The Polygon Gallery is very grateful for our collaborations with LET’S over the past few years. Heather’s expertise has been instrumental in advancing the Gallery’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. Most recently, Heather provided an on-site consultation to help us plan a Reduced-Sensory Day during the Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riot’s Russia exhibition. Given that this was a sensory-overloading exhibition featuring loud, clashing sounds and fast-moving videos within a densely structured space, we were unsure if hosting such an event would even be possible. However, Heather’s insightful suggestions were both encouraging and pivotal to the event’s success. They helped us identify specific ways to lower the sensory impact without compromising the artists’; intended experience. With Heather’s guidance, the Reduced-Sensory Day was a tremendous success. The positive feedback we received inspired us to plan for more of these days as part of The Polygon’s ongoing programming.

In previous years, Heather led our team through a Disability Workshop and a Gender & Sexuality Workshop, which have helped us to better serve all members of our community. They also conducted an audit of our space, identifying important areas where accessibility could be improved, many of which have been implemented. They have become a trusted partner and advisor in our work.

Heather’s valuable insights are always presented in a clear, empowering manner, making the process of improving accessibility both manageable and motivating for organizations of all sizes and stages. Whether you are just beginning to address accessibility or are more advanced in your planning, LET’S brings a compassionate, patient approach to learning and implementation.

I am so grateful to have witnessed the work of Live Educate Transform Society – it is an incredibly necessary organization that is transforming the way we think about accessibility and disability justice in Vancouver and beyond. Every business, organization and community can benefit from the important work they are doing to change systems, communities and organizational culture. LET’S’ work serves to eliminate barriers to access in a way that is approachable, inclusive and sustainable. I have had the pleasure of working directly with Heather to bring some visionary projects to life and am constantly inspired by their patience, wisdom, integrity and passion for this important work.

The City of Burnaby, via the City’s citizen-based Access Advisory Committee, has worked on multiple occasions with Heather and with Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods [Live Educate Transform Society]. Examples of projects include pedestrian infrastructure accessibility assessments, consultation on accessible parking standards, a review of accessible design guidelines for civic buildings, and inclusive customer service training for City staff. Joint work has also recently expanded to LGBTQIA2S+ community-based inclusion efforts. I have been impressed by their professionalism, timeliness, and attention to detail. Heather is a trusted resource on complex accessibility and inclusion topics.

Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture has worked with Heather and Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods [Live Educate Transform Society] on various accessibility and disability related projects and they are truly a valuable resource to both our organization and the greater community. Heather’s lived experience teamed with their knowledge and passion is evident in the work they do. It is obvious when working with Heather that they are dedicated and strive to stay current. Our organization is a big champion of the necessary work CAN [LET’S] does, and we feel they are an important asset to our community and society as a whole.

In the time that I have worked with Heather, they have proven to be an exceptionally supportive, empowering, and optimistic leader within the Working Group and the greater community. They have been fundamental in creating a space where others feel safe and supported in sharing, learning, and contributing towards the increased visibility and recognition of the LGBTQ2SIA+ community in Burnaby, and have provided invaluable insight, education, and support around incorporating accessibility and accessible practices into every step of our planning for Burnaby Pride.

Heather’s work is deeply rooted in intersectionality, recognizing and respecting the uniqueness of our individual identities and experiences, and is continually evaluating their approach to learning from and engaging others in the pursuit of becoming a better advocate and ally for all.

Accessibility is an ever changing space and one that is difficult to navigate. When Kickstart needed guidance and help with a major cultural accessibility project, we turned to Creating Accessible Neighborhoods [Live Educate Transform Society]. We have been working with Heather for over a year now and I know that we have made the right decision. Heather brings an incredible wealth of knowledge with them to our project, and they have a strong history and focus in the truth of accessibility.

The Polygon Gallery is very grateful for our collaborations with LET’S over the past few years. Heather’s expertise has been instrumental in advancing the Gallery’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. Most recently, Heather provided an on-site consultation to help us plan a Reduced-Sensory Day during the Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riot’s Russia exhibition. Given that this was a sensory-overloading exhibition featuring loud, clashing sounds and fast-moving videos within a densely structured space, we were unsure if hosting such an event would even be possible. However, Heather’s insightful suggestions were both encouraging and pivotal to the event’s success. They helped us identify specific ways to lower the sensory impact without compromising the artists’; intended experience. With Heather’s guidance, the Reduced-Sensory Day was a tremendous success. The positive feedback we received inspired us to plan for more of these days as part of The Polygon’s ongoing programming.

