“Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.”
International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 2021
The advent of COVID-19 has brought about a very new and extremely different world – a world that was not expected and one where we are now required to adapt, adopt, and think more on our feet. We are now forced to look more through our wind shields and less through our rear-view mirrors in this world. There must be a greater effort to include accessibility, inclusiveness, and sustainability.
The time is right for Ontarians with disabilities to lead the way. How? By encouraging and motivating all stakeholders to commit to greater and meaningful communication, cooperation, collaboration, engagement, and participation.
Advocacy is not for the faint of heart, as we are all aware. However, we can overcome our reticence if we are able to foster strong leadership – Leaders who will be willing to push the envelope when it comes to raising our voices and reaching out to broaden our influence and be a greater part of the decision-making process.
We – Ontarians with disabilities – must start to invest in building a more meaningful future both for ourselves and for our children. We can only do this if we are able to convince members of our own communities that strong leadership is necessary to make things better. Hoping is not enough; we need to act now!
This is a call for experience and youth to come to the table so we can shape our roadmap together!
- Donna Jodhan, CWDO Board Member