by Tova Sherman
At reachAbility Association, we do not believe that having a disability or facing severe barriers is a life sentence to social or economic isolation. We exist for a simple, non-negotiable reason: to serve Nova Scotia’s most marginalized citizens.
Our mission is not about giving handouts or offering special treatment. It is about equalizing the playing field, plain and simple. Every individual deserves a fair shot at a fulfilling life, but the reality is that the systems around us do not always distribute opportunities equally. That is where we step in, filling a critical gap in services for those who are otherwise the least likely to get served.
Many Services to the Few
A core pillar of our philosophy is a commitment to providing many services to the few, rather than spreading a few shallow services across the many. We know that complex, intersecting barriers cannot be solved with a generic, one-size-fits-all checklist. True empowerment requires deep, dedicated, and personalized care.
We break down our support into core areas that build sustainable independence:
- Emotional Management & Self-Awareness: Programs like One Step Closer help individuals build a personal toolkit for thriving, focusing on emotional resilience, self-confidence, and stress management.
- Employment Skills & Counselling: Through tailored career development resources like our Employment Boot Camp, we provide one-on-one coaching to help clients uncover their unique skills and successfully enter or re-enter the workforce.
- Mental Health & Wellness: We incorporate unique therapeutic resources into our everyday programming. This includes dedicated team members like Chelsea, our compassionate employment support counsellor, and Neo, our certified, lovable Newfoundland-Poodle therapy dog who helps reduce anxiety during intense counseling sessions.
Going Where the Needs Are
Barriers do not stay confined to a central office, so neither do we. We take our programming directly on the road to reach underserved geographic locations and community spaces like local shelters. If a citizen cannot access us, we remove the physical barrier by bringing the support straight to them.
Guiding this entire operation is a board of stakeholders who care deeply about lived experiences and systemic barriers. Because they understand these challenges firsthand, they ensure our strategies remain deeply human and highly practical.
The Win, Win, Win Philosophy
Our social enterprise acts as a bridge, bringing first-person voices and authentic expertisedirectly into local boardrooms. We train businesses to move past token diversity and step into true inclusion with practical guidance that delivers measurable results.
As CEO of reachAbility, I literally wrote the book on this approach: Win, Win, Win: The 18 Inclusion-isms You Need to Become a Disability Confident Employer. We live by this exact mindset, seeking at least three wins in everything we do.
In our employment preparation work, for example, a “win, win, win” means that when an individual getting hired gains independence, the employer gains an incredible asset with a unique lived experience and viewpoint, and the entire Nova Scotian community grows stronger. The more buy-in we secure from local businesses, the more everyone benefits.
The economic and social benefits of this approach are tangible. Businesses and organizations with a more diverse workforce attract a more diverse clientele. Organizations that prioritize hiring and retaining employees from traditionally marginalized groups build loyalty in those communities and in their workforce. Put simply, I want to spend my money in places where I can see at least one employee who reflects some of my own history and experience. So let’s stop treating inclusion like a charitable afterthought when it is, in fact, a money-maker, and a community-builder. Together, we can build a Nova Scotia where no one is left on the sidelines, and we can all prosper as a result.
If you are a business leader looking to build a more resilient workforce, consider exploring reachAbility’s Business Services to learn how your team can adopt a win, win, win approach.
