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October 28, 2025
EmpowerNL members, we invite you to our monthly Peer Support Activities! These sessions are a great way to meet other members, have fun, and learn skills that help you live more independently.
We want to know what topics and activities you would like to see at these gatherings. Please help us by filling out a short questionnaire with your feedback.
- Deadline: The form will be available until Saturday, November 1, 2025.
- Prize: Fill out the form to be entered into a draw to win a Tim Hortons Gift Card!
- Who can attend? To join the Peer Support Sessions, you must be a Voting Member of EmpowerNL.
Click the link to share your ideas: EmpowerNL Member Peer Support Activities Form
October 27, 2025
A big congratulations to our Garden Committee on another successful season! 🌿
Last week’s harvest was a great success — and our accessible garden beds made it possible for everyone to take part.
Our garden allows for people of all abilities to come together to enjoy gardening – from planning to planting, tending to harvesting – we learn, share community and enjoy being outdoors.
October 15, 2025
We asked, you answered! Our report, What We Heard: Accessible Public Transportation, shares real feedback from people with disabilities and their ideas for making public transportation more accessible for all.
Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences. Let’s keep the wheels of change moving!
What We Heard – Accessible Public Transportation Report (2.5Mb)
Special thanks to our Advocacy Services team, along with our Social Work students, for all their efforts in making this report a reality.
October 14, 2025
With NEW award categories!
This year, EmpowerNL’s Board has been working hard to review and refresh our annual award categories to ensure they better reflect our community, recognize a wider range of achievements, and celebrate the many ways people and organizations contribute to inclusion and accessibility.
The annual IL Awards are presented at our International Day of Persons with Disabilities Celebration, Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025.
The award categories are:
Members Award for Independent Living
For a member of EmpowerNL who is active in Centre activities and community events and leads by example for other Members of EmpowerNL.
Independent Living Young Leader Award
For a young person with a disability, under 30 years of age, who has raised awareness and shown outstanding leadership in promoting full inclusion of people with disabilities in NL. Minimum of 5 years.
Business Award for Independent Living
For a business who has displayed an innovative approach and achieved substantial outcomes in supporting the full inclusion of people with disabilities in areas such as employment, transportation, housing, communication and technology.
Seniors Award for Independent Living
For a member of EmpowerNL who is above the age of 55 and is actively engaged in Centre activities and community events. This recipient leads by example and mentors other members in community engagement.
Community and Social Inclusion Award for Independent Living
For a person, team, community organization, or group of individuals who has worked towards a more inclusive environment by creating opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in areas such as sports, the arts, education, recreation, and involvement in the wider community.
🎉We want to celebrate people and organizations making our community more inclusive — send in your nomination today!💙
Nomination Form – 2025 IL Awards
NOMINATION DEADLINE: Friday, November 14, 2025
October 8, 2025
Are you a job seeker with a disability? Have you ever thought about working in the Tourism sector?
We are hosting a Tourism Career Connections gathering to talk about opportunities for employees with disabilities in the Tourism Industry.
Date and time: Thursday, Oct. 30th, 2025 from 1:30pm to 3:00pm
Location: EmpowerNL, 4 Escasoni Place, St. John’s
If you’re interested in the Tourism industry and you’re looking for work, let us help you make the connection! ✈️
September 23, 2025
EmpowerNL’s Annual Report for 2024-2025 is now available at the link below.
EmpowerNL Annual Report 2024-2025 (2,840 KB)
As a reminder, our AGM will be held virtually TOMORROW evening.
For details and registration please see Annual General Meeting Notice
September 7, 2025
It’s incredible important to start teaching our kids about disability! But how do we do that, especially if we don’t feel like a “disability expert” to begin with?
Start with finding common ground! Point out shared interests. Talk about common feelings. By finding shared qualities that our children have with a child with disabilities, it not only helps children bond and create friendships, it helps our kids see disabled people as individuals.
A second way to teach children about disability is to use inclusive language.
It is commonly suggested to use person-first language (“person with a disability” rather than “disabled person”) to show respect for the person – however many people with disabilities prefer identity-first language (“autistic person” rather than “person with autism”) – so we recommend to simply ask the person what they prefer, if possible.
It’s also important to avoid stereotypes, stigma and other ableist terminology. With kids, gently correcting misinformation or hurtful statements and teaching that these statements can cause someone to feel sad or excluded is a great way to not only help kids learn but to foster empathy and inclusion.
