Reconciliation Includes Us | Vol. 1 No. 3
Welcoming September: A Season of Action and Belonging
As the leaves begin to turn, we’re embracing a season of change — with bold commitments, creative expression, and a shared sense of purpose. This month, we’re proud to launch our Celebrations Limited Edition — The Fall Drop: clothing with a powerful and inclusive message, now available for kids for the first time — plus an inclusive colouring book to spark connection and creativity.
We also mark Truth and Reconciliation Day with intention. Reconciliation includes all of us — and this September, we unveil our Action Plan, a living commitment to learning, listening, and walking together toward a more just and equitable future.
— Trish & Jen
Belonging, Boldly: A September Reflection
September is a month of turning—of seasons, of stories, of selves. As the air shifts and the leaves begin their quiet transformation, we’re reminded that change can be both gentle and radical. This month, we’re embracing that duality.
With The Fall Drop in our Drop Zone, we’re expanding what inclusion looks like — literally. For the first time, our adaptive designs are reaching kids, because belonging shouldn’t wait until adulthood. It should be stitched into childhood, into classrooms, and into playgrounds — into the everyday. This drop is playful, practical, and unapologetically bold. It’s a celebration of difference, and a reminder that fashion can be a form of advocacy.
But September also asks us to listen more deeply. As we mark Truth and Reconciliation Day, we’re not just acknowledging history — we’re committing to action. Our new Action Plan is more than a document. It’s a living promise to center Indigenous voices, to challenge colonial systems, and to build relationships rooted in respect. We know this work is ongoing. It’s not a campaign. It’s a responsibility.
These two threads — joyful inclusion and intentional reconciliation — may seem distinct, but they’re part of the same fabric. Both ask us to show up. To make space. To reimagine what equity looks like in practice, not just in principle.
So this September, we invite you to walk with us. To wear your values. To listen with care. To celebrate loudly. And to remember that belonging isn’t seasonal — it’s essential.
Quote of the Month
“Reconciliation is a way of seeing and living life. It is about being intentional in how we interact with one another—how we show respect. Reconciliation is a shared responsibility between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples”
This Month on The Ability Journals
There’s more where this newsletter came from — our blog is warming up with fresh ideas, bold perspectives, with a lens on accessibility. Coming on:
September 1 - What Is Truth and Reconciliation? A Disability-Inclusive Overview
September 9 - Fall for All - Celebrating the Season with Celebrations: Limited Edition
September 16 - Ability Storytellings: Speaking Truth, and Building Reconciliation
September 30 - Reconciliation Includes Us
Journal of the Month: What Is Truth and Reconciliation? A Disability-Inclusive Overview
Truth and Reconciliation Day honours the children lost to residential schools, the Survivors, and the communities still healing. But reconciliation must include everyone—including people with disabilities and caregivers.
This month’s blog explores how disability intersects with Indigenous identity, why accessibility matters, and how we can amplify voices too often left out of the conversation.
Reconciliation is a shared responsibility and inclusion makes it stronger.
Read more here.
Behind the Scenes
We’ve been busy — in the best way. While you're reading this, we’re laying the groundwork for some exciting next steps behind the scenes.
Winter Holiday/Christmas Drop (In Progress). Coming later this year, our festive releases will offer designs that honour celebrations — full of heart, culture, and inclusive flair.
Ability Events Training Offering. We’ve been refining our Ability Events offering to make it even more impactful — and we’re now developing a course for planners, staff, and volunteers who want to create events where everyone feels seen, safe, and valued. It’s inclusion in action, and we can’t wait to share it.
Community Orders. We’ve been listening, learning, and building — and now the Community Order is here. This monthly offering is designed to make shopping more accessible for folks who face barriers with online checkout. It’s a more personal, flexible way to shop, and it’s all about meeting people where they are.
Company Policy(ies) Created. Alongside our new Reconciliation Includes Us Framework, we’ve introduced a comprehensive set of policies — including Accessibility, Privacy, Code of Conduct, DEI, Cultural Protocols, Sustainability, Refunds, and Terms of Use — that ground our work in transparency, care, and community accountability. Find them here.
Core Values Created. We're currently refining and expanding our core values to better reflect our lived experiences, deepen our commitment to radical inclusion, and ensure that every message, product, and space we create is rooted in empathy, equity, and celebration. Read them here.
Word of the Month: Reconciliation
Reconciliation is the process of restoring trust and harmony between people, communities, or nations after conflict, harm, or injustice. It involves acknowledging the truth, taking responsibility, and making meaningful efforts to heal relationships and create a more just and inclusive future.
In the context of Indigenous reconciliation, especially in Canada, it means:
Recognizing past and ongoing harms caused by colonialism and residential schools.
Honoring Indigenous voices, rights, and sovereignty.
Committing to systemic change through education, policy, and cultural respect.
Service Spotlight: Ability Storytellings
Ability Storytellings is our speaking engagement series featuring keynotes and workshops that center lived experience. Through powerful storytelling rooted in disability, accessibility, and caregiving, we spark dialogue, shift perspectives, and build bridges toward a more inclusive world. Whether on stage or in virtual spaces, these sessions invite connection, advocacy, and real change.
Learn more here.
Product Spotlight: Fall for All
We’ve been dreaming this up for months—and it’s finally here! The Fall Drop in Celebrations: Limited Edition is live, and we couldn’t be more excited. This cozy, bold collection is bursting with disability pride, neurodiversity, caregiving love, and inclusive fall vibes — designed so everyone, including kids, gets to be part of the fun. From a witch with a walker to a latte with braille, every detail on our Limited Edition shirt tells a story that matters. And yes, there’s a matching colouring book too! Available now until October 31st, this drop is all about celebrating inclusion through creativity.
Grab yours now
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Disclaimer - The Ability Company
The opinions shared in our blogs reflect personal experiences and viewpoints. They’re not meant to represent every journey or replace professional advice.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional advice. The Ability Company makes no guarantees about accuracy or completeness and is not liable for decisions made based on this content. Use at your own discretion.