Finding Love, Belonging, and a Voice for Change
Courage has always been at the core of Julia’s Life
Julia was born with Apert Syndrome. Doctors told her parents she might not live past six months. At only five days old, she was placed in foster care.
By adulthood, Julia had endured more than 30 surgeries. While doctors worked to improve her physical health, the support programs she relied on failed her. In one program for people with disabilities, Julia endured psychological, physical, and even sexual abuse.
The trauma pushed Julia into a deep depression. “It was very hard to trust anybody because of what I went through.” At her lowest, she told her adoptive mom she would rather die than go back. But there is more to Julia’s story.
“At L’Arche, I felt love outside my family for the first time ever.” – Julia
Finding New Hope
When she found L’Arche Comox Valley, Julia found new hope. From the very first day, everything felt different. “For the first time outside of my family, I felt love, safety, and a real sense of belonging,” Julia says.
And life began to get better. Today, Julia attends the I Belong Centre three times a week, learning skills like cooking, budgeting, and self-care. She volunteers at a thrift store, prepares meals for seniors, and loves joining in pub nights, art shows, and community gatherings.
Outside of L’Arche, Julia is just as active. She swims every morning at 5 a.m., snowboards in the winter, and pours her energy into advocacy — even influencing change in local schools so students with disabilities are better supported.
“It’s important to be in a place where you are seen and supported.” – Julia
Becoming a Voice for Change
After a bad fall, Julia spoke at Comox Town Council about the need for safer sidewalks for people with vision loss.
Even though public speaking pushes her outside her comfort zone, Julia is dreaming even bigger. She wants to keep sharing her story and create an online advocacy platform for people with diverse abilities.
Julia wants to continue being a voice for change in her community.
“Be kind to everyone, because you never know what they’re going through.” — Julia’s Message
If you’d like to explore more of Julia’s journey, you can discover her hopes and goals here:
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