December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day that promotes inclusive, accessible, and sustainable societies. This year’s theme is the role that people with disabilities play in achieving a more equitable world as we work to fulfill the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
How can we achieve these SDGs while supporting persons with disabilities?
By supporting Shine Experience Programs!
Shine Experiences help young people living with severe physical disabilities think differently about their future and develop a sense of purpose that gives them the confidence and tools to contribute to their society. Many recipients turn their Shine Experiences into potential careers, advancing their education, and becoming leaders to others, showing the world they are capable of great things.
Marco Pasqua is one of many outstanding Shine alumni who have turned their Shine Experience into making Canada more inclusive for those with disabilities. His story below explains how his inspirational speaking, advocacy, and consulting work is making progress in achieving the SDGs.
Marco Pasqua: Giving back. Paying it forward.
Marco was just like any other fun-loving kid - the only difference, he was born with cerebral palsy. So, when Marco hoped that his family could take a trip to Disneyland, Shine helped make it happen. That was in 1992, and while it was his first interaction with Shine, it would not be his last. Marco strongly believes that his trip to Disneyland had a powerful impact on his life.
Today Marco is a Shine Foundation board member and uses his Shine experience to pay it forward as a mentor, inspirational speaker, and accessibility advocate for people with disabilities. It is through his experiences, personally and professionally, that he is helping to pave the way for all Canadians to have universal access to the programs, services, and places where they live, work, and play.
“I believe that I’m in this field as a result of organizations like Shine because I was shown other people paying it forward to me and really showing me that a disability doesn’t mean a disadvantage.”
Learn more about Marco at: https://www.marcopasqua.com/
