On December 3, the world commemorates the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Diverse Abilities (DA) formerly known as SKIP, is a Jamati program committed to providing families and individuals with disabilities with a variety of support and resources within our community.

DA provides support for individuals and their families with disabilities. Disabilities include but are not limited to mobility impairments, vision and/or hearing impairments, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, or autism spectrum disorder. Barriers in society can hinder individuals with disabilities from participating fully in activities within their community.

Social interactions: Social support is essential, fostering a sense of belonging and care. It provides coping mechanisms with any setbacks, improves self-esteem and has been reported to decrease stress. DA provides social events through in-person events such as bowling, arts and crafts, picnics, Chai & Chats, Zumba classes, and more. These events create a profound sense of connection among members and their families, boosting confidence, offering mental and emotional support, and minimizing feelings of isolation. Ongoing connections within the DA community empower members and their families, strengthening social skills for improved well-being and an enhanced quality of life.

Advocacy and Awareness: DA actively advocates for equitable access to community spaces and programs both within and outside Jamatkhanas. This includes considerations like quiet rooms, wheelchair accessibility, accommodations, and modifications as needed. The program creates opportunities for individuals with disabilities to volunteer and participate within their capacity in activities.

Collaboration: DA extends its partnership to various boards and portfolios of the Jamati institutions to integrate the needs of DA members into their planning and programming. Past collaborations include with Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for Kahoot game night, fundraising and participation in the World Partnership Walk, as well as with Ismaili Volunteers to fill roles in day-to-day ceremonies, exemplifying the commitment to inclusion.

Engagement & Support: To further reduce barriers for individuals with disabilities, DA would benefit from continuous engagement from the community and volunteers. We invite individuals to support at the local level, contributing in any capacity. To learn more about how you can support your community, please reach out to your local DA team through ACCESS.

If you are interested in joining the Diverse Abilities program in your region, please register here.

November is Family Violence Prevention Month. Family violence can happen in the real world or online world. Family violence, or domestic violence can come in many forms such as physical abuse, stalking, emotional or psychological abuse, financial abuse, or cyberviolence (e.g., posting inappropriate pictures, posting slander, social media interactions).  

Family violence impacts those who are both directly and indirectly involved, including spouses, elderly family members, and children. If there are children in the home, violence or abuse between parents can impact their children. In the majority of reported family violence cases, children are present and witness the abuse. Boys who witness family violence against their mothers are more likely to grow up and abuse others, while girls who witness the violence are more likely to be victims of abuse in the future.

If you are experiencing family violence, help is only a phone call away. There are many resources in different languages available in each province. If you know someone who is at risk of family violence, learn more about this issue and become a source of help and guidance for them.

Please check out list of resources and phone numbers.

Take the time to view this video to learn more about family violence and what steps you can take to prevent this issue.  

Family violence can happen in any family, even those that seem stable and not at risk. One of the ways you can protect your family is to take steps to build harmony in your family. One way is to learn about your family’s languages of love. This video provides information on this topic and steps towards reducing conflict and improving family communication.

The Special Kin Inclusion Program (SKIP) provides opportunities for connection and support between children, youth, and adults in the Jamat with physical and/or developmental disabilities.  The program also provides a welcoming environment for families and caregivers of those who are differently abled to eliminate the risk of families experiencing community isolation. The program runs nationally, and is available to members of the Jamat in all regions.  SKIP supports approximately 160 families across Canada. Families are provided with opportunities to exchange resources and share information and lived experiences at SKIP events.

The programming includes various events from in-person to online. Examples of exciting events SKIP has hosted include bowling, sailing, karaoke, talent show, and many more. SKIP has collaborated with youth for Kahoot games nights, and assisted with Gold Cup soccer, fundraised for Partnership Walk and participated with IV in various volunteer roles.  SKIP participants have also been part of a pilot program with the Future Ready Initiative. In addition, SKIP also provides information on external resources and supports in completing forms for funding at both provincial and federal levels.

There is ongoing education with various constituencies within our Jamat to enable understanding of the unique needs of SKIP members and their families through the development of the SKIP Inclusion Practices training. The training encourages appointment of volunteer representatives to advocate, assist, and promote inclusion and provide support.

Although SKIP is a small but mighty team, we are always looking for volunteers to support at the local level in any capacity. Reach out to your SKIP representative to learn more on how you can support. 

If you are an individual who is differently abled or are seeking support for a family member, please contact your local SKIP representative.

• Ontario 
• Prairies 
• Ottawa 
• Quebec and Maritimes 
• Edmonton 
• British Columbia 
• National 

View our Picture Gallery

November is Family Violence Prevention Month. Violence within family units and between loved ones is on the rise and it is important to reach out and speak up when it occurs. If you or someone you know needs help, please call our ACCESS Line at 1-888-536-3599.  

Check out this webinar! Learn about the types of abuse and its effects on a individual's mental, physical, and spiritual health. The panelist also talk about how someone experiencing abuse can get help and set a path to safety.

The Special Kin Inclusion Program (SKIP) provides social support for children, youth, and adults in the Jamat with physical and/or developmental disabilities.  The program also provides a welcoming environment for families and caregivers of those who are differently abled to eliminate the risk of families experiencing community isolation.  The program runs nationally, and is available to members of the Jamat in all regions.

