Category Archives: Our Stories

By: Raymond Vannatter My name is Raymond and I work at Bethlehem Retreat Center in Nanaimo, BC. I have been working there for almost a year and a half. Bethlehem Retreat Center is a place where individuals and groups can explore spirituality, seek non-judegmental sacred spaces for contemplation, learning and community. Many people visit and […]

By: Julie Garbutt I was born a twin and I have Cerebral Palsy. My circle of support suggested the advocate program with Inclusion BC would be a good opportunity for me. I didn’t quite believe them and I was hesitant to even go because I was really nervous. There were a lot of new people, […]

By: Madeleine Wieczorek My name is Madeleine Wieczorek.. I have Autism and an intellectual disability. I love to dance and I love everything about Drag, so when UNITI (Semiahmoo House Society) asked me if I wanted to perform as a Drag Queen at a fundraiser I said, “SURE!” My Drag name was Miss Sassy Pants. […]

By Miranda Orth I had a personal goal to become an assistant bookkeeper. This is my story about my experiences taking a bookkeeping course at Vancouver Island University (VIU). At a self-advocacy meeting, I heard about STEPS Forward, an organization that provides support for people with intellectual disabilities to attend post-secondary education. I contacted them and STEPS […]

By: Kristina Bridgen People living with Functional Neurological Disorder, also known as FND, have many daily struggles as it is an invisible medical condition. Let me backtrack here though. What is FND, you might ask? It is where the brain and body send and receive signals incorrectly, which causes many symptoms. In my case, my […]

Written by Michelle Goos When you are on low income it is hard to plan all the things you need to do at any time. But Christmas time is even harder because you want to make sure that you have money for gifts and food and the Christmas dinner, whatever that looks  like to you […]

By Michelle Goos (Victoria, B.C.) As a parent with a disability that has a daughter that has a disability, you see your child grow and you grow fonder of them. As a parent, you can look through their eyes at a whole new world. You see things differently; you see new things and all things […]

By Michelle Goos My baby is not a baby anymore and is almost grown up. She just graduated from college this past week. She will be busy since she works three days a week at a private school in the kitchen helping with cleanup and etc. She is also in Special Olympics this summer and […]

  By: Ron Kalsi My name is Ron. I attend Surrey Connections Monday to Friday. I get there on Handy Dart. I really enjoy my schedule doing gym, bingo, and other fun activities like going to Grouse Mountain with my friends. I like going to new places in the community by bus, train, and sea […]

Paul is not afraid to show his colours – literally. Today he is wearing a tie-dyed shirt as well as a hat and shoes that he’s painted. Even his hair has been dyed a rainbow of colours, which he chose specifically to celebrate and support Pride Month. “I like being creative,” he says. “And I […]