In previous years, Heather led our team through a Disability Workshop and a Gender & Sexuality Workshop, which have helped us to better serve all members of our community. They also conducted an audit of our space, identifying important areas where accessibility could be improved, many of which have been implemented. They have become a trusted partner and advisor in our work.

Heather’s valuable insights are always presented in a clear, empowering manner, making the process of improving accessibility both manageable and motivating for organizations of all sizes and stages. Whether you are just beginning to address accessibility or are more advanced in your planning, LET’S brings a compassionate, patient approach to learning and implementation.

It was incredible to have Live Educate Transform Society’s support with the low sensory space at our recent event. Heather went above and beyond setting up the space, creating an environment where guests felt they were able to compress, while having a variety of books, colouring, fidget toys, and other items to explore and play with, in a way that felt comfortable and inviting. We received so much excellent feedback from our guests for having a low sensory space available amid the chaos of the event. In addition, Heather graciously provided us with excellent information around hosting more accessible events, that will continue to inform how we host events in the years to come. We are so grateful for the team at LET’s, and the invaluable information and support the provide.

Heather is an extremely knowledgeable consultant and organizer dedicated to fighting for a world that is truly accessible to all, as well as radically inclusive. Through involvement with our #AllOnBoard campaign, our transition process as an organization including our deep dive on our values and our policy framework, and as an on-going member of the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, Heather has time and again proven they are a powerful voice and mind at the table, always on the side of justice for all with the ability to recognize what needs to be done, how, and when. Heather and the organization they represent is an extremely valuable coalition member and ally, and we highly recommend collaborative partnerships of all kinds with CAN [LET’S] and Heather.

The Driver Education Centre at the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) has partnered with Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods [Live Educate Transform Society] to improve its course offerings for the TaxiHost program and other driver training curriculum. Working with Heather greatly improved our ability to provide detailed tips and strategies for service providers to ensure they are able to effectively provide universal access to all clients. Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods [Live Educate Transform Society] has worked tirelessly in the field of advocacy and education to champion the rights of persons with disabilities and other groups that often face discrimination in the services we all depend upon. JIBC greatly appreciates Heather for her invaluable advice and Creating Accessible Neighborhoods [Live Educate Transform Society] for its assistance in this area.

Heather spoke with me on the phone for a really enlightening hour! Not only were they a great listener and respectful of my limited education in this subject, they were able to give me truly honest reactions and suggestions for improvement. This ranged from the words I used to speak about disabilities (such as refraining from using “able-bodied” and instead using “non-disabled”) to commenting on the story of the movie itself and how it can be more powerful and effective towards bringing awareness to disabilities equity the Hollywood industry. We continued our discussion after the call too, and Heather gave me feedback on the language in my project’s documents to make it as respectful as it can be.

All of Heather’s insight was valuable and exceeded what I was hoping to learn. CAN [LET’S] gave me a safe environment to grow and ask questions that I couldn’t ask elsewhere. And ultimately I am grateful to be guided by a specialized group than to put any pressure on friends and colleagues with disabilities to teach me what I should be learning on my own.

I am more confident now in my efforts to help people than I was prior to speaking with Heather. And these lessons go beyond my work! Any time I speak now, whether about my project or otherwise, I am able to use language that is more respectful for people with disabilities and further explain the importance of these words and why I speak differently now. I am certain that this has an effect on these people and is making important progress by helping them to better understand what I have learned as well.

I have such gratitude for Heather and her team at CAN [LET’S]. Their work is important and has a positive effect in the world. And if there’s one thing they teach extremely well, it’s that we are all in this world together.

I am so grateful to have witnessed the work of Live Educate Transform Society – it is an incredibly necessary organization that is transforming the way we think about accessibility and disability justice in Vancouver and beyond. Every business, organization and community can benefit from the important work they are doing to change systems, communities and organizational culture. LET’S’ work serves to eliminate barriers to access in a way that is approachable, inclusive and sustainable. I have had the pleasure of working directly with Heather to bring some visionary projects to life and am constantly inspired by their patience, wisdom, integrity and passion for this important work.

