This year, we are thrilled to celebrate a monumental milestone—our 70th anniversary! Inclusion BC has been advocating for the rights and opportunities of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1955. We are also excited to mark our annual event by collaborating with Inclusion Canada and Aspire Richmond for a National Conference.
This year’s event promises to be an extraordinary opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from across the country, share innovative ideas, and share cutting-edge information and resources on inclusion and diversity. Join us for this landmark celebration and be a part of shaping the future of a Canada where Everybody Belongs!
If you have personal or professional experience with disabilities, we welcome your proposals for workshops and presentations in the following areas:
Personal Development
Ways to enhance well-being through improved health and wellness, sexual education, social engagement, dignified housing or financial security. Art, movement, interactive workshops and presentations are welcomed.
Families and Children
Advice or creative applications of inclusive education, inclusive childcare, and family supports.
Employment and Transitions
Best practices for transitions from school to employment, training, social enterprise, finding work and professional development.
Community Development
Strengthening the grassroots capacity of people, families and communities to work collaboratively, drive change and support inclusion.
Advocacy
Advancing our global advocacy movement by deepening our shared understanding of challenges and identifying strategies to build a stronger voice for inclusion.
First Nations, Inuit, Metis and Urban Indigenous Experiences
Stories of success, as well as topics around legacies of institutionalization, disparities in service or health outcomes, culturally sensitive services, and opportunities for collaboration.
Since we are celebrating our 70th anniversary, we would welcome presentations and workshops that showcase the themes of “celebration” and “everybody belongs”.
Guidelines for Proposals
Applications must include a presenter bio, photo and workshop description. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Workshops will be 1 hour/1 hour 15 minutes in length.
We encourage you to submit proposals that:
- Are led by people with lived experience.
- Represent diversity within the disability community and honour the experiences of Indigenous, LGBTQ2S, and racialized communities from across Canada.
- Include music, art, film/video, movement, interactivity and great storytelling.
- Use person-first or identity-first language.
- Support full inclusion of people with disabilities in community life.
- Allow all attendees to participate fully.
- Promote evidence-based practices.
The deadline to submit a proposal is January 15, 2025.
Submit your workshop proposal by clicking on this link:
Because of the high number of submissions, we won’t be able to accept any late entries, please be sure to submit your proposal as early as possible. If you do not receive an automated reply after submitting your proposal, please get in touch with us to ensure it was submitted successfully.
Presenters at our conference participating in an unpaid role will receive a small honorarium. All presenters are offered free conference admission for the day they are attending or half-price admission for the entire conference.
We will contact all applicants by email no later than February 10, 2025.
