REALM Services Inc.

Today is International Plain Language Day! Celebrate clear communication and the people that make information easy to find, understand, and use.

People with disabilities have the skills, determination, and talent to strengthen every industry in British Columbia. 💪💫

Sometimes all that's needed is an opportunity to demonstrate those abilities.

Through MentorAbility, employers can host a one-time workplace mentorship that gives job explorers a chance to explore careers, build networks, and gain valuable industry insight. One mentorship can spark a career. One conversation can change a perspective.

Help build a future where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Learn how to get involved by visiting - https://inclusionbc.org/what-we-do/community-partnerships-engagement/mentorability/

🍁 Happy Thanksgiving Weekend from REALM Services Inc.! 🍂

Please note our upcoming holiday hours:
⛔ CLOSED: Friday, October 9th & Monday, October 12th
✅ REOPENING: Tuesday, October 13th for regular hours

We wish you and your loved ones a safe, restful, and happy holiday weekend! 🦃✨

People with disabilities and accessibility advocates are often frustrated with the slow pace of progress. There are several reasons progress might lag, and one of those is the hesitation caused by fear of not getting it right on the first try. As the saying goes “Perfection is the enemy of progress.” We don't need perfect solutions from day one, just a willingness to start and keep improving.

We’d love to hear about some of the first uncertain steps you took to remove barriers in your community or workplace. Let us know in the comments!

Alt text: Purple webcard reading “Improving accessibility doesn’t begin with perfection. It begins with action.” Our office's applied signature and the Canada wordmark appear at the bottom.

One of the major benefits that our navigators can support you with is the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).

Currently, it is the gateway to access other disability programs. If you don't have the DTC, unfortunately you can't access programs like the Canada Disability Benefit.

If you're not sure if you're eligible or simply need help with the application process, we're here for you! Contact a navigator today for free, 1 on 1 support today!

👉 https://buff.ly/OTHq4AK

Closure Notice: We are closed today, Wednesday, September 30th, in observance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Our doors are closed today so our team and community can take the time to listen, learn, and reflect on the significance of this date.

We will be back open tomorrow for regular scheduled services.

Today, Chief Accessibility Officer (CAO) Stephanie Cadieux spoke at the Untapped Workplace Inclusion Awards, in Vancouver, held annually by the Open Door Group to recognize businesses and individuals that are leading the way in workplace diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

The theme of this year’s event was “Keep Going,” and the CAO spoke to the importance of persistence and celebrating progress along the way:

“Accessibility is not a destination. It is an ongoing practice of listening, learning, adapting, and improving. There is no moment when an organization can say, ‘we're done.’ The work evolves because people evolve. Technology changes. Expectations change. Our understanding of disability continues to grow. The most successful organizations are not the ones that get everything right the first time. They are the ones that listen, learn, adapt, and keep going.”

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and nominees, and to the Open Door Group, who are celebrating 50 years of doing the work and advancing change.

Alt text: Web card featuring the quote from CAO Stephanie Cadieux shared in this post. Our office's applied signature and the Canada wordmark appear at the bottom.

Somewhere along the way, needing less support became one of our default measures of progress. But does a neurodiversity-affirming goal always need to prioritize independence?

Read more in our latest FREE blog:.https://www.kelly-mahler.com/resources/blog/neurodiversity-affirming-goals/

Image description: light orange tile reading, “Independence doesn’t have to be the ultimate measure of success. We’re all independent in different ways. Maybe the better measure of progress isn’t how little support someone needs, but how successfully they can participate with the support that works for them.”

Imagine the paperwork: “Uncontrolled laughter occurred at approximately 2:17pm.”
..

ID: Photo shows a disabled person and their supporter. Text reads: What if disability providers were made to record moments of joy as seriously as they do accidents and incidents?