COMM— UNITY LIVING ROOTS
tatawâw
Welcome! There is room here for Who you Are, Where you are from, And Who you Are becoming
We acknowledge that we are stewarding the work of Skills Society on lands known as amiskwaciwâskahikan
or Edmonton, which is part of the Métis Nation Homeland and is governed by Treaty 6. We recognize the honour we have in joining with the spirit of this ancient gathering place where Indigenous peoples have dreamed, created, and taken care of one another since time immemorial.
Community Living Roots: A Movement, Not a Moment
We Are Skills Society
Our Strategic Priorities 2024-2027
Skills Society Board of Directors 2024-2025
Board Chair Report
Treasurer Report
Skills Society Award Winners
Executive Director Report The Role of Belonging in Deepening the Community Living Movement It’s the Little Things— Everyday Actions That
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the creation and writing of this report. And a special thanks to our community, people we support, staff, and board members, for sharing their stories and perspectives—they are at the heart of this report.
COMM— UNITY LIVING ROOTS
A MoveMent, not A Moment.
This year’s theme invites us to reflect on the enduring nature of the disability rights and community living movements. It reminds us that these are not isolated moments in history, but living, evolving journeys rooted in decades of advocacy, resilience, and collective action.
It is both a call to remember and a call to action. Reminding us to honor and protect the progress that has been made
by self-advocates, families, and community allies, and to ensure we do not slip backwards.
Community living—rich with inclusion and deep belonging— is not a destination but a continuous movement toward equity, dignity, and full participation for all. Our roots run deep, and our commitment to never settling and always striving for a ‘good life’ for each person we serve, remains strong.
WE ARE SKILLS SOCIETY
We are one of the largest disability service organizations in the Edmonton area. For over 40 years we have provided individualized support services to people with developmental disabilities and survivors of brain injury, 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 children - 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 healthcare and justice costs, and help them set and achieve personal goals they (and their families) never thought possible.
WHO WE SERVE
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.
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.
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
OUR CORE VALUES & OPERATING PRINCIPLES
CORE
VALUE
PRACTICE IN PERSON-CENTRED WAYS
We never forget to keep the voices of those we serve at the centre of our planning and practices.
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.
OPERATING PRINCIPLES
* We focus our services around the lived experiences of the people we support
* We plan our services in creative and engaging ways in order to make them meaningful and relevant
* We ensure our solutions are the most empowering, least intrusive and safest for the people affected
* We build and strengthen healthy relationships in everything we do
* We work equally to solve big picture problems and on-the-ground needs
CORE VALUE SEEK CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS
By working with others, we build a stronger community of neighbours, leaders and advocates.
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.
OPERATING PRINCIPLES
* We treat invitations to collaborate as opportunities to help achieve our vision and mission
* We use the Action Lab and other initiatives to open up relationships and spur innovative ideas
* We look beyond our organization for new and different ways to achieve our vision
* We place trust at the centre of any relationshipbecause that’s what enables collaboration
* We embrace the sometimes slower nature of collaborative work when it is necessary
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.
OPERATING PRINCIPLES
* We actively seek out new knowledge and view continuous learning as essential to our role as leaders
* We learn through reflecting on our actions and studying the work of others
* We strive to mix solutions that are old, new and sometimes surprising
* We generously share what we build and learn with others
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.
OPERATING PRINCIPLES
* We experiment with multiple ways to address tough issues in order to improve the chances we find a solution
* We embrace ambiguity, difficulty and tension as opportunities for creative thinking and innovative responses
* We are comfortable knowing that measuring success in our work is not an exact science with clear answers
* We are relentless but patient in our efforts to navigate and make progress on tough issues
* We focus our changemaking efforts across three horizons of innovation. We balance the complexity of providing high quality supports and change-making that’s required in the here and now, and spearheading and participating in systems level change that shows promise of a better future and enhancing the lives of people with disabilities.
CORE VALUE
CORE VALUE
CORE
ADAPT AND 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.
OPERATING PRINCIPLES
* We stay razor focused on our vision and mission yet flexible in how we pursue them
* We constantly scan our world—inside and out— to identify opportunities and barriers for our work
* We boldly seek out new insights—even failures— and adapt our work to reflect our learning
* We promote clear and constant communication to enable us to pivot quickly if required
* We adjust and revisit decisions when new information is presented or as political, social, and environmental contexts shift
* We remain open to new solutions in the face of changing times
* We listen deeply to understand what is really going on and what is needed
NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND
As part of our commitment to being better Treaty relatives, Skills Society in partnership with Naheyawin, hosted an event to commemorate, reflect, and learn in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Through ceremony, storytelling, and creative reflection, participants delved into the complexities of reconciliation and their roles within this ongoing process.
An important part of citizenship is participation - contributing your gifts and sharing them with others. Kind, warm-hearted, and generous with her time and talents, Sam brings a sense of connection to everything she does - “I’m chatty. I like talking to people”, she shares. Whether it’s her three guinea pigs she cares for, or the countless plants she tends to, those who know her best share that her nurturing nature is one of her many gifts.
Sam’s love for plants was sparked in high school during a horticulture class, and she has continued to learn and grow her green thumb ever since - propagating spider plants, experimenting with seedlings from mature cuttings, and researching plant feeds and techniques. Laughing, she shared, “it was like a nursery at one point”, describing the number of plants in her home. Recently, Sam has transformed this passion into a budding business, selling spider plants to those in her community through word of mouth. Sam has also tapped into her creativity, decorating the plants with colorful birds and ribbons to sell as gifts for Mother’s Day. Looking ahead, she hopes to expand her business, and explore other plant varieties.
SAM S STORY
“i like helping out. i feel hAppy When i do My job Well.”
Sam’s guinea pigs Mickey, Ginger, and Penny
Sam’s gifts and contributions extend beyond horticulture. For the past three years, she has been a dedicated Community Builder with the CommuniTEA Infusion initiative - serving iced tea, facilitating activities like yard games and button making, and most importantly, connecting with people. Whether cheering on runners at a local race or asking community members for feedback to improve Tea Van, Sam makes others feel seen and valued. These contributions have not gone unnoticed, and this year Sam is taking on a new role as Lead Community Builder. When asked what she hopes to bring to this leadership role,
she shared ensuring that everyone has a turn, a way to contribute.
Sam brings this same spirit to her work with Action Lab, where she’s been a host for over seven years and takes great pride in her role - “I like helping out. I feel happy when I do my job well.”
Reflecting on what makes a good life, one rich with belonging, Sam shared about the importance of contributionopportunities to care for others, to be relied upon, and to rely on others in turn. This sense of mutuality is at the heart of her story. Through her creativity and care, Sam is growing belonging, building relationships, and demonstrating what engaged citizenship looks like in action.
One of Sam’s spider plants
This story was compiled and written by Rebecca Rubuliak, Director of Continuous Improvement and Innovation
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.
EMPLOYMENT
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE
- Finding and maintaining paid employment
- Developing new skills through volunteering
- Pursuing education or jobrelated training
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE
- Making and sustaining friendships along with healthy, romantic relationships
- Establishing social networks with friends, neighbors and colleagues
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE
- Nurturing family relationships RELATIONSHIPS
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE
- Participating in neighbourhood activities
- Sharing talents with the community
- Discovering fun and meaningful things to do
HEALTH & WELLNESS
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 HOME LIFE
- Setting and attending medical appointments
- Establishing healthy eating habits and exercise routines
- Assisting with personal hygiene
- Supporting medication management
- Supporting mental and emotional wellbeing
WEAVING IT TOGETHER
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.
It takes everyone working together with Vision, Mission, Values and Thrive in Five approach to help us reach our destination.
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 (a steward) and able to step in to help where required. People we serve and families are often navigators—pointing out where the destination goal is and what it looks like. Some leaders are guiding the wheel of the ship and sometimes they step away while others 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 through 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.
VALUES + THRIVE IN FIVE
OUR MISSION
OUR VISION
OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 2024-2027
BETTER SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH COMPLEX SERVICE NEEDS
Supporting people with complex service needs in a way that is empowering and rights-based, while balancing safety.
INCREASE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND RESILIENCY
Anticipate, monitor, and adapt to changes in funding models while continuing to develop and grow new revenue streams.
STRENGTHEN OUR CAPACITY TO SUPPORT CITIZENSHIP AND DEEP BELONGING IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE
Be leaders in pushing the boundaries of radical inclusion and deep belonging of people with developmental disabilities both internally within Skills Society and externally within the sector and broader community. Supporting people to not just be “in” community but to be “of” community with a sense of reciprocal participation and belonging.
LEAD AS AN ORGANIZATION AND IN THE SECTOR AROUND MORE HUMANIZED DATA AND EVALUATION
Be at the forefront of humanizing data and learning. Strengthen our organizational measurement systems to respond to needs and explore ways to demonstrate value to funders and the sector.
STRENGTHEN HEALTHY ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE, INCLUSIVE PRACTICES, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, AND INNOVATION
Continue to foster a culture of creativity and innovation that values learning and experimentation. Continue to develop a healthy inclusive culture and strengthen leadership capacity of all employees throughout Skills Society.
