Calgary’s Child Magazine

Outline your brand statement
By creating this directory, we do more than list resources – we drive systemic change. Our platform elevates businesses and organizations that champion accessibility while encouraging others to adopt more inclusive practices. Through storytelling and real-life examples, we highlight how inclusive programs positively impact families and foster a sense of belonging within the community.

What innovation project have you seen through in the last three year period?
Award Entry: Inclusivity & Accessibility Resource Directory
Innovation That Builds an Inclusive Community: The Inclusivity & Accessibility Resource Directory

Calgary’s Child Magazine believes that every family deserves access to resources and experiences that meet them where they are.

Our Inclusivity & Accessibility Resource Directory connects families with special needs to local businesses and organizations offering inclusive and accessible services. This groundbreaking initiative bridges gaps and tears down barriers to communication, ensuring all families can fully participate in all aspects of community life without wondering whether or not their child will be welcome.

Our directory is designed to highlight a diverse range of inclusive offerings, from medical and dental resources to family-friendly attractions, educational programs, and recreational activities. By curating these resources, we empower families to find the support they need while encouraging local businesses to prioritize inclusivity and accessibility in their programming and services. Families can also rest assured that the businesses listed have committed to creating an inclusive environment and will welcome their questions about specific needs.

A Commitment to Accessibility and Inclusion

What makes the Inclusivity & Accessibility Resource Directory truly innovative is its emphasis on clear, actionable information combined with a dedication to promoting inclusive environments. We’ve introduced Inclusive & Accessible Icons to make it easier for families to identify businesses and organizations that offer:

• Mobility Access: Including wheelchair accessibility, ramps, elevators, and adjusted programming.
• Sensory-Friendly Experiences: Featuring quiet rooms, dimmed lights, lower music, and trained staff for those with sensory sensitivities.
• Specialized Programming: Offering tailored services for children with diverse needs, ensuring they can fully participate and enjoy activities.
These icons are a powerful tool for promoting transparency and helping families quickly identify programs and experiences that cater to their needs.

Driving Change Through Visibility and Advocacy

By creating this directory, we do more than list resources – we drive systemic change. Our platform elevates businesses and organizations that champion accessibility while encouraging others to adopt more inclusive practices. Through storytelling and real-life examples, we highlight how inclusive programs positively impact families and foster a sense of belonging within the community.

This platform also provides organizations with a unique opportunity to increase their visibility, engage with new audiences, and showcase their commitment to inclusivity. By being part of the Inclusivity & Accessibility Resource Directory, businesses demonstrate that they value diversity and are dedicated to creating environments where every family feels welcome.

Creating Lasting Impact

The Inclusivity & Accessibility Resource Directory contributes to a stronger, more connected community by:
1. Empowering Families: Providing a centralized resource for families to find accessible and inclusive services that meet their unique needs.
2. Promoting Inclusive Practices: Encouraging businesses to adopt and maintain inclusive and accessible programs that serve all community members.
3. Raising Awareness: Amplifying the voices of organizations and families to highlight the importance of accessibility and inclusion.
Through this directory, Calgary’s Child Magazine actively advocates for a more inclusive future where every family can participate fully in community life. Our commitment to accessibility extends beyond information – we’re fostering a cultural shift that values and celebrates inclusion and diversity.

Why This Directory Matters

Accessibility is not just about physical spaces – it’s about fostering environments where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. The Inclusivity & Accessibility Resource Directory is a vital tool for advancing this mission, making it easier for families to find support and encouraging businesses to adopt inclusive practices.
In a city like Calgary, no family should feel left out. This directory is our way of ensuring that every child, regardless of their abilities, has access to the resources, experiences, and opportunities they deserve. Through this initiative, we reaffirm our dedication to building a city where everyone belongs – and where accessibility and inclusivity are at the heart of everything we do.

What problem were you trying to solve?
The problem Calgary’s Child Magazine aimed to solve with the Inclusivity & Accessibility Resource Directory was the lack of centralized, clear, and actionable information for families with special needs seeking inclusive and accessible services in Calgary.

Describe the Outcome
The Inclusivity & Accessibility Resource Directory addresses these issues by:

Connecting Families with Resources: Providing a centralized hub for families to find inclusive medical, educational, and recreational services.

Promoting Transparency: Introducing identifiable Inclusive & Accessible Icons to clearly signal what services businesses offer.

Advocating for Change: Elevating and encouraging businesses to adopt more inclusive practices while sharing real-life stories that highlight their positive impact. Many businesses made changes to their physical space and/or programming to better meet the needs of their clients with special needs. For example ramps, reduced noise and sensory stimuli.

Fostering a Sense of Belonging: Our goal was to ensure that every family, regardless of their child’s abilities, feels welcomed and empowered to participate fully in community life. We heard from many families that they felt excluded from family activities. One family shared a heartbreaking story of how their child was turned away from a facility because they could not accommodate his special needs. Another child was asked to leave because the staff had no training to manage a child experiencing a sensory crisis.

This initiative ultimately seeks to bridge gaps, remove barriers, and create a cultural shift where inclusivity and accessibility are core values in Calgary’s community.

How did this support your brand?
The Inclusivity & Accessibility Resource Directory directly supports Calgary’s Child Magazine’s brand by reinforcing our core values of community, advocacy, and connection while enhancing our reputation as a trusted, inclusive, and family-centered resource.

Our brand is built on the belief that every family deserves access to resources and experiences—this directory delivers on that promise by ensuring families with diverse needs feel seen, valued, and supported. It also reflects our long-standing dedication to connecting those in need with the resources that can help.

Families trust Calgary’s Child because we provide reliable, actionable information. The directory deepens this trust by offering clear, easy-to-use resources and removing the guesswork for families seeking inclusive programs. We hope to show families they’re not alone—that their challenges are understood and along with a community that cares, we actively work to make life easier for them.

How did this project connect with your audience?
We heard from our readers that they felt seen, heard and valued. Our directory shone a light on accessibility and inclusivity resources at city organizations, service providers, attractions and family facilities for them; we reinforced that every family belongs and deserves access. By highlighting accessible and inclusive resources, we opened a door to dialogue between families seeking resources that meet their unique needs and businesses willing to work to achieve them.

We heard stories of families now able to play and learn as a complete family, not just their able children.

We hope we helped take the stress out the overwhelming search for special needs resources.