Presenter Bio:
Philip is the Chair of the St.Amant Self-Advocate Committee, a group led by and for people with disabilities that champions choice and inclusion. In this role, he helps lead conversations that ensure the voices of people with lived experience are heard, valued, and acted on.
He is a key contributor to the Empower YOU rights training series, which supports people in understanding their rights and stepping confidently into full citizenship. Philip is also part of a working group creating a new accessible rights training website, designed by self-advocates for self-advocates.
An experienced public speaker, Philip has shared his voice at events including Special Olympics Canada and other gatherings that celebrate inclusion and self-advocacy.
Outside of advocacy, Philip is a proud Winnipegger and sports enthusiast. He recently moved into a new home, a milestone that reflects his commitment to independence, his ability to make empowered choices, and his passion for inspiring others to do the same.
Presentation: Who’s Driving? Moving Beyond Tokenism Toward Authentic Leadership
Too often in the disability sector, people with disabilities are placed in the passenger seat while others make decisions for them. This presentation, led by Philip Bialk – Chair of the St.Amant Self-Advocate Committee – challenges that norm by promoting a vision of authentic leadership that centers the voices, choices, and experiences of people with disabilities.
The term person-centered has become a buzzword – used frequently but often disconnected from practice. In many cases, services remain system-driven, and the voices of people with disabilities are included in name only. This presentation will ground participants in the true meaning of person-led supports, where leadership starts with the person and support is built around their direction – not the other way around.
Using the metaphor of a road trip, Philip will explore the roles people play in supporting others. People with disabilities must be in the driver’s seat of their own lives – steering the direction, making the decisions, and choosing the destination. Support staff, families and systems can act as navigators – offering guidance when asked- but should never become backseat drivers or, worse, take the wheel entirely. This happens all too often and undermines the autonomy, dignity, and wisdom of those with lived experience.
Authentic leadership means making space at every table for people with disabilities, not as tokens, but as true experts and co-creators. This session will empower participants to rethink power, avoid tokenism, and move toward genuine inclusion driven by the people most affected.
