"The Audacity of Inclusion is more than a book—it is a powerful and courageous act of truth-telling. Dulcie McCallum doesn’t just document history—she shares it in a way that centers lived experience, invites reflection, and insists we do better. Through the voices of people with disabilities, she brings forward stories that are deeply human, politically urgent, and impossible to ignore.As someone who has spent a lifetime walking alongside families of children, youth, and adults with disabilities, I felt this book in my bones. It holds the kind of truth that stops you in your tracks—not just because of the pain, but because of the strength, resilience, and determination that shine through every page.This book challenges us to confront a legacy of exclusion and inequity—and to commit, fully and unapologetically, to building a future rooted in justice, inclusion, and true belonging. It is both a mirror and a call to action for all of us striving to shape a world where no one is left behind. I am profoundly grateful to Dulcie for gifting this history and honouring the voices that too often go unheard. The Audacity of Inclusion is a vital guide for anyone committed to creating a world where inclusion is not the exception, but the norm."
—Angela Clancy
Executive Director, Family Support Institute of BC
“The Audacity of Inclusion is such an important book - courageous, principled, honest. It is a clarion call for action and a tough yet respectful challenge to us all. Dulcie’s beautiful prose brings the words right off the page with her brilliant command of language; you feel as though you are on the journey with her. It is a masterful balancing between the personal, the storytelling and stark truths. Reading this book will give you a glimpse into how to achieve meaningful inclusion for everyone!"
—Fiona Crean, Human Rights Consultant and Mediator (Crean Consulting) and Former Ombudsperson.​
“A gem of a book that captures the resilience and determination of families and self-advocates fighting for meaningful equality and full inclusion for every person.”
—Krista Carr, Executive Vice-President Inclusion Canada.
​​
"A vibrant and involving story of advancing Canada’s disability laws."
—Kirkus Reviews
​
"Loving the book! How you’ve interspersed the legalities re: the fight for human rights & your personal journey really helps to understand the history and most important the individual stories which are always heart wrenching! Thanks for who you are & all you’ve done to better the lives of those we love & care about!"
—Barb Horner, Parent of Mallory Horner.
The Audacity of Inclusion
Fighting for the Equality of Persons Labelled Intellectually Disabled
Now Available
One beautiful, surprisingly warm spring morning on the isolated islands of Haida Gwaii, an insight smacked Dulcie McCallum in the face with the force of an unexpected tsunami: at the heart of it all, the law was the culprit. Rather than promoting rights, the law was itself the taproot of injustice.
​
For people with an intellectual disability, the law is what defines their disadvantage, not their disability.
​
For every child diagnosed with the label of intellectual disability, there remains a certain lousy predictability to the way they will be treated by society and the prejudice that will haunt them. Officially labelled with the r-word, they have also been tagged with “imbecile” or “moron.” Often treated as objects of pity or charity, segregated in “special” schools, sheltered workshops, and institutions, they are consigned to the sidelines of society.
