Mike Carleton

Mike Carleton was in his third year at Simon Fraser University when he was involved in an automobile accident leaving him a paraplegic. Even with all the challenges, he returned to university and completed his degree and professional development program for teachers. Unable to obtain a full time teaching position, he was successful in obtaining a position as an adjudicator at the BC Workers’ Compensation Board (WorkSafeBC). He became interested in the vocational rehabilitation services being offered to injured workers and so he pursued counselling psychology courses at UBC, preparing to become a vocational rehabilitation consultant. When the BC Government created the Premier’s Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Carleton became the Executive Director where he had contact with many advocacy groups. It was at that time that he started to work with Wolfgang Zimmermann, who became Chair of the Premier’s Council, and together they became focused on trying to increase the employment representation of people with disabilities.