HOW HUMANIZED EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (EDI) PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES SHOW UP IN OUR COLLECTIVE WORK
our CoMMitMent
To eDi anD antiDiscriMination
Our Skills Society vision is “a community where every individual is a valued citizen deserving respect, dignity and rights”. Central to our vision is the desire to build a community where everyone belongs as they are. Skills Society is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment free from discrimination and which supports the dignity of all within our community.
We believe an inclusive community is one:
* where everyone has opportunities to share their gifts and talents;
* where every individual feels they belong and is valued for their own identities, culture, viewpoints, and traditions; and
* that recognizes our shared humanity while also celebrating our unique individuality.
Skills Society has long-established policies and practices that show we don’t just talk about, but act on valuing diversity, equity, and social justice. We are committed to (un)learning and acting on being inclusive to people of all genders, sex and sexual orientation, abilities,
ages, religions, non-religious perspectives, social class, and race. As part of this value, we are continuously (un)learning and improving to ensure our collective work keeps us all moving towards our vision and centers us in supporting the citizenship and deep belonging of people with developmental disabilities in community.
eDi is woven into the fabric of our work
What we think is roughly right in our approach to EDI is we believe humanized EDI and EDI continuous learning should be woven into our culture, practice, and policies. Our priority “strengthen healthy organizational culture, inclusive practices, continuous improvement, and innovation” encompasses the continued learning and strategic work around EDI.
It’s important to remember that we exist as an organization to serve people with developmental disabilities in being able to live their best lives possible as full citizens in community. While Skills Society has and continues to be on an unlearning/learning journey around EDI, there are guiding ‘principles’ that inform our actions on our commitment to this work and antidiscrimination. Our approach is:
* informed by our disability rights roots and work;
* relational and in keeping with being good treaty relatives;
* grounded in our community the people we serve, families, and employees; and
* embodies our values and challenges the status quo.
huManizeD edi prinCiples we stewArd And learn from
At Skills Society we believe our humanized1 EDI approach should…
* be grounded in our vision, mission, values, and core purpose of helping people with intellectual disabilities thrive in community life;
* focus more towards uniting a diverse community more than it divides, by leaning more towards calling people in rather than calling people out so that learning can be more possible;
* recognize our shared humanity while also celebrating our unique individuality;
* strive to hold space to (un)learn from, value, and empower people of many diverse group identities and perspectives;
* weave humanizing EDI learning and practices through all of our policies, practices, committees, and related statements;
* commit to supporting robust learning on how everyone in our Skills community can be leaders and contribute to a healthy, inclusive community and workplace; this also grounds us in our efforts to be good treaty relatives, where part of our collective commitment is to
be in good relations with all people, animals, and other beings with whom we share this land;
* encourage thoughtful sharing of power that is not oversimplifiedrecognizing roles hold accountability and power2 differently;
* embrace the art of what’s possible with the resources we have available to weave our EDI approach into Skills Society;
* encourage reflexivity, where situations are not only seen through lenses of power imbalance, but also through deep human lenses of shared humanity, compassion, joy, awe, camaraderie, and community; and
* critique the systems3 while empathizing and showing compassion for the humans caught by biases in systems.;
learn More AbouT hoW edi shows up in pracTice on our Website
Humanized refers to approaches or actions that centre understanding, empathy, dignity, and respect for individual difference while simultaneously recognizing people’s common humanity. As part of our (un)learning journey, we call in
tatawâw - theres is room for who you are, where you are from, and who you are becoming.
2 Power refers to the control or influence some individuals or groups have over others, shaping how resources, rights, and opportunities are distributed, and can lead to some individuals or groups having privileges(advantages) that are not equitably available to everyone.
3 Systems refers to the set of rules, processes, or structures organizations, societies, or groups use to operate or make decisions.
Belonging is something that is created between people, formed out of shared experiences with others. It also involves people’s authentic selves being welcome and celebrated— being truly seen for who you are and what you offer.
Tyler is a metalhead through and through. He’s a thrill seeker who loves screamo music, biker culture, and all things loud. Whether it’s watching Sons of Anarchy , playing zombiethemed video games, or cheering for the Oilers, Tyler brings energy and humor into every space he’s in. Like many in the punk and metal scenes, he finds belonging not by blending in, but by showing up fully as himself.
Tyler shares his love of metal with Juanita, one of his longtime support staff. “Juan is a metalhead like me, so any chance she gets she takes me to concerts,” he shared. One of those shows was Amon Amarth in Calgary.
“It was very loud,” Tyler laughed. “The crowd surfed me all the way to the front. The singer looked at me and said, ‘You’re effing awesome.’ That really made my night.”
More recently, he went to see 3 Inches of Blood live in concert. “I’d never seen them before. Juan showed me a song and I really liked it. That made me want to go.”
TYLER S STORY
“it’s a TribebaseD thing. it’s Where i fit in.”
Juan and Tyler at the 3 Inches of Blood concert
For Tyler, concerts are more than just shows. They’re spaces where he feels connected to something bigger. “I like the family aspect,” he explained. “It’s a tribe-based thing. Everyone has the same interests. It’s where I fit in.”
That feeling of belonging was also tied to a custom battle vest he used to wear. In the metal and punk community, vests are a big deal. They’re usually covered in patches, studs, and personal touches that reflect your identity and the bands or people you care about. “It said I’m a metalhead,” Tyler shared. “It was something I got in Calgary with Juanita. It was really cool. I miss it.”
Tyler’s vest was stolen and hasn’t been recovered, but he’s already thinking about how to rebuild it. He wants to start fresh with new patches, including one with his video gamer handle. He’s also exploring streaming his gaming online and turning that passion into something more.
Tyler’s story is about more than music. It’s about finding your people, expressing who you are in your own way, and lifting and being lifted up by your community (both figuratively, and in Tyler’s experience crowd surfing, literally). It’s a reminder that belonging can look like band shirts, loud music, and shared moments that stay with you.
Tyler at the 3 Inches of Blood concert
This story was compiled and written by Autumn Sanders, Communications and Design Specialist
OFFICERS
SKILLS SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2024-2025
BOARD CHAIR REPORT
A reflecTion on our Collective movement
Welcome to the Skills Society 2024-2025 Annual Report. Once again, I am honoured to reflect on the journey we've undertaken over the past year, a journey rooted in resilience, community, and a shared vision for a more inclusive future.
Much like the long-standing disability rights and community living movements, Skills Society is part of an ongoing effort for progress. Our achievements and challenges highlight the importance of perseverance, resilience, innovation and collective leadership. While we can be proud of how far we've come, it’s important to stay thoughtful and proactive, understanding that outside influences and challenges could still threaten our progress. Every step forward we take is part of a larger movement— one that honours our history, celebrates our community’s strength, and continually advocates for social justice and meaningful inclusion. Our movement continues because the work isn’t finished yet.
strengtheninG our skills socieTy CoMMunity
This year, we proudly recognized 58 long-term employees for their dedication, with years of service ranging from 5 to 35 years. Their commitment demonstrates how important stability and dedication are in creating a welcoming and supportive environment for individuals and families. Their daily actions show true leadership— actions that inspire others and help us stay true to our mission. These team members are the foundation of our community, and their ongoing efforts help us grow stronger and more connected, making sure everyone feels valued and included. We also continued our annual summer picnic last August, which brings together our entire community, including the individuals we serve, their families, and staff. The CommuniTEA Van, another Skills innovative community building initiative, was present at the picnic and was a hit with the attendees. This event helps strengthen bonds, build trust, and foster a sense of belonging among everyone involved. It is an important way to celebrate community, promote connection, and reinforce the support network that is essential to our collective well-being.
builDing capAcity for sustAinabiliTy And innovation
Our ongoing efforts to strengthen the skills and capacity of our board and staff remain central to our progress. The completion of our board intern, Amisha Bavineni’s project, which provided insights into the effectiveness of family advisory committees, supported our ongoing discussion on how to include family voices in decisionmaking. These initiatives reinforce our commitment to building a collaborative community where everyone’s input shapes our path forward, because progress happens when we work together as a community on shared goals. Our sincere gratitude to Amisha, and her board mentors, Carmen Norris and Dianne McConnell for their leadership and guidance.
Cultivating a strong fund development culture is vital for the long-term sustainability of Skills. It helps ensure that resource development is integrated into our everyday practices and values, allowing us to better expand supports, innovate, and deepen our impact in the community. This cultural shift encourages everyone to take ownership of resource-building efforts, making
Debbie royer
philanthropy and community support integral parts of how we operate. To strengthen this work, Skills continues to actively seek a dedicated Fund Development professional to join the Skills team, someone who can lead and grow these initiatives, helping us forge stronger partnerships and secure sustainable resources.
Additionally, the Community Animator pilot is expanding in collaboration with our partners at CIVIDA and Leston Holdings. Originating from our Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) funded Future of Home Lab, this project evolved into a funded initiative aimed at increasing inclusive housing options and fostering community connection. The Community Animator serves as a vital link, working directly within the community to support tenants, build relationships, and promote shared ownership of inclusive living environments.
Finally, Skills’ leadership team remains engaged across multiple tables - advancing ideas, developing solutions, and exploring pathways to support inclusive housing, workforce education, and systemic change. By participating in these collaborations, Skills is not only contributing to immediate projects but also shaping a more inclusive sector, where innovation, education, and community-driven solutions are at the forefront.
