You are here: Home / News
December 25, 2025
Merry Christmas to our members and to the entire disability community 🎄
We’re wishing you a season filled with warmth, care, and moments of rest and connection — however you choose to celebrate. Thank you for being part of our community, for showing up for one another, and for reminding us every day why accessibility, inclusion, and kindness matter.
Take care, be gentle with yourself, and know you are valued — today and always.💙
December 21, 2025
Congratulations to this year’s Independent Living Award winners! 🏆
We are proud to celebrate your achievements, leadership, and impact in our community. 🎉
Thank you as well to Minister Wall for attending and showing support for Independent Living and the disability community. Your presence and recognition mean a great deal to our award recipients and to us. đź’™
December 20, 2025
The 2025 winner of the Community and Social Inclusion Award for Independent Living is the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association-NL!
CHHA-NL has a number of subsidized programs that contribute towards inclusion in the community namely the Public Accessibility Fund (PAF) and the Alert and Aware Fund (AAF). The PAF pays for half the cost to qualifying organizations that install Assistive Listening Systems (ALS) in public meeting spaces. The AAF pays for the full cost of the First Alert System to individuals that qualify based on their income.
CHHA-NL has been providing the Public Accessibility Fund (PAF) since 2013 and budgets between $8,000 to $10,000 per year. These Assistive Listening Systems (ALS) have been installed in many public facilities with meeting rooms, churches, halls, etc. The Alert and Aware Fund (AAF) was originally started in 2018 with a $20,000 grant from the Government of NL, however, the program was continued after that by CHHA-NL with a yearly contribution of about $5,000.
(The Community and Social Inclusion Award for Independent Living is for a person, team, community organization, or group of individuals who have worked towards a more inclusive environment by creating opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in areas such as sports, the arts, education, recreation, and the wider community involvement.)
December 19, 2025
The 2025 winner of the Seniors Award for Independent Living is Kimberley Ann Underhay!
Kim’s commitment to inclusion is both personal and practical. She has a positive attitude that inspires those around her. Even though she lives alone, she surrounds herself with good friends, many of whom also have disabilities, so she never feels isolated. Her confidence, independence, and joyful outlook make her a role model for others who may be adjusting to life with disabilities or seeking to build more independence. She is a strong advocate for using community services and resources that empower people with disabilities.
Kim encourages others to connect with EmpowerNL and to take part in community programs such as painting classes, arts and crafts, and swimming at local centers including the Pottle Centre, The Hub, The Mews Center, Paul Reynolds Center, and the Froude Avenue Community Centre. Her enthusiasm motivates others to get involved, helping them build social connections and confidence through shared experiences.
Kim’s work and example have had a lasting impact on her community. She has helped empower others to embrace their independence, stay active, and feel included. Her positivity, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to inclusion truly embody the spirit and mission of EmpowerNL.
(The Seniors Award for Independent Living is for a member of EmpowerNL who is at the age of 55+ and is actively engaged in Centre activities and community events. This recipient leads by example and mentors other members in community engagement.)
December 18, 2025
The 2025 winner of the Business Award for Independent Living is Sheldon Crocker – Crocker’s Transformative Thinking!
Sheldon Crocker has dedicated more than a decade of his life to making Newfoundland and Labrador a more inclusive, compassionate place for people with disabilities. His commitment has been constant and heartfelt — expressed through his work in the arts, education, recreation, business, and community building.
As an author, Sheldon’s Keep on Walking trilogy — Keep on Walking, The Road to Resilience, and Resilience Redefined — has touched countless lives since the first book was published in 2020, three months after the beginning of the pandemic. Sheldon says “I took it upon myself to be a beacon of hope in sharing my story in such a negative time.” He uses his own story to break down stigma and open honest conversations about disability, resilience, and self-worth. His author readings and talks across the province have given people hope and a sense that their own stories matter too.
Through Crocker’s Transformative Thinking and his online community – Community of Unstuck Minds (founded in 2019), Sheldon has created safe, supportive spaces for hundreds of people to connect and share. These communities are built on empathy, authenticity, and hope — values Sheldon lives every day.
