LiveWorkPlay

06/04/2026

Ali Wilcox started her new role today as an Ottawa Safety Council Crossing Guard. With her previous work experience in daycare and school settings, this role was a great match for Ali, who is a natural connector and loves being out in her community. She was able to secure a post in her own neighbourhood, so she walks to work, then helps everyone else on their pedestrian commute to work or school.

Ali really wanted to make sure she had a good understanding of her assigned intersection so she has been stopping by in the morning to observe the flow of traffic and chat with the reserve crossing guard. Congrats Ali, your community is so lucky to have you as their new crossing guard!

06/04/2026

English below. Français ci-dessous. ⬇️

As part of National AccessAbility Week, LiveWorkPlay was pleased to participate in an information fair hosted by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.

Inclusive Employment Specialist Robert Olsen represented LiveWorkPlay, sharing information about our work and connecting with employees and managers interested in workplace inclusion and accessibility.

Events like this remind us that disability is not a single experience, and accessibility is not a single issue.

Throughout the event, Robert had the opportunity to connect with colleagues from several organizations, including Foundation Mira, whose work supports people who are blind or have low vision through guide dogs and other services.

Accessibility is often discussed in terms of ramps, elevators, captioning, accessible technology, and other important accommodations. But accessibility is also about understanding the diverse experiences of people with disabilities and creating communities and workplaces where everyone can participate and contribute.

Thank you to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Foundation Mira, and all of the participating organizations for helping create opportunities for learning and dialogue during National AccessAbility Week.

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Dans le cadre de la Semaine nationale de l’accessibilité, LiveWorkPlay a eu le plaisir de participer à un salon d’information organisé par Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada (ISDE) et l’Office de la propriété intellectuelle du Canada (OPIC).

Le spécialiste en emploi inclusif Robert Olsen représentait LiveWorkPlay, en partageant de l’information sur notre travail et en échangeant avec des employés et des gestionnaires intéressés par l’inclusion en milieu de travail et l’accessibilité.

Des événements comme celui-ci nous rappellent que le handicap ne se résume pas à une seule réalité et que l’accessibilité ne se limite pas à un seul enjeu.

Tout au long de la journée, Robert a eu l’occasion de rencontrer des représentants de plusieurs organismes, dont la Fondation Mira, dont le travail soutient les personnes aveugles ou ayant une déficience visuelle grâce à ses chiens-guides et à d’autres services.

On parle souvent d’accessibilité en termes de rampes d’accès, d’ascenseurs, de sous-titrage, de technologies adaptées et d’autres mesures essentielles. Ces éléments sont importants. Mais l’accessibilité, c’est aussi comprendre la diversité des expériences vécues par les personnes en situation de handicap et créer des milieux de travail et des communautés où chacun peut participer et contribuer pleinement.

Merci à Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada, à l’Office de la propriété intellectuelle du Canada, à la Fondation Mira et à tous les organismes participants d’avoir contribué à créer des occasions d’apprentissage et de dialogue pendant la Semaine nationale de l’accessibilité.

06/04/2026

As we celebrate National AccessAbility Week , many of the conversations about accessibility are focused on physical and technological barriers. This is extremely important, because removing those barriers almost always results in a better experience of inclusion for everyone, whether those barriers relate to mobility, sight, hearing, communication, or accessing information.

But accessibility is also about having opportunities to be welcomed and contribute to community life, develop and pursue new interests, and build friendships.

This photo was taken at a recent LiveWorkPlay Friday Night Meetup at Color Me Mine, where (left to right) Zhenni Du, Liz MacPherson, and Janet Balcome spent the evening painting, sharing conversation, and enjoying a creative night out together.

Inspired by the global Meetup movement, Friday Night Meetups (there are multiple simultaneous meetups every Friday) supported by LiveWorkPlay are built around a simple idea: people with and without disabilities want opportunities to connect with others through shared interests and authentic community experiences.

