LiveWorkPlay.ca 🐝 @LiveWorkPlay

youtube.com/watch?v=-Q-5Nm… If you haven't yet heard the big news!!!

Get your copy! institutionwatch.ca/the-right-way/ In 2010, the People First of Canada and Inclusion Canada’s National Task Force for Deinstitutionalization wrote a guide called The Right Way. This was a “guide to closing institutions and reclaiming a life in the community for people with intellectual disabilities.” The guide was welcomed by people and organizations in Canada who were fighting to close institutions across the country. Since then, The Right Way has been used by governments and organizations all over the world. It has been used to make sure that institutions are closed and done so in the right way – with support for people and in consultation with residents moving into the community. Over the last year, the Task Force has been working on updating this guide. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing a new version for people to use. The guide will include quotes, photos and updated information to help with closing institutions of all sizes. The guide is also being updated visually, with the colours black and yellow used as highlights throughout the document. In the deinstitutionalization movement, the colour black stands for the despair of people who were forced to live in institutions. It is also used to remember those who died while living there. The colour yellow represents freedom and hope for survivors who have left institutions. It is also used to show support for the work of closing institutions to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

Frances and Martin checking in from Little Italy Ottawa and the Ottawa Little Italy Festival 🇮🇹

(Version française ci-dessous) @LiveWorkPlay is excited to be partnering with @GiantStepsQC as part of Project Xenia, a national initiative that is creating more equitable access to employment opportunities for autistic and neurodiverse individuals in the hospitality sector. This June, five people supported by LiveWorkPlay are gaining hands-on experience at the @fairmontlaurier, exploring opportunities in areas including kitchens, housekeeping, and human resources. Over the first few weeks, we have already seen growth in confidence, skills, and workplace experience. Congratulations to Ariana Boyce, Luca Casagrande, Aryana Jusdani, Sean Lim, and Randall Proulx for their hard work and commitment. Thank you to Giant Steps for their leadership in bringing Project Xenia to Ottawa. We would also like to recognize the leadership and staff of the Fairmont Château Laurier. Their warmth, openness, and genuine commitment to inclusion have helped create an environment where people feel welcomed, supported, and valued. Their enthusiastic embrace of Project Xenia is creating opportunities for people to build skills, explore career paths, and gain experience in a world-class hospitality setting. We are grateful for their partnership. #ProjectXenia #InclusiveEmployment #NeuroinclusiveWorkplaces #HospitalityCareers Nous sommes fiers de collaborer avec Giant Steps dans le cadre du Projet Xenia, une initiative nationale qui favorise un accès plus équitable aux possibilités d’emploi dans le secteur de l’hôtellerie pour les personnes autistes et neurodiverses. En juin, cinq personnes soutenues par VivreTravaillerJouer acquièrent une expérience concrète au Fairmont Château Laurier, en découvrant des possibilités de carrière dans différents secteurs, notamment les cuisines, l’entretien ménager et les ressources humaines. Au cours des premières semaines, nous avons déjà pu constater un développement de leurs compétences, de leur confiance et de leur expérience en milieu de travail. Félicitations à Ariana Boyce, Luca Casagrande, Aryana Jusdani, Sean Lim et Randall Proulx pour leur travail et leur engagement. Merci à Giant Steps pour son leadership dans l’implantation du Projet Xenia à Ottawa. Nous souhaitons également souligner la contribution de l’équipe de direction et du personnel du Fairmont Château Laurier. Leur chaleur humaine, leur ouverture et leur engagement sincère envers l’inclusion ont contribué à créer un environnement où les gens se sentent accueillis, soutenus et valorisés. Leur adhésion enthousiaste au Projet Xenia crée des occasions pour les personnes de développer leurs compétences, d’explorer des parcours professionnels et d’acquérir de l’expérience dans un établissement hôtelier de calibre mondial. Nous leur sommes reconnaissants de ce précieux partenariat.

