Coquitlam Library Life Stories #1
Channel: tricitiestv
Date: 2022-12-14

This presentation is the first in a series of "Life Stories" put on by the Coquitlam Public Library intended to raise awareness of people who are from marginalized groups and how they have experienced prejudice, social exclusion or stigma.

In this presentation James Miller and David Webster from posAbilities Employment Services talk about their work in the community and the advantages of having an inclusionary workplace.

posAbilities is the product of four community living societies merging in 1998 under the new name of Mainstream Association for Proactive Community Living. The fifth organization, an autism treatment center called Laurel House, joined the Association in 2002. The merger was prompted by the agencies being small and scattered across a large geographic area and the effectiveness of some programs operating as stand-alone services being called into question.

In 2010, the Association chose a new name, posAbilities, a contraction of the word positive (pos) and abilities. This name reflects our focus on diversity and the abilities of all persons served. The change marked a departure from the prevailing view of prior years, which included normalizing or mainstreaming people to fit into existing social structures. We view diversity as an asset that strengthens our communities, as inclusion means that no one is left behind or excluded.

Legislative changes play an important part. The Accessible Canada Act, passed in 2019, is an significant step toward creating a barrier-free Canada. However, there are so many other ways we can all work toward creating more inclusive communities. If you are curious about how you can engage your business to create a healthier, more productive and profitable business? posAbilities can provide interactive workshops and in-services to businesses in the Tri-Cities community at no charge. For more information check out www.posabilities.ca