NON-PROFITS
Inclusion Saskatchewan
Choices. Opportunity. Inclusion. Life should offer these things – to all of us. Inclusion Saskatchewan is a non-profit association working to make this vision a reality for individuals with intellectual disabilities across Saskatchewan.
Formerly the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living, we changed our name to Inclusion SK in 2018 to reflect the greatest desire of the people we support: to be valued, supported and included members of our society.
We have come a long way in the 65 years since Dr. John Dolan decided his daughter had a right to an education, and with other parents, founded our association to achieve his goal of education for all. About 23,000 people in Saskatchewan have an intellectual disability, and many still encounter barriers to living a full life in the community. Inclusion SK connects people to available supports and develops solutions to systemic problems that affect people who have intellectual disabilities, in areas ranging from income support, education, health, housing, justice, and employment, and transitioning from high school to adult life. We invite you to discover the power of inclusion by coming to an Inclusion Tour, a one-hour lunch-and-learn event offered monthly in our Saskatoon office. RSVP at https://www.inclusionsk.com/getinvolved.
Age-friendly Communities: Everyone Wins Age-friendly cities are great places to “grow up and grow old.” The City of Saskatoon received the Age-Friendly Recognition Award from the Province of Saskatchewan on December 3, 2019. The award recognizes communities that take sustainable actions to become age-friendly. Led by the Saskatoon Council on Aging [SCOA], the Age-Friendly Saskatoon Initiative [AFSI] aimed for community change to establish Saskatoon as an age-friendly city. The City collaborated with the project and implemented key recommendations. AFSI has many success stories. SCOA’s health and wellness programs such as SCOA Globe Walk and Seniors Neighbourhood Hub Clubs emerged from AFSI recommendations. Due to the contributions of older adult volunteers, the project changed community conversations about growing older in Saskatoon. Society must adjust its attitudes towards aging for change to happen. Growing older should be viewed as a natural part of life, not a liability. Older adults stay healthier 22 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
and happier when they participate in the community and connect with others. Staying active, engaged and informed supports positive aging and improves quality of life for everyone. That is what SCOA’s work is
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all about. The Saskatoon Council on Aging promotes positive aging for all in an age-friendly community. To find out more visit scoa.ca.
