
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA)
Creating Spaces for Healing That Honour Every Story.
​
At the Centre for Grief and Healing, we believe in fostering spaces where everyone—regardless of identity, background, or ability—feels seen, valued, and supported. Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) are not just guiding principles for us; they are active commitments that shape every part of our work.
WHAT IDEA MEANS TO US
At the Centre for Grief and Healing, we believe that while grief is a universal experience, it is profoundly personal and shaped by identity, culture, and lived experiences. We also recognize that systems of oppression, systemic inequities, and social stigma deeply influence how individuals experience and navigate loss. This understanding is at the heart of our commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA).
​
To us, IDEA means creating spaces where every person feels safe(r), respected, and supported in their grief journey, no matter their background, identity, or ability. It means acknowledging the unique challenges faced by underserved communities and taking meaningful action to ensure equitable access to grief support services. Through intentional listening and continuous learning, we aim to provide services that honour the diverse needs of individuals and communities, while actively dismantling barriers that prevent people from accessing support.
​
Our work is driven by the belief that healing happens when everyone has the opportunity to grieve authentically, in a way that reflects and respects their lived reality. At the Centre for Grief and Healing, we strive to embody IDEA principles in everything we do, creating inclusive and compassionate spaces where all voices and experiences are valued.
Fostering Inclusion Through Grief Support
INCLUSION
Creating safer, welcoming spaces where every voice is valued.
DIVERSITY
Honoring the unique identities and experiences of every person we serve.
EQUITY
Addressing barriers and bridging gaps to ensure fair access to grief support.
ACCESSIBILITY
Ensuring our services are available to all, including those with disabilities and financial constraints.
PUTTING IDEA INTO ACTION

We integrate IDEA principles into every aspect of our work, ensuring that our services, programs, and organizational practices reflect our commitment to equity and inclusion. Here’s how:
-
Inclusive Programming: We design grief support groups and resources that reflect the needs of diverse communities, including 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, BIPOC, people with disabilities, and those from different cultural and religious backgrounds.
-
Equity-Driven Access: We prioritize equitable access to our services, ensuring that no one is turned away due to financial or systemic barriers.
-
Community-Centered Approach: We collaborate with community members and partners to ensure our work is informed by and responsive to the lived experiences of those we serve.
-
Ongoing Learning: Our team participates in training and education on topics such as anti-oppressive practices, intersectionality, cultural humility, and trauma-informed care.
-
Representation Matters: We strive to ensure that our team, board and committee members, and volunteers reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
OUR GOALS AND AMBITIONS
As a small, volunteer-driven charity, we are continually striving to expand our commitment to IDEA. Our current goals include:​
-
​​Develop more culturally-specific grief support resources and services
-
Develop grief support programs specifically for underserved communities, such as 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, Indigenous Peoples, racialized groups, and people with disabilities
-
Recruit and train peer support workers who represent the diversity of the communities served
-
Review intake and consent processes to ensure they are inclusive and trauma-informed
-
Increase representation of diverse groups (e.g., race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability) in leadership roles and decision-making processes
-
Increasing outreach to underserved communities, including BIPOC and rural populations
-
Partner with organizations and community leaders serving equity-seeking groups to identify gaps in grief support
-
Enhancing training for our staff and volunteers on anti-racism, intersectionality, and disability justice
-
Evaluate and adapt policies to align with anti-oppressive and anti-racist practices
-
Organize more workshops addressing grief experiences unique to specific populations (e.g., 2SLGBTQ+ grief, perinatal loss)
-
Set measurable DEI goals with clear timelines and accountability structures
-
Secure funding to expand services for underserved populations
-
Increased outreach to rural and remote communities to ensure access to free grief support

WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED SO FAR
While we recognize there is always more work to be done, we are proud of the progress we’ve made:​

-
​Eliminated all financial barriers by ensuring programs and materials remain 100% free of charge (1989-present)
-
Began collecting demographic data on who accesses services to identify gaps in outreach and supports (2019-present)
-
Used survey data to adapt programs and address gaps in serving underserved populations (2020-present)
-
Provided all staff and volunteers with training on anti-oppressive practices, intersectionality, and cultural humility (2020-present)
-
Hosted workshops and webinars on unique experiences with grief, such as 2SLGBTQ+ Grief, Grief in Indigenous Communities, and more (2020-present)
-
Developed a DEI statement and incorporated it into the charity's values (2021)
-
