Awareness Advocate Collaborate
Build Awareness of the value that individuals with an intellectual disability bring to our community
Advocate for individuals with an intellectual disability by influencing policies and practices of local government and community organizations to promote inclusion and autonomy for individuals
Collaborate with and influence other Fredericton area community organizations to promote inclusion within community initiatives or activities
Focus on Affordable Accessible Dispersed Housing
Vision for Housing: Adults with a disability are able to access inclusive, affordable, non-congregated housing of their choosing, as well as the supports required to live in that housing and to participate in the community.
Inclusion Fredericton is collaborating with Inclusion Canada, Inclusion New Brunswick, IRIS and L’ARCHE as we advocate on the regional level on behalf of individuals with a disability and their families.
Family Support
Through our partnership with the Inclusion New Brunswick (INB) we have a strong relationship with the Family Support Facilitator, Katie Stiles. Katie assists families and individuals in navigating complex social systems by providing support and advocacy on an individual basis.
Katie is available to answer your questions or provide support in finding the assistance you may need. She also facilitates the Fredericton FUN (Families United Network) and Fredericton SUN (Seniors United Network) groups. Everyone is welcome.
Please contact Katie for more information:
phone: 506-453-4416
toll-free: 1-866-622-2548
email: FSFredericton@nbacl.nb.ca
Family and Community Engagement Networking Forums
Inclusion Fredericton hosts forums with INB and several local non-profits in order to understand the current barriers to inclusion in Fredericton. The forums prioritize common challenges and identify opportunities for progress in the areas of:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Community and Social Connections
- Employment
In 2019 Inclusion Fredericton was invited to participate in the Fredericton Affordable Housing Committee (FAHC). Inclusion Fredericton is eager to gain insight on FAHC progress, how it fits within the National and Provincial housing strategies, and our vision for an inclusive Fredericton.
Books
Based on Irma Penner's own true story, this Inclusion Fredericton Board Member wrote and published the book:
THE RIGHT TO BELONG
The Story of Yvonne
"Yvonne belongs with us!” we firmly told the psychiatrist when he insisted that we place our two-year-old daughter in an institution. To us, Yvonne’s sudden regression meant that she needed us more than ever. We could not abandon her; we could not reject her.
At first we struggled on our own, there were no community supports. Then, together with other parents, we advocated for appropriate supports in the community for children who were labelled “severely mentally handicapped.”
We believed that Yvonne, and children like her, had a right to live at home, had a right to go to school, and had a right to participate in the life of the community. Our vision was shared and supported by some service providers and professionals, but others opposed our views and worked against us.
Yvonne’s story describes both the painful experiences and the joy that she, and we as her parents, encountered as we strove for her right to belong.
~ Author, Irma Penner