November Highlights:
Team Building Workshop – November 19, 2024
On November 19th, Community Living Ontario’s (CLO) Inclusion Initiatives department hosted an in-person Team Building Workshop for the Council in Markham. Ten Council members participated in the event, which was facilitated by Jennie Chanda, President of the CLO Board of Directors.
This workshop, held at the beginning of the 2024-2025 term, provided an opportunity to support the Council, particularly with the addition of three new members who joined in September 2024. The session included engaging activities designed to improve collaboration, build trust, and strengthen relationships among members, while helping everyone learn more about each other. It set a strong foundation for teamwork and mutual respect as the new term begins.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing interest in a follow-up workshop.
Council Members’ Thoughts:
December Highlights
Council Presentation to the Self Advocates at Community Living Brant – December 9, 2024
On December 9th, Council members Amber Taylor, Judy Noonan, and Niko Pupella delivered a presentation to self-advocates at CL Brant. The presentation covered the Council’s work and highlighted the importance of self-advocacy. Presenters also shared their personal experiences and answered questions.
Council members also expressed their appreciation for the ongoing support from Council and Community Living Ontario.
Amber spoke about her desire to be the voice for those who don’t have the same opportunities and how that motivated her to join the Council.
Niko shared the support he received from CLO during the challenges of his displacement following a tornado a couple of years ago.
Judy expressed her gratitude for the critical support CLO provided when her organization was unable to assist, allowing her to continue her advocacy work.
Feedback from CL Brant
The feedback we received from CL Brant was overwhelmingly positive. Their self-advocates shared that they were inspired by the presentation, with several people calling them to express how motivated they felt. CL Brant mentioned, “This was a great way to revive the self-advocates here with a positive direction.” They also expressed a desire to stay connected and work with the Council moving forward.
Council Met with Ms. Stephanie Cadieux, Chief Accessibility Officer – December 12, 2024
On December 12, Council met with Ms. Stephanie Cadieux, Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer, for an engaging discussion on accessibility, employment, and inclusion.
Council members—Dzidra Halar, Brianne Taggart, and Keith Metcalf—presented on the Council’s work and shared key concerns, particularly around poverty, the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), and employment challenges. During the Q&A session, Council members raised concerns about postal strikes, limited evening bus schedules, and gaps between federal and provincial accessibility laws.
Ms. Cadieux shared her advocacy journey and her current role advising the Minister under the Accessible Canada Act, with a goal of achieving a barrier-free Canada by 2040. She highlighted key priorities, including improving employment and transportation.
January Highlights
Council Members in the Media – #WaitingToBelong
Council members were recently featured in the media as part of Community Living Ontario’s latest advocacy campaign, #WaitingToBelong.
Amber Taylor and Niko Pupella appeared on CTV News and Global News to discuss the #WaitingToBelong campaign and highlight the urgent issue of more than 52,000 people with developmental disabilities being stuck on a waiting list for critical supports.
View some of those moments at the following links:
Thousands of Ontarians waiting for critical disability supports | Watch News Videos Online
Non-profit sounding alarm over disability funding shortfalls – CTVNews
Meeting with ADM Meenu Sikand – January 17, 2025
On January 17, the Council of Community Living Ontario met with Meenu Sikand, Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) at the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility Ontario, along with her team.
During the discussion, Council members provided an overview of the Council and its advocacy priorities. They also shared personal experiences about the barriers faced daily by people with lived experience, emphasizing what accessibility truly means to them.
ADM Sikand spoke about her work at the Ministry and highlighted the importance of engaging with strong advocates like the Council to better understand the lived experiences of people who are labeled with intellectual disabilities. She encouraged the Council to continue their advocacy and community involvement.
Council Members Participated in Listen Include Respect Train-the-Trainer Program (January 28-30, 2025)
In January, Council members Judy Noonan, Dzidra Halar, and Brianne Taggart attended the Listen Include Respect Train-the-Trainer Program, alongside self-advocates and support workers from across Ontario.
The three-day training, facilitated by trainers from Inclusion International, focused on how the Listen Include Respect principles can empower self-advocates and organizations to promote inclusive participation for people with intellectual disabilities. Participants learned how to train others to implement these principles in their own organizations.
Throughout the training, attendees engaged in role-playing exercises and group activities to deepen their understanding. They also had the opportunity to design and lead a 30-minute training session on various inclusive leadership topics. On the final day, each organization and its self-advocates set goals, developed plans, and documented their next steps for applying these principles and training others. At the conclusion of the program, all participants received certificates recognizing their learning and commitment to inclusive training practices.
