling involves vulnerability and healthy risk taking.

This might look like: • Embracing the discomfort that is often part of the journey. There is value with vulnerability and trying things that are uncertain in how they will turn out. This is part of learning and growing • Knowing and understanding that in the pursuit of the ‘good life’ - meaningful relationships, personal interests and aspirations - people may, and often do, make mistakes, fail, experience setbacks, disappointments, and learning curves, and as supports, embracing these risks and being ready to support people through them There are always a handful of reasons not to do something, but conversely there are also a handful of reasons to do the new “something”. The latter often requires us to be vulnerable, take risks, and ‘not settle’.

Promising practices of ‘not settling’ As we brought our heads together, some promising practices of ‘not settling’ surfaced - tangible actions we’ve tried or witnessed over the years that seem to help support the ‘good life’ of people with disabilities. Some of these promising practices are shared here.

Always being on the lookout for, and readily pursue, opportunities for people to connect with others.

Being creative in finding opportunities for people to share their gifts and talents and have an active role This might look like: • Booking a 1.5 hour MyCompass Planning Lab to shake up thinking and help generate some creativity in connecting a person’s gifts in community • Getting involved with our CommuniTEA Infusion (TeaVan) project, where there are opportunities to meet folks from different walks of life and contribute as a community builder • Being more open and attentive to the not so obvious signals from people that when we open our minds, this can help us see more of people’s unique gifts and sometimes reveal new opportunities to help someone connect their gifts in creative ways in community Nurturing existing friendships and family connections This might look like: • Supporting the person you serve to write and mail a letter or postcard to a friend or family member • Assisting the person to connect virtually, arrange for coffee dates, and plan activities with friends and family on a regular, recurring basis • Remind folks to call people or text and check in, in a reciprocal way Seeing people as people first (not their disability)

This might look like: • Supporting someone to ask a person they see weekly at the Nina (art center) to go for coffee • Looking at a person’s routine and seeing if there are opportunities for them to connect with others rather than doing solo activities (e.g. going to the gym vs joining a cycling group)

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This might look like: • Reflecting critically on what your own assumptions and beliefs about disability are • With the person you serve creating a list of all the things they can and like to do when thinking of new things to try (rather than thinking just of what they can’t do) • Learning and getting better at skillfully and safely navigating supporting people who want to explore intimate relationships

Leveraging the different skills and talents of your team

Curiosity and a habit of asking questions

This might look like: • Asking for help or to discuss something tricky during a team meeting • Utilizing the diverse perspectives and collective wisdom of your team, by brainstorming together around ideas to build community connections and foster relationships

This might look like: • Continually remembering to check in with the people we support and ask them about their life, hopes, and dreams and what’s important to them • Thinking critically about the way you’re doing things and whether settling for good enough or still striving for supporting the good life • Thinking outside the box and exploring unconventional and creative ideas

Seeing yourself as a community connector, advocate, and ally rather than a caregiver This might look like: • Knowing the person you are working with and reaching out to community organizations to find a space that would be welcoming • Be aware of opportunities within the community such as community connectors through the programs the city has, opportunities to participate in community league boards etc.

References Kendrick, M. J. (2006) False Realism And The Unexplored Potential In People’s Lives. Families for Change, 2(18). Family Advocacy, Sydney, Australia

Courage This might look like: • Standing up for someone you serve when their rights are infringed upon • Going out of your comfort zone in helping someone connect to a new role or opportunity • Advocating, asking critical questions and offering potential solutions, for example when spaces are unwelcoming or inaccessible

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