The City of Burnaby, via the City’s citizen-based Access Advisory Committee, has worked on multiple occasions with Heather and with Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods [Live Educate Transform Society]. Examples of projects include pedestrian infrastructure accessibility assessments, consultation on accessible parking standards, a review of accessible design guidelines for civic buildings, and inclusive customer service training for City staff. Joint work has also recently expanded to LGBTQIA2S+ community-based inclusion efforts. I have been impressed by their professionalism, timeliness, and attention to detail. Heather is a trusted resource on complex accessibility and inclusion topics.

Creating Accessible Neighbourhood’s [Live Educate Transform Society’s]  Executive Director, Heather McCain has been an active community partner in our SSHRC funded partnership grant project Canadian Disability Participation Project (CDPP).  One stream within this partnership grant was focused on mobility and participation of persons with disability using assisted devices.  The core research project within this stream was titled  Enabling Mobility And participatioN among those with Disabilities (dEMAND).  Heather was actively involved with the project from its inception and has served on the Community Advisory Board of the Mobility Team.  They have provided invaluable input in the design and implementation of knowledge mobilization tools that included a community participation simulation game, On the Move: Participation and Inclusion game, a photovoice display and video vignette.  We plan to continue to build our relationship with CAN [LET’S] as we move forward with our new projects in the area of mobility, access and participation.

Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture has worked with Heather and Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods [Live Educate Transform Society] on various accessibility and disability related projects and they are truly a valuable resource to both our organization and the greater community. Heather’s lived experience teamed with their knowledge and passion is evident in the work they do. It is obvious when working with Heather that they are dedicated and strive to stay current. Our organization is a big champion of the necessary work CAN [LET’S] does, and we feel they are an important asset to our community and society as a whole.

In the time that I have worked with Heather, they have proven to be an exceptionally supportive, empowering, and optimistic leader within the Working Group and the greater community. They have been fundamental in creating a space where others feel safe and supported in sharing, learning, and contributing towards the increased visibility and recognition of the LGBTQ2SIA+ community in Burnaby, and have provided invaluable insight, education, and support around incorporating accessibility and accessible practices into every step of our planning for Burnaby Pride.

Heather’s work is deeply rooted in intersectionality, recognizing and respecting the uniqueness of our individual identities and experiences, and is continually evaluating their approach to learning from and engaging others in the pursuit of becoming a better advocate and ally for all.

I have had the pleasure of working with Heather over the last few years as an active and engaged member of the Coalition and as a central participant of the transit equity campaign, AllOnBoard. I have learned so much from Heather and their disability justice approach – their knowledge, expertise and experience has certainly strengthened the Coalition’s work. I especially appreciate their ability to work in many different contexts, from professional to grassroots. Throughout, they always demonstrate respect and appreciation for others, and make everyone feel included and valued. Heather is generous in spirit and time, and brings their passion to any project they’re involved in.

The Driver Education Centre at the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) has partnered with Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods [now Live Educate Transform Society] to improve its course offerings for the TaxiHost program and other driver training curriculum. Working with Heather greatly improved our ability to provide detailed tips and strategies for service providers to ensure they are able to effectively provide universal access to all clients. Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods [Live Educate Transform Society] has worked tirelessly in the field of advocacy and education to champion the rights of persons with disabilities and other groups that often face discrimination in the services we all depend upon. JIBC greatly appreciates Heather for her invaluable advice and Creating Accessible Neighborhoods [Live Educate Transform Society] for its assistance in this area.

Heather is a brilliant and dedicated advocate for the inclusion of of people with disabilities. Having worked with them on a number of projects, I’m always amazed at how they balance different perspectives when identifying solutions that will benefit all stakeholders. But what separates Heather from all others is how her passion translates into making a difference in the lives of so many others.

Accessibility is an ever changing space and one that is difficult to navigate. When Kickstart needed guidance and help with a major cultural accessibility project, we turned to Creating Accessible Neighborhoods [Live Educate Transform Society]. We have been working with Heather for over a year now and I know that we have made the right decision. Heather brings an incredible wealth of knowledge with them to our project, and they have a strong history and focus in the truth of accessibility.

It was incredible to have Live Educate Transform Society’s support with the low sensory space at our recent event. Heather went above and beyond setting up the space, creating an environment where guests felt they were able to compress, while having a variety of books, colouring, fidget toys, and other items to explore and play with, in a way that felt comfortable and inviting. We received so much excellent feedback from our guests for having a low sensory space available amid the chaos of the event. In addition, Heather graciously provided us with excellent information around hosting more accessible events, that will continue to inform how we host events in the years to come. We are so grateful for the team at LET’s, and the invaluable information and support the provide.

