2026 Inclusion Alberta Family Conference

Families and individuals with intellectual disabilities face growing barriers—longer waits for FSCD and PDD, increasing system bureaucracy and complexity, threats to inclusive education, and changes to AISH that reduce support for one group and apply a degrading label to the rest. These challenges echo past struggles, when families refused to accept exclusion and fought for the rights we now cherish. They fought for inclusive classrooms and community-based supports by seeing what was possible and refusing to settle for anything less.  

Now, history calls us again. How will we respond? Join us to hear powerful stories from family advocates and allies who are meeting this moment with creativity, persistence, and hope. Learn practical ways to take action and stand together to protect and advance inclusion. 

Siblings, whether they're biological siblings, cousins, or chosen family, are often our first friends. Siblings know each other deeply, making them uniquely situated to innately understand their loved ones and their vision for a good, meaningful life in community. This distinctive bond can often provide a perspective about their siblings’ gifts, talents and potential opportunities that can expand the dreams for the future and challenge others to consider new possibilities.  This panel brings together a diverse group of siblings to share how their unique relationships have created opportunities for belonging, leadership, advocacy, and lifelong friendship. Through reflections on their lived experience, panelists will share how their sibling bonds shaped their values and ability to support inclusion and strengthen their families throughout their lives. 

Some students with intellectual disabilities may have elevated behavioural support needs that necessitate individualized behaviour support plans. In this session, information about building and implementing individualized, communication-based supports to address these behavioural support needs will be shared with a particular focus on function-based thinking. 

Employment is a vital part of the normative life pathway and one of the most powerful drivers of belonging, identity, and well-being for people with intellectual disabilities. Employment is more than a paycheque—it is a place to contribute one’s gifts, build relationships, take on valued social roles, and shape a meaningful identity as a youth and adult. Yet too many youth and adults with intellectual disabilities continue to face barriers that interrupt their journey toward full belonging and access to the workforce. This session explores why employment must be considered an essential expectation—not an optional add-on—and how families, community members, and allies can champion inclusive pathways that open doors to real work for real pay. Through stories, insights, and practical strategies, participants will deepen their understanding of why employment is foundational to a good life and how we can collectively ensure that every individual has the opportunity to pursue meaningful, long-term, and financially sustainable employment in their community.