Skills Society

We're hiring! We are looking for a part-time, permanent Manager of Fund Development and Engagement to lead and grow our fund development area. Details and how to apply are in the Indeed link and PDF. https://lnkd.in/gXFgBVZU

Exciting Announcement! We're thrilled to introduce you to The Belonging Project, a collaboration between the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta and Skills Society. Led by our very own Paige Reeves part of her PhD work with the SHIFT Collective Research Lab at Dalhousie University and the Family and Disability Research Collaborative at the UofA, this initiative explores how belonging shows up in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and what supports it. Explore the project and learn more at: https://lnkd.in/gdjuxDES You can watch the webpage for updates as more publications, reports, and tools are released in the coming months. We'll also share them here as they are ready. #BelongingProject #InclusiveCommunities [The first image features The Belonging Project Logo, with the project name in black above a continuous line depicting three figures in yellow, blue, and pink. The second image displays black text stating "A Research Partnership between Skills Society and the University of Alberta," with Skills Society highlighted in pink and University of Alberta in blue. Behind the text, the same three figures from the logo appear in low opacity. The third image shows black text reading "Exploring the conditions, actions, and processes that support belonging in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities," with the word "belonging" highlighted in yellow. The background carries over from the second image in low opacity.]

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for our 2024 Annual General Meeting! It was a fantastic evening filled with connection, community stories, reflections on the past year, and discussions on leadership. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who attended - the people we serve, their families, our dedicated staff, community allies, and generous donors. A special thanks to CommuniTEA Van for the community building; Brian and Anthony for MCing; Dianne for her inspiring keynote; Brittany, Geneva, Devon, and Michelle for sharing their leadership stories and calls to action; and to many others who contributed their time and talents to bringing the event to life! #DisabilityAdvocacy #Gratitude #Belonging #Community #EngagedCitizenship [The first image shows three people gathered outside around a table set up in front of a colourful van. The van has a mural featuring silhouettes of people and houses. One person is sitting in a chair on the left. Another person, standing with their back to the camera, is pouring a drink. The third person is seated on a stool on the right, facing away from the camera. The table has large beverage dispensers and various supplies. The second image shows Anthony and Brian, standing at a podium on a stage speaking into microphones. Brian is wearing a light-colored suit jacket, while Anthony is slightly obscured behind him. The backdrop features a large projector screen. Colorful gift bags are arranged on a table to the right of the stage. The third image shows Dianne standing at a podium giving a speech. The screen behind her displays the title "We Are All Leaders: (Re)thinking Leadership." She appears engaged, using hand gestures to emphasize her points. The fourth image shows a display board titled "Leave a Message" set up on a table. The board encourages attendees to leave messages about leadership. There are several colourful speech bubbles with quotes about leadership. A vintage-style telephone is placed in front of the board, along with markers and a mug for collecting written messages. There are also postcards with handwritten messages and drawings displayed on the board.]

July is Disability Pride Month! This month, we celebrate the strength, diversity, and achievements of the disability community. It’s a time to raise awareness, foster acceptance, and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities. By sharing pride and stories, amplifying voices, or advocating for rights, together, we create more inclusive and equitable communities. #DisabilityPrideMonth #InclusionMatters #SkillsSociety [The first image has a dark grey background colour. In the center-left, the text "Disability Pride Month" is written in large, white letters. Below and to the right, the text "July 2024" appears in smaller white letters. The logo for "Skills Society" is in the top-right corner in white. A colourful, intertwined ribbon design runs diagonally from the top-right to the bottom-left, featuring green, blue, white, yellow, and red stripes. The second image has a dark grey background with coloured illustrations of speech bubbles and human silhouettes, partially transparent, scattered throughout. The text in the center reads: "Each July, Disability Pride Month invites us to celebrate and honour the achievements, contributions, and diversity within the disability community. This month-long observance is an opportunity to raise awareness, foster acceptance, and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities." The third image has a dark grey background with coloured illustrations of speech bubbles and human silhouettes, partially transparent, scattered throughout. The text in the center reads: "Disability Pride Month is inspired by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, a landmark law that guarantees rights and protections for people with disabilities. This month, we celebrate the progress achieved and acknowledge the ongoing efforts needed to ensure equity for all." The fourth image shows the Disability Pride flag. The flag features a black background with diagonal stripes in five different colours. The text in the center of the image reads: "The Disability Pride flag, with its black background and vibrant diagonal stripes, symbolizes the diverse experiences and identities within the disability community."]

