Episode 045: An All-Inclusive Community: Supporting Social Accessibility with Michelle McClure

<p align="justify">Brenda Agnew, your host, welcomes <span style= "color: #1155cc;"><u><a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-mcclure-070a2527/?originalSubdomain=ca"> Michelle</a> <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-mcclure-070a2527/?originalSubdomain=ca"> McClure</a></u></span>, Executive Director at <span style= "color: #1155cc;"><u><a href= "https://www.abilities.ca/belonging/ability-online-a-place-for-kids-to-connect/"> Ability</a> <a href= "https://www.abilities.ca/belonging/ability-online-a-place-for-kids-to-connect/"> Online</a></u></span>, to have a conversation about the organization, its origins, its work, its mission, and the exciting news they have for the near future.</p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"><strong>Key Takeaways</strong>:</p> <p>[1:40] Michelle talks about Ability Online, a supportive online community for children with disabilities to connect with each other that started 32 years ago.</p> <p>[8:18] Michelle explains the development of a young adult portal until Ability Online became an all-inclusive community.</p> <p>[10:02] What does Ability Online offer?</p> <p>[14:29] Michelle speaks about the safety, security, and confidentiality that Ability Online assures for its users.</p> <p>[17:14] Have any of these online connections moved to an in-person relationship?</p> <p>[19:04] How did Michelle and her Team keep Abilities Online going for 32 years?</p> <p>[21:10] The pandemic brought a lot of members back to the Ability Online platform.</p> <p>[23:41] The content in Ability Online comes from users’ requests.</p> <p>[27:45] Michelle describes how she created a manual for the community partners following the “Jenga model” where the child is at the top.</p> <p>[29:01] What does it mean to support social accessibility?</p> <p>[34:02] How is Ability Online founded?</p> <p>[39:01] What are Ability Online’s goals for the near future?</p> <p>[43:38] There will be a new platform that will be called MyAbility.</p> <p>[44:31] Michelle talks about Ability Givers, a prog