Celebrating AchieveMents
And builDing future cApacities
In November, the Skills board and leadership team came together to have discussions around our strategic priorities with the intent of continuing to steward the organization as strategically possible in increasingly dynamic times. Our strategic priorities build on our ongoing work and align with the larger community living movement —strengthening our support for people with complex needs, increasing financial management and organizational resiliency, and deepening our capacity to foster citizenship and a sense of deep belonging in the lives of those we support. We also aim to strengthen our organizational culture through inclusive practices, continuous improvement, and innovation. Lastly, we recognize the importance of leading in the sector by developing more humanized data and evaluation methods—ways to clearly demonstrate the value of Skills’ work to our funders and partners.
These priorities are not just about growth—they are about ensuring we stay true to the principles of the community living movement: supporting individuals to lead meaningful lives, promoting inclusion, and moving forward, not backward. They reflect our commitment to building a future rooted in progress, respect, and continuous advocacy for social justice and meaningful inclusion for all.
This year, Skills underwent its triannual accreditation review conducted by the Alberta Council of Disability Services. This process involves the review of a set of service delivery standards by a survey team that looks at our services and processes, as well as interviewing staff, board members, individuals receiving supports and their family members. Thanks to all who were involved in this review. I am pleased to say that Skills passed this review at the highest level achievable and received a number of commendations, including its dedication to celebrating diversity and innovative programs designed to support people with complex service needs. This shows that our commitment to quality community support for the people we serve is recognized at the highest levels.
honourinG leadership aT every level
Last year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) focused on leadership, emphasizing that leadership is a shared journey. It’s about stewarding change, advocating for justice, and inspiring others through everyday actions - whether mentoring a new staff member, supporting a colleague, volunteering, or listening to a person’s story. Leadership is deeply rooted in our daily work— it’s activism in action.
Our community is full of countless examples of this: volunteers organizing events, staff leading innovative programs, and individuals and families advocating fiercely for their rights. These acts of leadership, both big and small, continue to drive the movement forward.
The themes we choose each year build on our overall direction at Skills, reinforcing our commitment to growth, inclusion, and shared leadership as we carry the movement forward, not just for a moment, but for the future.
looking AheaD With purpose And hope
As we embrace the future, I am encouraged by the ongoing efforts of our organization and community. We are working to deepen our connections, expand our supports, and uphold our collective values of dignity, respect, and inclusion. The continued investments in social enterprises like MyCompass Planning and the Action Lab exemplify our belief that sustainable change happens through community empowerment and entrepreneurial spirit.
Our continued support of Community Disability Support practicum students and the University of Alberta’s board internship program shows our commitment to developing future leaders - those who will carry this movement forward with new ideas and dedication. Skills also support internal leadership by using its Leadership Workbook, which all staff participate in. This Workbook, which has been in use for the past year, includes a section on the history and importance of different disability movements, helping our teams understand and stay connected to our core values. By building strong leaders at all levels, we keep our organization vibrant, innovative, and committed to inclusion and social justice.
in
closing
Skills Society thrives because of the hard work and shared leadership of our staff, board, and community supporters. Your dedication and collaboration are the foundation of our progress and the driving force behind our ongoing movement toward inclusion and innovation.
I also want to thank everyone attending our AGM—individuals, families, employees, donors, and partners. Your continued commitment keeps us moving forward.
As we pursue our renewed strategic priorities, I am inspired by the collective strength within Skills. Together, we are shaping a future that reflects our shared values and commitment to a more inclusive community.
Let’s stay dedicated, lead with purpose, and keep building on our progress—together.
Thank you for being part of this important work.
Debbie royer Board Chair
TREASURER REPORT
I am pleased to provide an update on our financial performance, highlighting a stable and consistent operating model that underscores ongoing dedication to supporting the community.
The agency recorded $24.7 million in operating revenue for the current year, which exceeded the original budget by $400 thousand.
Total operating expenses for the year were $24.8 million, approximately $600 thousand higher than budgeted.
The difference between budgets and actuals is due largely to additional supports provided to individuals during the year.
Skills Society experienced an operating deficit of $112 thousand this year, compared to a small surplus of $38 thousand reported in 2024. Including amortization, casino, and unrealized ATB investment losses, Skills Society recorded a deficit of slightly over $68 thousand, as compared to a surplus of just under $91 thousand in the prior year.
The amounts in this report are accurate as of May 2025. The final results presented at the Annual Meeting may differ slightly due to lastminute adjustments.
For the 2025/2026 year, Skills Society has budgeted an operating surplus of $14 thousand and anticipates continued stable support and expense management to fulfill our ongoing mission of supporting the community we serve.
AlexAndrA martinson, cpa Treasurer
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
From left to right: Lennox, Claire, Guerline, Daniel, and Endash, Black leaders within our Skills community who shared their stories, experiences, and lessons in leadership as part of a panel discussion to honor and celebrate Black History Month
SKILLS SOCIETY CITIZENSHIP AWARDS 2024
AWarD
Winners
At Skills Society supporting people to be valued citizens is at the heart of what we do, and we want to recognize and celebrate the efforts of individuals and organizations in our community who are working towards our shared vision of a community where everyone is valued and belongs. The Skills Society Citizenship Awards recognize individuals and organizations who are contributing to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community.
ENGAGED CITIZENSHIP AWARD
Winner
The Engaged Citizenship Award is given to an individual supported by Skills Society whose actions demonstrate active participation in their community and efforts towards contributing to and fostering a vibrant community.
jennifer kinG
honorable mention
Jennifer was nominated for her outstanding contributions as a dedicated host with the Action Lab team and as the Lead Community Builder for CommuniTEA Infusion. As a longstanding team member, she brings warmth, enthusiasm, and a strong ability to make others feel welcome. Jennifer leads with kindness and values building strong and meaningful relationships with those around her - which has helped her thrive in her roles and foster deep community connections.
Abdulrahman hassAn
Abdul was nominated for his dedication to community, compassion, and active citizenship. He consistently demonstrates care for others in his involvement in initiatives like the Safe Walk program, where he helps ensure the safety of fellow students, and his participation in the Ignite Change Global Convention advocating for human rights. Abdul is a member of his faith community, an artist at the Nina Haggerty, and a team player in sports and his work as an Action Lab Host. Through his eagerness to contribute and support others, Abdul embodies what it means to be an engaged and caring citizen.
LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Leadership Award is given to a Skills Society employee or volunteer who demonstrates leadership in the pursuit of our shared vision of a community where all individuals are valued citizens deserving respect, dignity, and rights.
Winner
marilou felipe
Marilou was nominated for her exceptional ability to foster meaningful relationships and empower the people she supports to lead rich lives with belonging, choice, and autonomy. She invests time in deepening her understanding of each individual’s interests, aspirations, and unique needs. Through her natural ability to build trust with those around her, Marilou’s actions create a space where everyone feels valued and heard. She supports the folks she serves in making their house feel like a home through building a space they are proud to call their own, host friends and loved ones, and connect with community. Marilou embodies a relational leadership approach and executes the vision and values of Skills Society, leading by example for those around her and making a strong impact on the lives of those she serves.
COMMUNITY BELONGING AWARD
The Community Belonging Award is given to a business, community organization, or group whose actions support the inclusion and belonging of people with developmental disabilities.
Winner
KpMg llp
KPMG LLP was nominated for their outstanding dedication and support in helping an individual navigate a challenging legal situation. Recognizing that access to legal advice and counsel is challenging, KPMG LLP has gone above and beyond in supporting the person to know their rights. The legal team worked closely to support the individual to understand their options and encourage self-advocacy. KPMG LLP is recognized for their strong commitment to supporting advocacy and rights of people with developmental disabilities.
SKILLS SOCIETY EMPLOYEE EDUCATION AWARD
2024 AWarD Winners
In 2022 Skills Society launched the Skills Society Employee Education Award with the purpose of fostering leadership development by supporting employees in participating in formal post-secondary education programs that further their learning and growth in the field of disability studies and/or leadership. With an aim of equity, half of all Employee Education Awards are reserved for employees who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC). Skills Society values diversity, equity, and social justice. As part of this value we strive to boost and support BIPOC leaders within our community, continue to learn and work together on anti-racist allyship, and actively participate in systems change initiatives.
nicholas Anstey
Through her continued education, Sonia is learning skills to help provide holistic and comprehensive supports to the people we serve. Sonia intends to bridge the gap between social service work and healthcare by bringing her expertise and lens as a Community Support Worker to her Nursing education program.
AWARD SUPPORTS SONIA’S PURSUIT OF A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING AT MACEWAN UNIVERSITY.
As a Community Support Worker to people with acquired brain injury, Nicholas supports people to access strategies, tools, and resources to be successful and thrive while navigating new life circumstances. Nicholas hopes to gain knowledge from his continued education to further support the people he serves as they go through a multitude of rapid changes in their lives.
AWARD SUPPORTS NICHOLAS’ PURSUIT OF OPEN STUDIES EDUCATION AT ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY, SPECIFICALLY A PSYCHOLOGY COURSE IN ADULT DEVELOPMENT.
