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World Down Syndrome Day #WDSD2026 Message #2 from LiveWorkPlay: Being part of a workplace helps people build relationships, earn an income, and take part in everyday life at home and in the community. Citizens with Down syndrome belong EVERYWHERE in our communities, including every type of workplace. --- The 2026 World Down Syndrome Day theme, “Together Against Loneliness,” focuses on raising awareness of how loneliness disproportionately affects people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, as well as their families. It highlights that loneliness is not just an emotional feeling but a serious health issue that can lead to anxiety, depression, and physical harm, often linked to social exclusion and stigma. The campaign calls for real inclusion in schools, workplaces, and communities, emphasizing that being present does not equate to being included or truly connected. It stresses that everyone - individuals, families, organizations, schools, employers, and governments - has a role in creating welcoming spaces and meaningful relationships to help people feel they belong. Ultimately, the theme frames loneliness as a human rights issue, urging collective action to turn the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into concrete change that ends isolation and promotes full participation in society. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has an extra partial (or whole) copy of chromosome 21. It is not yet know why this syndrome occurs, but Down syndrome has always been a part of the human condition. It exists in all regions across the globe and commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, physical characteristics and health. Adequate access to health care, to early intervention programmes, and to inclusive education, as well as appropriate research, are vital to the growth and development of the individual. --- In December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly decided, with effect from 2012, to observe World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March each year. In order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome, the General Assembly invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner.

World Down Syndrome Day #WDSD2026 March 21 Message #1 from LiveWorkPlay: Our world is better when people with Down syndrome are valued as full citizens, contributing to and benefiting from shared opportunities as part of diverse, welcoming, and inclusive communities. --- The 2026 World Down Syndrome Day theme, “Together Against Loneliness,” focuses on raising awareness of how loneliness disproportionately affects people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, as well as their families. It highlights that loneliness is not just an emotional feeling but a serious health issue that can lead to anxiety, depression, and physical harm, often linked to social exclusion and stigma. The campaign calls for real inclusion in schools, workplaces, and communities, emphasizing that being present does not equate to being included or truly connected. It stresses that everyone - individuals, families, organizations, schools, employers, and governments - has a role in creating welcoming spaces and meaningful relationships to help people feel they belong. Ultimately, the theme frames loneliness as a human rights issue, urging collective action to turn the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into concrete change that ends isolation and promotes full participation in society. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has an extra partial (or whole) copy of chromosome 21. It is not yet know why this syndrome occurs, but Down syndrome has always been a part of the human condition. It exists in all regions across the globe and commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, physical characteristics and health. Adequate access to health care, to early intervention programmes, and to inclusive education, as well as appropriate research, are vital to the growth and development of the individual. --- In December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly decided, with effect from 2012, to observe World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March each year. In order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome, the General Assembly invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! 💚 Lá fhéile Pádraig sona duit! Thank you Janet and Stephen for this photo from your condo party!

On International Women’s Day, LiveWorkPlay celebrated the achievements, leadership, and contributions of women and girls, including trans and gender-diverse people, in our community. While important progress has been made toward gender equity, the rights and opportunities women have fought for must continue to be protected and advanced. In Canada, women still earn on average about 89 cents for every dollar earned by men, and women with disabilities face additional and compounding barriers. They are less likely to be employed than women without disabilities or men overall, more likely to experience poverty, and are about twice as likely to experience violent victimization as women without disabilities. These inequities affect opportunities for independence, safety, and full participation in community life. At LiveWorkPlay, we see every day how access to employment, friendships, and community participation can help address these barriers. Our work supports people with intellectual disabilities as they pursue meaningful employment, build relationships, and live with greater independence in the community. We are also proud that women play a leading role in our organization, making up the majority of our staff, volunteers, and board members. Today we celebrate the women in our community and recommit to building a more inclusive and equitable society where everyone can participate fully and safely. #IWD2026

It's hard to believe that it has already been more than 8 years since Frances Laube started work at DOW Honda and was featured in a 2018 video series by @HIREforTALENT at the time Frances was a member of the reception team. The latest news is that Frances is now in a clearical position in an office next to the sales team! Today when LiveWorkPlay Co-Leader Keenan Wellar accepted the invitation to stop in, Frances was busy processing expense receipts. "It's great to have an office and being able to focus on my work, but I also love that I am right in the action with customers checking out the amazing vehicles on the floor" said Frances. "I can see what you mean, this is definitely a cool spot, congratulations on your new role and such a long career!" said Keenan.

