Winter 2009 Connections: Ups and Downs
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Acknowledgements
FEATURES
Editorial by Shelley Hourston
Letter
Connections: How to Play
Look Close to Home
Connecting with Your Community: A How-to Guide by Shelley Hourston
Connect with Nature
Follow the Steps
Volunteer
Join In
Be Bold
OTHER
Woodlands by Jane Dyson
BCCPD's New President
New RDSP Project
Obituary: May McIntyre
BCCPD Faces: Val Stapleton
Obituary: Ronnie Phipps
Brotherly Love
SPECIAL
Help Transition Go Green
Personal Support Network Underway by Christine Gordon
Web Extras
by Shelley Hourston
The term "community" used to refer to a village, town or neighbourhood. It involved a social relationship with others based on a shared physical location. "Community participation," at least where I grew up, was nearly unavoidable because work, school, shopping and recreation occurred within your community and with your family and neighbours. Perhaps sociologists talked about "community" back then, but it was an idea seldom discussed by community members going about everyday life.
Today, use of the term has mushroomed and we talk about "seeking community," "planned communities," and "mobilizing communities." We are all members of multiple communities, some by default and many more by choice. Communities are created through connections and connecting can start in simple, easy steps and grow into something powerful in our lives.
Communities include our physical neighbourhoods, our volunteer and work communities, spiritual or faith communities, learning communities, communities of leisure and recreational pursuits, "communities of interest" and "virtual communities." A large body of research now tells us that connecting with our communities has a positive impact on our health and sense of well-being.
Researchers Helliwell and Putnam wrote, "People who have close friends and confidants, friendly neighbours and supportive coworkers are less likely to experience sadness, loneliness, low self-esteem and problems with eating and sleeping. Indeed, a common finding from research on . . . satisfaction is that [our sense of] well-being is best predicted by the breadth and depth of [our] social connections."*
And, building these connections doesn't have to be an enormous investment of time and effort. Helliwell and Putnam note research in the US found that "monthly club meetings, monthly volunteering and bi-weekly church attendance were each the happiness equivalent of a doubling of income."
Because of this power of community and connection, we chose to devote this Transition to exploring ideas and experiences, and providing lots of "how to's" for you. You'll see how communities grow in unexpected places and develop in creative and surprising ways. Some people start very small and some people leap out of planes!
We asked volunteers and staff at BCCPD, along with community colleagues for examples of "community connection" and discovered that we'd opened a floodgate! You can read some these wonderful responses in this Transition and more in the Web Extras on our website.
We hope that you'll find ideas, inspiration and practical help to get out and get connected. We also hope you'll drop us a line about your adventures!
* Helliwell, John F. and Putnam, Robert D. (2004) The Social Context of Well-being. Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society (London) B (359), 1435-1446. Retrieved from http://tinyurl.com/yklz55s.
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You've always been there for others. It's part of who you are. Now, you can continue to give beyond your lifetime with Planned Giving.
Your bequest to BC Coalition of People with Disabilities will promote and protect the dignity and independence of people living with a disability.
The BCCPD has a new Planned Giving program. Planned Giving is the opportunity to think ahead about causes or organizations that you may want to financially support beyond your lifetime.
You can take the time now to gather information and leave instructions in your will.
By planning ahead, you can research charities, or have someone research charities for you, that fit your values. You won't feel rushed or pressured to make a decision and you can ensure that your money is spent in the way that you want.
There are many benefits to Planned Giving. By writing down your wishes, you will have increased peace of mind and control over your finances.
Through Planned Giving, you can provide a significant future donation without reducing your income today.
A gift in your will to a registered Canadian charity is tax-deductible. And, your Planned Gift helps the BCCPD to be here in the future for those who need us.
You can realize significant tax savings with Planned Giving. For example, stocks, bonds and mutual funds that you may have in a trust can be transferred in your will to a charity and a tax receipt will be issued. A bequest from your estate of cash or RRSPs will reduce the taxes that your estate will be required to pay. Other ways of donating give twofold value: by naming the BCCPD as the beneficiary in a life insurance policy, you do not incur any costs now and a tax receipt is issued when the estate is settled.