I truly appreciate that Heather set their audience at ease, from the start, with an approachable tone of acceptance and understanding. They created an environment that welcomed participants from all levels of knowledge and experience regarding the subjects of disability awareness, ableism, and Disability Justice.

Heather conveyed their depth of knowledge in engaging and meaningful ways as they encouraged and challenged participants to investigate our perceptions about disability. I appreciated that Heather shared real-life examples that really communicated to participants how we all participate in ableism and how we can work to build community, ensure autonomy, and help one another to meet each other where we are and value what we each have to offer.

I appreciated that Heather started by centering decolonialism and discussing the barriers that exist for Indigenous people with disabilities. Heather applied an intersectional lens throughout the session and recognized the range of experiences with disability. The session made me aware of perspectives I had not previously considered and challenged me to evaluate the conscious and unconscious bias that I have.

Heather is passionate about the topic of disability awareness and their enthusiasm helps to encourage participants in believing that by working together we can create a more accessible, equitable, and just world.

I am thankful that Heather encouraged further exploration of the subject by providing additional resources and a toolbox of strategies for participants to implement at work, on social media, and in our personal lives. I feel equipped and motivated to move forward and put into practice that which I learned from Heather.

I highly suggest Heather [LET’S] as an educator and workshop facilitator. I contemplated that which was covered in the session long after the workshop. I look forward to participating in future workshops by Live Educate Transform Society.

Heather is knowledgeable, thoughtful, funny, and generous.  As the moderator of Chronically Queer, they create a welcoming environment for everyone—regardless of where participants are in their respective disability journeys.  Chronically Queer benefits from Heather’s extensive experience, longstanding commitment to advocacy, and dedication to supporting disabled people and affirming disabled ways-of-being.  It is clear that Heather views accessibility as a practice and is therefore always seeking to make the group work better for participants.  Moreover, Heather is passionate about ensuring that accessibility extend beyond “crip” spaces and, in that spirit, often offers group members opportunities to have our voices heard in majority-abled spaces as well.  Under their care, the group has become a thriving community and fostered many friendships.

I first met Heather when they were seated next to me at a Feminist conference on Diversity in Business. Heather was warm and inviting, and quick to be helpful in sharing their lived experience and expertise in group discussions around topics of gender fluidity,  accessibility, and tokenism. It was apparent to me that one of Heather’s particular super powers is their extensive knowledge paired with their enthusiasm to educate and enlighten. I soon got down to the business of securing a connection for future collaborations. Heather is thoughtful, dedicated, and passionate about the work they do, and we are so excited for the workshops that they will be facilitating for our community members this Spring. Additionally, Heather has contributed to our website’s blog, and we’ve had overwhelming feedback that their writing is both insightful and motivating.

Heather has worked with TransLink over the past five years as a community advocate for accessibility throughout the Metro Vancouver transportation system. They are knowledgeable of disability issues and potential solutions; they are an effective speaker who is able to communicate well with their audience. Heather is not only thorough and well prepared, but also easy to work with and always willing to take the time to discuss any concerns and responds to any audience questions. I feel confident in recommending Heather as a speaker and presenter

The Polygon Gallery is very grateful for our collaborations with LET’S over the past few years. Heather’s expertise has been instrumental in advancing the Gallery’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. Most recently, Heather provided an on-site consultation to help us plan a Reduced-Sensory Day during the Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riot’s Russia exhibition. Given that this was a sensory-overloading exhibition featuring loud, clashing sounds and fast-moving videos within a densely structured space, we were unsure if hosting such an event would even be possible. However, Heather’s insightful suggestions were both encouraging and pivotal to the event’s success. They helped us identify specific ways to lower the sensory impact without compromising the artists’; intended experience. With Heather’s guidance, the Reduced-Sensory Day was a tremendous success. The positive feedback we received inspired us to plan for more of these days as part of The Polygon’s ongoing programming.

In previous years, Heather led our team through a Disability Workshop and a Gender & Sexuality Workshop, which have helped us to better serve all members of our community. They also conducted an audit of our space, identifying important areas where accessibility could be improved, many of which have been implemented. They have become a trusted partner and advisor in our work.

