Inclusion Lethbridge

🌿☀️ What a wonderful afternoon at Nature Play Fest! ☀️🌿

Last Saturday, Inclusion Lethbridge was thrilled to be part of Nature Play Fest at Henderson Lake Park. Families from across our community came together to explore, play, connect, and enjoy the outdoors.

At our booth, participants took part in a fun duck pond activity, shared lots of smiles and laughter, and learned more about the work we do to build a more inclusive community where everyone belongs.

A big thank you to the organizers, volunteers, community partners, and all the families who stopped by to visit us. Events like Nature Play Fest remind us how important it is to create spaces where children, families, and community members of all abilities can come together, have fun, and build connections.

We loved being part of this fantastic community celebration and are already looking forward to next year!

📸 Here are a few highlights from the day.

Course: Understanding AISH & ADAP
Free in-person and online options available

Are you, a family member, or someone you support navigating changes to AISH and ADAP? This free educational opportunity may help.

The Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton Region is offering Understanding AISH & ADAP, a plain-language course designed to help participants better understand:
• Eligibility requirements
• The application process
• What to expect after applying
• Income reporting requirements
• Budgeting and financial management strategies

📅 Multiple sessions are available from June through August
💻 Offered online via Zoom and in person in Edmonton
💲 Free for people with disabilities, caregivers, family members, and support workers

To register or learn more, contact [email protected].

As many individuals and families continue to seek information about the transition from AISH to ADAP, we are sharing this resource in the hope that it provides helpful information and support.

If you or someone you support is navigating AISH and ADAP right now, this might help.

CMHA-Edmonton is offering a free, plain-language course called Understanding AISH and ADAP. It covers eligibility, the application process, what to expect after applying, and practical strategies for income reporting and managing budgets.
Multiple dates through June - August, in person in Edmonton and online via Zoom.
It is free and open to people with disabilities, caregivers, and support workers.

To register, contact CMHA-Edmonton at [email protected]
We're sharing this because the gaps we've heard about in the comments deserve real resources where they exist. We hope this provides some answers.

Our Inclusion Lethbridge Gala would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of our community partners, local businesses, organizations, and individual supporters who donated items, experiences, and services to our Silent Auction.

Because of your kindness, our guests had the opportunity to bid on an amazing collection of items while helping raise vital funds that support inclusion, belonging, advocacy, and opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities and their families throughout our community.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Pattison Media Ltd., Ability Resource Centre, Lethbridge Centennial Quilters Guild, Snap-on, Prince of Wales Hotel, the Tanner Family, the Hanna Family, Rob Miyashiro, Sue Manery ,Avail CPA, Crystal Springs Cheese., BILD - Lethbridge, Galt Museum & Archives, Lethbridge Bulls Baseball Club Go To Girl Solutions, , Geomatic Attic, Graze & Sip, Prim Health and Beauty Ltd., Analog Books Inc, HVAC Doctor and many more!

Your generosity demonstrates the strength of our community and the shared belief that everyone deserves to belong, contribute, and thrive. Every donation, large or small, helped make our Gala a tremendous success and will have a lasting impact on the individuals and families we serve.

From all of us at Inclusion Lethbridge, thank you for investing in a more inclusive community. We are deeply grateful for your support and partnership.

A Night of Belonging: Thank You, Lethbridge

What an extraordinary evening. As we begin to sift through the photos, video's and memories of last Saturday...

On behalf of everyone at Inclusion Lethbridge, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to every person who joined us for our Spring Gala. Together, we celebrated something truly powerful: a community where everyone belongs, everyone is valued, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The stories shared throughout the evening reminded us why inclusion matters. We heard about challenges overcome, barriers broken, friendships formed, and lives transformed when people are welcomed not just into the room, but into the heart of their community. The inspiring presentation by Katrina Neil and Kaleb Neil touched everyone in attendance, illustrating how belonging can change the course of a life and create opportunities that once seemed impossible.

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, donors, and community partners whose generosity made this event possible. Your support helps create programs, advocacy initiatives, and opportunities that empower individuals and families throughout our region. Your investment in inclusion strengthens our entire community.

To our guests and attendees, thank you for believing in our mission and for showing up with such enthusiasm, compassion, and commitment. The energy in the room was a powerful reminder that Lethbridge is a community that cares deeply about ensuring every person has the chance to participate, contribute, and succeed.

We also want to recognize the incredible volunteers and staff members who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. From months of planning and preparation to the countless details that made the evening run so smoothly, your dedication, professionalism, and passion were evident in every aspect of the event. The success of the gala is a direct reflection of your hard work and commitment.

