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September 25, 2025
Important Dates
- Wednesday, September 24 – Special Ballot Voting Begins at Elections NL and all District Office
- Thursday, October 2 – Deadline to apply for Mail-In Ballot (online, deadline is 8 p.m., 7:30 p.m. in most of Labrador)
- Wednesday, October 8 – Deadline for receipt of completed Special Ballot Kit at District Offices
- Saturday, October 11 – Deadline for receipt of completed Special Ballot Kit at Elections NL headquarters
Special Ballot lets you vote early in Newfoundland and Labrador. To use it, you must apply and show ID. If approved, Elections NL will mail you a Special Ballot kit. You must return the kit by mail or in person before the deadline.
Once you get a Special Ballot kit, you cannot vote at advance polls or on Election Day—you are considered to have already voted.
It’s your responsibility to make sure you meet all deadlines.
More Information: Special Ballot Voting
To apply, you must include proof of identity.
How it works:
- Apply to Elections NL through a Special Ballot Application (SB-F-1)
- Once your application is approved and nominations close, you’ll get a Special Ballot kit (ballot + envelopes to keep your vote secret).
What to include in your application:
- Your name
- Your home address in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Your mailing address
- Your date of birth
- Proof of identity ( see List of Acceptable ID)
If you don’t have ID:
You must submit one of these forms:
If you can’t download or print the forms, call Elections NL at 1-877-729-7987.
September 24, 2025
Municipal elections will take place across Newfoundland and Labrador on October 2. While we cannot share details for every town in this post, we encourage you to take part in your community’s election.
Your vote is your chance to share what matters to you and to help shape the future of your town or city. Everyone’s voice is important, including people with disabilities.
For details about where, when, and how to vote in your area, please check your town’s website, Facebook page, or community bulletin boards.
Who Can Vote?
To vote in a municipal election a person must:
- be a Canadian citizen,
- be at least 18 years of age on or before election day, and
- have been ordinarily a resident for the 30 days immediately preceding election day either in the municipality or in an area that on election day is part of the municipality.
What ID You Need:
- Bring one piece of government ID with your name and address (ex: driver’s licence)
- OR bring two pieces of ID that together show your name and address
If you don’t have ID, you may sign a form (affidavit) or have someone confirm who you are.
September 23, 2025
EmpowerNL’s Annual Report for 2024-2025 is now available at the link below.
EmpowerNL Annual Report 2024-2025 (2,840 KB)
As a reminder, our AGM will be held virtually TOMORROW evening.
For details and registration please see Annual General Meeting Notice
September 11, 2025
Empower will be holding its virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 24th.
We are asking members to register before we send out the Zoom link for the meeting.
- All members are welcome to attend the AGM.
- Only voting members will be able to vote during the meeting.
- The Zoom link will be sent to registered members before the AGM.
Event Details:
Date: September 24, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: Virtual Online
Registration Link:
Annual General Meeting (AGM) Registration Form
(There will be prize draws for members who attend!)
September 7, 2025
It’s incredible important to start teaching our kids about disability! But how do we do that, especially if we don’t feel like a “disability expert” to begin with?
Start with finding common ground! Point out shared interests. Talk about common feelings. By finding shared qualities that our children have with a child with disabilities, it not only helps children bond and create friendships, it helps our kids see disabled people as individuals.
A second way to teach children about disability is to use inclusive language.
It is commonly suggested to use person-first language (“person with a disability” rather than “disabled person”) to show respect for the person – however many people with disabilities prefer identity-first language (“autistic person” rather than “person with autism”) – so we recommend to simply ask the person what they prefer, if possible.
It’s also important to avoid stereotypes, stigma and other ableist terminology. With kids, gently correcting misinformation or hurtful statements and teaching that these statements can cause someone to feel sad or excluded is a great way to not only help kids learn but to foster empathy and inclusion.
Another way to help kids learn about disability is to nurture empathy and curiosity.
Providing a safe space for kids to be interested and ask questions not only allows for disability education but lets them know that it is okay to be curious about difference.
Using books and media to tell positive and real stories about different people with disabilities can allow kids to learn about assistive devices, similarities and differences in daily life and interests they may share.
And finally, another great way to teach kids about disability is to promote kindness and inclusion.
Teach children not to point or stare at a person with disabilities and to use kind words when speaking to them. Encourage genuine friendship by teaching your child to ask before offering help to a disabled child – this teaches respect for the autonomy of the child with a disability.
