On this episode of Just One Q, Dominique chats with Ingrid Palmer, an award-winning speaker, social justice consultant, and Principal IDEAL Advocate at Realize Canada. Through impactful personal stories, they explore the shift from procedural inclusion to true belonging for disabled employees, the power of universal design, and how to move beyond reactive accommodations to proactive, collective access.
Ingrid is an award winning speaker, bestselling author, and social justice consultant. She is the Principal IDEAL Advocate at Realize Canada, which is an organization dedicated to supporting people living with HIV and episodic disabilities.
Ingrid’s dedication to advancing EDI principle is deeply rooted in her living experiences of early childhood trauma, foster care, disability, and gender based violence. As a visually impaired former foster kid, Ingrid founded an organization called Focus On Ability to combat ableism, challenge bias, promote universal belonging, drive systemic change and debunk myths and stereotypes of stigmatized identities. Her acclaimed storytelling and writing highlights traditionally unheard perspectives of intersectionality, marginalized leadership, and community capacity.
As an advocate, she has championed issues in the housing, poverty, education, disability, and child welfare sectors. She has been instrumental in initiatives of poverty reduction, decent work, and gender equity. As a social justice consultant Ingrid has supported government, corporate and community organizations with community outreach and equity development. Her background in service includes Board Chair of the Child Welfare Political Action Committee, and Vice Chair of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities.
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