Promoted awareness of grief's impact on vulnerable populations through campaigns on social media and in newsletters (2021-present)
-
Secured funding to run culturally specific groups and ensure resources and sessions remain free of charge (2021-present)
-
Celebrated progress toward DEI milestones in community newsletters and team updates (2021-present)
-
Solicited anonymous feedback from clients on their experiences with the organization to inform improvements (2021-present)
-
Incorporated feedback from clients to ensure programs meet diverse needs and feel inclusive (2021-present)
-
Developed and implemented a formal annual survey for members to assess inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (2022-present
-
​Launched grief support groups tailored for South Asian and Japanese communities, offering sessions in their respective languages (2021-2023)
-
Integrated trauma-informed practices and principles into organizational policies, procedures, and programs (2023)
-
Developed and facilitated specific grief groups for BIPOC individuals, older adults, and 2SLGBTQ+ community members (2023-present)
-
Shared client stories and testimonials anonymously to highlight the impact of culturally and socially specific grief support services (2023-present)
-
Built meaningful relationships with Indigenous organizations (FOPT) to work toward better mental health systems for Indigenous youth (2023-present)
-
Provided iPads and tablets to clients accessing social assistance, enabling them to access virtual grief support programs and resources (2023)
-
Ensure marketing and fundraising materials reflect the diversity of the communities served (2023-present)
-
Established a IDEA Committee to guide organizational efforts toward inclusion, equity, and accessibility (2025)
I.D.E.A. Statement
Fostering Hope and Healing for All Walks of Life.
We've come a long way since 1989 and still have a ways to go. Why? At the Centre for Grief and Healing (CFGH), diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility don't have an end date. We strive to foster an unending commitment to learning from, working with, creating programs for and supporting our diverse community members and their unique grief experiences. Our team is dedicated to including diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible practices at the center of our daily work. We commit to using and improving these practices for our organization and for our communities.
Our team provides mutual, inclusive support through diverse programming, endless advocacy, and community education. We strive to foster belonging and empowerment for all of our members, staff, volunteers, and students. We listen to and engage with all walks of life and we value and welcome all unique experiences and qualities: both visible and invisible. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our purpose and to our impact.
Join us in embracing and celebrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for all people in all communities.
We grow together today, to create a better tomorrow.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DISABILITY INCLUSION
At the Centre for Grief and Healing (also known as Bereaved Families of Ontario - Halton/Peel), we believe in fostering a community where everyone feels seen, valued, and supported. Grounded in our mission to provide inclusive mutual support and education about grief, we strive to make our services and programs as accessible as possible for all members of Halton-Peel communities.
​
We approach accessibility with humility and the understanding that it is a continuous journey. Accessibility and disability are deeply personal and diverse experiences. What works well for one person or group may not work for another, and we honor this diversity by listening attentively and adapting as needed. While we may never claim to be fully accessible in every way—because we are navigating a complex landscape where needs and preferences vary—we are committed to doing our best with the resources we have. We are continually learning and evolving to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
​
Our team takes a person-centered approach, meaning we prioritize the unique needs and preferences of every individual who accesses our services. Whether it’s through inclusive language, adapting our programs, or reflecting on feedback, we are constantly asking ourselves how we can create spaces and resources that truly work for everyone. We invite our community members to share their needs and preferences as we work to ensure that they are respected.​

We also understand the importance of acknowledging Canada’s history of systemic barriers and discrimination against disabled individuals and people with disabilities, especially in relation to mental health and accessing services. We see it as our responsibility to challenge these historical inequities and support the right of disabled people and people with disabilities to access the resources they need.
​
As a small, volunteer-driven organization with limited resources, we recognize the challenges we face in making quick, widespread changes. Despite these limitations, we are deeply committed to making meaningful progress where possible and are always striving to improve. We are transparent about where we are in our accessibility efforts, what we’ve accomplished, and the work that remains.
​
To ensure that our services and supports meet the evolving needs of our community, we actively seek feedback from those we serve. Through surveys and open dialogue, we listen to the voices of our community members about how our programs, services, and accessibility efforts impact them. This feedback helps guide our decisions, and it is through this collaborative process that we move toward growth.