(English follows) La semaine dernière, VivreTravaillerJouer a conclu une série de trois formations développée et animée au cours des trois derniers mois dans le cadre d’un projet de recherche mené par l’équipe du HUMAlab de @CollegeLaCite. Destinée aux employeurs, cette initiative portait sur l’inclusion en emploi des francophones ayant un handicap invisible, notamment les personnes ayant une déficience intellectuelle et les personnes autistes. Joëlle Perrier-Olsen, spécialiste de l’emploi inclusif chez VivreTravaillerJouer, a animé les séances portant sur les concepts et approches inclusives en milieu de travail. Nous sommes reconnaissants d’avoir eu l’occasion de collaborer avec l’équipe du HUMAlab de La Cité dans le cadre de ce projet important. --- Last week, LiveWorkPlay concluded a three-part training series that was developed and delivered over the previous three months as part of a research project led by the HUMAlab team at La Cité. Designed for employers, the initiative focused on the inclusion of Francophones with invisible disabilities in the workforce, particularly people with intellectual disabilities and autistic people. Joëlle Perrier-Olsen, an Inclusive Employment Specialist with LiveWorkPlay, facilitated the sessions on inclusive workplace concepts and practices. We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the HUMAlab team at La Cité on this important project. #InclusiveEmployment #WorkplaceInclusion

Scott MacLellan Receives the Phillip Emmerson Award for Employment Excellence, Presented by the Canadian Association for Supported Employment | Scott MacLellan reçoit le prix Phillip Emmerson pour l’excellence en emploi English below | Français ci-dessous Scott MacLellan Receives the Canadian Association for Supported Employment Phillip Emmerson Award for Employment Excellence (June 10, 2026, in the Ballroom at The Westin Ottawa) Presented by Phillip Emmerson: It is my pleasure to present the Phillip Emmerson Award for Employment Excellence. This award recognizes an outstanding individual who has made significant contributions to the promotion of full citizenship and personal capacity for persons experiencing disability through employment and innovation in the workforce within Canada. Congratulations to the Phillip Emmerson Award for Employment Excellence nominees, Angel Robbins and Scott MacLellan. [Applause.] And the recipient is Scott MacLellan! [Crowd cheering and applause.] Scott has been active in the disability community since his teens, including work with Easter Seals and the Joubert Syndrome Foundation. After years of facing employment barriers, Scott secured a position in the federal public service. He quickly moved up to a communications position in the Deputy Minister’s Office of his department. Scott’s passion for accessibility fuels both his formal work and his contributions as a member of the Workplace Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee, for which he received an award last year. Through advocacy, writing, and public speaking, Scott shares his lived experience in ways that help employers, service providers, and policymakers better understand the barriers and facilitators of workforce inclusion. Please welcome Scott. [Cheering and applause.] Scott MacLellan: Still sinking in. First, thank you all so much for being here. I’d first like to thank LiveWorkPlay. I literally would not be here without their help and support. And then, of course, my family, who are here, and my employers and team within the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. I can’t express enough how grateful I am for that job. It’s given me the opportunity to become more independent and pursue my passions and interests, and for that I am always grateful. So, thank you all again. — Scott MacLellan reçoit le prix Phillip Emmerson pour l’excellence en emploi, décerné par l’Association canadienne de soutien à l’emploi Présenté par Phillip Emmerson : C’est avec grand plaisir que je présente le prix Phillip Emmerson pour l’excellence en emploi. Ce prix rend hommage à une personne exceptionnelle qui a apporté une contribution importante à la promotion de la pleine citoyenneté et du développement du potentiel des personnes en situation de handicap grâce à l’emploi et à l’innovation au sein de la main-d’œuvre canadienne. Félicitations aux personnes mises en nomination pour le prix Phillip Emmerson pour l’excellence en emploi : Angel Robbins et Scott MacLellan. Applaudissements. Et le lauréat est Scott MacLellan! Acclamations et applaudissements du public. Scott est actif dans la communauté des personnes handicapées depuis son adolescence, notamment par son engagement auprès d’Easter Seals et de la Fondation du syndrome de Joubert. Après des années à faire face à des obstacles à l’emploi, Scott a obtenu un poste dans la fonction publique fédérale. Il a rapidement accédé à un poste en communications au sein du Bureau du sous-ministre de son ministère. La passion de Scott pour l’accessibilité nourrit à la fois son travail professionnel et sa contribution au Comité sur l’inclusion, la diversité, l’équité et l’accessibilité en milieu de travail, ce qui lui a valu une distinction l’an dernier. Par son travail de sensibilisation, ses écrits et ses prises de parole en public, Scott partage son expérience vécue afin d’aider les employeurs, les fournisseurs de services et les décideurs à mieux comprendre les obstacles et les facteurs favorisant l’inclusion en emploi. Veuillez accueillir Scott. Acclamations et applaudissements. Scott MacLellan : Je réalise encore à peine ce qui se passe. D’abord, merci infiniment à toutes et à tous d’être ici. Je tiens d’abord à remercier LiveWorkPlay. Je ne serais littéralement pas ici aujourd’hui sans leur aide et leur soutien. Je veux aussi remercier ma famille, qui est présente aujourd’hui, ainsi que mes employeurs et mon équipe à l’Agence canadienne de développement économique du Nord. Je ne saurais exprimer à quel point je suis reconnaissant d’occuper cet emploi. Cet emploi m’a donné l’occasion de gagner en autonomie et de poursuivre mes passions et mes intérêts, et pour cela, j’en serai toujours reconnaissant. Alors, merci encore à toutes et à tous.