Through the blend of theoretical knowledge and technical skills learned, Annit hopes her continued education program will strengthen her work in providing personcentered care and supporting the people we serve to form meaningful connections in community and experience belonging.
AWARD SUPPORTS ANITT’S PURSUIT OF A PRACTICAL NURSING DIPLOMA AT NORQUEST COLLEGE.
M.T. is a super creative person who brings this gift to life through playing video games, creating short films— particularly horror—and, more recently, experimenting with music. Now, they’re taking the next steps by applying to MacEwan University to pursue content creation. M.T. shared that they were inspired in part by actor Bella Ramsey’s work in the Last of Us - “I thought, maybe I’ll take another stab at this.”
As a member of the LGBTQ and disability community, M.T. deeply understands the importance and power of representation: “everyone being who they are, happy in their own skin, not feeling ashamed of who they are.”
Early in life, M.T. was separated from their peers in school and placed in ‘specialized’ classrooms. “I witnessed the damage that is done by secluding and congregating people”, they shared.
“It not only made me feel alone, but it made other people feel like they would never be able to understand me, because I was ‘different’.” For M.T., categorizing people into restrictive settings has always felt deeply isolating, and their journey has fueled a passion and commitment to inclusion and rights: “I want to be someone who can advocate for people who feel not included across a spectrum of areas, LGBTQ and disability.”
For over a decade, M.T. has been a Community Builder with CommuniTEA
M.T. S STORY
“soMetiMes just being present is enouGh”
Infusion, a grassroots initiative that brings people together, fostering connection and community. They enjoy the opportunity to connect with others, and have played a key role in making the Tea Van - a mobile gathering space - more inclusive. One of their ideas was to introduce pronoun pins, where Community Builders and community members could make pins for their preferred pronouns; “I want to give people that option”. Pride flags were also added so that “trans and people in the LGBTQ community coming to Tea Van feel heard and they feel accepted.”
M.T. has a strong desire to be a spokesperson for people, especially around identity and inclusion; “people need to be heard”. They’ve seen firsthand the dehumanizing ways people are
sometimes treated, and are committed to advocating for dignity and respect for all. There continue to be a lot of harmful misconceptions about the LGBTQ community, they explained; “it’s about people being true to who they are”.
As a member of the Unitarian Church, M.T. has been exploring leading a session focused on inclusion and disability rights - bringing their lived experience and voice to a broader audience.
Their journey hasn’t been without challenges, but it has also been one of growth and clarity. “It was like a giant weight had been lifted off my shoulders”, they reflected, describing what it felt like to be affirmed in who they are.
“I didn’t have to hide anymore”. What helped most was having trusted people they could talk to - supports, family, and friends. When asked how others
can be better allies, M.T. offers: “Just be there for someone. Sometimes just being present is enough. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, it can be something as very simple as just being there.”
What gives M.T. hope for the future? “That people learn to accept everybody”. They advocate for people to take time to learn, reminding us that language matters, and to treat others how you would want to be treated.
DONOR RECOGNITION 2024/2025
We are grateful to our Skills Community, 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!
GranTs & endoWMent
CITY OF EDMONTON -
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELL-BEING
Community Animator Pilot Project 2024: $68,800
RBC FOUNDATION
CommuniTEA Infusion Project 2025: $18,000
RBC FOUNDATION
CommuniTEA Infusion Project 2024: $18,000
SKILLS SOCIETY ENDOWMENT FUND AT EDMONTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Interest earned in 2024: $10,685
SKILLS SOCIETY CABLE FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND AT EDMONTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Interest earned in 2024: $8,500
TELUS FRIENDLY FUTURE FOUNDATION
CommuniTEA Infusion Project 2025: $12,000
privAte Donors
�� Ann Marie LePan
�� Anne-Marie Kallal
�� Ben Weinlick
�� Carmen Norris
�� Carolyn Lobay in loving memory of Bill Andriashek
�� Catherine Gunn
�� Carol Ewanowich in honor of Graeme Szelewicki
�� Claire Mpinda
�� Darcy McDonald
�� Debbie English in loving memory of Bill Andriashek
�� Debbie Royer
�� Edmonton Mopar Association
CommuniTEA VAN
�� Effie Andriashek in loving memory of Bill Andriashek
�� Elizabeth M Huzar
�� Flexxaire Inc.
�� Frances Urtasun
�� Janet Day in loving memory of Bill Andriashek
�� Jeanette Boman in loving memory of Bill Andriashek
�� Karen Huta
�� Michael A Bacchus
�� Rebecca Rubuliak
�� Robert Herring
�� The Miners Cafe
�� William David Sharp
ROTARY CLUB OF EDMONTON WHYTE AVENUE
Christmas stockings and preparing meals for people supported by Skills Society’s Outreach program.
Skills Society commissioned a piece by Nina Collective Artist Mark Traficante of the Skills Society CommuniTEA Van. Lots of amazing pieces by Nina Collective Artists in the Skills Society Main Office and around our City—be sure to check them out!
RYAN 'S STORY
Ryan is a young guy who is addressing societal barriers with wit, vision, and an unwavering belief in social justice. With a wicked sense of humor, Ryan brings his creativity and advocacy together in everything he does.
Ryan receives supports through Skills’ Acquired Brain Injury Supports and was a recipient of the Skills Learning Award. The Learning Award is offered to individuals receiving support from Skills who are thinking about pursuing an education or learning opportunity to help cover costs connected with attending. We had the opportunity to connect with Ryan to learn about his story, what motivated him to pursue post-secondary education, and how that connects to his hopes and aspirations for the future.
A lover of political thrillers, Ryan reads constantly—a passion that deepened once he gained access to the right tools. “Now I can’t stop
reading”, he shared, “I feel sick if I don’t”. But his access to reading— and education more broadly— required an unwavering commitment and advocacy by him, his family, supports, and allies. Ryan identifies as disabled, and his experiences of being blind, deaf, and a wheelchair user are central to how he moves through and understands the world. As an adolescent, Ryan spent a long stretch in hospital, where he was repeatedly told he wouldn’t survive, let alone attend postsecondary. “They said if I managed to survive, I would never get to post-secondary”, Ryan recalls. Today, Ryan is studying Disability Studies at NorQuest College, with
plans to transfer to Athabasca to pursue his degree. His choice in the program was intentional:
“society Wasn’t builT for people with DisabiliTies. not until AWareness And eDucAtion Was brouGht To light...”
"i appreCiate people Trying
to puT themselves
in oTher people’s
shoes, but unless you wAlk A Mile in Mine, it’s KindA harD. beinG in a Wheelchair Means people Tend to look pasT you, instead of seeinG the huMan Who siTs insiDe of it"
“...it’s still not easy, buT We’re here. And it’s only GoinG to get better, but To MAke it better you have to put in the work.”
Driving Ryan’s pursuit of education is his discontentment with the ways he has been marginalized and overlooked by society, and he hopes to use his voice to create a platform for change, shedding light on societal barriers. “I appreciate people trying to put themselves in other people’s shoes,
but unless you walk a mile in mine, it’s kinda hard. Being in a wheelchair means people tend to look past you, instead of seeing the human who sits inside of it”.
Ryan faced several access barriers to pursuing his studies. Ryan, alongside his family, support team, and accessibility advisor, had to navigate and rework systems and technology. There was a lot of tech training and trial and error Ryan explained. “It may seem to others that I go too slowly, but there’s a lot of technical stuff on that laptop that has to be set up. I’d love to be a wizard on the laptop - but I’m okay with the basics, and I’m using it now with my new found writing ability”. Writing, like reading, has become another passion of Ryan’s with hopes to deepen his craft through creative writing.
Ryan’s future ambitions are to support advocacy efforts on a broader scale. “For others to make decisions for people with disabilities, it’s nasty, to make crucial life altering changes to society without feedback from that society.” One of Ryan’s favorite quotes, from Bill Nye, is “Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t”. It reflects the respect and openness he brings to understanding others’ perspectives - and serves as a reminder that everyone has something to offer and contribute.
We express our admiration and gratitude to Ryan, and self-advocates like him, who continue to make waves, pushing for a more just, equitable, and inclusive community.
The opportunity to share one's passions, skills, and knowledge with others helps build meaningful connections and a sense of community. When people are supported to express what they love and contribute what they know, it opens up space for relationships to form and for communities to reflect the people within them.
Georgy is a friendly, outgoing person who enjoys exploring the city, especially on foot. He has a particular love for spending time outdoors and taking photos of buildings. He’s taken several of the legislature building, noting how different it looks at night.
In September of last year George moved into a new apartment building. Around the same time, he got into astronomy and began studying the stars and planets. “I was observing the sky, and noticing how each night is different”, he shared. This curiosity led him to buy a telescope and start learning more.
George mentioned this new interest with the Community Animator— a person who works in the building to foster relationships and a sense of community using asset based community development principles. The Animator supported George in organizing a stargazing night for
GEORGE S STORY
“i wAs interesteD in the social AspeCt, Getting To tAlk To people.”
residents. “This was a good opportunity to get everyone together”, George shared. Even though the weather didn’t fully cooperate, residents enjoyed the evening, connecting over astronomy and hot chocolate. “It was great,” George said, adding that he hopes to do it again.
