Evelyn and her son Bailey, from “Evelyn’s Story: A Livelihoods Journey from Practicality to Passion,” sit in an armchair together reading a story. A blue flag is sticking out from the back of the armchair, with an infinity symbol on it to represent autism advocacy. The title, “World Autism Acceptance Day” is printed in capital letters across the top of the page, and a rainbow prism and rainbow decals decorate the corners of the image.

Today is World #AutismDay! 🌈♾

Celebrate autistic minds with "Evelyn's Story," and learn about her unique skills as an #autistic employee, mother, and artist as well as the challenges she navigates.

Full news post: bit.ly/4sKOSYX 🔗

#Autism @edid-ghdi.bsky.social #LivelihoodsCanada

Characters from "Wren's Story: A Recipe for Livelihoods," Wren and Cyrus, sit on a bench together. Wren is a Black, non-binary person wearing neutral clothing and their hair cut short. Their wheelchair is also pictured. Cyrus is a white man, with short, blonde hair and casual clothes. The background of the image is the transgender pride flag and the title is: Transgender Day of Visibility.

March 31 was #Transgender Day of Visibility, a time to honour the contributions of #trans folks and the barriers they face. 🏳️‍⚧️

Our latest news post explores how being transgender influences livelihoods choices and opportunities: bit.ly/4s5UN9S 🔗

#TDOV #LivelihoodsCanada @sshrc-crsh.canada.ca

The words ‘disability without poverty’ are printed in word art, with a large bold font. Behind the word art, the background is a bright, mustard-coloured yellow, and there is also a graphic of a town hall building.

On February 26 at 2 p.m. ET, Disability Without Poverty will host their next Town Hall event on Zoom. This session will focus on public speaking and media training as tools for #advocacy!

Visit our latest news post to learn more and register: bit.ly/4c9TaDW

#LivelihoodsCanada #Disability

Realize 2026 National Youth Summit on Episodic Disability and Employment  – Reimagining Livelihoods

Realize, a non-profit for those with HIV and other episodic disabilities, is hosting their 2026 National Youth Summit on Episodic Disabilities and Employment!

📆March 7, 10am–4pm ET
📍Chelsea Hotel, Toronto, ON, and Zoom

Learn more about this year's summit: bit.ly/3ZsOC3X

#LivelihoodsCanada

New Publication on Community-Based Inclusive Development!  – Reimagining Livelihoods

Announcing "A Disability Livelihoods Approach to Including Communities Meaningfully in Development,” a new publication from the @sshrc-crsh.canada.ca -funded Disability and Livelihoods in Canada project.

Learn more about this chapter: bit.ly/4cj1Ac3

#LivelihoodsCanada @dstienstra.bsky.social

A school chalkboard with math lessons and the Disability Without Poverty logo. In front of the blackboard is a wheelchair as well as a desk with a braille book lying open on it, an apple, a hearing aid, and a pair of noise-cancelling earmuffs.

The panel 'Education and Disabled People: A Tool to End Poverty' at Disability Without Poverty's 2025 Research Symposium focused on the history of #disabled people and education.

Learn more in our latest livelihoods.ca news post: bit.ly/45RjzCu

#LivelihoodsCanada #Inclusion #Access

2SLGBTQ+ People with Disabilities and Experiences of Poverty with the Disability Without Poverty Team  – Reimagining Livelihoods

In December, Disability Without Poverty hosted their 2025 research symposium!

The panel '2SLGBTQ+ People with Disabilities and Experiences of Poverty in Canada,’ presented the first national study on poverty among #2SLGBTQ+ Canadians with #disabilities. Read more: bit.ly/45LX2a5

#LivelihoodsCanada

A coloured graphic of Earth is in the center of the screen, with a heart drawn over it and the words ‘why volunteer?’ Surrounding Earth are various speech bubbles including different reasons why people volunteer, including: fulfillment and purpose; skill building; new perspectives; community building; making a difference; inspiration; new connections; and mental health and wellness.

Why should you #volunteer? Some find it gives direction while others uncover new passions. Explore our composite stories about #livelihoods to see why Lily, Wren, and Evelyn choose to work in their #communities: bit.ly/49siKCQ

#LivelihoodsCanada @gwpoverty.bsky.social

Evelyn sits with her son, Bailey, in a blue armchair. They are reading and a bright overhead light is shining down on them. To the right is a close-up of a receipt being printed. On the receipt is a quote from Evelyn's story, saying: Sometimes it feels like my days are full of problems. Since Adam's death I've worked in retail at Marshalls, where I struggle not only with the transit issues getting there, but also with social cues, bright lights, and lots of noise. The overhead lights flicker just enough to give me a headache, the beeping cash registers create a rhythm that sends my brain into a panic, and customers expect a friendliness I can't always show. Social cues blue together like a language I haven't learned yet.

Stimuli for someone with #autism and/or #ADHD can be intense and uncomfortable, a feeling Evelyn is familiar with.

