Page 52 - 01-Jan-Feb-2025

ZacharyWeeks WeeksCitizen Champion
Zachary
Weeks
When Zachary Weeks was born,
he was diagnosed with cerebral
palsy. Doctors told his parents that he
would never walk, talk, or be able to care
for himself. Today, Weeks navigates life
with the use of a power wheelchair — and
spends much of his time taking care of
others’ needs.
“As a person with a disability, soci-
ety and medical professionals often tell
you what you can’t do,” he says. “But my
parents always treated me like anyone else
and encouraged me to make a difference.”
Weeks began his advocacy journey
through volunteer work in the nonprofit
sector, with EmployAbilities.
“That opened my eyes to the fact that
I wasn’t alone in facing these barriers,”
Weeks says. “It ignited my journey to get
heavily involved with the community in
Edmonton and advocate for accessibility
in employment, housing and beyond.”
Over time, Weeks worked so well that
he kept getting hired out of his volunteer
roles, and transitioned into consulting,
partnering with businesses and orga-
nizations to design inclusive spaces
and services. In addition to consulting,
he currently works as the Community
Support Assistant for WCB and volunteers
with the City’s Accessibility Advisory
Committee, which advises the mayor and
city council.
As a passionate Oilers fan, Weeks was
thrilled when his work led him to work-
ing on a project for Rogers Place that put
accessible seats and washrooms on every
level. “I was able to help ensure that the
arena is a place where people with disabil-
ities, including myself, can have a great
experience,” he explains. “It’s nice when
people can go to their favourite restaurant
or event and not have to worry about
getting into the space.”
Weeks says his approach to consulting
is deeply collaborative and informed by
the diverse needs of the disability com-
munity. “I always keep in mind that I’m
just one perspective,” he says. “Accessibili-
ty isn’t just about ramps and elevators. It’s
about having ASL interpreters, captioning
and wayfinding for those with vision loss
or cognitive challenges. There are so
many layers, and I try to incorporate
as many perspectives as possible in my
work.”
For that reason, Weeks emphasizes the
collective nature of his work.
“This isn’t just my award — I want
to share it with all the folks doing
tremendous work in the disability
space and those who came before me. I
wouldn’t be able to do what I do if they
hadn’t done what they did. It’s about
paying it forward.”
by Breanna Mroczek
52 EDify. JANUARY • FEBRUARY.2552 EDify. JANUARY • FEBRUARY.25