Our donors are important to us and we'll work with you to be recognized in the way that you'd prefer. If you would like more information about Planned Giving, please contact Mr. Sam Bradd at the BCCPD at sam@bccpd.bc.ca or 604-875-0188. He will send you BCCPD Planned Giving information for you to review with your financial planner or lawyer, family and friends.
You can also download our Planned Giving Brochure here.
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And, if you still want to receive Transition by mail, that’s ok too.
Dear BCCPD:
Thanks for all your great work. I sincerely appreciate receiving your updates on disability applications, and keeping up to date with the latest information for people with disabilities and advocacy.
I pass this news on to the participants in our community and programs who have disabilities, as we work to solve the myriad problems that arise, especially within a small rural community with limited resources.
Not only are you offering a fantastic service, I hope each individual person on your team knows how valuable you are and how very much appreciated your work is.
Cheers, Maureen Therrien McKinnon Rehabilitation Worker
We asked BCCPD staff and volunteers for their ideas for ways to connect. Here are some of their many suggestions. See the rest of this Transition for more ideas and how-to's on getting out and joining in.
In the fall, we sent out a request to Transition's organization list for tips and stories on how to help people connect. The response was amazing.
We'd like to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to send in ideas, cook up recipes, ask clients for stories and pictures, and help us to put this edition together.
Thank you for their permission to use photos on this edition's cover: the Vancouver Brain Injury Group (top photo), Bob and Andrew of Chilliwack ArtWorks (middle left), and Norm and Jen at the George Pearson Centre gardens (middle right). Bottom centre photo credit: Pablo Fausto.
In June 1971, I was one of the people who won a school athletic letter. Then, in June 1972, I was in a head-on collision with a bus because I was drinking and driving, and went into a coma for a month.
After I regained consciousness, I found I couldn't do what my thinking said I could do back when I played soccer, baseball and rugby.
I lived in a world of mental and physical hurt for months, trying to accept I was even hurt. I enjoyed people doing everything for me because it seemed they wanted to do everything for me. And I was feeling sorry for myself and, because misery loves company, I wanted everyone to feel sorry for me too.
In 1972, people didn't know what to do with me, so most of the time I was left alone in my family's rumpus room listening to music.
My sister gave me about five rug-hooking kits that I hooked and gave to her. She still has them. At the time I was hooking these rugs I was thinking and thinking, and the thoughts I was having eventually percolated into the idea that I could get better than I was.
This went on for years, until I saw I could do what I was being told I couldn't do. I saw I was letting other people tell me what I couldn't do or what I could do, instead of trying it myself.
Sometimes I'd find I couldn't do things and other times I found I could. By using trial and error, I found I could do more than what I was being told I could ever do.
The Vancouver-based 101 Ways to Make Friends book and website shares strategies for creating, expanding and deepening networks of support for people with disabilities, their supporters, friends and families.
Visit their website to sign up for their e-newsletter or information on workshops http://www.101friends.ca/.
My community plays an important role in my life as a brain injury survivor. I don't consider myself outgoing, instead I prefer a quiet life at home. However, I have learned the importance of connecting with people when I'm out in my day-to-day life. I do this mainly when shopping.
Yes, that's right, shopping.
Whenever possible, I like to shop at smaller, quieter businesses that have friendly owners or employees. I've gathered around me some favourite people at various shops.
I also go to larger businesses. For example, the large supermarket nearby might not seem too personal, but it can be. After completing my grocery shopping, I head over to the checkout lines and look for a familiar cashier.
I always greet the employee with a smile and ask about their day. In time, I'm able to get acquainted with several of the cashiers. Eventually, they start to recognize me.
Most of all I've become known at the local fish and chip shop! I'm usually greeted by name and several employees will call out from the kitchen area, "Hi Dave!" When I leave, with my order carefully wrapped in newspaper, I hear a choir of voices calling, "See you Dave!"
Being part of my community, in these easy ways, gives me a sense of belonging.
The BCCPD is very sad to announce that May McIntyre, who until very recently was our President, passed away on November 11th.
May has been on the BCCPD Board for 14 years and was recognized many times for her very significant contribution to the community. In 2002, she was awarded the Queen's Medal and the 125th Anniversary of Confederation Medal. In 2003, she received an award from the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD).