Too often, people with intellectual disabilities face barriers not only to employment, housing, and transportation, but also to friendship, recreation, and community life.

National AccessAbility Week is a reminder that accessibility is about more than getting through the door.

It's about belonging.

06/04/2026

On 2 June 2026, Jen Broad was invited to represent LiveWorkPlay in making a special National AccessAbility Week presentation to OCOBIA – Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas - representing 18 Business Improvement Areas across Ottawa through advocacy, collaboration, and shared resources (https://ocobia.org/).

The presentation focused on practical strategies to make hiring, onboarding, and training processes more inclusive and accessible. It was encouraging to learn that many organizations already had strong inclusive practices in place and were eager to explore additional ways to foster accessibility and inclusion in their workplaces.

A key takeaway from the session was that creating a more inclusive workplace does not require perfection. It is about small, intentional changes, that can have a meaningful impact and support progress over time.

Special thanks to Michelle Groulx for organizing the session!

06/04/2026

With Open Future Learning – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

Thanks for sharing CASE - Canadian Association for Supported Employment

For 31 years and counting, LiveWorkPlay has helped the community welcome and include people with intellectual disabilities, autistic persons, and individuals with a dual diagnosis to live, work, and play as valued citizens.

06/04/2026

Another cool photo to go with this United Way East Ontario - Centraide de l'Est de l'Ontario blog about LiveWorkPlay and DHL Express

“This job has changed my life. I’ve met some wonderful people that I can relate to and talk to. I just love coming to work.” 💙

Percy, who lives with autism and learning disabilities, is thriving at DHL Express thanks to our partnership with LiveWorkPlay.

During , we’re celebrating inclusive workplaces and partnerships that create opportunities for everyone.

Read the full story: https://www.unitedwayeo.ca/news-and-stories/percy-is-thriving-through-the-power-of-inclusive-employment/....

« Cet emploi a changé ma vie. J’ai rencontré des gens formidables avec qui je peux m’associer e discuter. J’adore venir travailler. »

Percy est atteint d’autisme et a des difficultés d’apprentissage, mais, grâce à notre partenariat avec LiveWorkPlay, il occupe un emploi enrichissant chez DHL Express, à Ottawa.

Lire l’article : https://www.centraideeo.ca/nouvelles-et-recits/percy-sur-la-voie-de-la-reussite-grace-a-des-pratiques-dembauche-inclusives/

06/03/2026

On May 26th and May 28th, LiveWorkPlay Inclusive Employment Specialist Joëlle Perrier-Olsen was a guest speaker at the Canadian Innovation Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace, which serves the Federal Public Service, managed by Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED).

She presented a 2-part virtual webinar in both official languages on Creating Inclusive Workplaces to highlight the National AccessAbility Week (NAAW).

Over 600 participants gained practical insight into why employment disparities persist, how intentional inclusion strategies rooted in neuroscience can improve individual and team performance, and what concrete steps public servants can take to foster meaningful inclusion. The sessions drew on LiveWorkPlay’s extensive experience and research-informed practices. It offered attendees shared language, practical tools, and proven strategies to support behaviour change, helping teams create environments where all employees - and especially those most often excluded - can thrive.

06/03/2026

The Ottawa Hoarding Response Coalition (OHRC) is a collaborative community initiative formed under the leadership of Options Bytown (Options Housing) and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in Ottawa.

https://www.ottawahoardingresponse.ca/

LiveWorkPlay has been contributing to the project since its inception, with Maggie Dimock and Grace Hudson representing the LiveWorkPlay team throughout 2025 and 2026.

The coalition focuses on addressing hoarding issues in Ottawa, particularly among tenants with low incomes. Our coalition unites community service providers, landlords, mental health professionals, and individuals with lived experience to develop and implement effective strategies for hoarding intervention and support.

The site features resources, events, guidance, and connections: "When people experiencing hoarding challenges get the support they need, it helps them stay in their housing and proactively prevent homelessness."

Congratulations to all concerned on this important initiative and the launch of the website!