Since moving in, George has become an engaged member of the community. He’s joined resident-led initiatives like the book club, crafting circle, and community garden, participated in various events, and contributes to the resident communication group.
“I was interested in the social aspect, getting to talk to people.” Through these activities, he met his immediate neighbour and has continued to build new relationships.
George has even more ideas to share with the Animator - like cooking classes and a model building clubhighlighting how shared interests, a willingness to share them with others, and an openness to connection all contribute to building community.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
Welcome and thank you for taking the time to be with us for a moment, to learn, reflect and maybe join us if you haven’t already in our vision of a community where all individuals are valued citizens deserving of respect, dignity and rights. There is a lot out there competing for our time and attention these days, and we appreciate you choosing to spend some of it with us as we create a bit of that sense of community we all need.
This year’s theme for me underlines the importance of remembering the values, practices, perspectives and ideas that shaped the good parts of our supports and services today. Our organisation has been around almost 45 years and has had many shapes, and focuses over the years, but we have never forgotten our roots, values and history throughout it all. You might ask why our history and the movements we come from matter? Or wonder what’s wrong with just moving on and forgetting the past? Well, as our longest and still serving employee of over 40 years, Elaine Baker Rowe said last year,
“We need To keep The history Alive so that We Don’T go bacK And repeAt mistAkes”
So, with reflections and learning from history, this year we are paying particular attention to what the community living movement has meant and what that has looked like for 45 years. As many selfadvocates, families and community allies who started our field 50 years ago are in their twilight years, I feel a particular responsibility to capture learning for the future so that we don’t repeat mistakes and to honor the legacy of powerful and innovative grassroots change makers who shaped our services and the PDD support system. Part of this legacy work was last year launching our Leadership Workbook across the organization with monthly reflection activities. As we near the end of the year-long leadership workbook journey, we hope all of our employees had some aha moments, greater awareness of our history and an increase in seeing more ways to support folks with intellectual disabilities to thrive.
In addition to the great history and stories in our report, I also strongly recommend taking a look at our history of disability movements documents we wrote a couple years ago as well as the mini documentary on self advocates creating the Rights We Want document.
ben Weinlick
honoring hisTory Does not mean We have to be sTuck in the pAst
Before I go further, I want to reassure everyone that remembering history does not mean there is no space for new, fresh perspectives—we, in fact, need new ideas and enthusiasm to meet the challenges of our times. Focusing on history also doesn’t mean that we can stay stuck romanticising the good times of the past without fresh pathways into the future. As with most complex stuff, we need to hold both— both our roots and fresh growth. One thing I have noticed from over 25 years in this amazing disability advocate community is that all the great leaders and change makers often show a similar pattern we can emulate and learn from. This pattern is something along the lines of leaders bringing a deep curiosity about past history, a desire to be mentored by elders and those who came before us, and a passionate fierceness and boldness to not settle for good enough. These change makers in our field learn constantly, boldly try things, and despite all the odds being against them, keep building better for the future because they believe deep in their bones that people with disabilities deserve to be fully part of community and treated with dignity and respect.
CoMMunity living? What Does That really mean?
Most citizens growing up in Alberta won’t say that when they grow up they want to live “in community”. Most people would grow up either staying in their family home for a while or wishing to leave home to live on their own, or with a roommate or partner. Today, the ideas for new ways of living are more diverse than ever, while at the same time, everyone is facing more financial constraints that limit options for what housing and home can look like. Even though technologically we are more connected than ever, young and old report record level disconnection, loneliness and isolation. As a result, many are looking at old ways of living again, where there are small communities, co-ops, and shared ways of relying on each other in relationship as interdependent humans. In all of the uncertainty of our times, a common theme shared by all of us is that at our core, no human being wants to be left out, lonely, or have to worry about having a roof over our heads.
The term community living is particularly packed with meaning and implies dos and don’ts of supporting people with intellectual disabilities to have good lives. Most of us today probably can’t fully imagine it, but if we had a child with a developmental disability 40-50 years ago, the general consensus of the medical system and society in Canada was to automatically send loved ones to an institution where it was claimed their needs would be better met. Just like with residential
schools and abuse of Indigenous peoples, there was also a tandem dark 100 year history in Canada where people with disabilities were taken away from families and locked in institutions, facing inhumane conditions and infringement of basic human rights. When grassroots families had had enough of institutionalization in the 1970s and 80s, they created coalitions, advocacy and non-profit charities like Skills Society to support people with intellectual disabilities to live in community like any other citizen was entitled to. Having the right to live in community with dignity and proper supports is what the community living movement was about and still is today.
Today, not only is community living better for quality of life, health outcomes and creating more vibrant societies everyone benefits from, it also costs taxpayers significantly less than if people with disabilities were still served in medical system institutions. Highlighting that it costs less, we would never have to justify in the recent past, but in our times where the bottom line seems to matter more than dignity and care of the most vulnerable in our society, I feel we need to remind citizens, tax payers, and our funders that community living through the PDD system is significantly more cost effective than other systems of care and is a major reason to sustain and keep the PDD community living system healthy.
ThinGs to be AWare of With CoMMunity living systems
From over 25 years advocating and leading in the disability services system and from growing up having a sibling with a significant intellectual disability, I’d like to share some key reflections on things I don’t think we can forget as we carry the community living torch forward.
KEEP PEOPLE
’
S NEEDS AND WISHES AT THE HEART OF IT
To be true community living, we need to be careful of creating one size fits all models of living in community. Some people need or want to live at home with family and supports. Some people need to live independently with supports. Some people might be better with roommates - this could be for financial reasons or it could be for connecting, belonging, and fellowship. Some people will require significant 24/7 support, and some people will only require a few hours a week. We need to allow people served, families and supports to explore what’s possible and be careful not to create mini institutions where folks have little autonomy. The essence of what needs to be paid attention to here and carried forward always into the future is living our core Skills Society value of being person-centered. Which means we customize community living supports to each person’s needs, resources and aspirations as best we can.
BE CAREFUL WE DON’T MAKE PEOPLE SPEND THEIR LIFE "GETTING READY" FOR "REAL" COMMUNITY LIVING
Did you know that the Skills part of our Skills Society name was originally an acronym? S.K.I.L.L.S stood for Society of Knowledge In Learning Life Skills. You see, when people were first moving from institutions to community living, many organizations like Skills first focused on life skill training. Many organizations created transitional living centers, where people learned daily living skills and prepared to “be ready” for community living. Even when I went to MacEwan University over 25 years ago, originally the program was called the Rehabilitation Practitioner program, and along with the important learning on disability rights, we spent much of our time back then learning behaviour modification programming. The idea was that people without disabilities should help mould people with disabilities to appear more “normal” so they can fit in better in community. There are a bunch of problems with that view that we need to be careful of today. One thing is that seeing people as not being good enough as they are is hurtful and dehumanizing. Another problem is that overemphasis on trying to get people to fit in assumes there is one thing that is “normal” in society. Which just isn’t true with the diversity of cultures and
experiences in our communities. At Skills now, we like to remind ourselves that there is no such thing as “normal” with a slogan we have on Skills bags, stickers, and our office walls, it says “Normal is a dryer setting”. Now, all this said, this doesn’t mean we can’t help people learn new skills and have programs that support a person’s health and wellness, it means that if we spend all our time helping people “get ready” for real community living, then we are doing people a disservice and not truly bringing a strengths based approach to our supports. If we focus on helping people find their gifts, strengths and ways they would like to contribute and find commonalities with others in community, then we can open up so many possibilities for connection, belonging and ways people can be who they are, as they are. So we need to be careful if we trap people in perpetual “getting ready for real community life”.
WE OFTEN OVERLOOK THE IMPORTANCE OF BECOMING IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
In research on quality of life related to people with and without disabilities, one of the areas most connected to people saying they have a good quality of life is when people report there is a sense of personal growth and learning. Growing and evolving into our best
"JusT beCause people are “in” coMmuniTy doesn’t necessarily mean people Are “of” coMmuniTy. beinG of comMunity means a felt sense of belonging And having relationships
With others We share a CoMMunity WiTh."
selves is often called becoming. In most community living service systems today, we really are not that great at designing services that support becoming, and yet we all should be doing more of this, because of how important it is for thriving, and feeling that life is good. Becoming does not have to be major goals for everyone; it can be learning something new, going to a place one is not familiar with, but curious to learn more. Becoming can also be about learning things about ourselves, gaining support to find a strength or interest we didn’t know we had. We should be supporting people with community living to have more self-discovery and more discovery of cool things in our communities that are inspiring, and we can maybe take part in and find belonging and growth within. This is why in our MyCompass Planning platform, we created the MyCompass Missions to help expand learning, trying things, selfreflection and seeing if that helps spark more becoming, growth and thriving. It’s not easy for any of us to go out on a limb to try new things, because the unknown can be a bit scary. But, from time to time, life does get better when we work at expanding horizons, expanding our learning and possibilities of how we can participate, grow, and learn in community. So, in our community
living services we need to embrace more of the stuff that supports becoming. And, a lot of that means needing creative people and organizations around us who can help see possibilities and unique opportunities for becoming.
