“Nothing about us without us” is more than a slogan to Nick Herd, a proud member of L’Arche who has Down Syndrome. A leader, public speaker, coach and advocate for inclusion, Nick has spent years using his voice to challenge assumptions about what people with intellectual disabilities can contribute and lead.
For Nick, “nothing about us without us” is a vision for a future where people with intellectual disabilities are not only included in conversations about their own lives, but are essential voices in shaping them.
“It’s a dream of a future where decisions that affect people with disabilities are not made without us,” Nick says. “Where our voices are essential — not optional — to building an inclusive world.”
Nick knows both the possibilities and the barriers that remain.
“Far too often, people with intellectual disabilities are left out,” he says. “Our voices are missing from important conversations about our own lives, and many of us are denied opportunities for meaningful, paid work.”
L’Arche offers a different vision. L’Arche is an international network of communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life, build relationships and work together toward a more inclusive society.
At L’Arche, a person is never defined by their support needs. We believe everyone has something to give and something to receive. People share homes, meals, responsibilities, decisions, laughter and friendship — building relationships where each person’s gifts, choices and voice matter. Support is part of daily life, but so are contribution, belonging and mutuality.
I learned something about that long before I ever worked at L’Arche.
In my last semester of university, I signed up for a weaving elective without reading the fine print. It turned out to be a tapestry program connected with L’Arche. I arrived expecting I might be there to help someone else.
Instead, I met Miriam.
For weeks, we debated what animal we should weave. I wanted something from the ocean. She wanted a koala. Miriam had a clear opinion — and she was not changing it.
What started as a small disagreement became a lesson I have carried ever since. Miriam wasn’t simply someone I was there to help. She was a person with ideas, preferences, humour and determination — and her perspective shaped what we did together.
That is the heart of L’Arche. Everyone brings something. Everyone receives something.
It is a simple idea, but one that requires intention. “Nothing about us without us” is not something that happens automatically. It is a choice we have to keep making — in our homes, workplaces, communities and organizations.
Nick’s own work is a powerful example.
“My role at L’Arche is a paid position, and it means a lot to me,” he says. “It means my commitment, energy, and experience matter. In my work, I feel powerful, strong, and empowered. It helps me grow and keeps me grounded. I am a driven force for inclusion, and I don’t give up.”
Nick is not only advocating for inclusion; he is helping create opportunities for others. He mentors emerging leaders with intellectual disabilities and shares his experience on national and international stages.
Meaningful, paid work and leadership opportunities remain out of reach for many people with intellectual disabilities. Nick’s work challenges that reality and shows what can happen when people are trusted, supported and given the opportunity to lead.
As L’Arche in Canada approaches its 60th anniversary, there are now 30 communities across the country and hundreds more around the world. But the change L’Arche creates begins in ordinary places: a home where people know one another deeply, a workplace that recognizes someone’s gifts, a neighbour who takes the time to listen.
In a world that can often feel divided, L’Arche creates spaces where people come together and discover their shared humanity. That kind of belonging is worth protecting.
And it is a future that requires long-term commitment. More than 50 people have already told L’Arche Canada that they intend to leave a gift in their Will. They are our L’Arche Legacy Leaders. Their generosity will help ensure that future generations can continue to experience homes and communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life, contribute to one another’s lives and have a voice in the decisions that affect them.
Gifts in Wills are more than a way to respond to today’s needs. It gives L’Arche the ability to look further ahead — to strengthen programs, create new opportunities and plan for a future where people with intellectual disabilities are recognized not only for the support they may need, but for all they have to offer.
As Nick says:
“We need people who believe in us, who listen to us, and who stand with us. Together, we can build a future where nothing about us happens without us.”
A gift in your Will can help make that future possible.
Learn more about leaving a gift in your Will to L’Arche Canada Foundation
Does L’Arche only provide housing for people with intellectual disabilities?
L’Arche Canada Foundation: No. L’Arche is often associated with the homes it runs, but housing is only one part of the work. L’Arche is a shared-life model built around community, mentorship, and advocacy — people with and without intellectual disabilities cooking, working, and making decisions together.
That model extends outward. L’Arche supports people mentoring the next generation of leaders with intellectual disabilities and its presence spans more than 30 countries.
The goal isn’t housing on its own. It’s to build a more inclusive and connected society, one relationship at a time. Learn more about our programs at L’Arche.
Does L’Arche Canada have a way to recognize people who leave a gift in their Will?
L’Arche Canada Foundation: Yes. L’Arche calls these supporters L’Arche Legacy Leaders. If you let L’Arche Canada know you’ve included a gift in your Will, you may be recognized (with your permission) in a newsletter or annual report, though many legacy donors choose to remain anonymous.
If I leave a gift to charity in my Will, does that mean less for my family?
Will Power: Not necessarily. Without a charitable gift in your Will, a larger share of your estate’s income will go toward taxes rather than the people and causes you care about. But a gift to a registered charity like L’Arche Canada generates a charitable tax credit that can offset those taxes.
For many people, the real choice isn’t between family and charity; it’s between charity and the Canada Revenue Agency. Advisors in the Will Power campaign are experienced in charitable giving and estate taxes and offer free advice on how this applies to your own estate.
What are the tax benefits of leaving a gift to a registered charity in my Will?
Will Power: Gifts to a registered charity through your Will generate a charitable donation tax credit for your estate — one that can be claimed against up to 100% of your net income in the year of death, with any unused amount applied to the prior year’s return. That’s a more generous limit than during your lifetime, when the credit is capped at 75% of net income. In practice, this can significantly reduce, and sometimes eliminate, the income tax owed by your estate. Book a free consultation with a financial advisor to understand how this fits your specific estate plan.
Topic: Charity Impact Stories
