I live by one line. It is not about ME. It is all about WE. That line has shaped my entire life. I was born three months premature and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. The doctors told my parents I had 24 hours to live. Today, after almost 30 surgeries, I have spent my life navigating a world that was not designed with me in mind.
I know what it feels like to arrive somewhere and realize I cannot get in. A building with no ramp. A restaurant with no accessible seating. A park with no path. These moments stay with you. They shape how you see yourself and how you see your place in the world. They tell you that the world expects you to adjust to it instead of the world adjusting to include you. I have spent my life pushing back on that idea.
My work across Canada comes from that lived experience. I speak with teams, train staff, and support events and venues that want to understand what inclusion looks like in real life. I have seen how one conversation can shift a mindset. I have seen how a single question can open a door. I remind people that disability is a spectrum and that every person has different needs. I encourage curiosity instead of hesitation. I believe people with disabilities want to be heard and seen, and that most barriers come from not knowing what you do not know.
I also want people to see what is possible. You can be an entrepreneur. You can be an event planner. You can be an athlete. You can be a leader in your community. You can build something meaningful even when the world was not designed with you in mind. I want the next generation to see that their story does not have to be limited by someone else’s expectations. There is no single path for people with disabilities. There are many.
That is why I am proud to support InclusiV. The event reflects the values I carry into every room. It is built with intention and community at the centre. It creates a space where people with and without disabilities can move, connect, and feel welcome without having to ask for accommodation. It shows what can happen when inclusion is part of the design from the beginning. It shows what belonging can look like when it is done with care.
InclusiV aligns with the HOPE campaign I founded, Help One Person Everyday. Change does not happen in one sweeping moment. It happens through small, consistent actions. A conversation. A choice. A space that invites people in instead of leaving them out. When I look at this event, I see a reflection of the future I want to help build. A future where people do not have to fight to be included. A future where inclusion feels natural, not forced. A future where community is something you feel the moment you arrive.
BIO
Brad Bartko is a para boxing athlete, accessibility advocate, and co founder of Accessible by Design. His company provides accessibility audits, staff training, and long term planning for businesses and events across Canada and the United States. Brad has worked with restaurants, hotels, institutions, and festivals to help create spaces where everyone feels welcome. He is a recipient of the 2022 Queens Platinum Jubilee Medal and competed with Boxing Canada in March 2025. Brad supports Substance Cares programs including InclusiV and Spectrum Works.
