About Us
The Foundation
Strong organizations are built intentionally.
Frequently asked questions
FORGE was built on one simple belief: people don't stay where they don't feel like they belong.
For more than twenty years, I have worked alongside individuals navigating disability, rehabilitation, employment, skilled trades, workforce development, and organizational change. Throughout that journey, I witnessed talented, capable people struggle—not because they lacked ability, but because the systems around them weren't designed to help them succeed.
I came to realize that accessibility is about far more than accommodations.
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It is about leadership.
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It is about communication.
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It is about psychological safety.
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It is about workplace culture.
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It is about designing systems that help people thrive before barriers ever arise.
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It is about building environments where people feel supported, valued, and able to succeed - before barriers ever arise.
One of my favourite concepts from my years working in physical rehabilitation was prehabilitation—the idea that strengthening people before an injury helps improve recovery if challenges occur.
Today, I believe workplaces deserve the same philosophy.
Rather than waiting until there is a people problem, organizations can intentionally strengthen their leadership, onboarding, communication, culture, and systems before barriers appear.
That is what FORGE does. That is why FORGE was built.
Vision
To help build workplaces and communities where every person has the opportunity to belong, contribute, and thrive.
Mission
To help organizations build stronger workplaces through accessibility, psychological safety, inclusive leadership, and systems that support people from the very beginning.
Our Values
Build with Intention
Strong workplaces don't happen by accident. Every policy, conversation, and decision helps shape culture.
Lead with Humanity
People perform their best when they feel respected, valued, and supported.
Design for Everyone
When accessibility is built into the foundation, it creates better experiences and stronger systems for everyone.
Progress over Perfection
Organizations don't need all the answers—only the willingness to improve.
Evidence that Matters
Success should be measurable through meaningful outcomes for employees and performance.
Build a Culture of Belonging
Belonging grows when people feel respected, valued, and supported to contribute as themselves.
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MEET KERRi deir
Kerri Deir, B.Kin, is the founder of FORGE and an Accessibility & Impact Consultant with more than 20 years of experience helping people, organizations, and communities remove barriers and build opportunities. Her experience spans physical rehabilitation, healthcare, disability inclusion, apprenticeship, education, government, workforce development, and industry.
Across every setting, Kerri has seen the same truth: talented people thrive when the systems around them are designed to support their success.
Today, she works with organizations across Canada to strengthen accessibility, psychological safety, inclusive leadership, workplace culture, and workforce sustainability.
Kerri combines practical experience, evidence-informed strategy, and genuine human connection to help organizations move beyond recruiting great people—and build workplaces where they can stay, grow, and belong.