These are just a few key learnings I think are often overlooked from the community living movement and I’m really glad that from our panel of leaders at the AGM and in the beautiful stories in our report, that further reflection might be sparked on what we can’t forget as we move forward in ways that support people to thrive in community life.
Finally, I feel very honoured and a deep responsibility to steward a truly stellar organization that keeps learning from our history and also keeps curious and creative about fresh ways to support all the things that can make life great for the people we serve. Community Living was not a moment from history, it is a way of being, belonging, and becoming that we need to nurture well into the future.
Thank you all for joining us, and believing and acting on our vision of a community where all individuals are valued citizens deserving respect, dignity and rights.
And never forget, normal doesn’t exist, except as a dryer setting.
ok. one final ThinG.
Just because people are “in” community doesn’t necessarily mean people are “of” community. Being of community means a felt sense of belonging and having relationships with others we share a community with. If you don’t remember anything else, remembering to look out for ways to help people connect with each other and feel more of a sense of being “of” community goes a long way. It’s often the little things of helping people’s cool contributions be seen, and sparking little moments of connection with people in our orbits. Really this is all about being more “of” community.
Weinlick
Executive Director
MARGARET & DALE S STORY
Love and companionship are not privileges, they are rights. People with disabilities continue to affirm their right to love and be loved: the right to build meaningful relationships, to experience intimacy, and to share your life with someone. Margaret and Dale’s story is a beautiful and everyday affirmation of this right.
Their relationship spans five decades. They first met in school where they took pottery and cooking classes together. Margaret, at 17, had just moved to Edmonton. Quite shy, she shared how she’d kept to herself. “And so she found one person”, Dale said enthusiastically, looking at her fondly. Their friendship helped Margaret feel at ease. They had started talking to each other, and “then I felt a bit better. He always tells me I’m safe here.” The memories of that time are cherished by them both. Dale still keeps photos of Margaret from their school days, and Margret, smiling, admitted she had a crush on him.
After finishing school, Margaret and Dale lost touch. But, in 2018, Margaret moved into a seniors supportive living apartment—and to her surprise and delight—Dale was her neighbour, living on the same apartment floor.
“he’s very handsoMe, i knoW That.”
Dale and Margaret
They quickly rekindled their friendship and their connection deepened. Over time, their friendship grew into something more. “It didn’t take much” Dale shared with a laugh. In the past year, they began dating - something that brings them both joy, pride, and a sense of belonging.
Margaret and Dale spend most of their days together. They enjoy going to dances, listening to music on cassettes and CDs, and going out for lunch. “We spend 24/7 together. That’s part of it. We try and give each other a break from each other once and awhile though”.
Their relationship is grounded in mutual respect and reciprocity.
“Sometimes when I get upset she calms me down, and I calm her down”, Dale shared. Margaret grinned and added “He’s very handsome, I know that.”
When Dale’s mother passed away, he gave Margaret two of her rings as promise rings. Margaret wears them with pride—a daily reminder of their commitment. Dale’s family, another important relationship in his life, have welcomed Margaret. When his mother and sister first met her, it really reaffirmed his feelings for her: “I thought, it’s gonna be good, cause my family likes her”.
Photos of Margaret that Dale kept from their school days
This story was compiled and written by Rebecca Rubuliak, Director of Continuous Improvement and Innovation
Team Coordinators and Team Leaders gathered for shared learning and training. Over 2 days, Team Coordinators, Team Leaders, Managers and Directors engaged in collective exploration of leadership, problem solving, teamwork, and innovation.
TEAM LEADER GATHERING
This year’s gathering also included a keynote presentation from Skills board member Dr. Nancy Spencer on love, belonging, and inclusion.
SKILLS SOCIETY PICNIC
Some moments from our annual summer picnic.
The role of belonginG in DeepeninG the
COMMUNITY LIVING MOVEMENT
There is a long history of exclusion and marginalization of people with disabilities in Alberta. Historically people did not have the same rights and opportunities as others and many had to live in institutions away from family, completely isolated from community life. The community living movement started in response to this exclusion. Families, self-advocates, and allies started to stand up and speak out against these harmful ways of treating people with disabilities, showing community members that people with disabilities are citizens too— deserving of respect, dignity, and rights. Today, the community living movement is a powerful force, advocating for the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life and affirming their rights to live alongside neighbors, have friends, attend school with their non disabled peers, work, and participate fully.
paige reeves
A collecTive learning Journey
We can think of the community living movement as a collective learning journey. We have all (people with disabilities, advocates, allies, and families) been reaching and fighting for the same goal - to affirm the rights of people with disabilities and advocate for their full inclusion and participation. And along the way, we have had to experiment, innovate, and get creative - constantly working on shifting policy, practice, and attitudes through things like protests, research, and social change initiatives. At Skills Society, we recognize the importance of all these pieces - supporting people with disabilities to be full citizens is complex - which means it will take lots of different types of efforts and initiatives to move the needle on this important work. Unfortunately there is no simple answer, easy intervention, or ‘one thing’ we can do. But by taking a learning mindset, we can continue to work together to keep innovating, creating, and advocating to help people with disabilities to be full citizens.
Along the way in this collective learning journey it is important to pause and reflect on how things are going, what could be better, and what’s still needed. In doing this reflection we can identify gaps and opportunities. These kinds of big system shifts and trends can be hard for us to see as individuals so it can be helpful to look to research
and thought leaders to help us see how things are changing over time on scales bigger than our individual orbits. In this article we explore the trend towards belonging in the community living movement. We highlight some of the ways belonging deepens the work already established by self-advocates, families, and allies, and helps us see new ways forward within the community living movement.
“along the Way in this Collective learning journey it is imporTant To pAuse and reflect on hoW ThinGs Are GoinG, What coulD be better, anD What’s sTill needeD.”
What Does it mean to belong?
You might have noticed that belonging is increasingly talked about in the community living movement. Why? Belonging helps us see important pieces that can sometimes be forgotten. At its core, belonging is about feeling safe, valued, and respected. You can feel belonging to varying degrees. For example feeling ‘in place’ versus feeling a deep, emotional, or moving connection to someone or somewhere. You can also feel belonging to multiple types of places, spaces, or people. For example you might experience belonging to your family; your neighborhood; your city; your country; or in the broadest sense to humanity. Some other interesting parts of belonging are:
* BELONGING IS FLUID: It can change moment to moment and place to place. For example, someone can feel a sense of belonging one time they attend an activity and then the next time not feel belonging there depending on what unfolds in the space.
* BELONGING IS NEGOTIATED: Belonging involves a combination of us sensing what we need to do to fit in and others shifting or changing so we can feel welcome. Key to belonging is that you do not feel like you need to completely change yourself to fit, but instead can find spaces and relationships you can ‘let your guard down’ and be your authentic self.
* BELONGING IS CO-CREATED: Belonging is often connected to other people and is co-created with them. It is a feeling that is created through relationship with others.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BELONGING PROJECT HERE
hoW belonginG
Can Deepen our Approach
to CoMMunity living
A big learning in the community living movement over the last decade has been around belonging and the ways it can help us shift our focus. Drawing on research we were part of leading with the Belonging Project, next we share some ways belonging can deepen our approaches to community living.
MAKING SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO BE THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES
There is a tricky balance to strike when we are supporting the inclusion of people with disabilities in community life. While on the one hand, we want to advocate for people to have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else, we also need to recognize that how people engage in these opportunities might be a little bit different, and that’s okay. Trying to be inclusive can sometimes result in people feeling like they need to change themselves to fit in. If we want people to feel belonging we need to create space for people to live, work, and play in their own unique ways, inviting people with disabilities to be part of shaping and creating community spaces from the start. For example, increasingly there is recognition that the common (and western) perspective on a ‘good life’ that involves owning a detached home in a neighborhood and working full time might not be a desirable or
possible dream for all people with disabilities. If we want to be truly inclusive we need to work with people with disabilities to reimagine how we value things like home life and work. What if interdependent ways of living and working were valued? Things like people living in multi-generational homes or multifamily housing with communal kitchen and dining spaces.
CONNECTION NEEDS TO BE CURATED
While the work of self-advocates and families has resulted in significant important advancements in the rights of people with disabilities, people with disabilities still often report in research that they are lonely, socially isolated, and feel disconnected from their communities. A hope from early in the community living movement was that if we could just get people to live beside each other, to be physically present in community space, that belonging and connectedness would come. However, research over the last couple of decades has shown that this does not seem to be the case. Even though people with disabilities most often live in community alongside neighbours, sometimes have opportunities to work, and attend community spaces like rec centres, they remain disconnected from others, and lack a sense of
"if We wAnt To be Truly inClusive We need to Work With people with DisabiliTies To reiMaGine how We value things."
belonging. For example, imagine there is someone Skills Society supports who attends a community kitchen. This seems like a great opportunity for them to be an active participant in their community. However, when we look a little closer, we often see that the person does not know who they are cooking alongside each month, they do not have much opportunity to work together with others in the kitchen, and they are not active participants, with a distinct role and way of contributing. The person is physically present but socially distant.
