On November 21, students in Niagara College’s Educational Assistance and Adult Supports (EA&AS) program had the opportunity to learn alongside peers and professionals from across Ontario during the annual WE Inspire Conference, a province-wide event designed to motivate and connect future developmental support workers (DSWs) while celebrating innovation in the field.
“The annual WE Inspire Conference is a fantastic opportunity for students in the EA&AS program to connect with other developmental support workers as they learn about the ways they can advocate for their clients, careers, and the future of the DSW field,” said EA&AS Program Coordinator and Professor Barbara Morris. “WE Inspire allows our students to connect, learn, and grow their skills so they can support persons with disabilities to live full lives.”
Organized by the Ontario Developmental Service Worker Program Coordinators group, this year’s conference – WE Inspire: Champions of Change and Innovation in Developmental Services – highlighted emerging ideas, best practices, and the evolving needs of the sector. Niagara College served as the web host for the event, giving EA&AS students in the School of Community Services a unique chance to participate both as attendees and as contributors to a major industry gathering.
Although the conference welcomed DSW students from across Ontario, Morris integrated Niagara College’s participation directly into her Advocacy, Empowerment and Choice course by having students complete engagement logs and reflect on the issues raised by presenters.
By linking the event to their coursework, students were able to connect classroom learning to real-world challenges in developmental services. Topics such as housing, accessibility, inclusion, and communication, core themes within the EA&AS program, were brought to life through insights shared by speakers Bambi Pepe from Developmental Services Ontario, Hannah Ertl and Community Living Toronto Influencers, and Keenan Wellar, Director of Communications for LiveWorkPlay in Ottawa. Their stories and expertise provided students with a powerful, firsthand understanding of the sector’s complexities and opportunities.
Approximately 160 students from 12 different developmental services worker college programs joined the conference virtually, with many colleges hosting watch parties like NC’s. This collective experience fostered a sense of connection and community that students often miss when working in small teams or individual placements.
According to Morris, that sense of belonging is one of the most meaningful outcomes of the event. She noted that developmental service workers are caring, innovative, and highly skilled and emphasized how important it is for students to see themselves as part of a broad, dedicated network of professionals across Ontario.
Participation in the conference not only enriched students’ academic learning but also deepened their understanding of the professional responsibilities and advocacy work required to support people with developmental disabilities. By engaging directly with current issues and leaders in the field, Niagara College EA&AS students left the conference with strengthened skills, broadened perspectives, and a clearer sense of the meaningful impact they can have as future developmental service professionals.
“This conference reminds students that their voices matter,” said Morris. “When they show up, listen, and engage, they become part of a community that is actively shaping the future of developmental services.”