The team from LiveWorkPlay was honoured to be the first group of presenters to take to the ballroom stage today at the CASE - Canadian Association for Supported Employment Conference 2026 "From Insight to Action: Driving Equity in Employment." Jen Broad, Anna Nelson, Julie Kingstone, and Keenan Wellar delivered an interactive session to an engaged and supportive audience: "Investing in Relationships and Getting Results: How to Build Long-Term Employment Results." It was a busy day full of opportunities, including the session by @ProjectSEARCHCa. LiveWorkPlay has joined with the @OCDSB and The @OttawaHospital to bring Project SEARCH to Ottawa for the first time, with interns starting their placements in September. This was a great opportunity to learn from experienced partners and have great conversations about youth employment! #31stCASEConference #CASE2026 #SupportedEmployment #InclusiveEmployment

It's time! The Canadian Association for Supported Employment 2026 conference is underway. The LiveWorkPlay employment team is taking full advantage of the conference being hosted in Ottawa, and is also delivering one of the lead-off presentations today at 2pm!

This has been quite a first week since joining The BUSY Group! Kerry Gibb, Chair; Paul Miles, Managing Director; and Stephen Riley, Chief Strategy Officer, joined us online on Tuesday. We couldn't fit the entire LiveWorkPlay staff team on the screen, but this moment captures the vibe very nicely. Energy level ↗️

Welcome to the Project SEARCH Canada community! Are you an employer, advocate, or changemaker? We welcome you to grow your knowledge and your business! Visit projectsearchcanada.ca to learn more about getting skilled, trained workers hired #InclusiveHiring #DisabilityInclusion

Shared from the Ottawa Developmental Services Network (ODSN) Family Forum Committee: Announcing Family Forum 2026! Nov 14, 2026, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Location: Bayview Yards, 7 Bayview Station Rd, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2C5 REGISTER: odsntraining.com/event-details/… Good news: the next edition is just around the corner, and we would be delighted to have you join us. The Family Forum is a unique opportunity to connect with families and dedicated organizations, learn from one another, and build lasting relationships. This year’s program includes: •Employability •Passport Program •Family Networks •And more! Space is limited, so register now. We look forward to seeing you again! The Family Forum Committee.

