posAbilities

About a year ago, I went with my good friend Minna Van (The Network Hub) on a really long walk around the Commercial and Venables area. We walked by the offices of posAbilities and ever since, I’ve wanted to write about this wonderful charity. I found out about the Wide Angle Media Festival 2012 recently (which is I think a product of KickStart, the Society for Disability Arts and Culture), and thus the direct connection with posAbilities made me think that I hadn’t written about this fantastic organization.

We are committed to building and participating in a community where all persons are welcomed and where all members are valued for who they are and for the contributions they make. This is the vision of an inclusive community — a place characterized by diversity, hospitality, belonging and respect. Persons with developmental disabilities have historically been excluded from our society and segregated into institutions. This has weakened our communities because it has deprived us of the richness of their perspectives and abilities. It has also deprived us of the beauty of their friendship. Inclusion creates a better, stronger and safer community.

We are also committed to persons with disabilities having and exercising the same rights to self-determination as other citizens. To be selfdetermining means that one has control over one’s life and future—and this includes the right to make decisions about where one lives and how one lives. This is essential to self-esteem, meaning and hope. This is essential to quality of life.

Our services are guided by a set of core values that describe how we work with persons served, families, community partners and each other. They are a part of all that we do, and a reminder of the “heart” that is in our work. A strong set of values ensures that our organization can continue to evolve with the changing needs of our persons-served.

I grew up in a household where we were taught by my parents that anybody with a disability can also be capable of being functioning in society, given the right circumstances and support, and I am a firm believer and supporter in organizations that empower people with different capacities (I’ve written about KickStart and the Developmental Disabilities Association before). I encourage you to learn more about posAbilities, follow them on Twitter and on Facebook.

Learn more about posAbilities through their Annual Report video: