10/24/2022
At Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador banquet tonight, Inclusion Canada President Robin Acton provided the 'keynote' address to the participants and inspired them with some of her own personal family's story, challenges and celebrations.
Some highlights of her inspirational and moving address tonight:
"My family’s inclusive life path has shaped who we are as a family. We all have had our lives changed by our understanding of belonging, of being valued, of contributing, and of the very nature of love. We have also all felt the sting of rejection and discrimination. In our darkest hours it has been our deep commitment to inclusion that has literally saved us.
"Because, as I have just explained, that life wasn’t expected nor assumed. If we, as individuals, as families, and as organizations aren’t actively working to make sure those negative assumptions and values judgements become history, we will be fighting to save lives instead of building them. We need to work towards a society where all lives are valued and having a disability is not equated to having a life not worth saving."
"History shows us that the only way to achieve the significant social change we desire is through a movement. The previous movements I referenced were all sparked, and or sustained by a story. It is through telling our story that we can build a movement."
"The work of movement building is yours, every one of you. If we want society to change, we have to change it. The work of movement building happens every day in everyday places. Each one of us can help raise public consciousness by taking the opportunities presented to us each and every day wherever we live."
"We need to tell our stories and appeal to others to join us in our quest to create communities, provinces, a country where everyone belongs so that my daughter and my family and you and your families never have to worry that the life of someone they love is not seen as equally worthy and that the skills and talents of people with an intellectual disability are appreciated and celebrated in every community in this country." - Robin Acton
