The power of inclusion: Inclusion Saskatchewan
In June 2018, the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living changed its name to Inclusion Saskatchewan (Inclusion SK). The decision to adopt a new name and brand was made to provide a better understanding of the work the nonprofit organization has been doing for more than six decades in our province.
Inclusion SK supports over 2,900 individuals with intellectual disabilities, and their families, in several ways. Current issues that are a priority for the organization include supporting inclusive education, forming Northern partnerships and providing transitions to inclusive community living.
Inclusion SK was founded more than 60 years ago when Dr. John Dolan put an ad in the Saskatoon Starphoenix to survey the number of children who were unable to go to school because they had an intellectual disability. At the time, there was an IQ cut-off for children to attend public school in Saskatchewan and Dolan’s daughter did not meet the province’s criteria.
Today, Inclusion SK holds regular Inclusion Tours over a weekday lunch hour to share updates on the organization’s valuable work. Inclusion SK has hosted 129 tours since 2011 (the sessions are open to members of the public). The November Inclusion Tour featured a speech by Bradley Mcvicar, Inclusion Saskatchewan’s custodian and a person with Down syndrome. Mcvicar is a compelling example of self-advocacy in his community.
During the tour the organization’s staff outlined its impactful programs, such as the Family Network. Intended for Saskatchewan families with a member who experiences an intellectual disability, these programs include workshops and retreats for mothers, siblings or both parents. During the 2018-2019 fiscal year, Inclusion SK’S Family Network served 1,230 members in 87 communities. Family Network programs are financially subsidized to encourage families to attend, and to share tools and their own experiences with each other.
Overall, Inclusion SK works to ensure that citizens with intellectual disabilities are valued and supported members of society. Two issues that remain top-of-mind are housing and employment. Approximately 75 percent of individuals with an intellectual disability remain unemployed, despite a strong business case for their employment.
The organization also advocates for specific initiatives such as the closure of the Valley View Centre in Moose Jaw. Founded in 1955, by December 2019 all residents of the Valley View Centre will have moved out after an intensive process of transitioning its residents into communities throughout western Canada.
According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services website, regarding the Valley View Centre’s closure, “the provincial government has committed to a person-centred planning process and works collaboratively with people with intellectual disabilities, their families and communities to ensure successful transitions into the community.”
“Closing the Valley View Centre was a real collaborative effort, very positive and a smooth transition. Some residents had lived there for 50 years. Saskatchewan is a compassionate province,” says Kevin Mctavish, executive director of Inclusion SK.
The name change to Inclusion SK has been important. Part of the reason is the organization’s goals are so closely tied to inclusion, whether that’s self-advocacy, individual advocacy or systemic advocacy.
Travis Neufeld is communications and marketing manager with Inclusion SK. “One of the motivators for our name change was the confusion surrounding our role. Were we a building or real estate company or maybe part of the government? Our new name provides clarity about our mission and our role as a nonprofit community organization,” says Neufeld.
Regarding the realization of the Valley View Centre transition of residents, Neufeld notes, “a personcentred approach was critical to the success of the transition. The contribution of family and friends to each individual’s transition was significant.”
Inclusion SK also led the coalition for the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability Program (SAID) in 2009. As a result, people with a disability in our province are now eligible to receive $1,300 a month through the SAID program. This amount still falls below the $1,700 a month average that an individual earning minimum wage would earn.
About 25 percent of Inclusion SK’S revenue is through the Community Living, or Yellow Bin, program. More information on the program is available at theyellowbin.com or by calling 1-877-477-2171. All Yellow Bin donations support individuals with intellectual disabilities in Saskatchewan.
“The Yellow Bin program is a real business for us, and we want to especially thank the businesses and schools who have bins located on their property and accessible for donations,” says Mctavish.
On a national level, the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) is the federation working to advance the full inclusion of people with an intellectual disability and their families.