This key note will provide everyone with a better understanding of how to communicate, support and work with people with various types of disabilities.
Marco will share some of his personal lived experiences as a person with a disability in the workforce and include specific tips on how to navigate some of the barriers that have been experienced by staff and the community both in-person and online.
Topics Covered:
- Understanding Disability – General language, definitions and the use of Person First Language
- Breaking Down Attitudinal Barriers – My first job and the importance of innovation
- Overcoming Physical and Virtual Barriers – How simple changes can make all the difference
- Communicating with Confidence – Tips on language and interacting with people with disabilities
- Creating Authentic Connections – Getting to know your team and community members in a meaningful and authentic way
- What you can do to support inclusion – As managers and team members
- Q & A Period – Time Answer Your Questions
WHO IS MARCO?
Marco Pasqua was born on July 4, 1985, weighing only 2 pounds 10 ounces and was 3 months premature; he would later be diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
When he was only 10 years old, Marco was invited to be the ambassador/host of the Timmy’s Christmas Telethon with local radio legend Red Robinson. This was his first opportunity to speak in front of a large audience; it was then that he realized the impact that words can have but he had no idea that this would later turn into his career.
He went in pursuit of a career in technology and after graduating from the Art Institute of Vancouver, he spent 5 years in the video game industry. During the recession of 2010, he lost his job, which turned out to be the biggest blessing in disguise. Marco decided it was time to use his voice to make a positive impact on the world, so he built his own brand as a professional speaker and entrepreneur.
Throughout his life, Marco has been involved with a number of organizations as a spokesperson, helping to spread advocacy for persons with disabilities across Canada.
As an entrepreneur, Marco has remained focused on social impact and has helped to build brands in the tech industry, with a particular focus on accessibility. Some of his most memorable talks include TEDxStanleyPark, The United Way as an impact speaker and The Duke of Edinburgh Awards. In 2013, he was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Self-Employment and Entrepreneur Development Society and was recognized in 2016 as a “Paul Harris Fellow” by Rotary International. Other nominations include BC Businesses’ Top 30 under 30 award, Notable.ca‘s award in Personal Branding and Coast Mental Health’s Courage to Come Back Award in the category of Rehabilitation.
Advocating for universal design and inclusion is among his passions. He is a designated Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) Professional and has consulted with municipalities & business leaders on creating universally designed spaces and inclusive employment strategies for people with disabilities, including the Province of BC’s employment advisory committee the Presidents Group.
Marco believes that success in business should not purely be based on the financial transactions; it is the human interactions that matter most. His speaking topics are focused on his personal stories of overcoming obstacles and how to manage major life transitions with the framework he created called The CUBE Principle.