Heather’s valuable insights are always presented in a clear, empowering manner, making the process of improving accessibility both manageable and motivating for organizations of all sizes and stages. Whether you are just beginning to address accessibility or are more advanced in your planning, LET’S brings a compassionate, patient approach to learning and implementation.

Heather’s low sensory space service is something I wish every event had. When I was feeling overwhelmed & overstimulated at a busy event, being able to retreat to the soft, quiet low sensory space was a sigh of relief. It made me feel seen & cared for, and allowed me to stay longer as well as have a more positive experience at the event.

Later, when I was helping to put on the Clean Air Festival, Heather provided a low sensory space which turned out to be a hit among both kids & adults. Several attendees even said the low sensory space was their favourite part of the event! I saw people’s eyes light up as they played with the colourful fidget/stim toys and explored the lovingly curated books. People were also so appreciative of the dedicated space for lying down and resting with cute weighted stuffed animals. Being able to meet people’s sensory & access needs in this way was a true joy.

I would recommend this low sensory space service to any event organizer who wants attendees to feel cared for. Heather’s lived expertise & thoughtfulness shines through in every detail of the space, and will no doubt delight your attendees.

It was incredible to have Live Educate Transform Society’s support with the low sensory space at our recent event. Heather went above and beyond setting up the space, creating an environment where guests felt they were able to compress, while having a variety of books, colouring, fidget toys, and other items to explore and play with, in a way that felt comfortable and inviting. We received so much excellent feedback from our guests for having a low sensory space available amid the chaos of the event. In addition, Heather graciously provided us with excellent information around hosting more accessible events, that will continue to inform how we host events in the years to come. We are so grateful for the team at LET’s, and the invaluable information and support the provide.

Heather is an extremely knowledgeable consultant and organizer dedicated to fighting for a world that is truly accessible to all, as well as radically inclusive. Through involvement with our #AllOnBoard campaign, our transition process as an organization including our deep dive on our values and our policy framework, and as an on-going member of the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, Heather has time and again proven they are a powerful voice and mind at the table, always on the side of justice for all with the ability to recognize what needs to be done, how, and when. Heather and the organization they represent is an extremely valuable coalition member and ally, and we highly recommend collaborative partnerships of all kinds with CAN [LET’S] and Heather.

I first met Heather when they were seated next to me at a Feminist conference on Diversity in Business. Heather was warm and inviting, and quick to be helpful in sharing their lived experience and expertise in group discussions around topics of gender fluidity,  accessibility, and tokenism. It was apparent to me that one of Heather’s particular super powers is their extensive knowledge paired with their enthusiasm to educate and enlighten. I soon got down to the business of securing a connection for future collaborations. Heather is thoughtful, dedicated, and passionate about the work they do, and we are so excited for the workshops that they will be facilitating for our community members this Spring. Additionally, Heather has contributed to our website’s blog, and we’ve had overwhelming feedback that their writing is both insightful and motivating.

Heather has worked with TransLink over the past five years as a community advocate for accessibility throughout the Metro Vancouver transportation system. They are knowledgeable of disability issues and potential solutions; they are an effective speaker who is able to communicate well with their audience. Heather is not only thorough and well prepared, but also easy to work with and always willing to take the time to discuss any concerns and responds to any audience questions. I feel confident in recommending Heather as a speaker and presenter

Heather incorporated many interactive activities and kept their presentation flowing. In a unique way the activities enabled audience members to physically understand what someone with a disability may experience in various situations. Heather is a very enthusiastic presenter and their presentation was informative and easy for audience members to understand.

As a woman with cerebral palsy, I appreciate that Heather has both personal and professional experience in this field. Heather’s focus on the use of language to discuss the person before the disability was empowering. When I attended Heather’s presentation I felt a sense of like-mindedness. They said a lot of things that I’ve wanted to say but did it in a way that reached a broader audience effectively. When Heather began talking about adaptive equipment I became excited as I was not aware of most of the equipment currently out there.

As a person with a social work degree this presentation will assist me in sharing what I learned with others in my community.

As someone with multiple years of experience on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees at various organizations and with taking disability inclusion training, I honestly thought my attendance in the Introduction to Disability Awareness workshop would be a rehash of many things I already knew. While there was some overlap at the high level, this workshop was truly next level in terms of valuable content and Heather’s first hand lived-experience.

