Inclusion BC Board Member!!!!

  Hello everyone,

        Today I want to tell you about my journey in becoming a board member for Inclusion BC. 

Inclusion BC is a 28 member, not for profit advocacy Board of Directors for people who have cognitive diverse abilities. Much to my surprise, and delight, in the spring/summer of 2020, I became a member. When I first heard I was nominated, I was shocked! I didn’t  even know what board members did! How could I be one? But, I knew that working with Inclusion BC would mean there would be opportunities for me to advocate for people who have diverse abilities on a larger scale, and, I have always wanted to give back to people like me, so, really, how could I say no?

I remember my first meeting with the Board, which was on zoom.  I met everyone, and they were all wonderful! They knew that I had never been on a board before, and that I may be a little overwhelmed, which I was, so they promised they would support me every step of the way. I definitely could tell that they believed strongly in looking for the greatest potential in people who have cognitive diverse abilities, and in getting creative when inventing ways to  include them in society in fulfilling and joyful ways.  

Inclusion BC advocates to continually improve the quality of life for people who have cognitive diverse abilities, and when big issues come up in the diverse ability community, the staff of Inclusion BC are always called upon to act as advocates. 

I had to be sworn in as Director on the board. That meeting was very official. My mom recorded me taking an oath, promising to abide by all the rules of Inclusion BC. It was a big deal! 

When I first joined the board, to be honest, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I just listened in on the board meetings, which I was told was normal for first time members. Later on though, all the members got to choose different committees to sit on, within the board, which was where our real work began.  The committees I chose to work in were the Family Advisory Committee, and the Human Rights and Legal Affairs Committee. In meetings for those, I learned about all sorts of different issues people who have diverse abilities face. It felt like getting the inside scoop on what's happening in the world of diverse ability. The other board members inspired me with how professionally they advocated; strongly, but fairly. When I was younger, I was always told that it was my job to be an advocate for people like me, and I was nervous to do that, because I thought advocates “fight”, and I wasn’t a “fighter”. I’m still not. I’m not really into protests, and ranting on social media, and getting upset with people about diverse ability issues. There is definitely a time and place for all of that, but right now, it is just not for me. Inclusion BC has taught me that there is a way to advocate with grace and professionalism, and still get your point across, and make change, by working together with people in more powerful roles.   How I got to help  in these zoom meetings was by giving suggestions for how things like police reform for people with diverse abilities could change.  

I was also interviewed for a short film called, “Gender Matters”, which is about the stigma people still hold about different genders, and, in particular,  about girls who have diverse abilities. I  was very honored to be part of that  video, and to share my own bias as well as share  how I learned to correct them,  and help advocate for women in general. That video is now online, and is one of the videos that could be part of a film festival called “Focus on Ability”. I have received an email that said you can vote for your favorite videos out of selected ones to be shown.  I will share the link below. 

In addition to the Gender Matter filming experience, I got to participate in the “Reimaging Community Inclusion(RCI) Working Group, which is a healthcare board for people with diverse abilities. A group of Inclusion BC members got together to tell personal stories about how we have experienced healthcare situations, and we also got to provide our input on several topics that impacted people who have diverse abilities when they are participating in the healthcare system.I was able to tell my story, and give suggestions in these group discussions that might help the next person, or the next family affected by  diverse ability, in accessing better health care. 

Another opportunity I got involved with through Inclusion BC was working with  “Tapping into Technology”,   a team of people who are working on a two year research project on how technology can best assist parents of children ages 0-6 who have diverse abilities, with getting services and help for their families. I’ve just been on this committee for a year, and it's relatively new. Just like with Inclusion BC though, the staff of Tapping into Tech reached out to me with open arms and seemed to value my input on how I thought families of children  who have diverse abilities could be best helped through technology.

 I feel so grateful to be working with everyone I have met through Inclusion BC. I never thought I would have the chance to play this big of a role so soon in my life, with so many wonderful, kind, and brilliant people, who want to make big changes for people who have diverse abilities. 

The most exciting Inclusion BC event I got to participate in was, of course, their annual conference, which happens every year, usually in a big city in the Lower Mainland. This year it was held in Surrey, and, as an Inclusion BC board member, the board graciously funded me and my mom to attend . It was three full days of learning. Each one of our days were jam packed full of workshops that focused on including people who have diverse abilities in the education system, in the workplace, and, in their  communities,  as self advocates. It was the first time that I had seen my fellow board members face to face. I was SO excited to finally meet these people whom I’ve spent so much time with via Zoom. I made so many wonderful, inspiring new friends and learned so much in a short few days. 

Many of the workshops at the conference  were hosted by people who have cognitive diverse abilities, which was amazing!  I feel a bit naive saying this, especially as a person who advocates for inclusion of people who have diverse abilities, but, I have never before seen people who have cognitive diverse abilities speak up for themselves, and lead workshops, like they did at the conference, before.  I was blown away, and SO proud to be part of this community of people. The hopes, dreams and plans for the future Inclusion BC envisions for people with diverse abilities are very exciting, and I can say with much confidence that if we hop on board with them, and raise our expectations of what people who have diverse abilities can achieve, the future of inclusion will be SO bright!

 

I  attended the conference with my favorite traveling partner, and my biggest fan, my amazing mom, as well as my fellow Inclusion BC board member, and the past Superintendent of School District #6, Bendina Miller, who was  also the person who  nominated me to sit on the board. We had so much fun together, and Bendina was so knowledgeable, introducing me to the many people she knew who were there, and wanting me to be as involved as possible. Thank you Bendina for your belief in me, and for being part of making this incredible opportunity possible.

 

I am so  grateful for another opportunity that once again showed me that anything is possible, and that dreams do come true, and am so excited to be helping BC become a more inclusive province for everyone! I look forward to my role in Inclusion BC becoming even bigger! Stay tuned!

 

Click the link below, and don't forget to vote for the “Gender Matters” video to be shown at the Focus on Ability Film Festival. 

 http://www.focusonability.com.au/