At the Centre communautaire Radisson, community engagement is a daily practice designed by, for, and with people living with severe physical disabilities. This welcoming and vibrant space lets everyone learn, build connections, and get involved in the community in their own way and at their own pace.
A welcoming, stimulating environment
When people walk through the doors of the Centre communautaire Radisson, they are treated like full members of society who have the ability to actively contribute to it. Here, the days rarely start in silence, as the members’ comings and goings, greetings, and sounds of laughter make the whole place come alive.
The team’s goal is to create a welcoming and stimulating environment that creates trust, with the reasoning that people are more likely to fully participate, express their opinions, and share their ideas when they feel respected and supported. This is how social visibility is built.
Transformative activities
On any given day, a group may be using one of the Centre’s large, bright rooms to make a recipe on work tables. Some people need physical assistance to handle the equipment, but there is no pressure to go fast. Success isn’t measured by performance; instead, it’s measured by how someone participates, e.g., what they can do today, what they try again tomorrow, and what they decide to try next week.
Further down the hall in a converted studio, another group is recording episodes of Donne ta voix, a podcast launched at the Centre. Initially conceived as a simple diction workshop, the project quickly evolved. As they worked on their voices, the participants began to reflect on their identities and ideas. The initiative quickly morphed into a podcast series that lets people share their experiences at the Centre and explain what the Centre means to them. Their conversations have uncovered a theme that unites them all: a strong sense of belonging.
La Trajectoire Radisson: An innovative model
La Trajectoire Radisson is an intervention model based on three pillars: learning, socializing, and getting involved.
“Learning” aims to help people acquire useful knowledge and skills, for example, to better understand their rights, carry out a project, or become more independent in their daily lives. “Socializing” focuses on connections so that people can build lasting relationships, share experiences, and overcome isolation. “Getting involved” gives people concrete avenues to join an initiative, serve on a committee, or promote an idea in the public sphere.
Together, these components put people on a path that is different from that of traditional services. At the Centre, people don’t “receive” an activity but rather take a journey with others, and this changes how they see themselves and are seen. This intervention model also builds self-esteem, frees people to speak their minds, and centres member participation above all else.
We sat down with Emmanuel Babrot, Executive Director of the Centre communautaire Radisson. In this short video, he explains the Centre’s mission and how an inclusive environment boosts members’ self-esteem and civic engagement.
Watch the video
The Centre communautaire Radisson recognized for its social transformation
In 2026, the Centre communautaire Radisson received the Solidaires Social Transformation for La Trajectoire Radisson, an innovative intervention model that builds self-esteem, encourages self-expression, and puts the participation of people with severe physical disabilities at the centre of everything they do.
1 out of 5 people receives our help.
5 out of 5 people benefit from it.
Let’s all lend a hand
Supporting a network of over 375 community agencies also means promoting an inclusive, poverty-free society.