For years I have been bothered by all of the mis-information online and in social media about disabilities. Attending Heather’s workshop is the first time I truly felt like I walked away with great information backed by Heather’s lived experience and astounding level of knowledge on this topic. You truly will not find anyone who could have done a better job.

The Polygon Gallery is very grateful for our collaborations with LET’S over the past few years. Heather’s expertise has been instrumental in advancing the Gallery’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. Most recently, Heather provided an on-site consultation to help us plan a Reduced-Sensory Day during the Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riot’s Russia exhibition. Given that this was a sensory-overloading exhibition featuring loud, clashing sounds and fast-moving videos within a densely structured space, we were unsure if hosting such an event would even be possible. However, Heather’s insightful suggestions were both encouraging and pivotal to the event’s success. They helped us identify specific ways to lower the sensory impact without compromising the artists’; intended experience. With Heather’s guidance, the Reduced-Sensory Day was a tremendous success. The positive feedback we received inspired us to plan for more of these days as part of The Polygon’s ongoing programming.

In previous years, Heather led our team through a Disability Workshop and a Gender & Sexuality Workshop, which have helped us to better serve all members of our community. They also conducted an audit of our space, identifying important areas where accessibility could be improved, many of which have been implemented. They have become a trusted partner and advisor in our work.

Heather’s valuable insights are always presented in a clear, empowering manner, making the process of improving accessibility both manageable and motivating for organizations of all sizes and stages. Whether you are just beginning to address accessibility or are more advanced in your planning, LET’S brings a compassionate, patient approach to learning and implementation.

• I appreciate the practical and real-life translation of knowledge about a very important topic. I’m walking away with having absorbed a lot of important information.
• Much more in-depth information than I expected which was a wonderful surprise. Good mix of facts, examples and personal anecdotes. Slides were well-formatted. Stim toys were provided and used by most of the workshop participants throughout. This was a workshop that a couple months ago I wished existed and to my surprise here it is!
• Even though it was 4 hours, I was interested the whole time. I liked the chance to discuss with those at the table and learn from someone with lived experience. I have ADHD and the presentation taught me a lot about myself.

We invited LET’S to deliver a workshop on Neurodiversity At Work. The webinar provided an overview about neurodiversity and neurodivergent people. We also explored a variety of communication, working, learning, and interaction styles. Our team learned a lot, and the session already inspired action items in our work ahead. Thank you
Heather!

Vancouver Foundation partnered with LET’S to deliver our first internal learning sessions on disability in the workplace. We wanted to build organizational capacity and understanding of disability and neurodiversity in the workplace. LET’S delivered 2 exceptional sessions that increased our knowledge and helped us understand how to better support our staff, each other, and community. It should not be surprising that many of the practices we learned are practices that make work life more accessible for everyone.

I wanted to express my gratitude for your Disability Awareness Workshop which I had the opportunity to attend yesterday. It was thought-provoking – I had conversations with six different friends and family members last night about the workshop content. I caught an Uber to work this morning, and I was even talking with my uber driver about accessibility.  (Then she realized that the main drop-off point at our worksite was poorly designed!)

Your emphasis on ensuring accessibility for all, not just spectators but also for participants and vendors, deeply resonated with me. In my work focusing on water quality and access to water, I often default to thinking of all people as passive recipients for any City project. However, as someone with limited mobility, I maintain an internal contradiction, because I place high value on my active participation in work and life.

Here at work, and as I begin my studies in Disaster and Emergency Management, I look forward to advocating for greater inclusivity so everyone can be employed as they choose.

On behalf of the British Columbia Library Association, we are so grateful for having Heather host their Disability Awareness training with our members. We appreciated the dialogue and several participants wanted to relay their gratitude and wrote:

• Heather was great! The sharing of lived experiences as well as specific strategies was well balanced within the presentation. I really appreciated Heather’s candor and knowledge.
• Thank you for splitting the session into 2 one-hour sessions. This was helpful for my attention span, and it also gave me time to process the talk from the first day so I could more easily participate in the discussion on the second day.
•  Thank you for your vulnerability in sharing your lived experiences (I felt seen in many of the examples you so kindly shared), and for all of the unseen labour that went into developing and leading your incredibly informative and impactful two day training session.
• Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise. I found the session incredibly helpful and am looking forward to sharing what I have learned.

