November 6, 2025
Last week, we held another successful edition of the Beyond Limits Conference. It was an excellent day with nearly 500 attendees. The opening keynote from Dr. Al Condeluci set the tone for everything that followed. He reminded us that true inclusion begins with meaningful relationships. Community and belonging are the foundation of a good life.
Al made a really important point: when it comes to inclusion, our efforts to strengthen a person’s social, communication, or physical skills will only get us so far. Don’t get me wrong: that person-centred work is meaningful and important. But inclusion is hard to achieve if the community’s minds and doors are closed to people with disabilities.
That’s why the work of building relationships, opening minds, and influencing the broader community is so important. It explains why Autism Programs staff have worked so hard to build autism awareness and understanding with the Winnipeg Police and other partners. It is why we participate in autism acceptance games with the Manitoba Moose or the Goldeyes. It is why staff across St.Amant provide training and capacity building to schools, childcare centres, families, and so many more.
Every single day, front-line staff in the Community Residential Program and Supported Independent Living take on the quiet and necessary work of building relationships with café owners, church members, and all the other folks in the neighborhood who can help people we support reach their goals for connection and meaning. Opening hearts and supporting people to find meaning, purpose and connection, no matter what that looks like for them, is at the core of all of our work.
Warmly,
Ben
