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		<title>The Discipline of Respect</title>
		<link>https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/the-discipline-of-respect/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Weir]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:39:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Abilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adults]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gentle Teaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inclusion]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[Language, Documentation, and Daily Practice This article is the fourth in our March series, From Awareness to Belonging, exploring how society continues to examine implicit bias, expectations, and dignity in developmental disability services. In the first article, we reflected on how awareness has evolved and why awareness alone is not enough. In the second article, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>The Weight of Expectations</title>
		<link>https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/2864-2/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Weir]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:46:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Abilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adults]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gentle Teaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inclusion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Intellectual Disabilities]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/?p=2864</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[How Low Expectations Quietly Limit Opportunity This article is the third in our March series, From Awareness to Belonging, exploring how society continues to examine implicit bias, expectations, and dignity in developmental disability services. In the first article, we reflected on how awareness has evolved over time and why awareness alone is not enough. In [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>When Care Becomes Control</title>
		<link>https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/when-care-becomes-control/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Weir]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:34:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Abilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adults]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gentle Teaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inclusion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Intellectual Disabilities]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/?p=2862</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[This article is the second in our March series, From Awareness to Belonging, exploring how society continues to examine implicit bias, expectations, and dignity in developmental disability services. In the first article, we reflected on how awareness has evolved over time and why awareness alone is not enough. This week, we look more closely at [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month</title>
		<link>https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/developmental-disabilities-awareness-month/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Weir]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:06:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inclusion]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[How Far Have We Really Come? Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month began in 1987 when President Ronald Reagan called for greater public understanding and opportunity for people with developmental disabilities. Since then, awareness has expanded. Rights have strengthened. Community inclusion has advanced — including in Canada through legislation such as the Accessible Canada Act, which focuses [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Pink Shirt Day – February 25</title>
		<link>https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/%f0%9f%92%97-pink-shirt-day-february-25/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Weir]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:43:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Disability Services Workers]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/?p=2845</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Standing for Dignity. Every Day. At Westlock Independence Network (WIN), Pink Shirt Day is more than wearing a colour. It is a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect dignity — especially for those who may be vulnerable, marginalized, or unheard. Through the lens of Gentle Teaching International, we understand that bullying is not only [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>International Women’s Day – March 8</title>
		<link>https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/international-womens-day-march-8/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Weir]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:16:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Disability Services Workers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gentle Teaching]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[Honouring Women — and Courageous Allyship — Through the Lens of Gentle Teaching at WIN At Westlock Independence Network (WIN), International Women’s Day is more than a celebration. It is a moment to reflect on the kind of culture we are building — and the kind of leadership we are choosing. Through the lens of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<item>
		<title>Greg Morris Retirement Celebration!</title>
		<link>https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/greg-morris-retirement-celebration/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Weir]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jul 2025 03:25:52 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Board of Directors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Disability Services Workers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Honouring Disability Pride Month: Visibility, Dignity, and Belonging</title>
		<link>https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/honouring-disability-pride-month-visibility-dignity-and-belonging/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Weir]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2025 01:06:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Abilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gentle Teaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inclusion]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[July is Disability Pride Month—a time to celebrate the strength, creativity, and diversity of the disability community. It’s more than just a month on the calendar; it’s a movement that challenges outdated ideas, breaks down barriers, and centers the voices of people with disabilities. Disability Pride invites us to reframe how we see disability—not as [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Meet Our Board Members!</title>
		<link>https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/meet-our-board-members/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Weir]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 Feb 2025 22:53:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Board of Directors]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/?p=2383</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[&#8220;My name is Jennifer Perry, I am an individual supported by WIN since 2017. I joined the board of directors about a year and a half ago. I was born and raised in Edmonton and moved to Westlock about 9 years ago. I joined the board to try something new and to be an advocate [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Gentle Teaching Level 2</title>
		<link>https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/2317-2/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Weir]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jun 2024 23:06:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Gentle Teaching]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://westlockindependencenetwork.org/?p=2317</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Gentle Teaching Mentor/Trainers Lana Martin and Janice Johnston delivered their first level two training on June 24th and 25th under the guidance of COR Mentor/Trainers Morianna Fink and Shannon Wiebe. See video below for the highlights! We embarked on this amazing journey early in 2023 when we initially connected with Creative Options Regina (COR), and [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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