Thank you SO much for your presentation today! It was empowering, eye-opening, and it offered us all a really unique perspective on accessibility that I can personally say will inform a lot of my work and my interactions going forward. There were a lot of really positive comments from staff today after you signed off, and I heard a lot of “I hadn’t ever considered…” and “I never would have thought about ________.” And of course, since a lot of us who work in libraries are neurodivergent, I think your discussion of imposter syndrome and professionalism really hit home for many, myself included.

Following our workshop, we received the following comments from attendees:

“Thank you again for sharing your wisdom and time with the home sharing community! We learned lots and have many key takeaways.”

“Your sharing was very insightful and really helped me in battling imposter syndrome as an anxious person.”

“Our team was very grateful to have you in the session. We are looking forward to our next collaboration.”

LET’S received a request for our Imposter Syndrome workshop from a research analyst at the Home Sharing Support Society BC (HSSSBC). They said “I heard Heather present at the National Accessibility Week Dialogue and thought they were fantastic! I was hoping to see whether they would be interested in leading a webinar for our folks as well.” We gladly said yes.

Imposter Syndrome is 1 of Heather’s favourite workshops to deliver but the hardest workshop to get clients to book and/or people to attend. This month we had 2 bookings in 1 week – very exciting! Heather loves it because it makes such an immediate effect on people – and they receive the most post-workshop communication from this workshop (and the Disability Awareness workshop).

The Home Sharing Support Society BC works collaboratively with the home sharing community from across the province. This includes families, people in a home sharing arrangement, Home Sharing Providers, those coordinating services, self-advocates, funders and other key community partners.

Following our workshop, we received the following comments from attendees:

“Thank you again for sharing your wisdom and time with the home sharing community! We learned lots and have many key takeaways.”

“Your sharing was very insightful and really helped me in battling imposter syndrome as an anxious person.”

“Our team was very grateful to have you in the session. We are looking forward to our next collaboration.”

• I appreciate the practical and real-life translation of knowledge about a very important topic. I’m walking away with having absorbed a lot of important information.
• Much more in-depth information than I expected which was a wonderful surprise. Good mix of facts, examples and personal anecdotes. Slides were well-formatted. Stim toys were provided and used by most of the workshop participants throughout. This was a workshop that a couple months ago I wished existed and to my surprise here it is!
• Even though it was 4 hours, I was interested the whole time. I liked the chance to discuss with those at the table and learn from someone with lived experience. I have ADHD and the presentation taught me a lot about myself.

We invited LET’S to deliver a workshop on Neurodiversity At Work. The webinar provided an overview about neurodiversity and neurodivergent people. We also explored a variety of communication, working, learning, and interaction styles. Our team learned a lot, and the session already inspired action items in our work ahead. Thank you Heather!”

LET’S ran two workshops for our staff team, Disability Awareness and Disability Justice. Heather McCain and Harmony Bongat provided a safe virtual space for our team to ask questions and share personal experiences, big and small. They modelled how to effectively communicate important information in an accessible way. We learned so much! By the end, our team was able to identify areas in our organization that can be adapted to be more inclusive to people facing disabilities, including access needs, language, and accessibility protocol. We look forward to continuing to learn more about how we can advocate for disability justice.

The Driver Education Centre at the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) has partnered with Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods [Live Educate Transform Society] to improve its course offerings for the TaxiHost program and other driver training curriculum. Working with Heather greatly improved our ability to provide detailed tips and strategies for service providers to ensure they are able to effectively provide universal access to all clients. Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods [Live Educate Transform Society] has worked tirelessly in the field of advocacy and education to champion the rights of persons with disabilities and other groups that often face discrimination in the services we all depend upon. JIBC greatly appreciates Heather for her invaluable advice and Creating Accessible Neighborhoods [Live Educate Transform Society] for its assistance in this area.

I truly appreciate that Heather set their audience at ease, from the start, with an approachable tone of acceptance and understanding. They created an environment that welcomed participants from all levels of knowledge and experience regarding the subjects of disability awareness, ableism, and Disability Justice.

Heather conveyed their depth of knowledge in engaging and meaningful ways as they encouraged and challenged participants to investigate our perceptions about disability. I appreciated that Heather shared real-life examples that really communicated to participants how we all participate in ableism and how we can work to build community, ensure autonomy, and help one another to meet each other where we are and value what we each have to offer.

I appreciated that Heather started by centering decolonialism and discussing the barriers that exist for Indigenous people with disabilities. Heather applied an intersectional lens throughout the session and recognized the range of experiences with disability. The session made me aware of perspectives I had not previously considered and challenged me to evaluate the conscious and unconscious bias that I have.

