Attendees at the 2025 Diversity, Equity and Human Rights (DEHR) Conference, held May 1–2 in Edmonton, were challenged to rethink their understanding of inclusion, identity and resilience by keynote speaker Bean Gill.
At the conference, Gill, co-founder of the ReYu Paralysis Recovery Centre and a self-described “inclusion warrior,” shared her personal journey of becoming suddenly paralyzed from the waist down and the transformative path that followed. She encouraged delegates to confront their unconscious biases around disability and explore identity, saying that awareness of our own biases helps us to dismantle our ways of thinking and create new ideas about others.
“We need to switch from limiting moves to empowering moves and then watch how people blossom and grow, including ourselves,” Bean said. “When we see what others can become, we give them permission to rise.”
Gill’s inspirational presentation kicked off the 2025 DEHR Conference, which focused on empowering teachers identifying as living with a disability. The conference also included an art gallery walk with the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, breakout sessions on such topics as confronting ableism and embracing intersectional identities, and a listening circle for teachers living with disabilities.
Held annually, the DEHR Conference brings together local representatives from across the province to deepen understanding of topics related to diversity and to share ways to support local DEHR committees. More information on the ATA’s DEHR work is available on the ATA’s website. ❚
