“When we think about the social location of parents with disabilities, and where power historically resides, and the legacy of harm from undue and often cruel interactions with child welfare agencies, it has been of immeasurable comfort to have had created, a welcoming space where parents with disabilities can ask questions safely and feel that they will be met with care, connected to resources, and not be criticized or have their children taken away. “
My very first involvement with CILT was as a panelist sharing my experiences as a parent with a disability to prospective parents with disabilities. In a way it was disheartening to hear from the audience all the negative messaging they received from friends, family and society in general about whey they could not and should not become parents. Many of the things they shared were familiar, “how will you manage”, “it will be too hard on you”, “maybe you’ll produce a child with a disability”.
Society is hard on people with disabilities in so many ways and parenting is just another one of those aspects of ordinary life that is denied, threatened and made unnecessarily difficult and complicated because of the lack of effective resourcing, accessible health care, inability to do things in the ways that work best for us and the stigmatization of our choices. In ableist views, disability is the problem not the world that refuses to adapt itself to our needs, our existence, and or our rights.
I have enjoyed the privilege of working with CILT to positively improve the perspectives of students entering the healthcare and social work fields in the hopes that one day no parent with a disability will be met with unprepared healthcare workers or live in fear of social service workers but will be met in society with the same respect, warmth and assistance that our counterparts without disabilities enjoy.
CILT has and continues to be a haven for parents with disabilities. They have produced research and resources to support families to raise their children and thrive in their choices and values just like other people get to do. The organization continues to play a critical role in advocating for community and educating the general public on their responsibility to do their own work by facing and transforming their own biases and to be intentional about their own growth.
CILT has modeled disability sovereignty in their work with parents with disabilities by following their lead, supporting their direction and seeing disability as a source of strength rather than the innate source of all adversity.
The next 40 years will bring more disappearance of the ridiculous hoops that parents with disabilities are forced to jump through as CILT continues to lead the advocacy in this not so visible, but very much important segment of life with disability by meeting community where they are at and not judging their decisions or their right to make them. With this kind of leadership, in the future will see people with disabilities recognized as the experts we are; in our lives, in our families, in our work and in society.
Ingrid Palmer (she, her) is an award-winning speaker, bestselling author, and social justice consultant. She is the (IDEAL) Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility Leading to belonging Primary Officiant at Realize -Canada’s leading non-profit on HIV and episodic disability education and advocacy.
As a visually impaired former foster kid Mrs. Palmer has committed her to life in service to combat ableism, challenge bias, promote universal belonging, drive systemic change and debunk myths and stereotypes of stigmatized identities. Her acclaimed storytelling and writing highlights traditionally unheard perspectives of intersectionality, marginalized leadership, and community capacity.
Ingrid’s dedication to advancing principles of justice is deeply rooted in her living experiences of early childhood trauma, sexual abuse, foster care, disability, gender difference, and domestic violence. As an advocate, Mrs. Palmer has championed issues in the housing, poverty, education, disability, and child welfare sectors. She has been instrumental on initiatives around poverty reduction, decent work, and gender equity by collaborating with all levels of government, school boards and universities.
She has participated in creating pathways to success and opportunities for communities and individuals facing adversity through her work with the Canadian Human Rights Commission on community engagement, the development of educational resources with Holland-Bloorview, and Humber College.
Her background in service includes Board Chair of the Child Welfare PAC, Vice Chair of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, the CHEERS mentorship program, the Partnership and Accountability Circle with the Confronting Ant-Black Racism unit, Right to Housing Toronto, and Race and Disability.
As a social justice consultant Ingrid has supported government, corporate and community organizations with community outreach and equity development. Ingrid has appeared on CTV, Global News, Breakfast Television and in publications such as Toronto Life, the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail.
Ingrid holds two college diplomas, a Bachelor of Arts degree from York University, a certificate in Power and Influence from Harvard School of Business, and is certified in Mental Health First Aid, DEI, as well as workshop and group facilitation.
