Skills Society: Supporting the Citizenship of People with Disabilities

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Skills Society: Supporting the Citizenship of People with Disabilities

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We support people with disabilities, their families, and communities. Skills Society supports people with disabilities, their families, and communities.

Through day-to-day services and innovative projects, we work to help people with disabilities experience meaningful lives as valued citizens. Many people with disabilities live on the margins of our communities, often in isolation, and are not offered the same opportunities most citizens are afforded. Skills Society provides support services to children and adults with developmental disabilities, survivors of acquired brain injury, and their families. Communities benefit when people with disabilities are provided stable, individually tailored services, housing and support. When people are supported to realize their full potential, they can contribute their skills, knowledge and gifts to the mosaic of talents and personalities that make our communities strong and healthy.

10/10/2026

October 10 is World Mental Health Day. It’s a day to recognize the importance of mental health and the role that access to support can play in people’s lives.

Mental health looks different for everyone, and knowing where to find support can make a difference. If you or someone you know is looking for mental health resources, CMHA Edmonton Region has a list of supports here: https://edmonton.cmha.ca/find-help/

[A dark navy image with large white text reading “World Mental Health Day” and handwritten text above it reading “October 10 is…” In the lower right, a teal and yellow illustration shows the profile of a person with a fingerprint pattern forming their head. A teal line loops through the background and around the illustration.]

09/30/2026

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

We remember the children who never returned home and honour Residential School Survivors, their families, and communities.

Skills Society and Action Lab are located in amiskwaciwâskahikan, on Treaty 6 territory and within the Métis Nation Homeland. This has been a place of gathering, relationship, and care for Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial.

Truth and reconciliation asks us to reckon with the history of this place and with the ongoing impacts of residential schools. It also asks us to think about how we show up in relationship with one another and with the land.

Today, we remember. We listen. And we keep learning what that responsibility looks like in our own work and community.

[Image on a textured orange background, with white icons of an eagle, a narwhal, and a beaded flower. Text reads: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.]

09/24/2026

Skills Society is part of developing The Belonging Toolkit, an interactive training experience designed to help community disability support workers think more deeply about belonging and their role in creating opportunities for it.

The toolkit is being co-designed with support workers and people with intellectual disabilities, with content being developed, tested, and refined through feedback from people working and contributing to the project.

The first exploration, “What Does It Mean to Belong?”, focuses on helping support workers reflect on their own experiences of belonging before considering how those ideas might apply to the people they support.

Read the full blog post to learn more about the toolkit, the co-design process, and what we’re learning as the project develops:
https://www.skillssociety.ca/news/the-belonging-toolkit

This work is generously funded by the Alberta Disability Workers Association and supported by Occupational Therapy students from the University of Alberta.

[In the first image, a group of people sit in the Action Lab during a workshop. Large, colorful shapes overlay the photo with the text “The Belonging Project” and “The Belonging Toolkit,” along with the project’s logo.

In the second image, the Belonging Project logo appears above text explaining that the project is a research partnership between Skills Society and the University of Alberta. The text describes research into the conditions, processes, and actions that support opportunities for belonging for people with intellectual disabilities.

In the third image, text introduces the Belonging Toolkit as an interactive training resource designed to help workers reflect on belonging and how it can be fostered in meaningful, individualized ways. Photos show printed workshop materials and a hand-drawn diagram exploring relationships, community, and belonging. Additional text explains that the toolkit contains eight explorations that move from reflection to action and is being co-designed with community disability support workers and people with intellectual disabilities.

In the fourth image, text explains that the first toolkit exploration has been developed and tested with managers and frontline support workers, with further development and testing planned with service providers across Alberta. A group photo shows Paige Reeves standing with OT students Hayley, Emily, Danielle, and Jada, all smiling outdoors. The image also directs readers to the Skills Society website for more information about the Belonging Toolkit and the Belonging Project.]

09/22/2026

In our Skills Society 2026 Annual Report, we reflect on what we will not let go of as we navigate change and uncertainty.

Written collaboratively by Skills Society leaders, this article explores the values, relationships, and commitments that help keep people at the centre of our work. It asks what is worth carrying forward and why protecting belonging, citizenship, and the pursuit of a good life matters now more than ever.

Read the full article, "What We Will Not Let Go Of," on page 36 of our Annual Report here: https://www.skillssociety.ca/news/what-we-will-not-let-go-of

[In the image, large textured white text reads “What We Will Not Let Go Of” across a coral-to-teal gradient background. Along the bottom is a black-and-white photo of four people sitting close together, smiling at the camera with their arms around one another.]

09/20/2026

We’re back to spotlight another Shout Out Wall monthly draw winner and valued member of our Skills community!

Meet Ian Chakawata (he/him):

Ian values supporting people with disabilities to work toward their goals, build independence, and participate in their communities. For him, engaged citizenship means being involved in the community, supporting others, and creating opportunities for inclusion and belonging.

