Celebrating World Disability Day with IRCC: A Full-Circle Moment
This World Disability Day, I had the honor of speaking at the Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) event. As I took the stage in Ottawa to share my story with a global audience of their staff, both in person and online, I couldn’t help but reflect on how far my journey has brought me.
What made this day even more special was sharing the stage with two remarkable individuals: a fellow person with narcolepsy who served as the event’s moderator and my dear friend Becky, whose role in my story is deeply woven into my life—and my book.
The Importance of Disability Advocacy
World Disability Day is a time to celebrate progress, advocate for inclusion, and remind ourselves of the power of community. For me, it’s also a chance to speak openly about living with narcolepsy, a chronic disabling condition that is often misunderstood and invisible.
At IRRC, I shared the key message from my book, Don’t Snooze Your Dreams: that challenges like narcolepsy don’t have to define what’s possible. Instead, they can become a springboard for achieving dreams that feel out of reach.
The Power of Connection
This event was a particularly special for me because the moderator for the Q&A section was someone who also lives with narcolepsy, brought a layer of shared understanding that made the conversation even more impactful. It was incredible to exchange insights, share laughs, and demonstrate that people with narcolepsy can—and do—thrive.
Best of all, that person was Rebecca Bodnar. If you’ve read Don’t Snooze Your Dreams, you’ll recognize her as the friend who first pointed out that I might have narcolepsy, setting me on the path to diagnosis.
Standing beside her on stage felt like a full-circle moment—a chance to acknowledge her pivotal role in my journey.
Reaching a Global Audience
One of the most exciting parts of the day was knowing that my message wasn’t just staying within the walls of the Ottawa venue. IRRC’s global team tuned in online, and I could feel the collective energy of people around the world listening, learning, and connecting.
Disability advocacy isn’t just about personal stories; it’s about creating ripples of change that lead to greater understanding and inclusion. Thanks to IRRC’s platform, I was able to share my DREAM Method with a truly global audience, showing how resilience, community, and practical action can empower anyone to overcome obstacles.
A Day to Remember
This World Disability Day wasn’t just an event—it was a celebration of community, advocacy, and hope. It reminded me that the journey of living with a disability is one of connection: connecting with those who support us, those who share our experiences, and those who are ready to listen and learn.
If you’d like to learn more about my story, my book Don’t Snooze Your Dreams dives deeper into the challenges, victories, and lessons I’ve learned. And if you’re wondering how to take action, remember that awareness and understanding are powerful first steps.