May lived in Salmon Arm where she was an advocate with Advocacy Outreach. She was very involved with a number of other organizations including the BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre (BC PIAC) where she was a long-time Board Member.
She was on the Steering Committee of the Inn from the Cold program which provides accommodation and food to the homeless, and she was for many years on the Board of the federated anti-poverty groups (fapg).
The BCCPD's Board, staff and volunteers will greatly miss May. We benefited so much from her experience, wisdom and compassion. May was an exceptionally dedicated advocate and we will be forever grateful for the significant contribution she made to the BCCPD and the community.
Our deepest condolences to May's family and friends.
After speaking up for years about the abuse they suffered at Woodlands School, survivors of the institution finally have a Settlement Agreement for compensation with the province. The Agreement will provide eligible survivors with compensation of $3,000 to $150,000 for the sexual, physical or psychological abuse or injuries they suffered at Woodlands on or after August 1st, 1974.
Compensation applicants will not have to go to court; they will submit written materials which will be reviewed by a judge to decide whether or not they are entitled to compensation and, if so, how much. The compensation will not affect the income supports (disability benefits or basic social assistance) that people receive from the province.
The BCCPD is pleased that some former Woodlands residents will have their abuse recognized. However, we are very disappointed for the approximately 500 former residents who the government says are ineligible for compensation because they were at the institution before August 1974. The oldest, most fragile residents who have waited the longest to have their abuse recognized are being shut out.
The government says people who lived at Woodlands before August 1st, 1974 cannot seek compensation because it was against the law to sue the province before that date, except in exceptional circumstances. The BC Supreme Court and BC Court of Appeal ruled in the government's favour and the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear an appeal.
The BCCPD continues to work with the survivors to urge the province to include all victims of abuse in the compensation plan. On January 14th, Woodlands Survivors, the BCCPD and lawyer David Klein met with Attorney General Michael De Jong. We received a respectful hearing and the AG committed a careful consideration of this problem.
The survivors have been through so much and are devastated that part of their community has been excluded from the Agreement. They are again asking the government to do the right thing.
To help the excluded survivors, contact: Gregg Schiller (We Survived Woodlands Group) 604-868-7001; greggschiller@shaw.ca or Jane Dyson (BCCPD) 604-875-0188; jwd@bccpd.bc.ca
If you are a Woodlands survivor, contact: Law firm Klein Lyons (604-874-7171) is counsel for the survivors. David Klein and his colleagues have worked tirelessly for former Woodlands residents. Contact them about applying for compensation through the Settlement Agreement.
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If you are naturally introverted like I am, mustering the energy and courage to go out into unfamiliar situations can often feel overwhelming and just not worth the effort.
Participating in a community–whether it's your neighbourhood or a community of bird watchers–can be a challenge for many of us. If you're living with a disability or chronic health condition, your daily life may be complicated by low energy and fatigue, pain, physical barriers, medication side-effects or other factors.
Living with a disability can also affect your self-esteem and confidence. If you are naturally introverted like I am, mustering the energy and courage to go out into unfamiliar situations can often feel overwhelming and just not worth the effort.
Researchers have shown, however, that there is a strong connection between community participation and improved health and sense of well-being. And the good news is that even occasional interaction–attending a meeting twice a month or volunteering once a month–is enough to generate positive results. In Canada, we have identified "social support networks"–what we develop when we participate in a community–as number two in the list of determinants of health.**
If this is enough evidence to encourage you to venture into your community (or increase your involvement), let me share my tips for community participation. Remember that "community participation" can take place in many ways: in person, over the telephone, letters in the mail or via the Internet.
Don't know where to start? Ask yourself the following questions and make a list of your answers.
If you're shy or uncomfortable in new situations, this isn't an unusual question. Research (and my personal experience) shows that asking questions is an excellent way to start a conversation. Prepare a couple of questions in advance to get you started and then let them flow naturally into the conversation. By being naturally curious and interested (rather than interrogating, like you're in a courtroom!), your conversation partner will find you fascinating!
If you decide to try these how-to steps, I would love to hear from you. What did you try? Did you have fun? Did you encounter barriers or challenges? Your stories will help us to keep the connections going among our readers.
Good luck and remember the benefits of connecting go far beyond what you might expect.
** What Makes Canadians Healthy or Unhealthy? Public Health Agency of Canada. Retrieved from: http://tinyurl.com/yfp64kr.
Job Membership and Volunteer Coordinator
Pets Dogs Alex and Bailie and cats Kiki and Pepsi
What you do to pass time in a waiting room Hope there are good magazines!
Favourite Sunday morning Coffee on the deck in the sun, reading the paper- in the summer!
#1 world issue Hunger, homelessness and funding for medications
#1 disability issues Money and housing
For me, the group that I connected with was the Saskatoon Ostomy Association. In 1996, I was diagnosed with rectal cancer and needed a colostomy. My nurse asked if I would like to see a visitor who had a similar surgery.
The person came to visit me in the hospital. He told me about his surgery and recovery, and how to manage a colostomy on a day-to-day basis. He told me about the Saskatoon Ostomy Association and how it helped him to meet with people who've been through what he had.
I started by attending a meeting. Everything was run so smoothly that I wanted to attend events and get to know more people. After a few years of attending, they announced they were looking for people to help on the executive and on committees. It was time for me to give back and help others. So I offered to serve on a committee. The next year, I was asked to be president.
Since then, I've gone on to serve with the national organization–the United Ostomy Association–and I am presently on the board of directors and act as webmaster for our national website.
The whole connection started with my first visitor, my first meeting and the recommendation of my nurse. You never know where small steps will take you.
My first introduction to competition happened on a pool table. Before my diagnosis with RP, I was a competitive pool player participating in tournaments across Canada and western United States. After the diagnosis in my mid-twenties, I continued to play but my ability declined. The deterioration in my vision was slow and so was the realization that it was time to let go.
No one came to my pity party. I didn't invite anyone, so I shouldn't have been surprised. Not being one to enjoy isolation, I joined a "support group" for people with RP through CNIB. I use the word "support" loosely because this group focused on getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing the world by our own will and abilities alone. This was very empowering for me. I felt strength in the sheer number of people out there who suffer vision loss.
It was through this group that I met Linda. She introduced me to the sport of Dragon Boating and to the Eye of the Dragon which is BC Blind Sports first dragon boat team that included both visually impaired and sighted athletes. I wanted to be a part of it.
Now it's a part of me and has helped me in defining a new identity for myself. The team prides itself on its hard work, competitive spirit and its ability to raise awareness about vision loss. Being a member of the team has empowered me to live more independently. The biggest reward for me, besides being able to participate with my sighted husband Shane, is being able to contribute equally without concession. Feeling "less than" dominated me for many years. These thoughts are very few and far between these days.
Tyze creates secure, online personal networks for service providers, families and friends of people in care.
One of the first Tyze networks belonged to Ken, a man in his 40's who lived in Vancouver. It was Ken's mother, Jean, who first set up his Tyze network. Jean understood the value of communication and was enthusiastic about using an online network to help Ken to stay in touch with the people who were most important to him.
During the good times, Ken's network was a wonderful way for the people who cared about him to stay in touch. Ken didn't read or write, but he loved to sit with the staff members at his group home and dictate messages that were then posted to his Tyze network. Ken loved to talk on the phone, but was often quite difficult to understand. His network members appreciated reading his updates on Tyze because when he called, they could ask him about the ball game he'd been to, or the trip to the beach that they'd read about on Tyze. There was always plenty to talk about.
Ken's Tyze network became even more valuable during the difficult times in his life. Ken needed to have heart surgery–and he was understandably anxious. He appreciated the support of his network members more than ever. People used the Tyze calendar to schedule visits to the hospital and the story page to share news of his recovery.
Ken recovered well from the surgery, but a few months later he suffered a coronary and passed away. Then the Tyze network became a place for those who loved him to remember him. His eulogy was posted to his Tyze site, and members posted stories and memorials that were a comfort to Jean and his other friends and family members.
Want to know how to Tyze? Visit http://tyze.com.
At 19, I was diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis and fibromyalgia. I am now 27. It soon became apparent that I would not be able to return to my physically demanding job. Friends were unable to understand my limitations and moved on with their lives, leaving me with few contacts my own age. My abilities were also significantly reduced to where I couldn't really feed myself, let alone prepare a meal, do laundry, make my bed, or other things people do without thinking about how much pain it will cause. In many ways it felt as though my life was over.
I was directed to a community Water Works program where I attend classes not only for the beneficial exercise, but also for the social and support aspects. We have good days and bad, sometimes for no reason, and it's the people that keep us coming even on days when it would be easier to stay home.
For me, the participants, instructors included, have reminded me that it is possible to work around my "dis-abilities." More than anything when I was extremely isolated, they opened their arms and hearts to me. They gave me a place to belong where it was OK to hurt, to heal, and start to rebuild my life. Without these classes and the important social connections, I would not be where I am today –one year from completing my BSW degree.
by Sam Bradd, Administrative Director
Wherever you are, the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities (BCCPD) wants to make connections with you. We invite you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
So whether you're in Fort St. John or Terrace, now it's even easier to stay in touch. The BCCPD is expanding our online presence with Facebook and Twitter accounts on the internet. These are two free, popular websites that connect people around the world.
We are using Twitter and Facebook to expand knowledge of the BCCPD's existence to a younger audience; to be relevant online; to use our strength as a coalition to promote the work of and connect with other disability groups; and, most importantly, to educate and create awareness of disability issues to people without disabilities on the internet.
If you're a Transition reader, we know you're a fan of the BCCPD–so come and show your support online as a Facebook "fan"! We've designed a special Facebook page for our fans where we post links to interesting news stories and current issues. Readers can comment on the stories and tell the BCCPD what they're thinking.
We also have two Twitter accounts: @BCCPD and @BCCPDhealth. If you're new to Twitter, you can imagine Twitter like going to a party. Twitter updates are like small talk, with the added challenge of being 140 characters or less. A Twitter update might share an interesting new website, a news flash from the day, or repeat something relevant someone else has posted. You don't need a Twitter account to see what we're sharing. Search for @BCCPD and @BCCPDhealth.
Increasingly, people are building their communities on the internet as well as in-person. We see the internet as having great tools for building social connections that span countries, continents and concerns. It's never been this easy to learn from each other.
Facebook and Twitter accounts are both free. We encourage Facebook users to review the Facebook privacy policies and select their personal privacy settings accordingly.
People often think of building friendships as an automatic process, but it needs a lot of work too. From over 20 years of helping people to build their social networks, here's what we've learned at Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network:
Ronnie passed away peacefully at Cowichan District Hospital at the age of 67 years, surrounded by her family.
Trained as a Registered Nurse, with a B.Sc. in Nursing, educated as a teacher, with a Masters in Leadership and Training, Ronnie touched the lives of so many people in both her career and personal life. She was a tireless community health advocate, including volunteering with BCCPD in many capacities over the years.
Compassionate, loving, thoughtful, generous and dedicated – all describe Ronnie. Everything in life, she did with incredible passion, and she had the ability to see the positives in every situation and in all people. As an amazing mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend she will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Her family meant everything to her; Ronnie adored her grandchildren who brought so much joy into her life.
We are updating our Transition readers' email list, so we can keep you up-to-date on events or issues that may affect you, like changes to goverment assistance rules or the recent handyDART strike.
If you'd like to receive occasional news from us between Transition editions, please email your full name, mailing address and email address to feedback@bccpd.bc.ca or call Val at 604-875-0188. Thank you!
This year Jen Rashleigh created a series of table-top wheelchair-accessible gardens at the George Pearson Centre so the residents there could enjoy growing their own food. One of these resident gardeners is Olga Ruskin and this is her story of why she loves gardening. Interview by Kathie Wallace.
I garden because I enjoy being outside and seeing things grow. It exposes you to the world of living plants and makes you realize there's more than you on this planet.
It fills me with joy to have something growing from nothing and flourishing. I feel more alive when I can smell and feel the plants and the earth. We've lost touch with Mother Earth when we are actually part of her.
