BC Summer Institute

On Day 3, the final day of our co-learning experience together, we were honoured to hear an outstanding panel presentation by Krista Milne, Lauren Simpson and Jeevan Basra of the SAS Self-Advocates, supported by UNITI - Semiahmoo House Society.

Krista, Lauren and Jeevan shared their own lived experiences of leadership and advocacy, underscoring the importance of making leadership committees accessible for people with disabilities to be able to self advocate. Our panel offered our audience of educators, administrators and family caregivers excellent advice on how to advance inclusion in schools and communities.

Thank you Krista, Lauren, and Jeevan, for your poignant reminder that when we prioritize inclusion and accessibility, the possibilities truly are endless!!

Today's opening keynote by Karla Verschoor from Inclusion BC took us through key phases of the disability rights movement in BC and Canada. She emphasized that this is not merely the history of the disability rights movement, but the shared history of our country. Thanks to the tireless efforts of countless activists, families, and self-advocates, progress towards justice and inclusion has been made; but the presentation was also a sobering reminder that exclusionary policies and mindsets still continue in society to this day.

Inclusion BC offers Building an Inclusive BC: The History of Disability Rights as a free, self-paced online course.

Register now: https://inclusionbc.org/what-we-do/conference-learning-events/disability-rights-history-bc/

Over the course of three days (and beyond), Partnerships for Inclusive Learning offers a wealth of resources and tools to advance inclusion in our schools and communities. Our organizers, Family Support Institute BC, have a wide range of self-help supports for caregivers and professionals, and our workshop facilitators are sharing valuable learning resources on their specialized areas of expertise.

Today is Day 1 of this year's Partnerships for Inclusive Learning Conference, organized by Family Support Institute BC. And what a wonderful start we've had, with a down-to-earth, relatable, and perspective-widening Keynote presentation on reducing barriers for all learners by Dr Shelley Moore (5 Moore Minutes with Dr. Shelley Moore). Thank you Shelley for the fantastic open!

We look forward to an enriching next three days of deep-dive learning together.

"This was the best conference I have ever been to. I learned things that I know will help me in my role as a teacher. I left this event feeling optimistic and motivated."
- Past attendee

Register until the event date: https://bcinclusivelearning.com/

BC Summer Institute
August 25-27, 2025
Regular pricing - $450
Financial bursaries available

Contact: [email protected]

This valuable learning opportunity could not be possible without our amazing sponsors, each with a strong commitment to dismantling barriers and fostering inclusion within our schools and communities.

CLBC Start with Hi and Stay Connected
Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion (BACI)
Inclusion Chilliwack Society
AiMHi - Prince George Association for Community Living
The HOME Society

BC Summer Institute Partnerships for Inclusive Learning is organized by Family Support Institute BC.

Register until the event date: https://bcinclusivelearning.com/

BC Summer Institute
August 25-27, 2025
Regular pricing - $450
Financial bursaries available

Contact: [email protected]

"This has been an experience of perspective-widening, great growth, and an opportunity to reflect and gain knowledge and feedback that has helped me to become more self-aware and unlearn outdated thinking and discover a whole new world of hope."
- Past attendee

Register until the event date: https://bcinclusivelearning.com/

BC Summer Institute
August 25-27, 2025
Regular pricing - $450
Financial bursaries available

Contact: [email protected]

It's one week til Summer Institute Partnerships for Inclusive Learning, and we are so excited to welcome this year's cohort of teachers, principals, counselors, service providers, parents, and allies!

When we are not intentional about creating safe and inclusive spaces for learning, people miss out.

Policies are written to favour certain types of learners over others...

Classrooms are set up to accommodate certain types of learners over others...

Lessons are planned with certain values, histories, and truths in mind...

Rewards and punishments are given with certain assumptions built in...

..and those with differences cannot participate equitably.

It's time to change that.

Attend BC Summer Institute Partnerships for Inclusive Learning, happening next week, so you can learn how.

Register until the event date:
https://bcinclusivelearning.com/

BC Summer Institute
August 25-27, 2025
Regular pricing - $450
Financial bursaries available

Contact: [email protected]

"Inclusivity can only happen in the presence of emotional safety as people need to feel safe enough to actually be who they are.

They need to feel safe enough to get the support they need without being teased, safe enough to excel without being made fun of.

Children need to feel safe enough to be different from one another without being ostracized"

- Hannah Beach

Hannah Beach, along with Tamara Strijack, will be facilitating Strand 7: Children and Youth are more Anxious, Aggressive, and Shut Down than Ever: What’s Going On? What Can We Do About it?

Learn more and register now:
https://bcinclusivelearning.com/

BC Summer Institute
August 25-27, 2025
Regular pricing - $450
Financial bursaries available

Email us now! [email protected]

"By solving problems collaboratively with your child, you are helping your child build a repertoire of solutions. . .

. .Often it’s assumed that kids with limited communication skills cannot participate in the process of solving problems, but this typically isn’t the case.

If adults automatically assume that such kids can’t participate, then the kids are relegated to the sidelines as decisions are made about how their problems are to be solved."

- Dr Ross Greene

Dr Ross Greene of Lives in the Balance will be facilitating Strand 1: Collaborative and Proactive Solutions - Moving From Power and Control to Collaboration and Problem-Solving.

Learn more and register now:
https://bcinclusivelearning.com/

BC Summer Institute
August 25-26, 2025
Regular pricing - $450
Financial bursaries available

Email us now! [email protected]

"With evidence-based transition practices, we know that all students can lead fully inclusive lives.

Inclusive paid work and post-secondary education are attainable for all.

Unfortunately, in Canada and much of the world, autistic youth and youth with intellectual disabilities do not have access to inclusive post-secondary education or inclusive paid employment.

They are vastly unemployed (upwards of 85% unemployment rates in Canada) and the predominant post-secondary destination is a sheltered workshop or day program."

- Dr Paul Malette

Dr Paul Malette, along with Deborah Simak, will be facilitating Strand 3: An Inclusive Life After High School: Effective Practices for Transition Age Youth.

Learn more and register now:
https://bcinclusivelearning.com/

BC Summer Institute
August 25-27, 2025
Regular pricing - $450
Financial bursaries available

Email us now! [email protected]