Read about #neurodivergent sensory experiences in “Evelyn’s Story: A Livelihoods Journey from Practicality to Passion” on our website: bit.ly/44yWTpL

#LivelihoodsCanada #Accessibility

Close up of a dictionary entry for the word 'entrepreneur' alongside the logo for Disability Without Poverty.

In December, Disability Without Poverty hosted their 2025 research symposium!

In the panel 'Employment, Entrepreneurship and Finding Benefits,’ panelists discussed the potential for entrepreneurship amongst #disabled Canadians.

Learn more in our latest news post: bit.ly/49WVvAk

#LivelihoodsCanada

Close up of a hand holding a compass alongside the Disability Without Poverty logo and an additional black circle that reads 'ODSP Ontario Disability Support Program.'

In December, Disability Without Poverty hosted their 2025 research symposium!

In the panel 'Navigating ODSP,' panelists discussed how they handle some of the most complicated aspects of #ODSP.

Learn more in our latest Livelihoods news post: bit.ly/49VC9eZ!

#LivelihoodsCanada #Disability

Lily, a young woman with a light complexion, long brown hair, and sitting in a wheelchair sends a text to her friend, Alice, that reads: I wish people understood that having a job isn't just about earning money—it is about having a stable life with a stable job that allows me to take care of my own well-being.

Feeling the interview blues? Lily knows them all too well. She’s still filtering through postings for a role that both inspires and accommodates her.

#Inclusion demands #accessible jobs.

Read more of Lily's story on our multimedia site: bit.ly/4bvhPCi

#LivelihoodsCanada @sshrc-crsh.canada.ca

Wren has short, dark curly hair and a dark brown complexion. They sit next to their partner, Cyrus, who has a light complexion and pale blonde hair. Wren's walker is pictured as well as a brown bag full of groceries. Pieces of produce and other groceries circle the couple. A speech bubble is above Wren's head, they are saying: You see, I'm on provincial disability support, and it's really hard to try and eat healthy when you're living on such a tight budget. Cooking on a budget isn't just a skill—it's survival. I've mastered stretching out a meal, turning a few potatoes into something hearty.

High grocery prices + dietary restrictions + an #ODSP budget = a challenge. What budget-friendly meals do you suggest? Here are Wren’s top 3:

🥔🎃Pumpkin and sweet potato soup
🫑Stuffed bell peppers
🍗Low-sugar chicken adobo

Read more of Wren's story on our website: bit.ly/4p6IMQz

#LivelihoodsCanada

A word cluster with 'Livelihoods' in bold black letters in the center of the page. Surrounding it are the words caregiving, family, gardening, artistry, living, accessibility, equity, inclusion, opportunities, belonging, hobbies, security, volunteering, policy, life, paid work, community, intersectionality, culture, benefits, accommodations, childcare, diversity, and reconciliation is various fonts and colours.

Livelihoods look different for everyone, from fulfilling hobbies to paid work. What would you include in your livelihoods word cluster?

Learn more about livelihoods on our multimedia website: bit.ly/3X1QJdV!

#LivelihoodsCanada

A graphic of Evelyn and her son Bailey sitting on a chair and reading together, from the composite story "Evelyn's Story: A Livelihoods Journey from Practicality to Passion." A quote from the story has been included above the graphic of the two character, it is enclosed in a speech bubble, and reads: "My ADHD and autism are labelled as "invisible disabilities" to the rest of the world but for me, they are always there. My ADHD brain is a flurry of forgetting deadlines unless they're written on my hand, having thoughts that never stop connected by strings that no one else can see, and feeling like I can't sit still because I have too much energy. In comparison, being autistic means my brain loves routine, and I am extra sensitive to things like bright lights, noises, and weird textures."

People with #ADHD and/or #autism face their disabilities being "invisible" to the rest of society.

Does Evelyn demystify these "invisible" #disabilities? What would you add?

Read Evelyn's story on our Reimagining Livelihoods site: bit.ly/44yWTpL!

#LivelihoodsCanada

The view inside four lunch boxes in each of the corners of the photo, each containing different food and text describing different aspects of the person eating the meal's livelihood. The first meal shows a sandwich and various snacks, and also text indicating the person eating the meal has overdue bills, has experienced a health scare, and their roof is leaking. The second meal shows a sandwich cut in triangles, an apple, and some nuts. Text is included to indicate that the person eating the lunch lost their father a couple of months ago, and that they are going to the food bank after school with their mom. The third meal is naan bread with some sort of dip. Text indicates that the person eating this meal is planning on coming out to their parents tonight, and they're excited to try cooking a new low-income recipe tonight as well. The final meal includes crackers, vegetables, eggs, and ham. The text indicates that the person eating just got a new job and joined a pottery class.

#Livelihoods look different for everyone and can determine what barriers or supports a person brings with them to school or work each day.

What's in your lunch box?