As part of National AccessAbility Week #NAAW2026, at LiveWorkPlay we're reflecting on an important @StatCan_eng | Statistique Canada report: "Examining Work Potential and Overqualification Among Persons with Disabilities" www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quoti… [Released: 2026-06-04] The report found that 42% of non-working Canadians with disabilities were identified as having "work potential." It also examines the relationship between employment outcomes, overqualification, and disability severity. At LiveWorkPlay, that raises an important question: Are we measuring people, or are we measuring barriers? For decades, disability has often been described using labels such as "mild" and "severe." While these classifications may serve statistical and administrative purposes, they can reinforce a medical-model view of disability that asks "What is "wrong with this person?" rather than "What barriers are preventing this person from participating fully?" At LiveWorkPlay, we have never found these labels particularly useful for understanding a person's potential or helping them pursue employment and other goals in life. A person is not "mild." A person is not "severe." A person has strengths, interests, ambitions, talents, relationships, and support needs. That is true for all people. The report's finding that 42% of non-working Canadians with disabilities have "work potential" raises a fundamental question: Is perceived "lack of potential" really about disability, or is it about inaccessible systems, limited accommodations, transportation challenges, and low societal expectations? Supporting inclusive employment is not about disability labels. It is about removing barriers. Accessibility is not about measuring people. It's about building communities and workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to contribute. #NationalAccessAbilityWeek #NAAW2026 #Accessibility #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveEmployment

Ali Wilcox started her new role today as an Ottawa Safety Council Crossing Guard. With her previous work experience in daycare and school settings, this role was a great match for Ali, who is a natural connector and loves being out in her community. She was able to secure a post in her own neighbourhood, so she walks to work, then helps everyone else on their pedestrian commute to work or school. Ali really wanted to make sure she had a good understanding of her assigned intersection so she has been stopping by in the morning to observe the flow of traffic and chat with the reserve crossing guard. Congrats Ali, your community is so lucky to have you as their new crossing guard!

English below. Français ci-dessous. 📷 As part of National AccessAbility Week, LiveWorkPlay was pleased to participate in an information fair hosted by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Inclusive Employment Specialist Robert Olsen represented LiveWorkPlay, sharing information about our work and connecting with employees and managers interested in workplace inclusion and accessibility. Events like this remind us that disability is not a single experience, and accessibility is not a single issue. Throughout the event, Robert had the opportunity to connect with colleagues from several organizations, including Foundation Mira, whose work supports people who are blind or have low vision through guide dogs and other services. Accessibility is often discussed in terms of ramps, elevators, captioning, accessible technology, and other important accommodations. But accessibility is also about understanding the diverse experiences of people with disabilities and creating communities and workplaces where everyone can participate and contribute. Thank you to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Foundation Mira, and all of the participating organizations for helping create opportunities for learning and dialogue during National AccessAbility Week. --- Dans le cadre de la Semaine nationale de l’accessibilité, LiveWorkPlay a eu le plaisir de participer à un salon d’information organisé par Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada (ISDE) et l’Office de la propriété intellectuelle du Canada (OPIC). Le spécialiste en emploi inclusif Robert Olsen représentait LiveWorkPlay, en partageant de l’information sur notre travail et en échangeant avec des employés et des gestionnaires intéressés par l’inclusion en milieu de travail et l’accessibilité. Des événements comme celui-ci nous rappellent que le handicap ne se résume pas à une seule réalité et que l’accessibilité ne se limite pas à un seul enjeu. Tout au long de la journée, Robert a eu l’occasion de rencontrer des représentants de plusieurs organismes, dont la Fondation Mira, dont le travail soutient les personnes aveugles ou ayant une déficience visuelle grâce à ses chiens-guides et à d’autres services. On parle souvent d’accessibilité en termes de rampes d’accès, d’ascenseurs, de sous-titrage, de technologies adaptées et d’autres mesures essentielles. Ces éléments sont importants. Mais l’accessibilité, c’est aussi comprendre la diversité des expériences vécues par les personnes en situation de handicap et créer des milieux de travail et des communautés où chacun peut participer et contribuer pleinement. Merci à Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada, à l’Office de la propriété intellectuelle du Canada, à la Fondation Mira et à tous les organismes participants d’avoir contribué à créer des occasions d’apprentissage et de dialogue pendant la Semaine nationale de l’accessibilité. #NationalAccessAbilityWeek #NAAW2026 #Accessibility #DisabilityInclusion

