LET’S worked with Mainland Community Services Society (MCSS) to develop, host, and speak at a National AccessAbility Week celebration dialogue entitled “Creating Inclusive Communities”. The event’s goal was to provide an enriching experience built on the foundations of equity, knowledge, and lived expertise.
Heather McCain of LET’S was the event’s moderator. Harmony Bongat, of LET’S gave a powerful keynote speech about their experiences as a racialized, disabled, neurodivergent, single mother living in poverty and the barriers she has faced and how to create change so others don’t experience the same.
The Creating Inclusive Communities Dialogue (CICD) was a multi-stakeholder dialogue for both community leaders and change-makers working across AccessAbility sectors in British Columbia. CICD sought to engage community leaders and changemakers to advance systems change conversations and innovative solutions to issues impacting Persons Living with Disability in BC. This dialogue is part of a growing conversation about addressing the systems that affect Persons Living with Disability. Through a number of awareness-building activities, we moved the conversation forward to provide a “Highlight on Accessibility and Inclusion: Addressing Systemic Discrimination” – a project fully funded and supported by the Federal Government of Canada.
Through participating in the dialogue, participants left with a deeper understanding of equity, power, ableism, disability justice, and accessibility. We heard from participants who said they were motivated to build upon what they learned in the session and build collective solidarity for accessibility within their community culture. The event was a great opportunity to collaborate with other leaders and practitioners to develop, and share initiatives to address issues specific to disabled folk. The dialogue was held on June 2nd, 2023 at UBC Robson Square. It was a free event.