And most importantly, as the adult, step in immediately if you see teasing, bullying or exclusion and let the child know that this behaviour is unacceptable!
August 29, 2025
What is intersectionality and why is it important?
Intersectionality means that social identities like race, gender, age, sexual orientation, geographic location and financial status are connected and that when they overlap in a person’s life, they can create extra challenges or discrimination.
Intersectionality can significantly impact a person’s experience of their disability by creating unique challenges and barriers at the intersection of multiple social identities.
When we understand how different types of discrimination are connected, we can break down the systems that cause these disadvantages and create a more fair and inclusive society where everyone’s experiences matter.
Beginning with Gender, women with disabilities often face a double burden of discrimination, experiencing sexism and ableism. This can manifest as barriers to healthcare, employment, and participation in society.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity can cause 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals with disabilities to face unique challenges due to homophobia, transphobia, and ableism. This can include discrimination in healthcare, housing, and other essential services.
Further intersections with disability are Race, Ethnicity and Religious Beliefs.
People with disabilities from racial, ethnic and religious minority groups may experience compounded discrimination due to both racism/religious intolerance and ableism. This can lead to disparities in access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
Two more forms of intersectionality with disability are Socioeconomic Status and Age.
Individuals with disabilities who also live in poverty may face additional barriers to accessing essential resources like healthcare, transportation, and assistive technology. This can create a cycle of poverty and disability, further limiting opportunities.
Ageism can intersect with disability, leading to negative stereotypes and assumptions about the abilities of both older adults and young people with disabilities. This can impact access to services, employment, and social participation.
Another two types of intersections with disability are Geographic Location and Culture/Language.
People with disabilities in rural or remote areas may experience limited access to specialized healthcare, support services, and transportation. This can further exacerbate the challenges associated with disability.
Disabled people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds may face additional barriers due to language differences and cultural misunderstandings. This can impact access to healthcare, education, and social services.
So why is Intersectionality important?
Because disability doesn’t exist in isolation.
People with disabilities also have identities connected to race, gender, culture, language, sexual orientation, and more. All of these parts of who we are shape our experiences in the world.
When policies and practices ignore these intersections, some voices get left out — and inequality grows. But when we take them into account, we can create a society that is fairer, more inclusive, and responsive to the real needs of people with disabilities.
Because inclusion means seeing the whole person. 💙
August 13, 2025
Current Alerts:
Municipalities:
Prepare:
Health Services:
Evacuation:
(Please note that everyone who evacuates under an official Evacuation Order MUST register with the Canadian Red Cross.)
July 28, 2025
Travelling can be challenging at the best of times, but even more so if you use mobility aids such as a wheelchair or walker. And while planning ahead is important, it’s also great to know what to do if things go wrong during your travels! 🛬
The Canadian Transportation Agency (Canadian Transportation Agency) can help with any accessibility-related questions you may have. They cover all national public transportation such as ferries, busses and trains as well as international airplane travel. And should you find yourself needing assistance in another country it is best to contact their Canadian Embassy for support. 🍁
So what should you do if your transportation provider doesn’t return your mobility aid in the same shape as the beginning of your journey?
✈️Take photos of your aid before and after travel – this can help if you need to file a damage claim
✈️Complete a damage claim where you receive your mobility aid – at the plane, train, bus or ferry terminal – and give it to your transport provider before you leave the building
If your mobility aid is damaged beyond use, lost or not returned to you in a timely fashion, your carrier must:
🚋Reimburse you for any expenses incurred
🚋Provide you with a temporary aid that meets your needs
🚋Arrange a repair, provide a suitable replacement or reimburse the cost of your aid
You can also visit the Canadian Transportation Agency site for support through their claims resolution services.
July 23, 2025
🌞🍔 Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday for our Annual Members’ Barbecue! It was a beautiful day filled with good food, great company, and lots of laughter.
Special thanks to all the volunteers that helped make our barbecue possible.
And a HUGE shoutout to Member Services Coordinator Sherri Tucker (and her awesome summer students) for creating a fabulous back yard carnival for everyone to enjoy and for arranging all the many (many) other details that helped make this event one to remember!
Events like these remind us of the power of community and the joy of coming together in a space where everyone belongs.💙
June 2, 2025
Big thanks to everyone who participated in our National AccessAbility Week contest, and to those of you who liked and shared the entries!
Our contest winner is Kim Underhay, with her lovely painting and thoughtful words about EmpowerNL and Independent Living.
Congratulations Kim!
(We will be in touch.)