The primary focuses areas are inclusion, awareness, advocacy and social support for families and caregivers.  Our vision is to create a community where persons with disabilities feel a sense of belonging and provide opportunities to realize their individual potential to lead a dignified quality of life.

Our goals include providing a forum to persons with disabilities and their families to share experienes and discuss issues of concern, enabling a sense of connection and belonging.  We envision creating a better understanding of the unique circumstances of those with disabilities and providing better access to support, ultimately aimed at reducing social isolation.

Have questions?  For more information on the program in your region, please contact your local SKIP representative.

• Ontario 
• Prairies 
• Ottawa 
• Quebec and Maritimes 
• Edmonton 
• British Columbia 
• National 

View our Picture Gallery

Physical abuse — physical injury or death of a family member or intimate partner caused when someone:

• pushes, shoves, hits, slaps, or kicks
• pinches or punches
• strangles or chokes
• stabs or cuts
• shoots
• throws objects
• burns
• holds someone down for another person to assault
• locks someone in a room or ties them down

Sexual abuse — forced sexual activity on a family member or intimate partner, when someone:

• touches another in a sexual way without consent
• has any sexual activity without consent
• continues sexual activity when asked to stop
• forces another to commit unsafe or humiliating sexual acts

Sexual abuse can also happen in intimate partner relationships. Even if you are married or engaged, your partner cannot force you to have sex.

Children under the age of 16 cannot give informed consent, so any sexual contact between an adult and a child is a crime. Children under the age of 18 cannot legally give consent to sexual activity that exploits them.

Emotional or psycho-social abuse — words / actions to control or frighten a family member or intimate partner, or destroy their self-respect, when someone:

• makes threats
• intimidates or bullies
• puts down, insults, or calls a person names
• yells or criticizes all the time
• isolates a person from friends and family
• destroys belongings
• hurts pets

Financial abuse — control / misuse of a family member's or intimate partner's money or property, when someone:

• takes another person's money or property without permission
• prevents a person from going to work or otherwise obtaining money / other resources
• withholds or limits money
• pressures a person to sign documents
• forces a person to sell things or change a will

Neglect — not meeting the basic needs to provide care for a dependent family member or intimate partner, when someone:

• does not provide proper food, warm clothing, health care, medication, or appropriate hygiene
• does not protect another person from physical harm or provide proper supervision
• abandons another person

Supports:

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the ACCESS Line at 1-888-536-3599.

• To find family violence supports or programs in your area, visit this Government of Canada website 
• If you are concerned about a child being abused, please contact your local Child Welfare agency. Find your local agency here 
• If you know an elder who needs support, visit this Government of Canada website 

Read in: French / Farsi

November is Family Violence Prevention month and this week we focus on child abuse. Childhood, especially during birth to age six, establishes the foundation of a person’s life. Emotional, physical and sexual abuse of a child can have an impact across an entire lifetime. Child abuse is the physical or psychological mistreatment of a child by an adult (biological or adoptive parents, step-parents, guardians, other adults).

Child abuse includes any form of physical, emotional and/or sexual mistreatment or lack of care that causes injury or emotional damage to a child or youth this includes witnessing any form of domestic violence. If you suspect that a child or youth has been or is being abused, help them by contacting your local child welfare agency and reporting your concerns. Read more about the common forms of violence and how to locate your local child welfare agency. Please click on the link below to find out what your local child welfare agency is.

Some common forms of violence include:

Physical abuse - Physical injury or death of a family member or intimate partner caused when someone:

• pushes, shoves, hits, slaps or kicks
• pinches or punches
• strangles or chokes
• stabs or cuts
• shoots
• throws objects
• burns
• holds someone down for another person to assault
• locks someone in a room or ties them down

Sexual abuse - Forced sexual activity on a family member or intimate partner, when someone:

• touches another in a sexual way without consent
• has any sexual activity without consent
• continues sexual activity when asked to stop
• forces another to commit unsafe or humiliating sexual acts

Children under the age of 16 cannot give informed consent, so any sexual contact between an adult and a child is a crime. Children under the age of 18 cannot legally give consent to sexual activity that exploits them.

Sexual abuse can also happen in intimate partner relationships. Even between people who are married or engaged, partners cannot force each other to have sex. 

Emotional or psycho-social abuse - Words or actions to control or frighten a family member or intimate partner, or destroy their self-respect, when someone:

• makes threats
• intimidates or bullies
• puts down, insults or calls a person names
• yells or criticizes all the time
• isolates a person from friends and family
• destroys belongings
• hurts pets

Financial abuse - Control, or misuse of a family member's or intimate partner's money or property, when someone:

• takes another person's money or property without permission
• prevents a person from going to work or otherwise obtaining money or other resources
• withholds or limits money
• pressures a person to sign documents
• forces a person to sell things or change a will

Neglect - Not meeting the basic needs to provide care for a dependent family member or intimate partner, when someone:

• does not provide proper food, warm clothing, health care, medication or appropriate hygiene
• does not protect another person from physical harm or provide proper supervision
• abandons another person

Supports:

• If you or someone you know needs help in the Ismaili Community please call our the ACCESS Line at 1-888-536-3599.
• To find family violence supports or programs in your area by visiting this government of Canada website.
• If you are concerned about a child being abused please contact your local Child Welfare agency. You can find your local agency here.
• If you know an elder who needs support, please visit the Elder Abuse Network.