(The Business Award for Independent Living is for a business that has displayed an innovative approach and achieved substantial outcomes, in supporting the full inclusion of people with disabilities in areas such as employment, transportation, social development, housing, communication and technology.)
December 17, 2025
The 2025 winner of the Young Leader Award for Independent Living is Annalea Pudan-Sproule.
Annalea is a 19-year-old woman residing in Adam’s Cove, having moved to NL in 2019 as a tween to Carbonear. She was diagnosed with autism and ADHD just before she turned 18, having traumatic brain injury and TMJ issues since the age of 9, suffering from migraines for the majority of her life. Without support for her IEP or impactful academic accommodation until after high school graduation, she has made her way to post-secondary, attending Tyndale University in her second year of the Biblical Studies and Theology program.
Her leadership started with her participation with Girl Guides as the former co-chair and chair of the local Girl Guides of Canada Provincial youth forum Newfoundland and Labrador. She won their National Change Maker Award in 2023 and moved up to the National Girl Guide Committee to engage with topics raised by youth forums from all provinces and territories.
Annalea is involved with the Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Parliament. She has participated in numerous pageants in the province, using her public speaking opportunity to talk about intersectionality, placemaking and harm reduction, advocating for persons with disabilities and those impacted by racism by sharing her lived experience of discrimination to give visibility and testimony to the invisible barriers she faced during marginalization in this province.
She aspires to be a part of rural communities exploring religious studies with a desire to serve the residents and wanting to involve herself in politics for this province and achieve equitable representation as a person of colour with disability. That is why she continues to advocate the need to identify and challenge systemic gaps as they happen to read the pulse and manifest change, evolving in real time with the needs of the people, especially youth with disabilities living in rural communities.
(The Young Leader Award for Independent Living is for a young person with a disability, under 30 years of age, who has raised awareness and shown outstanding leadership in promoting full inclusion of people with disabilities in NL.)
December 16, 2025
The 2025 winner of the Members Award for Independent Living is Amanda Howlett!
Amanda’s inspiring journey with EmpowerNL began in 2006 when she joined as a quiet, shy youth group member. Over the years, she blossomed into a strong advocate for people with disabilities, starting to volunteer in 2008 with peer support activities and eventually becoming a Peer Leader for the Dinner Club. Her commitment culminated in her service as a Board Member, where she educates and provides valuable insight.
Furthermore, Amanda demonstrated remarkable professional growth since graduating high school, transitioning from relying on a job coach to working independently in a job she loves, perfectly illustrating the empowering impact of her involvement and dedication to the IL Philosophy. Amanda is a valuable member of EmpowerNL who demonstrates Independent living and encourages other members to engage in their community.
(The Members Award for Independent Living is for a member of EmpowerNL who is active in Centre activities and community events and leads by example for other Members of EmpowerNL.)
December 8, 2025
Date: December 11
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
We are hosting an online group session to talk about the end of Windows 10 support and what it means for you. We will explain your options in simple, clear language — upgrading to Windows 11, switching to Linux, or choosing a new device. This is a great chance to ask questions and learn what steps to take next.
What We Will Cover
During the session, we will talk about:
We will also explain what to look for when buying a computer/Device, in simple terms. We will go over:
Everyone is welcome. If you want help, support, or just clear answers, this online session is for you.
Please click the link to fill out the registration form: The End of Windows 10 Support Registration Form
November 5, 2025
🎄✨ You’re invited to the Empower Christmas Dinner & Dance! ✨🎄
Join us for an evening of good food, great music, and holiday cheer!
đź“… Saturday, December 13, 2025
🕕 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
📍 CLB Armoury (83 Harvey’s Road)
Space is limited — you must register to save your spot! Don’t miss out on one of our favourite events of the year.
Registration Form – EmpowerNL Christmas Dinner and Dance
October 27, 2025
A big congratulations to our Garden Committee on another successful season! 🌿
Last week’s harvest was a great success — and our accessible garden beds made it possible for everyone to take part.
Our garden allows for people of all abilities to come together to enjoy gardening – from planning to planting, tending to harvesting – we learn, share community and enjoy being outdoors.