Another way to help kids learn about disability is to nurture empathy and curiosity.
Providing a safe space for kids to be interested and ask questions not only allows for disability education but lets them know that it is okay to be curious about difference.
Using books and media to tell positive and real stories about different people with disabilities can allow kids to learn about assistive devices, similarities and differences in daily life and interests they may share.
And finally, another great way to teach kids about disability is to promote kindness and inclusion.
Teach children not to point or stare at a person with disabilities and to use kind words when speaking to them. Encourage genuine friendship by teaching your child to ask before offering help to a disabled child – this teaches respect for the autonomy of the child with a disability.
And most importantly, as the adult, step in immediately if you see teasing, bullying or exclusion and let the child know that this behaviour is unacceptable!
August 29, 2025
What is intersectionality and why is it important?
Intersectionality means that social identities like race, gender, age, sexual orientation, geographic location and financial status are connected and that when they overlap in a person’s life, they can create extra challenges or discrimination.
Intersectionality can significantly impact a person’s experience of their disability by creating unique challenges and barriers at the intersection of multiple social identities.
When we understand how different types of discrimination are connected, we can break down the systems that cause these disadvantages and create a more fair and inclusive society where everyone’s experiences matter.
Beginning with Gender, women with disabilities often face a double burden of discrimination, experiencing sexism and ableism. This can manifest as barriers to healthcare, employment, and participation in society.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity can cause 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals with disabilities to face unique challenges due to homophobia, transphobia, and ableism. This can include discrimination in healthcare, housing, and other essential services.
Further intersections with disability are Race, Ethnicity and Religious Beliefs.
People with disabilities from racial, ethnic and religious minority groups may experience compounded discrimination due to both racism/religious intolerance and ableism. This can lead to disparities in access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
Two more forms of intersectionality with disability are Socioeconomic Status and Age.
Individuals with disabilities who also live in poverty may face additional barriers to accessing essential resources like healthcare, transportation, and assistive technology. This can create a cycle of poverty and disability, further limiting opportunities.
Ageism can intersect with disability, leading to negative stereotypes and assumptions about the abilities of both older adults and young people with disabilities. This can impact access to services, employment, and social participation.
Another two types of intersections with disability are Geographic Location and Culture/Language.
People with disabilities in rural or remote areas may experience limited access to specialized healthcare, support services, and transportation. This can further exacerbate the challenges associated with disability.
Disabled people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds may face additional barriers due to language differences and cultural misunderstandings. This can impact access to healthcare, education, and social services.
So why is Intersectionality important?
Because disability doesn’t exist in isolation.
People with disabilities also have identities connected to race, gender, culture, language, sexual orientation, and more. All of these parts of who we are shape our experiences in the world.
When policies and practices ignore these intersections, some voices get left out — and inequality grows. But when we take them into account, we can create a society that is fairer, more inclusive, and responsive to the real needs of people with disabilities.
Because inclusion means seeing the whole person. 💙
August 13, 2025
Current Alerts:
Municipalities:
Prepare:
Health Services:
Evacuation:
(Please note that everyone who evacuates under an official Evacuation Order MUST register with the Canadian Red Cross.)
July 28, 2025
Travelling can be challenging at the best of times, but even more so if you use mobility aids such as a wheelchair or walker. And while planning ahead is important, it’s also great to know what to do if things go wrong during your travels! 🛬
The Canadian Transportation Agency (Canadian Transportation Agency) can help with any accessibility-related questions you may have. They cover all national public transportation such as ferries, busses and trains as well as international airplane travel. And should you find yourself needing assistance in another country it is best to contact their Canadian Embassy for support. 🍁
So what should you do if your transportation provider doesn’t return your mobility aid in the same shape as the beginning of your journey?
✈️Take photos of your aid before and after travel – this can help if you need to file a damage claim
✈️Complete a damage claim where you receive your mobility aid – at the plane, train, bus or ferry terminal – and give it to your transport provider before you leave the building
If your mobility aid is damaged beyond use, lost or not returned to you in a timely fashion, your carrier must:
🚋Reimburse you for any expenses incurred
🚋Provide you with a temporary aid that meets your needs
🚋Arrange a repair, provide a suitable replacement or reimburse the cost of your aid
You can also visit the Canadian Transportation Agency site for support through their claims resolution services.
