October 2, 2025

We are thrilled to share the findings from the Photovoice Project, developed as part of the Karis Connected Engagement Sessions in Toronto and Oakville.

What is Photovoice?

Photovoice is a research method where people use photographs to express their experiences and highlight what matters most to them (Wang & Burris, 1994). Participants capture images of their daily lives, challenges, and important issues, then talk about the meanings behind their photos. For those who find it difficult to take photos themselves, staff may provide support, ensuring that the images still reflect each participant’s own perspective and experiences.

About the Project

This initiative was co-designed and co-led by two self-advocates from the Our Voice Matters Council and two Karis staff members from the Quality Research and Practice Initiative department over a five-month period (May to September 2025). The team collaborated to explore the experiences and perspectives of service users who attended the Karis strategic planning engagement sessions in Toronto and Oakville.

Purpose of the Project:

  • To explore whether service users felt respected, included, and valued at the engagement sessions.
  • The impact of including self-advocates and people with disabilities in planning and co-presenting roles.
  • How these inclusive approaches shaped the overall experience for service users.

Looking Ahead

The project also aims to identify practical ways to improve future conferences, so they better meet the needs of people with disabilities while promoting inclusion and accessibility.

Explore the Photovoice Gallery

We invite you to explore the Photovoice SharePoint site which includes the project reports and the online photo gallery or exhibit, where you’ll find participants’ favourite photos. You are warmly encouraged to share your feedback and reflections. Our co-research team is eager to hear your thoughts!

Photovoice Project Reports

Click here for a full report of this project, or click here for an accessible report.

For more information, please email Silvana Kurian at skurian@karis.org.

Thank you,

Elizabeth McDonough, Our Voices Matter Council
Dean Henderson, Our Voices Matter Council
Silvana Kurian, Manager of Research and Practice Initiatives, QRPI
Sun Baek, Research Assistant, QRPI