As part of CLBC’s recognition of the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3), we are highlighting the lived experience and leadership of one of our staff members Michelle Goos, CLBC Service Delivery Advisor. You can read more about CLBC’s Service Delivery Advisors here.
Michelle brings both professional expertise and personal lived experience as a parent with a disability. These insights deeply inform her work and contribute to our collective efforts to dismantle barriers and advance inclusion.
Interview with Michelle Goos, Service Delivery Advisor
Tell us about the project you’re presenting to the CLBC Board.
Michelle: I’m presenting my project on Parents Supporting Parents with Disabilities, which includes research, a literature review, and focus groups I’ve done with a CLBC colleague at the Canadian Institute of Inclusion and Citizenship. I also filmed part of my own story. Another former staff member will talk about being a stepdad with a disability. Minister Sheila [Malcolmson, Social Development and Poverty Reduction] will be there too.
What does the International Day of Persons with Disabilities mean to you?
Michelle: I don’t see myself as a disability first—I’m a mother, wife, sister, daughter, and aunt. The disability is just a label that helps me access what I need. I’m stronger than the label. I’d like to see people with disabilities highlighted all year—not just on one day.
Can you tell us about your family and your journey into parenting?
Michelle: I’ve been with my husband for 30 years, and we have a 27-year-old daughter who also has a diverse ability. When she was born in Surrey, there was a big nursing strike, and I didn’t feel supported. I didn’t know what resources I could ask for. We also couldn’t afford a private hospital room, so we kept getting moved around, and we didn’t have a car to bring the baby home. Those early days were stressful.
When we moved back to Victoria, I connected with a program called Parents Supporting Parents, which helps parents with disabilities find doctors, daycare, and navigate systems. That support made a huge difference.
What has becoming a parent meant to you?
Michelle: It’s been a journey with ups and downs. When you’re parenting with a disability, you always feel like you need to have “eyes on all four sides of your head” because you worry about child protection involvement. Some parents have had their children removed simply because of their disability. A lot of us are afraid to talk about needing help because we worry our kids will get taken away.
But my daughter has taught me so much. I’ve taught her too. I took her to free events, to Easter Seals camps, to youth programs that helped her feel confident. Seeing her grow into herself has been the best part.
What brings you the most joy in being her parent?
Michelle: Watching her thrive. She’s done Special Olympics swimming, won medals at the Summer Games, even swam up north in the ocean with a group called Spirit Orcas—no wetsuits! She’s worked for 10 years in a school cafeteria and now lives independently in low-income housing. I still worry, like any mom, but I’m really proud of how far she’s come.
What strengths do you bring to parenting?
Michelle: Honesty. I’ve always been upfront with her about money and choices. Instead of gifts, we’d have birthday parties so she could have memories with friends. We spent our time going to free festivals or concerts. I wanted her to have experiences more than things.
Who supported you as a parent?
Michelle: Early on, my mom and dad helped a lot. The Parent Support Program supported me too. Later, self-advocacy groups like Inclusion BC, Family Support Institute, and BC People First gave me a community where we could talk openly. Some parents would share their fears with me because they knew I understood.
What misunderstandings do people often have about parents with disabilities?
Michelle: A big one is people wondering why someone with a disability should have a child at all—how they’ll cope, how they’ll support themselves. I hear that especially toward single moms. Many parents also don’t know their rights in the hospital. Some stay in the hospital longer because staff don’t know what supports are available and won’t let them go home.
People don’t realize how much stigma still exists. Parents are scared to join parenting programs because they fear being judged or reported.
Do you think supports exist, but are not accessible?
Michelle: Yes. Supports are there, but not necessarily built for people with disabilities. Some parents can’t read or hear well; some need sign language or pictures. Some need 1:1 support. There’s not enough consistent connection between organizations and hospitals to help parents stay with their children. Those gaps leave parents vulnerable.
Have you had to advocate for yourself or your daughter?
Michelle: Many times. I had to advocate at school when her kindergarten teacher didn’t want her in the class. I advocated for myself with Person With Disabilities (PWD) assistance.. I’ve spent a lot of time in offices asking for help. It’s scary because you worry about backlash, but you still have to speak up.
What helps you stay confident when advocating?
Michelle: Knowing that if I keep talking about an issue, eventually someone listens. Even if I can’t fix it for myself, maybe it helps someone else later. That keeps me going.
What does inclusion mean to you as a parent?
Michelle: Being part of a community, being accepted, and being understood. Knowing I might take longer to do something, but I can do it. Inclusion is being seen for who you are, not just your disability.
How does it feel when your experiences as a parent with a disability are recognized?
Michelle: It feels honourable. It makes people pause and ask why this hasn’t been talked about sooner. We’re in the 21st century, yet parents with disabilities are still treated like we shouldn’t speak up. We’re human beings. We have rights.
What are your hopes for the future?
Michelle: More support for parents with disabilities, more understanding of our rights, more training for staff. I hope the next generation won’t struggle the way we did. We’ve made it this far. Now I want things to be better going forward.
What advice would you give to other parents?
Michelle: Believe in yourself. Find someone you can be honest with. Another parent, a group, even one trusted person. Parenting is hard for everyone. If you’re lucky enough to be a parent, it’s something to be proud of. It’s not an easy road, but the bumps are worth it.
Help share Michelle’s message: Parenting doesn’t come with one definition.
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Parents with disabilities raise children with love, creativity, and resilience-often while navigating barriers others never see. Every parent brings their own kind of strength, and every ability deserves to be recognized.
This ribbon stands for visibility, respect, and the belief that disability does not diminish parenting—it enriches it.
Thank You
Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your story with such openness and strength. Your lived experience continues to shape CLBC’s understanding of how to better support parents with disabilities—and your voice is helping to create a more inclusive future for families across B.C.
To read more about Michelle’s work, visit the Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship website here.
Michelle was also one of the authors of the recent publication Parenting Experiences Among Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Scoping Review that can be found in the British Journal of Learning Disabilities here.