We do not fully know the reason why physical presence is not enough on its own to spark genuine connection, but part of the problem is likely that we need to continue to help community members shift their perspectives and attitudes about disability. Many people still hold discriminatory or harmful views on disability. One of our good friends and a strong advocate in the community living movement said: “We’ve been kept apart for too long”. She was talking about how even when people with and without disabilities are together now, they do not know how to connect, how to have relationships with one another. Something we are curious about at Skills Society is if we can help shift community member perspectives and attitudes through curated exposures and connections between people with and without disabilities. This is something we are exploring in
our Community Animator initiative. The Community Animator is a paid position that works to create opportunities for people with and without disabilities living in an apartment building to connect and have shared experiences
PRIORITIZING RELATIONSHIPS
Building on the idea that connection needs to be curated, as supports it is important we prioritize supporting people to build and sustain meaningful relationships. With the high day to day demands on frontline support workers, it can be easy to just focus on safety and the health of the people served, but it is also important to prioritize helping someone connect meaningfully with others. This is tricky work that takes time and intention, but there are a lot of small actions support workers can take to help facilitate relationships for people they support. Things like:
* Helping people give gifts and cards or plan phone or virtual calls with special people in their lives (e.g. always sending a holiday card with a little update about their life to loved ones, dropping off a birthday gift to adult siblings, or scheduling a regular video call with a family friend to check in)
* Striving to go deeper when someone is connected to an activity. Adding to the community
kitchen example shared above, supports could help connect the person to others in the space by helping them introduce themselves and learn others’ names. The supports could be ‘conversation bridgers’ by listening to things others are talking about and then helping the person they support link into the conversation (e.g. if others are talking about hockey and the person supported loves the Oilers, supports could share that).
* Looking for ‘group gatekeepers’ in spaces where people we support are seeking belonging. These are leaders in the space who can help link the person to the group. Supports can approach someone like this and ask if they can introduce the person served to others in the group, and find a role for them
* Finding meaningful roles and ways for people to contribute in spaces. Sometimes this takes some creativity, but there are always ways that the people we serve can meaningfully offer their gifts and talents in a group. Maybe the person can greet people as they arrive. Maybe they can volunteer to do a pizza run with someone else from the group. Maybe they can coordinate a potluck lunch. The possibilities are endless if we commit to finding a way.
* Helping educate community members ahead of a person attending a group or activity. Sometimes it's important to attend a space ahead of the person served to check it out, understand the expectations, and communicate with leaders in the space about how they can support the person served to be included and feel welcomed. This also provides an opportunity for community members to ask questions and for support workers to help community members understand disability from maybe a different perspective.
soMe
things To be Mindful of With belonging
Belonging does have a lot of utility when it comes to furthering the community living movement. As we have outlined above, it helps us shift our focus towards relationships, connection, feelings, and meaning. But, belonging is not perfect, and there are some things we need to keep in mind when thinking about supporting belonging.
Belonging brings our attention to the individual, how they feel, and what is important to them. This is so important in supporting people to lead good lives. We need to take the time to truly understand folks, their hopes, dreams, and desires. But at the same time, we need to recognize that many people have lived sheltered lives and might not be able to imagine different possibilities for themselves outside of swimming, bowling, or going to the mall. As Ben Weinlick, our Executive Director has wisely said:
“There is something that needs to be talked about more broadly in our field: ‘It’s the deep assumption that if you just ask people what they want, everything will fall into place and be good’. This idea, ‘if you just ask people, what do you want to do with your life?...that
whatever answer they give is all that’s needed’...we hear this all the time: ‘we asked the person what they want, they want to keep bowling and swimming’. So there’s something around this conundrum of choice where we still do need to ask, and very likely we need to help people expand horizons and see what’s possible for growth, community inclusion and belonging.”
ben Weinlick, Executive Director
This tension is talked about in the research literature as well - that we need to be mindful because sometimes people can say they feel belonging to things that are not healthy or helpful. For example, women have reported feeling a sense of belonging within an abusive relationship, or people feel belonging to gangs, or some people with disabilities have even said they feel belonging within institutions because that’s all they have ever known. So while belonging, and the ways it helps us listen to what the individual wants, can be so helpful, we must also hold this with taking broader systems perspectives into account - ensuring we are working towards and advocating
for and supporting people to have relationships and roles that are safe, healthy, and supportive. This might also mean helping people stretch a bit in what they see as possible for themselves, or helping people explore some possibilities outside of their norm or regular routine.
furthering belonginG anD
ultimately the CoMMunity living MoveMent
Despite its shortcomings, belonging does seem to hold a lot of promise in helping us further and deepen the community living movement. So then, if that’s true, how can we further belonging? It can be easy to get frustrated when thinking about how to support people’s belonging and ultimately the community living movement. It is a big and, at times, overwhelming challenge that can feel impossible to influence. And in some ways, the changes and work of the community living movement seem smaller and less visible when compared to the big shifts that occurred with people moving out of institutions or having their rights affirmed in government policy. But it's important that we continue to fight for the vision of community living for people with disabilities, and committing to furthering people’s belonging is part of that.
BIG SYSTEM LEVERS THAT SUPPORT BELONGING AND FURTHER COMMUNITY LIVING
There are a lot of big systems levers that we at Skills Society do not have very much control over, but try to influence where we can, that would likely have a big impact on people’s belonging. Things like:
* Policies and incentives for employers that support truly inclusive employment
* Innovation in housing that creates more inclusive, accessible, and
affordable housing options for people with disabilities
* Post secondary programs for frontline support workers anchored in disability rights and incentives for frontline support workers to pursue them
* Higher wages for frontline support workers
* Increasing AISH to lift people out of poverty
While we do not have a lot of influence over these pieces, we do try to influence them where we can. Communicating with government partners to advocate, participating in the Alberta Council of Disability Services (ACDS) Project Blueprint on inclusive housing, supporting Alberta Disability Workers Association’s (ADWA) advocacy work, attending the ACDS Impact Conference, and our own Future of Home: Inclusive Housing Solutions Lab are examples of this. What’s cool is that Action Lab (www.actionlab.ca), a social enterprise of Skills Society, allows us to have more of a presence and influence in the disability services sector and beyond - creating space for us to pursue broader social change projects and not just focus on our own service delivery. There are also a lot of things within our control that we can and are doing to support people’s belonging. Supporting belonging is a complex social challenge, which means it will
likely take efforts and innovations from multiple directions and all actors in the system (i.e. people with disabilities, their families, allies, service providers and their staff, government, funders, and community members) to move the needle in positive directions.
THINGS SERVICE PROVIDERS CAN DO AND WAYS SKILLS SOCIETY IS TRYING TO SUPPORT THIS
Centering inclusion, belonging, and rights in everything we do. At Skills Society this is expressed in our core values, in our citizenship model, and the naming of getting better at supporting belonging as a strategic priority.
* Shifting community member attitudes and perspectives on disability is another important part of supporting belonging. CommuniTEA Infusion, Project Citizenship, collaborations with the Snap Gallery, or Through the Eyes of Artists are examples of how Skills Society has tried to help show community members how people with disabilities can be active citizens.
* Person-centred planning processes that create opportunities for people to explore their wants and dreams are important parts of supporting belonging. At Skills Society, we are always trying to get
better at this and create tools that support frontline support workers to come alongside people served to really understand their wants, needs, hopes, and dreams. MyCompass Planning is a humanized case management platform that Skills Society and its partners have created that innovates in this area. MyCompass Planning Labs that bring people served and supports together to brainstorm creative roles and ways a person can contribute is another example.
* Working with community to create meaningful roles and connect people served with others takes intention, time, and specific skills. We are working on building tools that can help operationalize how to support belonging— guiding support workers in doing this important work of relationship building and facilitating connections.
* Ensuring that support workers know the history of disability rights and what inclusion and belonging mean is an important piece. Our disability movements timeline in the board room and in a previous annual report, interviews with past leaders, and our leadership workbook with a section dedicated to understanding disability movements are two examples of how we are doing this work.
* Ensuring people we support know their rights and what they can ask us to help them with is another key piece. The Rights We Want! document and documentary, our Welcome Package (along with the soon to be released Passport to Citizenship tool) that are provided to everyone first accessing our services, are examples of this work.
lastly
Focusing on belonging is a continuation of the community living movement. It's about continuing to strive for people to be truly ‘of’ community rather than just ‘in’ it. It does not erase or diminish all the important work that came before around inclusion. It supports and extends it. Belonging helps us see the ways we need to go deeper and keep working to really get to the community living that people with disabilities and their families and allies envision - building communities where everyone is a citizen deserving of dignity, rights, and respect. Striving for belonging instead of just physical presence can help us push for more for the people we serve.
Director of Research & Social Innovation
Part of citizenship is relationships –having people to share your life with and help find and nurture passions and gifts within each other. For John, food is more than just nourishment; it’s connection and one of the many ways he carries his loved ones with him.
Warm-hearted and friendly to everyone he meets, John enjoys travel, watching sports, and loves animals, in particular his sweet cat, Jenna. Born and raised in Edmonton, John is one of nine children. John cares deeply about his family, and he remains connected with his siblings and family. One person in particular holds a special place in John’s life, his late mother. “My mom was a genius,” he shared with pride. “I couldn’t believe what she would make. Hers were always way better than store bought.” Known for her cooking and generosity, making homemade pizza dough for the milkman and hosting big family BBQs that brought everyone together, John recalled fond childhood memories of food, cooking, and helping tend to their three vegetable gardens. Laughing he shared “My mom loved soup. It’d be 80 degrees outside and she’d still want soup!”.
