What People Have Said About Karen…
“Karen led an incredible inclusivity session with our 30 person staff team at BC Women’s Health Foundation. She facilitated a nuanced and frank discussion. Her vulnerability was so refreshing, and a necessary reminder that inclusivity and language is constantly shifting and negotiated. Karen is out in front of these issues. She’s authentic. She’s not afraid to be critical. On behalf of our entire staff team, I would highly recommend her as a consultant and workshop facilitator.”
“A tireless advocate for inclusion, Karen Lai lends an invaluable perspective on the universal issues of disability and accessibility. By encouraging self-reflection and greater awareness, she helps us recognize that we all have the ability to contribute and recognize any perceived limitations as only strengths and opportunities.
Karen has hosted focus groups and workshops within all areas of our organization as well as skillfully facilitated discussions with the people we serve, families, Board, and employees. She has also drafted reports to help focus some of our strategic initiatives. We look forward to continuing our work with her!”
“Karen has been a Guest Speaker in our “Valuing Diversity in Leadership” course in the Recreation Leadership Diploma at Langara College. Karen’s lived experience, knowledge, education, sense of curiosity and advocacy for people of all abilities to be included in community creates an environment for people to be curious about inclusion and to explore this area through thoughtful conversations that create deep learning. Karen challenges our thinking about segregation, integration and inclusion, she encourages us to be vulnerable and curious in creating ways to work together in our communities.”
Karen delivers thoughtful, accessible workshops that empower people to tap into their vulnerability and do deep work within themselves, as a route to helping others. As a recipient and then organizer booking Karen for workshops for educators, her ability to connect with people and bring them into a circle of safety, sharing and learning is unparalleled. I ask Karen to lead workshops for us again and again as they never fail to resonate, inspire and engage our educators when working on the way they view and implement inclusion and accessibility in their spaces. Karen's way of thinking and sharing about vulnerability is something all people, in all positions and environments need in their toolkit.
— Jade Berrill, Director of Learning, Outdoor Learning Store.
“Karen works to not only challenge and shift perceptions of folks with disabilities, her works serves to contribute to broader systematic change - that truly enters inclusion and diversity. Her work impacts community directly and immediately through her relational approach to working with individuals and groups within organizational systems. Through direct service, program development, and support to community, she has gracefully challenged our own thinking of leadership. Together making our own spaces more inclusive, developing our capacity to expand this work within our community and leading the way for a shift in societal norms that centres people with disabilities, recognizing them in positions of power and leadership.”
Karen has been a consistent and supportive partner, advisor and contractor for several years, helping our organization reflect on our policies and practices to ensure we are thoughtful on becoming more inclusive and accessible to educators of all types. Her good nature, humour and positive personality have allowed our organization and staff open up to changing our programs and culture to ensure we continue to learn and grow.
— Duncan Whittick, Executive Director, The Outdoor Learning Store
Karen has the unique ability to challenge folks in their thinking, both personally and organizationally, while doing so with humour and grace. She truly helps create a safe space where thoughts and ideas can be shared without judgement. Her genuine interest in others is what makes her an outstanding facilitator and it's always the greatest pleasure to be in the same room as Karen!
— Colin Harris, Executive Director, Take Me Outside