The first quarterly meeting of the LiveWorkPlay Federal Employment Strategy Group for 2026 started with a moving commentary from volunteer chair Mary Gusella, acknowledging the many changes in the federal public service. Within the context of these challenging times, the meeting was as energetic as always, including impromptu success stories and a presentation of 3 candidates. Special thanks to our friends at Gateway Association gatewayassociation.ca for their contribution! There was a moment of gratitude and some time to celebrate the launch of "Beyond Job Coaching" liveworkplay.ca/2026/01/22/bey… a reminder about Make A Buzz Ottawa on April 17 canadahelps.org/en/charities/l… and the @casecanada conference which is in Ottawa this year, and LiveWorkPlay has just been approved as a presenter (hosting a discussion panel) June 9-11 supportedemployment.ca/training-and-e…

The LiveWorkPlay News dropped in to Value Village (Merivale) because LiveWorkPlay member Jalynn Plaus is celebrating her 19th work anniversary today! She actually started her career journey at the old location on Clyde Avenue, first on the recycling team, and then on the merchandising team, before moving to her current position as a cashier. From what we saw today, this is one of the hardest cashier jobs around, with customers often arriving with dozens (sometimes many dozens!) of items of all shapes and sizes. Jalynn navigates every situation like the pro that she is - cheers to Jalynn and to Value Village! 👏 👏

When Ontario passed Bill 9, the Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week Act, in 2021, Mark Blumberg of Canadian Charity Law remarked: “If I could think of a hundred things the Ontario non-profit sector needs, the Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week Act would not be one of them.” He did add: “On the plus side, this could be a focal point for organizing some events that show appreciation for the non-profit sector.” Five years later, it’s still hard to point to significant policy or funding changes that truly demonstrate appreciation for the nonprofit sector. It’s been a rough ride. Some of our cherished friends and allies have had to close programs or close their doors entirely. Those challenges are real, and we are facing them. But we’re also feeling appreciated. And deeply grateful. Grateful for the individuals we have the honour of supporting. Grateful for their families and friends. Grateful for our incredible volunteers. Grateful for our community and employment partners who make this work possible. We don’t really need a week dedicated to appreciating us, because our favourite thing to do is appreciate all of you. That’s what our annual community recognition event, Make A Buzz Ottawa (April 17), is all about. We offer discounted tickets to make it accessible for everyone. If you’d like to join us in celebrating community, connection, and the people who make inclusion real, we’d love to see you there: canadahelps.org/en/charities/l…

Terrific presentation by Krista Carr, these are clips from her @InclusionCA testimony to the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights regarding “Employment Equity in the Federal Public Service” from 9 Feb 2026 @LiveWorkPlay is referenced 3:05​-3:25​ of the video.

Do @LiveWorkPlay Friday Night Meetups shut down when it's cold out? Not at all! Check out this crew enjoying Winterlude on a gorgeous and somewhat crisp evening! @NCC_CCN @NCC_Skateway

A big shout out to The @HeartofOrleans BIA Networking Lunch! Relationship building is at the core of our work LiveWorkPlay and we are always working to build and establish new employer connections. Inclusion Specialist Jen Broad attended a wonderful and welcoming The Heart of Orléans BIA Lunch that was catered by one of our employer partners Meatings Barbecue. Some wonderful new connections were made and Jen also ran into a former colleague from 20 years ago! Thanks also to @OrleansBoatWorl for hosting and guest speaker Eric Deschamps for some wonderful insights on "getting clear on your why" - what an awesome event!

