Supporting the exploration of Citizenship & Disability
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Citizen Speak
This area of Project Citizenship is a collection of photographs, thoughts and short stories from diverse people who care about citizenship and have been willing to share what they think supports it.
Kourtney on being part of a collective

What does citizenship mean to you?
Being collectively connected to something!
How do you help people to become better engaged in their community?
I run hockey workshops. Hockey allows youth to learn life skills such as teamwork, leadership, dedication, time management and how to play fair.
How do you think people could be more welcoming to EVERYONE in their communities?
I think learning to respect others people’s opinions, beliefs, and values is a great start to experiencing other communities outside your own.
Community is the foundation of our lives, having a strong relationship with your community will build relationships that benefit both yourself, and others.

This Citizen Speak is brought to you by one of our community allies (Samantha Jackson) who was taking a course on developing Citizenship and Community Connections for people with disabilities through the Excel Academy. Over the course of spring 2014, Samantha set out to explore and document what people in Edmonton think being an engaged citizen means and how we can get better at it.
Felix- “Get out there working in the community”
How do you demonstrate being a good citizen?
Lisa “You’re not alone, go out and talk to people, Volunteer!”

Lisa participated in the Citizen Action Hall at the U of A and shared her insights and experience as the class explored the intersection of citizenship and disability.
Sarah on being a good citizen

How do you think you could use your abilities to better the community or demonstrate being a good citizen?
I overcame my disabilities to get a job, they always include me in parades & everything, I’m the only girl”
What’s something you’d like to say to people with disabilities?
“Do your best! There’s always hope!”
Nicola on the value of diverse abilities
What would you want to say to a large audience about how to be more welcoming to people with disabilities?
“Coming from a person who has a disability, that the community accepts them and doesn’t look down on them. Treat them as an equal not as inferior”
How should we see people with disabilities in our communities?
“Just as equals who hold different abilities than we do. They have their own abilities and are just regular people.”
This Citizen Speak is brought to you by one of our community allies from the University of Alberta. Over the course of fall 2013, a University of Alberta Community Service-Learning student (Alexandra Brooker), set out to explore and document what people in Edmonton think being an engaged citizen means and how we can get better at it.
Allena on being an engaged citizen

What is an ability you personally believe you demonstrate?
“I know how to sew”
How do you think you could use your abilities to better the community or demonstrate being a good citizen?
“You could use your abilities to teach other people. Like when I was younger I had this idea to sew stuffed animals for children in the hospital”
What would you want to say to a large audience about how to be more welcoming to people with disabilities?
“You need to keep an open mind and just because someone sees the world differently than you do doesn’t mean they’re wrong.”
How should we see people with disabilities in our communities?
“We should see them as valuable.”
This Citizen Speak is brought to you by one of our community allies from the University of Alberta. Over the course of fall 2013, a University of Alberta Community Service-Learning student (Alexandra Brooker), set out to explore and document what people in Edmonton think being an engaged citizen means and how we can get better at it.