🔥 possible with our humanized case management tool MyCompass Planning www.mycompassplanning.com

This Friday we commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day to honour the history, heritage, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Canada. For generations, Indigenous communities have celebrated their culture and heritage around June 21, the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. National Indigenous Peoples Day, announced in 1996, emerged from the collective calls of Indigenous groups for a day of celebration and recognition. At Skills Society and Action Lab, we recognize the privilege of working on lands where Indigenous peoples have dreamed, created, and taken care of one another since time immemorial. We are committed to a continuous journey of learning about reconciliation and being better treaty relatives. Join us in celebrating and learning. Check out the link in our bio for local events celebrating Indigenous histories, heritage, and people. #NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay #NIPD2024 #NIHM2024 #Reconciliation #SkillsSociety [The image features a white background with the text "National Indigenous Peoples Day" where the word "Day" is in pink. Below the text is the hashtag #NIPD2024. "June 21" is displayed prominently in a vibrant gradient of yellow, orange, and red. The design includes symbols such as a yellow eagle, a purple narwhal, and a green and pink fiddle. In the top left corner, there are three circular icons, each containing an abstract design of an eagle, a narwhal, and a fiddle. Additionally, a colourful burst of pink, orange, and yellow adorns the top right corner.]

Eid al-Adha Mubarak! Wishing all celebrating a joyous Eid al-Adha. May your celebrations be filled with happiness, peace, and the company of loved ones. #EidAlAdha #CommunityTogether [Image shows a vibrant yellow table set against a blue wall, with an ornate archway revealing a white background. On the table, a dark navy pot holds flowers that extend into the archway. At the bottom left corner, dark navy text reads "Eid al-Adha Mubarak!"]

June marks Brain Injury Awareness Month to raise awareness about the prevalence of acquired brain injury, the systemic barriers faced by survivors of brain injuries, and the need for more supports, services, and research. We encourage our Skills community to wear green on June 20th to show support and raise awareness 💚 You can support Brain Injury Awareness Month by following Brain Injury Canada/Lésion Cérébrale Canada donating, and/or amplifying the voices and stories of survivors of acquired brain injury. For more information about brain injury visit www.braininjurycanada.ca. #BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth #BIAM [The first image features an abstract, continuous blue line drawing of a brain in the bottom left corner. Large dark navy text reads "Brain Injury Awareness Month," with smaller blue text below that reads "June 2024." The second image displays large dark navy text that reads, "Did you know that in addition to providing support to adults and children with developmental disabilities, Skills Society also supports adults with acquired brain injury?" The phrase "acquired brain injury" is highlighted with a light blue overlay. In the bottom right corner, a blue abstract line extends off the page into the next image. The third image displays large dark navy text that reads, "Our Acquired Brain Injury program supports participants with rehabilitation, accessing resources and services, relationship building, and establishing connections in the community." The words "rehabilitation," "resources and services," "relationship building," and "connections" are highlighted with a light blue overlay. In the left corner, the blue abstract line from the second image continues into this one.]

🌈 Happy Pride Month! 🌈 The month of June is a time to celebrate and commemorate 2SLGBTQIA+ people and communities’ joy, resilience, and history 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ Pride month is a reminder each year that we need to continue to advocate for the right to diverse sexuality and gender expressions, and the right to access safe and inclusive communities and spaces. This Pride season, we continue to celebrate and are grateful for the many contributions of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community members. Head to the link in our bio to view a message from Skills Society's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee that shares a bit about the 2SLGBTQIA+ Rights Movement, Pride events taking place in Edmonton, and resources from disability and 2SLBGTQIA+ communities. #Pride #PrideMonth #CelebrateDiversity #YEGPride [Image of a series of abstract, rainbow-coloured lines that frame the text "Happy Pride Month" in the center]

Happy National AccessAbility Week! National AccessAbility Week (May 26 to June 1, 2024) is a time to celebrate and promote accessibility and inclusion. This year's theme, "Forward Together: Accessibility and Inclusion for All," resonates deeply with our commitment to fostering a more inclusive community where everyone is valued and belongs. At Skills Society, we believe that everyone deserves equitable opportunities and access to a barrier-free Canada. We commemorate the valuable contributions and leadership of people with disabilities across Canada, the dedicated work of self-advocates, allies, organizations, and communities that are breaking down barriers, and our collective ongoing efforts to create a more accessible and disability inclusive Canada. #AccessAbilityWeek #InclusionMatters #DisabilityRights