Last year, Easter Seals invited youth in Grades 6 – 12 across BC and Yukon to design a t-shirt that symbolizes the theme making BC/Yukon a better place to live through an AccessAble society.
National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) is an annual celebration, taking place May 25 – 31, 2025, promoting inclusion and accessibility, while recognizing the efforts of individuals and organizations who are working to remove barriers and create a truly inclusive Canada.
The designs of this year’s shirts are extra special – they were created by the talented winners of our AccessAbility Week Design Contest, Chloe and Sophia!
By wearing this shirt, you’re not only showing your support for accessibility, but you’re also helping Easter Seals BC/Yukon continue to provide essential services like accessible summer camps, housing, and community programs for people with disabilities.
*Limited quantity and sizes
Accept Each Other’s Identity
“Overall, I wanted to create an artwork that represents Easter Seals and equality all around Canada. I added mountains at the bottom because people with disabilities should stand tall no matter what holds them back from incredible dreams. I also wanted to celebrate all the indigenous peoples all around Canada, that is why I had added the Canadian flag with indigenous patterns in it to celebrate their unique culture that have been caring for this land and respecting the animals for thousands of years. Lastly, I have added this flag because I wanted to thank the Coast Salish of my area the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim speaking peoples that allowed us to live, learn, and play on this land. ”
– Sophia, Grade 6 – 8
Breaking barriers
“In crafting the design, I chose to depict a salmon as the central motif to symbolize the courageous act of breaking through barriers. Just as salmons swim upstream against the current, defying natural obstacles, this imagery embodies the spirit of resilience and determination in overcoming challenges. The waves in the design serve as a metaphor for the diverse categories and communities that exist within our society. Each wave represents a unique demographic or group, each with its own distinct identity and experience. Crucially, I decided to forgo outlining the design. This was driven by a desire to foster a sense of unity and interconnectedness among the communities. By removing the barriers of delineation, I aimed to emphasize the importance of open communication, collaboration, and understanding across different groups.”
– Chloe, Grade 9 -12
Congratulations to our 2023 Flag Contest Winners!
Grade 6-8 Category
2023 Winner: Mudita S., Grade 8
School: Gordon Head Middle School, Victoria
“Overall, I wanted my flag to represent diversity in all forms. I decided to include a representation of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, so that’s why I chose to use this sacred symbol to portray my themes of inclusion. In the middle, I have an eagle feather; they represent friendship, honour, and respect in Indigenous cultures. These elements are key to having an accepting community, so I incorporated the eagle feather into my flag. Surrounding the flag is a mosaic style-background, each piece depicting a different aspect of diversity. I have pictures representing disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community, different ethnicities, and themes of kindness and love. There are also images to represent community and equity, which are important components I showcased in my flag. My design shows that we are all very diverse and important to society, so despite differences we can lead the way into a brighter future for all.” ~ Mudita, 2023 Winner
Grade 9-12 Category
2023 Winner: Sanjna A., Grade 9
School: Tamanawis Secondary School, Surrey
“I designed the flag around British Columbia’s provincial symbol, the spirit bear. Spirit bears symbolise courage and strength. By incorporating this symbol into the flag design, the province’s uniquely beautiful and diverse population is represented. The spirit bear’s silhouette captures the captivating northern lights, which can be seen in Yukon. A group of seven people, both disabled and not, can be seen walking down the mountain, gazing up at the starry sky. The pink string linking their hearts represents the phrase “Our hearts beat as one.” This phrase represents the unity and love that unify them despite their differences. They cherish every moment of life and appreciate the diversity that each individual brings to the group. On the flag’s border, a Steller’s Jay, British Columbia’s provincial bird, representing bold and fearless energy, rests on a branch. Finally, my flag’s colour theme is purple, which symbolises wisdom, peace, and pride.“ ~ Sanjna, 2023 Winner
Classroom Resources
Start meaningful conversations about disability in your classroom through materials provided by our community partner, the Rick Hansen Foundation. Their Resource Library contains full lesson plans, short activities, videos, e-books and more. Resources range from lesson plans, intended for educators in the classroom, to the Little Big Lessons collection, bite-sized lessons & activities.
Click here for classroom materials.
For more information on Neurodiversity and Autism check out these two documents provided by POPARD:
