LESSONS I'VE LEARNED FROM MCS

“It has been a true honour to share your story, your wisdom, and your remarkable journey with our community. Your voice is powerful, and your message of resilience, determination, and hope will undoubtedly touch and inspire so many people living with MCS and beyond.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for trusting us with your story and for being such a meaningful part of our shared mission to raise awareness, protect health, and empower others through lived experience.” ~ Marco

I was so thrilled to receive this message which I will always treasure from Marco who interviewed me for this podcast/YouTube video.

I was deeply honored to be invited by ASEQ–EHAQ to share my story in what was originally planned as a 15–20 minute video about what helped me heal. That conversation ultimately became a YouTube video and podcast, allowing for a deeper and more meaningful discussion. You can watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2bCDaIJ_5A

ASEQ–EHAQ is an extraordinary organization in Canada that has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Their advocacy, education, and persistence have led to meaningful, tangible change for an often overlooked and misunderstood community.

One of ASEQ–EHAQ’s most impactful achievements is that, through their advocacy, approximately half of the hospitals in Canada are now fragrance-free, a critical step in making healthcare safer and more accessible for people with MCS.

Every year on May 12, Canada recognizes Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) Awareness Day. On this day, landmarks and buildings light up green and yellow, communities come together for events, and education and advocacy efforts help shine a light on the reality faced by more than one million people living with MCS in Canada.

In March 2025, ASEQ–EHAQ took their advocacy to the global stage, presenting to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in Geneva. They spoke candidly about the severe barriers people with MCS face in healthcare, housing, and employment, framing MCS clearly as a human rights issue. They also shared the heartbreaking reality that, for some people with severe MCS, the lack of support and accommodation makes life feel so unlivable that suicide can seem easier than enduring constant exposure and dismissal.

As a result of these efforts, the UN formally approved MCS as a disability, recognizing not only the condition itself but also the need for concrete solutions and accommodations as part of disability rights.

ASEQ–EHAQ also maintains an incredibly comprehensive website filled with trustworthy information, resources, and advocacy tools for people with MCS, healthcare providers, and the general public: https://aseq-ehaq.ca/en/ They have produced a total of nine podcasts, each offering valuable insight, lived experience, and education around MCS. You can see all nine podcasts they have produced on their website. They also offer this resource: https://lavieecolo.ca/en/a-guide-to-healthy-and-ecological-daily-alternatives/

I am profoundly grateful for their work, their courage, and their unwavering commitment to making the world safer and more livable for people with MCS.

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