Disability Expo helps Yukoners connect to local services

Chase Blodgett says there'sstill a lot of work to be done to improve society's understanding of people with disabilities.

Blodgett, a learning coordinator with the Learning Disabilities Association of Yukon, was one of the representatives at the 13 annual Disability Expo that took place in Whitehorse on Thursday.

• VIDEO: CBC's Philippe Morin tours theDisability Expo

"I think there's still a stigma,"Blodgettsays. "I still think there's room for improvement, in terms of recognizing these people don't have different needs, they just have needs like everyone else."

The expo is a way to introduce people to programs in the community and also serves as a forum to share ideas.

Alan Macklon with the YukonMultiple Sclerosis Associationsays there is value to have everyone in one place.

"We probably know of about 50 people who have, or are affected by MS in the community. This is a way to get our name out there, so if people are diagnosed with MS, people are new to MS they know we're there."

Victor MacIntosh was telling people at the expo about his work.He has a job building wooden planter boxes with Challenge,a program that creates jobs for people with disabilities. Clients help run a cafe and also build sturdy plant boxes.

"I enjoy it, I worked with wood before. I like working with themachines," MacIntoshsays.

At another table, Lissa Best with Autism Yukonhad shirts reading: "We all belong."

"That's our mandate, to make these kids, these adults, feel like they belong, especially in the Yukon," she says.