Summer at Inclusion Yukon — Inclusion Yukon

It’s been a busy summer at Inclusion Yukon! Over the past few months, we’ve launched new programming, spent time out in the community, welcomed new faces to our team, and continued advocating for more just and accessible systems in the North. As summer begins to wind down, we wanted to share a few updates on what we’ve been up to and some of the ways you can get involved in the months ahead!

Inclusion Yukon team at this year’s Pride Picnic

Programming Updates

Drop-In Respite

This summer, Inclusion Yukon launched a new Drop-In Respite Program in response to a gap we were seeing in short-term respite options in the community. In addition to our Independent Respite Worker Matching Program, which connects families and individuals with respite workers for ongoing support, Drop-In Respite offers another option for adults experiencing disability who are looking for short-term support in a welcoming and inclusive environment. The program provides opportunities for participants to connect, take part in activities, and spend time in the community, while offering caregivers a short period of rest and relief.

Drop-In Respite is open to adults (ages 18+) experiencing disability. The cost is $75 per morning, billed monthly. Please check the dedicated Respite page on our website for the most up-to-date program hours.

The new program has also given us more opportunities to host fun, accessible community activities throughout the summer! So far, participants have joined us for cookie making and decorating, paper kite making and flying, and a Pride Month tie-dye workshop. We’re looking forward to continuing to create more opportunities to gather, try something new, and spend time with one another.

To learn more about our new Drop-In Respite Program and to register, please visit the Respite page on our website.

A moment from our Drop-In Respite Paper Kite Making event

Fireweed Market

You may have spotted Inclusion Yukon at the Fireweed Community Market this summer! We joined the market a few times throughout the season, supporting artists from our community in sharing and selling their work while also connecting with community members and spreading the world about our programs, services, and upcoming opportunities. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table to say hello, learn more about what we do, or support local artists!

Community Updates

Text to 9-1-1

For years, members of the Yukon’s Deaf community have been advocating for equitable access to emergency services, including the availability of Text to 9-1-1 in the territory. At the end of May, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) hosted a rally calling for Text to 9-1-1 services to be made available in the Yukon. Text to 9-1-1 provides an alternative way to communicate with emergency services for people who may not be able to communicate through a traditional voice call. This is particularly important for people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or who experience communication-related disabilities.

These services are still not available in the Yukon or elsewhere in Northern Canada, creating an unnecessary barrier to accessing emergency support. Everyone should be able to reach emergency services when they need them, regardless of how they communicate.

Inclusion Yukon joined PSAC and other community members at the May rally, and throughout the summer we continued supporting the campaign by collecting signatures on postcards calling on territorial and federal representatives to bring Text to 9-1-1 services to the Yukon and to the North. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our office to add their name and help advocate for more accessible emergency services in the North.

Yukon Disability Legislation

This summer, Inclusion Yukon joined other disability organizations and advocates in continuing to call for standalone disability legislation in the Yukon.

Yukoners experiencing disability continue to face systemic barriers across many areas or daily life, including housing, healthcare, education, employment, transportation, communications, emergency services, and community participation. Currently, the Yukon does not have comprehensive disability legislation that sets consistent standards for identifying, preventing, and removing these barriers.

In July, Inclusion Yukon and other local advocates spoke with CBC News about the need for disability legislation in the territory. The resulting coverage helped bring greater public attention to an issue that many community members have been raising for years. Inclusion Yukon also joined other organizations in sending a letter to the Minister of Health and Social Services outlining the need for comprehensive legislation developed in meaningful partnership with people experiencing disability and grounded in clear standards, timelines, and accountability.

Disability legislation could help shift the Yukon away from addressing accessibility barriers on a case-by-case basis toward a more proactive approach, with clear standards and accountability across government. Alongside other disability-allied organizations, Inclusion Yukon has been advocating for legislation that is developed in meaningful partnership with people with lived experience and that includes clear timelines, public reporting, and mechanisms for ongoing accountability.

There is now a petition calling for a comprehensive Yukon Disability Act in circulation. The petition calls on the Yukon Government to co-design legislation through a transparent, human-rights-based process with people experiencing disability, caregivers, First Nations governments, and community organizations. It also calls for legislation to address barriers across housing, healthcare, education, employment, transportation, communications, emergency preparedness, justice, and community life, with clear milestones and public reporting.

Want to add your name? Official petitions for the legislative assembly require in-person signatures! The petition is available to sign at the Inclusion Yukon office during our administration hours:

Monday: 9:00-11:00 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:00–11:00 a.m.
Wednesday: 9:00–11:00 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Friday: 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

We encourage community members who support stronger, more consistent accessibility protections in the Yukon to stop by and sign!

Meriya speaking with CBC News about Disability Legislation in the Yukon

Community Mural

This summer, Inclusion Yukon was excited to receive funding from the Whitehorse Community Thrift Store’s Sharing Our Success Fund to create a new community mural in our space! It is important to us that this mural reflects the people who make up our community, so we’ve spent the later part of the summer gathering ideas and input to help shape it’s design.

If you would like to get involved, you can stop by our Community Painting Party on September 26th from 3:00-5:00 PM!

Looking Ahead to Fall

As we head into the fall, we’re looking forward to continuing this work alongside our community. Thank you to everyone who participated in a program or event, stopped by to see us at the Fireweed Market, signed a postcard or petition, shared your ideas, or supported our work in other ways this summer.

There is lots more to come! Keep an eye on our website and social media for upcoming programs, events, advocacy updates, and opportunities to get involved. We look forward to staying connected!