Sometimes, All You Need Is a Community That Believes in You

When I created Accessible Compass, I had one goal in mind: to make life a little easier for Canadians living with disabilities and the people who care for them.

I know firsthand how overwhelming it can be to navigate disability benefits, government programs, and resources. After surviving a stroke while pregnant with my son, I had to learn how to navigate a world that suddenly looked very different to me.

And along the way, I learned something incredibly important.

You don't have to do everything alone. Sometimes, you just need a community willing to stand beside you.

Recently, I entered Accessible Compass into the Field Law Community Fund Program, hoping to gain support to continue growing a resource that I believe Canadians truly need.

Like anyone putting their heart into something, I wondered whether people would see the value in what I was trying to build.

So, I did something a little outside my comfort zone.

I posted about Accessible Compass and the contest on Reddit.

And I have to tell you, the community has been simply phenomenal.

People who don't know me personally, who have never met me, and who have absolutely no obligation to support what I'm doing have taken the time to encourage me and show their support.

And that tells me something.

People still care. Community still matters. And sometimes, complete strangers can remind you that what you're doing is worth fighting for.

Community Comes in So Many Forms

When I think about the word community, I think about so much more than where we live.

I think about the disability community, where people share their experiences, advocate for change, and help one another navigate systems that can be incredibly frustrating.

I think about the Reddit community, where strangers can come together over a shared belief that something deserves a chance.

And I think about organizations like Field Law, whose Community Fund Program creates opportunities for ideas and initiatives to receive support.

Three very different communities, but all connected by something powerful.

The belief that we can accomplish more when we support one another.

Why This Means So Much to Me

After my stroke, I lost more than just some of my physical abilities. I struggled to find my voice again.

It was through my involvement with Voice of Albertans with Disabilities, and the encouragement of the late Margot Brunner, that I began finding that voice.

Margot believed in me at a time when I wasn't entirely sure I believed in myself.

She taught me that my experiences mattered, that my voice mattered, and that I could use both to make a difference.

I carry that lesson with me every single day.

Accessible Compass is, in many ways, an extension of everything she helped me discover.

And seeing people come together to support this project reminds me of her.

Because that's what a good community does.

It sees potential in people. It encourages them. It lifts them up. And sometimes, it gives them the confidence to keep going.

Accessible Compass Was Built for Community

Accessible Compass isn't about making money from people who are already facing challenges.

It's about making information easier to find, easier to understand, and accessible to everyone.

Whether someone is looking for disability benefits, financial assistance, community programs, or simply somewhere to turn for help, I want them to know they're not alone.

I want Accessible Compass to be the resource I wish I'd had when my life changed.

And I want it to continue growing into something that helps people across Canada.

But I also know I can't build that vision entirely on my own.

That's why opportunities like the Field Law Community Fund Program matter so much.

And that's why the support I've received from the Reddit community has meant more to me than people probably realize.

A Thank You to the Communities Standing Beside Me

To everyone who has taken the time to read about Accessible Compass, share encouragement, or support this project, thank you.

To the disability community, thank you for continuing to show the world what resilience, advocacy, and determination look like.

To the Reddit community, thank you for reminding me that kindness and generosity can come from the most unexpected places.

And to Field Law, thank you for creating an opportunity for community-driven ideas to be seen and supported.

I don't know what the outcome of this contest will be.

Of course, I would love to see Accessible Compass receive funding. There is so much more I want to accomplish.

But regardless of what happens, this experience has already given me something valuable.

It has reminded me that there are people out there who believe in helping others.

And sometimes, that's all it takes to keep moving forward.

Because real change doesn't always begin with money, a big organization, or a perfect plan.

Sometimes, it begins with one person, one idea, and a community willing to stand behind it.

And for that, I am incredibly grateful.

https://www.fieldlaw.com/idea/accessible-compass

— Koryn Dyer