Disability Inclusion & Awareness Training (DIAT)

Disability Inclusion & Awareness

This training is designed for people who work in the customer service industry and/or serve or provide services to the public. It is delivered by persons with disabilities who have lived experience. The goals is to increase awareness of persons with disabilities (PWD) and the barriers they face in the community.  By the end of the workshop, employers and employees will have a broader lens of the world, and a greater interest in ensuring the business/organization is as welcoming and as inclusive as possible.

Employees will learn:

• The difference between unconscious biases and microaggressions.
• About Disability Intersectionality and the barriers it can cause.
• About the various types of disabilities.
• The difference between visible and invisible disabilities.
• What assumptions and stereotypes exist.
• What inclusive language is, how to use it and what language to avoid.
• How to best offer assistance to customers with disabilities.
• How to remove or decrease barriers in YOUR business to increase access to your services.
• What low-tech and low-cost options exist that can increase access to your services.

Training is customized to the business, the employees and the types of service provided.

For more information or to inquire about cost, contact Wendy at director@drcvictoria.com or 250-595-0044 ext. 107

What are people saying about this workshop?

“I am a program coordinator for a Local Non-profit which recently received Disability inclusion and awareness training offered by the Victoria Disability
Resource Center. Our team found this training to be both illuminating and enriching. The facilitators…were knowledgeable, open, and kind. From
this training we learnt so much and have found actionable ways we can make our spaces more inclusive and accessible. Thank you VDRC for offering this
important training, anyone and any organization could benefit from this learning.” ~Nicole Lapierre, Program Coordinator, Victoria Women In Need Community Cooperative

“The training is not only a great refresher on what we might think we already know, but also a reminder of the many things that we don’t know still. I’ve learned a lot about the different disabilities, how to communicate effectively, and appropriate language usage. I even learned about some fun facts about braille and how different people navigate on the streets and even through life. After the training, I am feeling more confident and inspired to be proactive, and I wish that I could carry around a small booklet with me at all times to encapsulate all that I’ve learn today so that I can be knowledgeable & helpful everywhere I go!” ~Participant

“The Disability and Inclusion training provided by…the Victoria Disability Resource Centre will be invaluable to my future interactions. I feel more confident in my knowledge and abilities to help make our facility and programs as inclusive as I can.” ~Participant

“This session brought many issues up in an engaging and approachable way- staff felt safe asking questions and were able to understand disabilities in a deeper way.” ~Participant

“Everyone needs to attend this workshop. Learning how to offer support to folks with disabilities without your biases and judgements coming into play, is an essential skill for anyone aspiring to be an ally.” ~Participant

“…presentation was informative, inclusive and safe. As an individual who can feel uneasy talking about disability, I felt secure in asking questions without judgement.” ~Participant