Outside of work, Ian enjoys gaming and all things information and technology.

Thank you, Ian, for the work you do to support people in pursuing their goals and being part of their communities!

[A image featuring a quote from Ian that reads, “Supporting people to achieve their goals, build independence, and be part of their communities.” Below, Ian is identified as an employee at Skills Society. On the right is a black-and-white photo of handwritten “Staff Shout Out” notes displayed on a wall.]

09/09/2026

In our Skills Society 2026 Annual Report, Acting Executive Director Rebecca Cruthers reflects on navigating change, holding onto what matters, and building the path forward together.

Rebecca shares thoughts on leadership during times of transition, the importance of belonging and inclusion, and how Skills Society continues to adapt while staying grounded in its values and vision.

Read the full article, "Executive Director 2026 Report," on page 30 of our Annual Report here: https://www.skillssociety.ca/news/executive-director-2026-report

[The image has a light background with large black text reading “Executive Director Report.” A yellow abstract line pattern fills the background. In the bottom right corner, two smiling people stand with their arms around each other’s shoulders.]

09/01/2026

The 2026 DEAM IDEA Conference is coming up this October, bringing employers, HR professionals, business leaders, and innovators from across Alberta together to talk about inclusive employment and what it can look like in practice.

Hosted by the Alberta Employment First Network, the conference will include keynote speakers with lived experience, a conversation about the duty to accommodate, examples of employers outside the disability sector doing inclusive employment well, and a look at mentorship as a tool for career exploration.

There’s a lot packed into the program, with plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, and take some ideas back to your own workplace.

The conference runs October 6–8 at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Learn more and get your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2026-deam-idea-conference-tickets-1987060863533?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

[The image is a graphic for the 2026 DEAM IDEA Conference, hosted by the Alberta Employment First Network. The upper portion of the image has teal italic text reading “Presented by the Alberta Employment First Network.” Large navy text below reads “2026 DEAM IDEA CONFERENCE". A yellow rounded rectangle across the middle reads “Oct 6–8, 2026 | Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.” The lower portion of the image has a teal gradient background with navy text reading: “Join employers, HR professionals, business leaders, and innovators from across Alberta for a day focused on inclusive employment.”]

08/25/2026

In our Skills Society 2026 Annual Report, we reflect on what we are learning from the Community Animation Service and what it means to build community in new ways.

The article explores how housing can be more than a place to live, and how relationships, connection, and resident leadership can help create a stronger sense of belonging. It shares lessons from the first year of the Community Animation Service, including what worked, what changed, and what we are continuing to learn as the work evolves.

Read the full article, "Building the Path by Travelling It: The Community Animation Service as a Living Example," on page 40 of our Annual Report here: https://www.skillssociety.ca/news/building-the-path-by-travelling-it-the-community-animation-service-as-a-living-example

[In the image, large distressed black text reads “Building the Path by Travelling It” across a light beige background. Yellow looping lines weave behind the text and across the page. In the lower left, serif text reads “The Community Animation Service as a Living Example.”]

08/23/2026

A big thank you to the local businesses and orgs who helped make this year’s Skills Society Summer Picnic a little more special!

We’re grateful to Kind Ice Cream for donating a gift card, Edmonton Elks Football Club for a jersey, Edmonton Riverhawks for hats and bracelets, and The Crusty Hermit for donating charcuterie boards for our prize draw for people we serve and our frontline staff.

And thank you to the NOW! Trucksicle for stopping by the picnic and serving up popsicles for everyone to enjoy!

Thanks for helping make the day such a fun one for our community.

Want to see more from this year’s picnic? Read the full blog post and see more photos here: https://www.skillssociety.ca/news/skills-society-summer-picnic-2026

[In the first image, an illustrated Skills Society Summer Picnic poster is attached to the facade of a building. The poster shows people gathered together at a picnic surrounded by greenery.

In the second image, Rebecca stands outside with a microphone as she presents the donated picnic prizes to Skills community members gathered around her.]

08/19/2026

We had a great day at this year’s Skills Society Summer Picnic! From the BBQ and lawn games to face painting, music from our DJ, and tea served up by CommuniTEA Infusion Project there was lots to enjoy.��It was a beautiful day spent together, and we’re already looking forward to next year!

We’ve put together a blog post with more photos and a look at this year’s picnic. Read it through it here: https://www.skillssociety.ca/news/skills-society-summer-picnic-2026

[A series of photos capturing the joyful moments from the Skills Society Summer Picnic 2026. The images show Skills community members enjoying the event in an outdoor park setting. Some community members holding up cute emoji-based signs.]

Address

#203, 10408 124 Street
Edmonton, AB
T5N1R5

Telephone

+17804969686

Website

http://www.linktr.ee/skillssociety

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