Community Living Ontario

They nurture our gifts and possibilities, moving inclusion forward
Friday June 8, 2012 -- Kristian Partington

It’s quite humbling when a respected organization takes the time to take notice of the work you do, so this week has been especially nice with the recognition we, at Axiom News, received from Community Living Peterborough and Ottawa’s LiveWorkPlay.

I was fortunate to be able to attend LiveWorkPlay’s Engine’s of Success Recognition Banquet last night where I accepted an award for excellence in media on behalf of the team here at Axiom. The day before, my friend Deron Hamel was honoured by Community Living Peterborough in the same way.

As I consider what this means, I consider the power of the written word — the whole “pen is mightier than the sword” type of thing.

As a storyteller and a generative journalist with Axiom News, I regularly write stories from within the movement towards a more inclusive society where everyone is afforded the opportunity to live their lives reaching for their highest potential.

Community Living Ontario has been a loyal client for a number of years and we’ve had the opportunity to dive deep into the strength of the inclusion movement through regular interviews with leaders, families, advocates and champions.

We also recognize there are a great many challenges, hurdles and obstacles that remain; a major one being the perceptions and stereotypes that still cloud the vision of so many people when they’re confronted with the concept of intellectual disability.

I like to think this is where we come in, as it's my greatest hope that the words we write will help chip away at these stereotypes and alter the false perceptions that so many people still hold onto.

Words are indeed a powerful force and when used poorly they can, at a minimum, reinforce the negative and at their worst, incite hatred.

But they can also nurture the gifts and possibilities within the hearts of all of us. In the case of our work within the developmental services sector, they highlight the compassion, dedication and perseverance of those who tirelessly fight for the rights of their loved ones and strangers alike to be fully accepted and included in their communities.

I never tire of sharing these stories, writing these words and talking to these people who I admire so much. It’s a good place to be, and I’m honoured to be a part of the team as we accept the kind recognition from within the sector we serve.

If you have questions or comments, feel free to contact 800-294-0051, ext. 24, or e-mail kristian(at)axiomnews.ca. .