Community Inclusion Advocacy Program
Our Community Inclusion Advocacy Program offers direct support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families when they experience barriers to inclusion in any area of their lives, at any age. This year, the Advocacy Team supported 1,331 situations. While it is a slight decrease from last year, this remains about 50% higher than five years ago. The third quarter, October to December 2025, was once again the busiest of the year; we barely caught our breath, but we are still standing strong. We appreciate the trust that people put in us with their stories and in guiding them through their advocacy. The words of one parent express why we do this:
“Advocacy is empowerment. Empowerment is respect. Respect is dignity.”
The top three issues represented in our calls were barriers to:
- Equitable access to education
- Access to disability support for adults
- Community inclusion and other disability supports
We continue to notice the increased complexity of the situations people are facing, often involving more than one system, and often needing our support for longer. This year, we have noticed an increase in the diversity of issues people reach out to us about, including legal support, which is outside our scope.
This is how the people who received our support evaluated us this year:
- 92% agree that they have more tools or skills to advocate on their own in the future
- 84% agree that they better understand how to navigate the supports in their community
- 85% feel more equipped to provide leadership within their community to promote inclusion
What people had to say about this program:
“With Inclusion BC’s support, we didn’t feel alone. Their advocacy helped our family feel understood, supported, and better equipped to navigate a challenging time.”
“I feel that your advocate helped take my son from invisible to important. “
“I can only say that I am incredibly grateful for the support we received. It felt exactly like being able to breathe with confidence. The guidance we received helped us understand and know that we are not alone; we have someone here in BC to count on for the things we, as parents and newcomers, need.”
Family Support Workers Network
The Family Support Workers Network includes approximately 60 members from organizations across British Columbia. Throughout this year, sessions such as the Provincial Assessment Centre Outreach Program, Inclusive Education Advocacy, the Independent Rights Advice Service, and a presentation from the BC Ombudsperson’s Office Liaison provided members with valuable information and practical resources.
These sessions strengthen Family Support Workers’ knowledge and confidence when supporting families navigating complex systems. Topics are selected based on emerging issues and feedback from our annual survey, ensuring the network remains relevant to members’ needs.
The goal of this network is to keep Family Support Workers connected so they can share knowledge, learn from one another, and better support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
This is how members of the Network evaluated this year’s sessions:
- 100% of participants increased their connections to people and resources.
- 100% of participants acquired new knowledge or developed new tools through the group discussions.
What people had to say about this program:
“The network provides great learning and networking opportunities that I cannot find elsewhere, and that are uniquely relevant to the work I do.”
“This opportunity for professional development helps me increase my knowledge and ability to support families. It also allows for networking and resource-sharing that bridges the community.”
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