Cathy Nerysoo, Taylor Paddon and the Łútsël K’é Co-op are the recipients for the NWT Disability Council’s 2026 Accessibility Impact Awards.
“[The awards] really are a chance for us to start off Disability Awareness Week and for us to acknowledge some of the advancements that have been made in different communities and across the North to increase accessibility and inclusion,” said Denise McKee, chief executive officer of the NWT Disabilities Council.
National Accessibility Week is May 31 to June 6, 2026. Mckee said the organization renamed the week to NWT Disability Awareness Week in the territory, and has planned adaptive yoga, swims and a social media contest.
Nerysoo, a support assistant at Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson, was awarded the GNWT Accessibility and Inclusion Award for her work with autistic children. She said she was inspired by her dad who had to use a wheelchair for years.
“This is what I love doing, I love working with disability and autistic [children], and to help any children I can,” said Nerysoo.
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Paddon, recipient of the Judy Sharp Community Champion Award, said the recognition “means a lot.”
Paddon is a leader in training at Bella Dance Academy, and works one on one with a student named Eddie. She also danced with him during the dance school’s year-end recital and joined him on stage for last year’s Nutcracker performance.
“I’m just really grateful that I got the opportunity to work with Eddie,” she said.
Paddon is 14-years-old and has been dancing for 11 years. She’s been working with Eddie for the past three years.
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“I love that I get to see his improvement every single year, because he’s gotten so much better every year. His love for dance has grown over time and I love to see it,” Paddon said.
The Łútsël K’é Co-op received the NWT Human Rights Commission Accessibility Award to recognize the accessible features and services in their new store, including a ramp, ergonomic chairs for cashiers, quiet shopping hours and delivery services.
It was an emotional ceremony on Friday, with many people tearing up when they talked about the work they’ve done to improve accessibility and inclusion in the territory, and how much the NWT still needs to improve its services and supports for people with disabilities.
“I would love to say that we’re at a really good place, however we are seeing more and more people being displaced and being moved out of their communities because they don’t have inclusive ability to be able to participate in the community, as well as accessibility issues,” McKee said.
“I think that we have a long way to go.”