If you are interested in accessing our supports, volunteering to help us grow, or donating to assist in funding accessibility improvements, we encourage you to reach out. Together, we can continue fostering a community of mutual support, healing, and inclusion, working towards a future where everyone has access to the resources they need to thrive.​
We understand that words alone are not enough, which is why we are actively taking steps to improve accessibility within our organization. Here's how we are making it happen:
COMPLETED AND ONGOING ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVES
-
Conduct regular surveys with clients and volunteers to gather feedback on accessibility, informing ongoing improvements (2019-present)
-
Offering support for individuals who need help navigating digital forms (2020-present)
-
Implemented annual Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Training for staff and volunteers, ensuring continual compliance and understanding (2021-present)
-
Ensure that all staff and volunteers complete basic disability awareness training (2021-present)
-
Incorporated questions about accessibility needs in all event registrations and organization forms, and established a process for requesting accommodations (2021-present)
-
Made our website accessible using AccessiBe, ensuring it is AODA compliant (without external funding or affiliation) (2022)
-
Integrated website accessibility compliance into our budgeting processes (2022-present)
-
Facilitated a free webinar focused on grief and disability, providing education and resources to support individuals navigating both experiences (2022, with hopes to offer this ongoingly)
-
Successfully transitioned to a hybrid model for group supports, providing both virtual and in-person options (2023-present)
-
Introduced cleanable STIM and fidget toys for neurodivergent individuals visiting our in-person groups, including staff, volunteers, and community members (2023)
-
Created a concise guide on using Zoom and its key features to support accessibility and user-friendly virtual meetings (2023)
-
Developed and implemented policies and procedures that prioritize and discuss accessibility (2023)
-
Revised job descriptions and student placement descriptions to include accessibility information (2023)
-
Established an anonymous feedback loop for clients and community members (2023)
-
Committed to hosting community events in accessible venues, ensuring all accessibility requirements are communicated to participants in advance (2023-present)
-
Expanded staff roles to include accessibility responsibilities (2024)
-
Developed an in-person accessibility document that details room features (e.g., chair heights, doorways, accessible entrances) with accompanying visuals to ensure ease of access for our in-person groups (2024)
-
Incorporated a clause for closed captioning and ensuring captions are enabled for all virtual groups, events, and webinars (2024)
-
Developed a guide on creating accessible documents and designs to ensure AODA compliance (2024)
-
Compiled a document outlining best practices for virtual accessibility, tailored for staff, students, and volunteers (2024)
-
Added a "Grief and Disability" module to our "Navigating Through Grief" educational workshops to provide specialized education on this topic (2024)
-
Facilitated support groups specifically focused on prioritizing people with disabilities and provided tablets to individuals without access to technology, ensuring they could participate in the sessions (2024)
-
Committed to using plain and simple language in communications (2024)
-
Committed to reviewing all policies related to accessibility and disability every two years (2024 and ongoing)
-
Created a comprehensive disability commitment statement that outlines our approach and dedication to accessibility (2025)
-
Launched this webpage, dedicated to accessibility, with regular updates to maintain transparency and ensure accuracy (2025)
IN-PROGRESS AND FUTURE GOALS
-
Revising all soft-copy/online documents and resources for staff and volunteers to ensure compliance with AODA requirements (e.g., ALT text, larger font sizes, high-contrast text and graphics) (2024-2026)
-
Plan to offer ASL interpreters for major events and meetings (2025)
-
Establish Professional Advisory and I.D.E.A. (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) Committees that will include voices from the disability community to guide and evaluate accessibility efforts (2025)
-
Allocate a dedicated portion of our budget for accessibility improvements, including funds for interpreters and specialized accommodations (2025)
-
Create an internal resource library of accessibility tools for staff and volunteers (2025)
-
Foster partnerships with local disability organizations to share resources and collaborate on accessibility initiatives
-
Conduct regular accessibility audits of services, programs, and physical spaces, ensuring ongoing evaluation and identification of improvement areas
Accessibility Considerations
When coming to in-person groups at our main office location in Mississauga, please click here for our in-person accessibility document.
If you have any questions or feedback related to accessibility at our organization, we would love to hear from you. For anonymous feedback, please click here. To connect with us directly, please email us at programs@bereavedfamilies.ca.