Community Inclusion Project

Update on Indigenous & Multicultural Outreach
Voice of Albertans with Disabilities continues to strengthen relationships with Indigenous and multicultural communities across Alberta. Through community presentations, outreach meetings, and pop-up information sessions, VAD is working to reduce barriers and improve access to disability related information and supports.

Our outreach focuses on building trust, listening to community needs, and providing culturally respectful, accessible information. This includes offering plain-language resources, multilingual materials, and one-to-one support for individuals navigating programs such as AISH, CPP-Disability, the Disability Tax Credit, and the Canada Disability Benefit.

VAD remains committed to working alongside community partners to ensure people with disabilities from diverse cultural backgrounds feel welcomed, informed, and supported. Outreach activities will continue throughout the year, with additional community visits and collaborations planned.

Language-First, Accessible Materials
VAD is committed to using language-first, accessible materials that respect individual identity, culture, and lived experience. We strive to share information in clear, plain language and offer materials in multiple formats whenever possible.

Our approach recognizes that language matters. Using respectful, inclusive wording helps reduce barriers, build trust, and ensure information is understandable and accessible to everyone. VAD continues to work with community partners to adapt resources so they are culturally appropriate, easy to navigate, and responsive to diverse communication needs.
VAD works to make information easy to understand and easy to access for everyone. We know that clear communication helps people feel more confident and supported when navigating disability-related services.

We do this by:
Using plain language instead of technical or legal wording
Providing translated materials when possible
Using visuals, such as images and simple graphics to explain information
Adding QR codes that link directly to forms, resources, and supports online

These approaches help reduce barriers, support different learning styles, and ensure people can access information in ways that work best for them.

Culturally Respectful Support
VAD is committed to providing support that is culturally respectful, inclusive, and responsive to the diverse communities we serve. We recognize that experiences of disability are shaped by culture, language, family, and community, and that trust is built through listening and understanding.

Our team works alongside Indigenous and multicultural community partners to ensure supports are delivered with care, respect, and cultural awareness. This includes adapting communication styles, offering language-appropriate resources, and meeting people where they are—both literally and culturally.

By centering respect and relationship-building, VAD strives to create safe, welcoming spaces where individuals feel heard, supported, and empowered to navigate disability-related services.