Find out more about #LivelihoodsCanada on our Reimagining Livelihoods project site: bit.ly/3X1QJdV

Meet Lily, the protagonist of the Reimagining Livelihoods first composite story — Lily’s Story: Making Livelihood Dreams a Reality. Lily is a 19-yeaar-old, who uses a wheelchair, has light skin, and long brown. Lily recently graduated from high school and is looking for a job. She loves wheelchair basketball, volunteering with youth literacy groups, and writing. Her biggest pet peeve is unreliable public transit.

Meet Wren, and their partner Cyrus, protagonists of the second composite story from the Reimagining Livelihoods project — Wren’s Story: A Recipe for Livelihoods. Wren is a Black, non-binary person with short hair. They resell items on Kijiji and volunteer at their community cooking program. They love gardening, cooking, and community outreach. But, their biggest put peeve is how complicated ODSP is. Their partner Cyrus is a white man who works in the trades, but it currently in between contracts. His biggest pet peeve is the cost of gluten-free and lactose-free products.

Meet Evelyn, a Vietnamese, 40-year-old woman who is the protagonist of the Reimagining Livelihoods project third composite story — Evelyn’s Story: A Livelihoods Journey from Practicality to Passion. She works as a cashier at Marshalls, but she really wants to work as an art teacher. She loves painting, the tv show Bojack Horseman, and spending time with her son, Bailey. Her biggest pet peeve is bright overhead lights.

Introducing the protagonists of our composite stories! Get to know the characters from the Reimagining Livelihoods project by exploring these quick facts.

Keen for more? Visit our Reimagining Livelihoods website to read their stories and engage further: bit.ly/49Rx1Jf

#LivelihoodsCanada

An excerpt from "Wren's Story: A Recipe for Livelihoods" a composite story from the Reimagining Livelihoods project. The protagonist Wren says, "Cooking tips aside, the other reason I got into volunteering is that I've had trouble getting a job—most places either just don't hire me, or say they can't make adequate accommodations because of my disability, but I still want to be able to help out."

What would you do in Wren's shoes?

As a non-binary, Black, #disabled person who uses a walker, Wren faces up against misconceptions about their race, gender, and abilities as soon as they enter a job interview.

Read Wren's story: bit.ly/4p6IMQz

#LivelihoodsCanada

Such an exciting collection of stories from @profterrig.bsky.social! Looking forward to exploring this publication and the power of human connection in leading change.

#LivelihoodsCanada

Headlines such as this one highlight the increasing need for community supports in Ontario. It's time for Ontario to reevaluate how we can care for the most vulnerable members of our communities.

#LivelihoodsCanada

Food insecurity is an ever-growing barrier to livelihoods in Canada, and sometimes our strongest tool is leaning on community.

On October 17 join a discussion around poverty and potential strategies for positive change. ⬇️

#LivelihoodsCanada

Wi-Fi is needed for resumes, job applications, taking classes, and a number of other tasks in this digital world.

This incredible initiative increases access, which means more opportunities for all as we strive to live and work well.

#LivelihoodsCanada

The 2SLGBTQI+ Rainbow Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub out of the University of Alberta is hosting their Making a Life, Making a Living conference from November 12th-15th, 2025. The event will be hosted at the University of Alberta, and the Matrix Hotel, with funding from the CGLCC's 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, with backing from the Government of Canada.

Check out the Making a Life, Making a Living conference, a four-day gathering including keynote speakers, community-led initiatives, and public sector engagement!

🗓️November 12-15, 2025
📍The Matrix Hotel & @ualberta.bsky.social

More info: bit.ly/4myxMcN

#LivelihoodsCanada

A graphic of two students standing next to a whiteboard that is covered in notes and brainstorming for the composite stories. You can read the blog, “From Forums to Feedback: The Composite Stories Experience,” by Vanessa Bonham and Jordyne Craig on the Live Work Well Research Centre website on the Notes from the Field blog.

📢Blog post announcement!

With our livelihoods.ca site and composite stories now live, we invite you behind the scenes!

Read our latest blog post to hear about the writing process from our composite stories authors: bit.ly/3V2QU7H

#LivelihoodsCanada

New Federal Support for Women with Disabilities Facing Economic Insecurity On August 14, 2025, representatives of the Federal Government—Rechie Valdez and Chi Nguyen—announced that they will be giving $656,053 in funding to Realize.    Realize is a charitable organization fo...

The Federal Government of Canada has announced they will be giving $656,053 in funding to Realize. This funding will be used to launch their project, Breaking Barriers and Shaping Inclusive Workplaces for Women with Episodic Disabilities (BRIDGE).

Read more: bit.ly/45AoSGG

#LivelihoodsCanada

Reimagining Livelihoods

After our 2023 Reimagining Livelihoods Forum, we imagined a space for further engagement. Now, we're happy to announce the launch of livelihoods.ca along with three new composite stories!

Read more in our latest news post: bit.ly/477Tqkk

#LivelihoodsCanada