The Williams Lake Association for Community Living is asking the community to help celebrate Community Living Month with them.
Support worker and self advocate advisor Laura Klassen says the free event they have planned Wednesday is to try and have other people from the community participate to bring awareness of the fact we’re celebrating Community Living, and awareness of the fact that we still need to make some changes to society to make sure that there is always inclusion in our communities.
Klassen adds that although she believes the Lakecity does quite well in some areas, it would be nice to see more in the area of work.
“There is quite a few people that have an intellectual disability and they are quite capable of coming and working. I think what happens is sometimes people think if someone has an intellectual disability they’re unable to work or don’t need to work.”
This is the 19th year that Community Living Month has been acknowledged by the Province. Klassen says although Community Living Month has been celebrated since 2002, raising awareness has been around since the 1950’s when parents whose children were not being included in schools and education wanted to see change.
Wednesday’s celebration to mark Community Living Month in Williams Lake takes place from 11am until 2pm at the Longhouse with a pizza lunch starting at noon.