I work, and have been working closely, with a small group of young individuals who together, as a team, advocate for social justice and equity for people with an intellectual disability in order to make Canada an inclusive place full of opportunities for every individual living in this country. This group is known as the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) which works under Community Living Ontario (CLO).
Community Living Ontario is a non-profit provincial association that has been advocating for people who have an intellectual disability and their families for 70 years.
Last Monday, November 13th, 2023, I had the opportunity to speak and represent the YAC and CLO at Ontario Disability Employment Network's (ODEN) annual Rethinking Disability Conference, where I presented and informed people about the initiatives taken by our team, their impact, and also engaged in a feedback session to know what we could do better in the future.
There were several other sessions focusing on topics like detecting workplace mental health issues and solutions to them, digital accessibility and why people should know about it, boosting the community's youth employment options and outcomes through collaboration and advocacy, and more! I strongly believe that conferences like these are a great way to practice public speaking at a large scale and learn more about oneself.
I'm thrilled to share that our efforts have touched the lives of over 1000 individuals across Ontario! Together, we're making strides toward a more inclusive future, where diversity is not just embraced but celebrated. Inclusion is not just a buzzword; it's a commitment to creating environments where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. The conversations at this conference reinforced the idea that diversity is our strength, and by working together, we can break down barriers and build bridges to success.
– Yashvit
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