JOHN S STORY
John and his cookbook
“fooD is more Than JusT nourishMent; it’s Connection...”
These memories of food and family have stayed with John. More recently, he began exploring cooking more deeply, reconnecting with the joy it brings him, and this past year he wrote a cookbook in honor of his mother. Many of the recipes
are inspired by her, one of his favorites being the banana bread recipe.
“My mom always used to make it for us," John recalled. Many of the recipes are recreated from memory. “My mom didn’t really write them down.” When asked how he thinks his mom would feel about the cookbook, he smiled and said, “She’d be happy with me.” John hopes to make more copies and share them with family.
John’s story is a reminder of the meaning of relationships - the unique and beautiful ways we carry others with us, how they shape who we are, and the importance of sharing those stories with others.
it’s the little things—
EVERYDAY ACTIONS THAT UPHOLD THE COMMUNITY LIVING MOVEMENT
The Community Living Movement, emerging in the 1970s, was built on powerful, fundamental ideas, like rights, dignity, and inclusion. These ideas are expressed in many ways today through institutional changes, such as access to education and participation in community life, that resulted from this advocacy. And while much progress has been made, what is equally important is how these values and rights are affirmed, upheld, and carried forward in everyday actions and moments.
As supports in the lives of people with disabilities, not only does it matter what we support, like access
and inclusion, but also how . The way we show up matters. Open Futures Learning, partners in this work, remind us, it’s the little things. Those small, relational actions that affirm personcentredness, uphold autonomy, and foster deep belonging.
We had the opportunity to connect with Cameron Pierce, Manager of Positive Practices. Here, Cameron shares his reflections on the legacy of the community living and disability rights movements, and how striving to support the good life shows up in the everyday work of community supports.
CaMeron pierCe
Cameron joined Skills Society in 2018 and has held several roles within the organization, including Community Support Worker, Team Leader, Team Coordinator, and Manager of Community Supports. Currently, Cameron is the Manager of Positive Practices, working closely with teams to provide support, guidance, and training that meets the needs of the individuals they serve and supports them to thrive.
Cameron also delivers training to all Skills Society employees, including Introduction to Positive Behaviour Support. He values the time spent with frontline staff during training sessions and hopes the learning inspires others as it did for him. “Learning”, Cameron shared, “is one of the things I love most about my role with Skills”.
DisabiliTy rights anD CoMMunity living— A MoveMent, not A Moment
“Never settling and always striving for the good life in our day-to-day work is looking for opportunities to magnify our lens of person-centeredness and positive practices in the lives of those we serve.”
CaMeron
At its core, positive practices are an approach to support that recognizes each person’s individuality and works towards meaningful outcomes that enhance overall quality of life through trust and relationships. Cameron reminds us that positive practices are not new— they are deeply rooted in the history of disability rights and community living. While using positive, personcentred, and relational approaches may now seem obvious to most, it wasn’t long ago in Alberta’s history that this was not always the case. The disability rights and community living movements emerged as a response to institutionalization, and to systems—particularly medical systems—that unjustly claimed authority over what the ‘good life’ should be for people with disabilities. Knowing and understanding this history is an important part of our practice to ensure we continue to uphold and affirm disability rights.
“We need to be careful that even well-intentioned actions and supports can become controlling, restrictive, or invasive,” Cameron notes. “We should support people in having choice and control over their own lives.”
Cameron highlights four ethical principles from a positive approach that continue to guide community support work, informing decisionmaking and action:
* Respect for the dignity of persons
* Responsible caring
* Integrity in relationships
* Social responsibility
“It is important to recognize that the individual is the one to define what ‘the good life’ is for them.”, Cameron shares. “Our work should remove as many barriers as possible and support individuals in building the life they want for themselves.”
"the Way We show up anD be alongsiDe people truly matTers. starTing from a place of relationship, genuine Curiosity, anD cAre is founDational to our Work."
DIGNITY OF RISK
Sometimes, out of a desire to keep people safe or protected, opportunities to make decisions and take risks are unintentionally limited. A common misconception is that the good life is one without failure or hardship, but this isn’t true. A good life often includes opportunities to take risks, try new things, make mistakes, fail, learn, and grow.
Cameron reminds us that positive practices require both respect for the dignity of persons (maximizing rights) and responsible care (support that helps ensure safety and well-being). These are not opposing ideas, but rather interconnected. Responsible care doesn’t mean avoiding risk altogether. Rather, it is building support within relationships and networks of trust, ensuring the individual has people who love and care about them and who are willing to help them as they try.
Dignity of risk is about recognizing that people with disabilities have the same right to growth, adventure, and self-determination as anyone else. When systems
frame limits on people’s autonomy as being “for people’s safety”, we must pause and critically reflect. “There is no such thing as responsible caring without respect for the dignity of persons,” Cameron shares. “Societal forces may try to persuade people that moving backwards is about responsible caring,” Cameron cautions. “But that idea must be rejected."
The small (not so small) things
RELATIONSHIPS AND ACTIVELY LISTENING
The way we show up and be alongside people truly matters. Starting from a place of relationship, genuine curiosity, and care is foundational to our work. But it’s more than just asking questions— it’s about listening deeply, not just with our ears but our whole being.
“Take note of what people are drawn to,” Cameron suggests. “What do they gravitate towards? When do they smile or laugh? When do they seem immersed in what they’re doing?” These small observations help us learn what matters to someone and support them in building meaningful experiences. Cameron highlights one example, “I might observe that when someone I’m supporting makes a new friendly acquaintance in the community, they smile a lot and talk about the experience throughout their day. Now I know more about what is important to them and how to support them in having a good day.” Going further, we might support return visits to that space, facilitate further participation, and nurture that spark of connection. “When
we really take an interest in what a person is sharing, when we actively listen and relate to people, they feel less alone” Cameron shares. “Belonging is the opposite of isolation.” Supporting people to engage with others and build relationship—these are the little things that can make a big difference.
WORDS MATTER
Language shapes how people see themselves and what they believe is possible. Words can open up possibilities and support people to make choices and feel empowered, or they can limit and control. Cameron highlights how even wellintentioned language can reflect unequal power dynamics and limit someone’s sense of agency.
It’s about upholding the rights of people with disabilities to direct their own lives, and this shows up in our everyday interactions. He gives an example: imagine someone wants to go to the movies but doesn’t currently have the funds, saying “You can’t go, you don’t have enough money. Why don’t you watch a movie on TV instead?”, closes off
pracTices That carry The movement forwArd
the person’s choice and shifts control away from them. Instead, saying, “Going to a movie sounds like a great idea! Do you want to figure out when you’ll have enough money to go?” respects the person’s vision, reinforcing that their interests matter and invites planning and possibility.
Words like no, can’t, and don’t often reflect decisions made for someone, rather than with them. Shifting to language that invites partnership and upholds agency is an everyday practice that supports dignity, choice, and rights.
STAYING CURIOUS AND PRESENT
The good life isn’t static—it’s continually evolving, just as people are dynamic and changing. What was important to someone two years ago may no longer hold that same meaning today. “We need to resist the urge to become complacent,” Cameron reminds us. “We need to stay curious.” The practice of staying curious about someone’s evolving hopes, interests, and identity is a daily act of respect and affirmation of rights.
It can be easy to think of movements as moments in history. However, the disability rights and community living movements are ongoing. They live in our advocacy and systems change efforts. And, they live in the way we show up—with curiosity, care, and a commitment to never settling. Cameron’s reflections remind us that it’s how we listen, how we speak, how we notice what matters to someone, and how we hold space for them to define and pursue the good life that helps carry these movements forward.
We express our deep gratitude to Cameron for sharing his knowledge and experience with us.
ACTION LAB
Action Lab is a social enterprise of Skills Society. As part of Skills’ broader approach to social innovation, the Action Lab team offers resources and expertise to facilitate group discussions, creative retreats, and help organizations solve complex problems. Profits from the Action Lab help subsidize Skills’ operations, support innovative social change initiatives of Skills, and provide employment opportunities to people with developmental disabilities who work in the space during events. You can learn more about and stay up to date on Action Lab through our website and social media. You can also support by recommending the Action Lab space and facilitation expertise to folks in your circles. All information can be found on our website.
MYCOMPASS PLANNING
MyCompass Planning is an award winning social service systems change enterprise. It is a digital case management tool on a mission to humanize social service interactions, and systems.
People accessing social services want good lives like any other citizen. Helping people to plan and chart a course towards all the things that make life good and exploring opportunities can be complex and tricky to do well. In the past, tools and systems for social service case management, support planning, delivery, and evaluation were often bureaucratic, dehumanizing, deficit focused, rigid, and less than engaging for people. MyCompass created tools and service interactions that make it easier for social service agencies to re-center around people served while at the same time getting organizational and service funder needs met without getting in the way.
The Mycompass Planning App continues to be used by the people we serve - helping them take the lead in planning and shaping what their support from Skills looks like. We continue to grow and improve the MyCompass Planning App and will be launching new features this year!
To learn more visit our website at
