COMPOSITE STORIES
The following stories are fictional accounts based on real-life experiences shared by those interviewed as part of the Disability and Livelihoods in Canada project as well as supported by research in the literature. These stories illustrate the livelihoods successes and challenges faced by diverse individuals making a living and a life while trying not only to survive but also to thrive. Thank you to the people who made these stories possible by sharing their experiences with us.
At 19, Lily is facing challenges with entering adulthood, with dreams of a stable job, reliable transportation, and accessible housing. She has cerebral palsy and navigates life in a wheelchair. She often faces an inaccessible world, with ableism in the hiring process, unreliable transit times, and unaffordable accessible housing. But, with her volunteer experience and the support of family, friends, and mentors at the local employment centre, she sees a pathway to the livelihood she wants. Read Lily’s Story.
Wren and Cyrus’s story is a day in the life of a couple. Wren is a Black, nonbinary person with diabetes, the symptoms of which impact their stability and are often painful, leading to their use of a walker. These symptoms impact Wren’s ability to find stable work, so they find satisfaction—but not income—in volunteering. Cyrus, Wren’s partner, also struggles to find stable work, and together the couple strives to afford food that meets Cyrus’s dietary restrictions from Celiac disease and lactose intolerance. Their story demonstrates the unique pathway to livelihoods in a relationship and with a disability. Read Wren and Cyrus’s Story.
Evelyn, at 40 years old, has now suddenly experienced the loss of her husband, Adam, leaving her and their 10-year-old son Bailey behind. They are also in a new country, having moved to Canada from Vietnam with Adam. Evelyn’s story centres around her experiences as a single mother, as a new immigrant to Canada, and as a person with ADHD and Autism, while she aspires to achieve her own goals of having a passionate career in the arts. This is her search for a pathway to a livelihood that she can enjoy while recovering from a tragic loss. Read Evelyn’s Story.