We were honored to welcome community leaders, educators, advocates, families, and supporters from across our city. From celebrating recipients of the Betty Grigg Inclusive Education Award to hearing stories of resilience, achievement, and connection, the evening showcased the very best of what inclusion can look like in action.

As we reflect on this year's gala, we are filled with gratitude and hope. The conversations, connections, and shared experiences of the evening reaffirmed that inclusion is not simply an idea—it is something we build together every day.

Thank you for helping us create a community where every person is welcomed, respected, valued, and celebrated.

We look forward to continuing this important work alongside all of you. Together, we are building a more inclusive Lethbridge.

🌟 National AccessAbility Week | May 31 – June 6 🌟

This week, we celebrate the contributions, achievements, and leadership of Canadians with disabilities while recognizing the importance of creating communities where everyone can fully participate.

Accessibility is about more than ramps and automatic doors. It's about ensuring people have equitable opportunities to learn, work, connect, contribute, and belong. It means removing barriers—physical, social, attitudinal, and systemic—that prevent people from reaching their full potential.

At Inclusion Lethbridge, we believe that accessibility benefits everyone. When we build communities that are accessible and inclusive, we create spaces where all people can thrive, share their gifts, and be valued for who they are.

As we recognize National AccessAbility Week, we invite our community to consider one simple question:

💡 What can each of us do to make our workplaces, schools, organizations, and neighbourhoods more welcoming and accessible for everyone?

Together, we can continue building a community where inclusion is not the exception—it is the expectation.

A heartfelt thank you to Chief Mehdizadeh for joining us at the Inclusion Lethbridge Gala on Saturday evening.

We were deeply honoured to have your presence as we celebrated the power of community, belonging, and inclusion. Your words about creating a community where everyone belongs, everyone is valued, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive reflect the very vision that drives our work every day.

Partnerships and support from community leaders help strengthen the message that inclusion is not just an aspiration—it is a shared responsibility. Your attendance demonstrated a commitment to recognizing the contributions, talents, and potential of people of all abilities, and we are grateful for your support.

Thank you for standing alongside Inclusion Lethbridge and helping champion a community where everyone has the opportunity to participate, contribute, and flourish. Together, we continue building a more inclusive Lethbridge for all.

As we count down to Saturday’s Inclusion Lethbridge Gala, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible sponsors and community champions helping make this unforgettable evening possible.

Your generosity, belief in inclusion, and commitment to our community help create opportunities, connection, and belonging for individuals and families across Lethbridge.

Thank you to:

94.1 CJOC - Lethbridge 98.1 The Ranch98.1 .com
Tracey Dumonceau & Kristin Brown – The Power of More of More Real Estate Team
Reside Custom Builders
National Salvagel Salvage
Crossings Dental
BDI Play Designs Inc.
Westminster Liquor
Southern Irrigation
Prairie Cedar

Because of your support, Inclusion Lethbridge can continue empowering and celebrating people of all abilities. We are so grateful to have you alongside us for this special night. 💙

📢 The Government of Alberta has launched an ADAP Estimator tool.
While this is not a comprehensive assessment, it may be helpful for individuals, families, and service providers who are trying to better understand how the proposed Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) changes could affect them.

We also encourage our community to read advocacy perspectives and plain-language breakdowns of the proposed changes. Zachary Weeks has shared an informative blog discussing this calculator for ADAP, and concerns being raised by the disability community, and what these changes could mean for Albertans with disabilities.

🔗 Read Zachary Weeks’ blog here:
https://www.zacharyweeks.ca/blog/aish-adap-calculator

As always, we encourage individuals and families to review information carefully, ask questions, and stay informed as discussions around disability supports continue across Alberta. 💙

AISH and ADAP Benefit Estimator Released in Alberta | Zachary Weeks — Zachary Weeks The Government of Alberta has released the new AISH and ADAP benefit estimator. Learn what the tool includes, what it leaves out, and what disabled Albertans should know.

📣 Have You Applied for FSCD? CBC Wants to Hear From Families.
CBC Calgary has launched a survey for families who have applied for Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD). Whether you’re currently waiting for support or have already navigated the process, your experiences matter.
For many families, timely access to services can make a significant difference — yet there is very little publicly available information about wait times and barriers to accessing support. This survey is an important opportunity to help shine a light on the realities families are facing across Alberta.
🗣️ Your voice can help inform public awareness and future conversations around disability supports.
📱 Scan the QR code in the image below to complete the survey before June 5.
Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with families, caregivers, and community members who may want to participate. 💙