Heather is passionate about the topic of disability awareness and their enthusiasm helps to encourage participants in believing that by working together we can create a more accessible, equitable, and just world.

I am thankful that Heather encouraged further exploration of the subject by providing additional resources and a toolbox of strategies for participants to implement at work, on social media, and in our personal lives. I feel equipped and motivated to move forward and put into practice that which I learned from Heather.

I highly suggest Heather [LET’S] as an educator and workshop facilitator. I contemplated that which was covered in the session long after the workshop. I look forward to participating in future workshops by Live Educate Transform Society.

The Intro to Disability Justice workshop held by Heather McCain was one of the most thought-provoking, in-depth, and necessary workshops I’ve ever taken. Heather grounded teachings on disability justice in the context of the systems of oppression created by colonialism, and held firm solidarity with Indigenous, Black, and people of colour. In addition to creating a welcome and judgement-free space, Heather seemed to create the workshop with a care for themselves, their community, and all the participants involved. The workshop wasn’t a box to check in allyship; the workshop was, instead, empowering in its transformative call to action. It left me feeling like I had the tools to ask questions, dig deeper, and do the work in my own life and organization to prioritize accessibility and inclusion in an intentional and meaningful way.

I had the great pleasure of attending an amazing workshop on Imposter Syndrome, presented by Heather McCain (they/them), executive director of Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods [Live Educate Transform Society] this afternoon.

It wasn’t just about Imposter Syndrome – the content covered the experience of Imposter Syndrome from an oppressed/marginalized, intersectional, social justice, anti-Colonialist, disability justice, and trauma-informed view point. It was informative, validating, and empowering.

Having people with lived experience share their knowledge heals communities, and this is how change happens.

Kudos for the work you are doing, Heather, and I encourage everyone to check out their upcoming workshops.

I first met Heather when they were seated next to me at a Feminist conference on Diversity in Business. Heather was warm and inviting, and quick to be helpful in sharing their lived experience and expertise in group discussions around topics of gender fluidity,  accessibility, and tokenism. It was apparent to me that one of Heather’s particular super powers is their extensive knowledge paired with their enthusiasm to educate and enlighten. I soon got down to the business of securing a connection for future collaborations. Heather is thoughtful, dedicated, and passionate about the work they do, and we are so excited for the workshops that they will be facilitating for our community members this Spring. Additionally, Heather has contributed to our website’s blog, and we’ve had overwhelming feedback that their writing is both insightful and motivating.

Heather has worked with TransLink over the past five years as a community advocate for accessibility throughout the Metro Vancouver transportation system. They are knowledgeable of disability issues and potential solutions; they are an effective speaker who is able to communicate well with their audience. Heather is not only thorough and well prepared, but also easy to work with and always willing to take the time to discuss any concerns and responds to any audience questions. I feel confident in recommending Heather as a speaker and presenter

Heather has considerable knowledge of accessibility issues, particularly as they relate to public transit, and is able to communicate about these to audiences of various levels of expertise. Their understanding of these issues at every phase of a project from design to implementation and maintenance allow them to create presentations that are relevant to a wide range of planning, design and engineering work. In addition to having a strong knowledge base, Heather is able to adapt this knowledge to a clients’ needs. In developing a presentation for the 2011 CUTA Youth Summit on Sustainable Transportation, Heather worked thoughtfully with us to understand the conference’s audience and themes. This resulted in a presentation that offered many concrete examples that were relevant to the conference delegates’ interests. Many delegates reported Heather’s presentation to be a highlight of the conference for them and we received compliments on their presentation from several other speakers.

Heather incorporated many interactive activities and kept their presentation flowing. In a unique way the activities enabled audience members to physically understand what someone with a disability may experience in various situations. Heather is a very enthusiastic presenter and their presentation was informative and easy for audience members to understand.

As a woman with cerebral palsy, I appreciate that Heather has both personal and professional experience in this field. Heather’s focus on the use of language to discuss the person before the disability was empowering. When I attended Heather’s presentation I felt a sense of like-mindedness. They said a lot of things that I’ve wanted to say but did it in a way that reached a broader audience effectively. When Heather began talking about adaptive equipment I became excited as I was not aware of most of the equipment currently out there.

As a person with a social work degree this presentation will assist me in sharing what I learned with others in my community.