Our second federal priority is inclusive housing and deinstitutionalization. Federal housing dollars still fund congregate, segregated models that isolate people with disabilities and violate Canada's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Canada has no national plan to exit institutions and fund portable, individualized supports. Read more about what we're asking regarding this priority: inclusioncanada.ca/resource?view=…

We are proud to share “Beyond Job Coaching” a new three-part eLearning series by LiveWorkPlay developed in partnership with Ready, Willing and Able. The course is FREE! This series grew out of the lessons we’ve learned over multiple decades to support long-term success for jobseekers with intellectual disabilities and autistic individuals. Each 10-minute module features practical steps and real-world strategies for delivering inclusive employment outcomes. Explore the series: bzbz.ca/beyondjobcoach… Part 1: The Limitations of Traditional Approaches Part 2: Building a Sustainable Employment Supports Model Part 3: Implementing Inclusive Employment Strategies @InclusionCanada @casecanada @odenetwork The Inclusive Workplace is an initiative of Ready, Willing and Able, a partnership of the Autism Alliance of Canada and Inclusion Canada. This work is made possible by the generous support of the Government of Canada’s Opportunities Fund.

Community Living Ontario and Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) have just released "Still Tangled in Red Tape, a 2025 Review of the Impact of Ontario’s Employment Services Transformation on Disability-Focused Service Providers and Job Seekers with Disabilities" The full report is an easy read at less than 20 pages, including appendices, and features survey results presented in graph format, leading towards this conclusion: "Disability employment service providers have been ringing the alarm about problems with Integrated Employment Services for going on three years now. Now that the SSM model has been implemented across the province, we need to face the fact that the model is not working for job seekers with disabilities and the organizations that support them." READ THE FULL REPORT: communitylivingontario.ca/wp-content/upl… @InclusionCA @o_n_n @AllianceAutism @vraie_idea @first_work

Reminder: applications for the Canada Disability Benefit are open! We’ve prepared a short info sheet on how to apply: inclusioncanada.ca/wp-content/upl… We continue to work to raise the benefit to an adequate amount. In the meantime, if you are eligible, we encourage you to apply. More information on the application process: bit.ly/405idkA

Last week Naim Abdallah became a member of @MovatiAthletic fitness club, and he's planning to work out there three times a week! Daniel from Movati Orleans gave Naim a personal tour and expertly answered all his questions. We don't have photos from inside as it's a no-photo zone, but Richard Foster, a member of the @LiveWorkPlay Community Supports Team, was able to capture the moment with this iconic shot of Naim under the Movati Athletic welcome sign. Naim has already completed mutliple workouts!

Congratulations to LiveWorkPlay member Gillian Gillespie who peformed last night in the Kenny Hayes Summer Showcase of music students. There were about 10 performers and 30 guests on hand to take in this joyous occassion! Gillian played two songs that she dedicated to her grandmother who passed away ❤️🎼 🎶 🎹

You won’t miss out forever by waiting to apply, but if you complete your application before June 30 and you are approved, you will begin receiving payments in July (according to Accessible Canada). canada.ca/en/services/be… The maximum benefit is $200 per month. Please note that Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is exempted as income for Ontario Disability Employment Support payments. In other words, your $200 from the CDB will NOT be clawed back (deducted) from your ODSP payment. To learn more and to apply (scrolling down will get you to the APPLY button) please click here. LiveWorkPlay can help you with your application - we just want to make sure we are not duplicating what family member or others might be doing - so please reach out to your primary staff connection and let them know if you want our help. canada.ca/en/services/be…

For generations, many Indigenous groups and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on June 21 or around that time of year because of the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year. National Indigenous Peoples Day was announced in 1996 by then Governor General of Canada, Roméo LeBlanc. This day has been celebrated as a statutory territorial holiday in the Northwest Territories since 2001 and in Yukon since 2017. The design represents each Indigenous group with a distinct symbol: the eagle for First Nations, the narwhal for Inuit, and the fiddle for Métis. The different colours symbolize the four elements of nature: earth, water, fire, and air. These elements show the deep connection Indigenous cultures have with the natural world. A stream of colourful smoke flows through the design, reminding us of Indigenous spirituality and reflecting the rich diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. Smoke is a significant symbol in Indigenous cultures. It can come from smoking fish and meat, burning sage and tobacco, and it plays an important part in sacred ceremonies and celebrations.

At the @REDBLACKS home opener, it was also the opening day for Sean Lim (starting his job with @tdplace_Levy for the first time ever) and Veronica Anderson, who just started her third season! They were at the RedBlacks home opener on June 13th working the concessions on the @TD_Place north side stands (pictured, bottom). In the photo (top) they are with their supervisor Charlotte.