As we celebrate National AccessAbility Week #NAAW2026, many of the conversations about accessibility are focused on physical and technological barriers. This is extremely important, because removing those barriers almost always results in a better experience of inclusion for everyone, whether those barriers relate to mobility, sight, hearing, communication, or accessing information. But accessibility is also about having opportunities to be welcomed and contribute to community life, develop and pursue new interests, and build friendships. This photo was taken at a recent LiveWorkPlay Friday Night Meetup at Color Me Mine, where (left to right) Zhenni Du, Liz MacPherson, and Janet Balcome spent the evening painting, sharing conversation, and enjoying a creative night out together. Inspired by the global Meetup movement, Friday Night Meetups (there are multiple simultaneous meetups every Friday) supported by LiveWorkPlay are built around a simple idea: people with and without disabilities want opportunities to connect with others through shared interests and authentic community experiences. Too often, people with intellectual disabilities face barriers not only to employment, housing, and transportation, but also to friendship, recreation, and community life. National AccessAbility Week is a reminder that accessibility is about more than getting through the door. It's about belonging. #NationalAccessAbilityWeek #NAAW2026 #Accessibility #CommunityInclusion #Belonging

On 2 June 2026, Jen Broad was invited to represent LiveWorkPlay in making a special National AccessAbility Week #NAAW2026 presentation to OCOBIA – Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas - representing 18 Business Improvement Areas across Ottawa through advocacy, collaboration, and shared resources (ocobia.org). The presentation focused on practical strategies to make hiring, onboarding, and training processes more inclusive and accessible. It was encouraging to learn that many organizations already had strong inclusive practices in place and were eager to explore additional ways to foster accessibility and inclusion in their workplaces. A key takeaway from the session was that creating a more inclusive workplace does not require perfection. It is about small, intentional changes, that can have a meaningful impact and support progress over time. Special thanks to Michelle Groulx for organizing the session!

Another cool photo to go with this United Way East Ontario - Centraide de l'Est de l'Ontario #NAAW2026 blog about LiveWorkPlay and DHL Express unitedwayeo.ca/news-and-stori…

On May 26th and May 28th, LiveWorkPlay Inclusive Employment Specialist Joëlle Perrier-Olsen was a guest speaker at the Canadian Innovation Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace, which serves the Federal Public Service, managed by Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED). She presented a 2-part virtual webinar in both official languages on Creating Inclusive Workplaces to highlight the National AccessAbility Week (NAAW). #NAAW2026 Over 600 participants gained practical insight into why employment disparities persist, how intentional inclusion strategies rooted in neuroscience can improve individual and team performance, and what concrete steps public servants can take to foster meaningful inclusion. The sessions drew on LiveWorkPlay’s extensive experience and research-informed practices. It offered attendees shared language, practical tools, and proven strategies to support behaviour change, helping teams create environments where all employees - and especially those most often excluded - can thrive.

The Ottawa Hoarding Response Coalition (OHRC) is a collaborative community initiative formed under the leadership of Options Bytown (Options Housing) and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in Ottawa. ottawahoardingresponse.ca LiveWorkPlay has been contributing to the project since its inception, with Maggie Dimock and Grace Hudson representing the LiveWorkPlay team throughout 2025 and 2026. The coalition focuses on addressing hoarding issues in Ottawa, particularly among tenants with low incomes. Our coalition unites community service providers, landlords, mental health professionals, and individuals with lived experience to develop and implement effective strategies for hoarding intervention and support. The site features resources, events, guidance, and connections: "When people experiencing hoarding challenges get the support they need, it helps them stay in their housing and proactively prevent homelessness." Congratulations to all concerned on this important initiative and the launch of the website!

They don't have a lot to say because they think the photo says it all (it is now ten years that Shayna as a member of the LiveWorkPlay Community Supports Team has been helping Gillian with Supported Independent Living) but we did get this quote: "It’s been a fabulous ten years of amazing memories, lots of laughs, and we’re looking forward to many new ones!"