The air around a garden is brighter, it smells so much nicer and the colours are uplifting. There is such a sense of peace working around flowers. They don't talk to us, but they do indicate whether they are happy or not in their own language.
This garden has changed my days. When I feel low, I can come out and look at the flowers and I feel happy because they are so pretty and colourful. They literally uplift me if I have a bad day. I can't do much because my hands are stiffened with arthritis, but I can go into the garden and get engrossed in the plants and forget my cares.
And a feeling of fellowship has grown among the gardeners. It promotes friendship because our common interest in gardening bonds us together. I hope what I've said inspires people to get involved.
We were very sad to learn that Olga passed away on January 19, 2010.
There are lots of free or low cost acitivities to do outdoors. Watch for the Burnaby Leisure Guide that is published twice a year and includes a community directory of clubs and interest groups in addition to City programs.
If you need some accommodations because of a disability, our Access Services Coordinator will be glad to advise you. You can make a leisure counselling appointment, meet at a facility to look around and discuss options on adapted programs that may be available. For more information, please contact Access Services Coordinator at 604-294-7168.
Our Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Culture Credit Program is for individuals and families on low income who are eligible to receive $154 per person, per year, to be spent on classes and programs of their choice. Activities range from "drop-in" to scheduled sessions so you can pick whichever suits your comfort. For more information, please contact Recreation Credit Program at 604-320-2227.
You can download the Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Culture Access Guidebook from: http://www.burnaby.ca/__shared/assets/2007_Access_Guidebook4407.pdf. You can find information on accessible recreation at http://www.burnaby.ca/cityhall/departments/departments_parks/rcrtn/Who_am_I_/prksrc_lsrgd_spclzd.html.
The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities' (BCCPD) Board of Directors is delighted to announce that Johanna Johnson is our new President. Johanna has served on the BCCPD's Board for many years and has held various positions.
Johanna is a special education and classroom teacher with a long history of volunteer involvement with the disability community through the BC Paraplegic Association, TETRA Society, and a support group for women with disabilities. She was the recipient of the 2005 Courage to Come Back Award in the Physical Rehabilitation category.
A member of the Vancouver Elementary School Teachers Association, Johanna is passionate about education and health issues. She currently teaches kindergarten at Nootka Elementary.
The BCCPD's Board, staff and volunteers welcome Johanna in her new role as President and looks forward to working with her on our projects and initiatives.
Pace yourself. Remember that most things that are worth doing need to be broken down into small steps.
Figuring out how to "get involved" and join with others can be a tough challenge for anyone. Mood, anxiety or other psychological issues can make it seem even more difficult.
At the same time, connecting with people can be a really important part of caring for your well-being and a great step toward a healthy mind.
If you are having trouble getting started, try following these steps:
Clicklaw–www.clicklaw.bc.ca–is a new website, funded by The Law Foundation of BC, aimed at enhancing access to justice in BC. It features legal information and education created by 24 contributor organizations–including BCCPD. Now, you can also find in-person legal support and services through the Clicklaw HelpMap.
From Jennifer Crawford, Society of Organized Services (SOS)
Volunteering is a wonderful way to make friends, learn something new and get connected with your community.
Here at SOS, we have a wide variety of Volunteer Programs to choose from. You can start by having a look at our volunteer "menu" and filling out an application form at www.sosd69.com, at the SOS Thrift Shop or at the SOS Office.
We are also happy to design a volunteer position to fit your needs. We'll gather the right "ingredients" to find a rewarding experience for you with SOS.
Steps to volunteering with SOS:
SOS volunteers receive regular skills training through on-the-job experience and free workshops. All you have to do is connect with us and we will work with you to help you achieve your goals.and most –importantly have fun!
Hope to hear from you soon!
CMHA's Community Navigator program connects with people who have been homeless or at risk of homelessness. Staff provide support with navigation of other resources beyond housing: income supports; work, volunteer, or education opportunities; and, personal support networks.
A key goal of the program is to reconnect clients with people in their community, through participation in everyday activities. People connect around going for coffee, attending community events like hockey games, or even things like grocery shopping and going to the laundromat.
If you would like to make a difference in someone's life and connect with someone new in your community, why not volunteer with the Community Navigator program?
Contact one of the following CMHA branches and ask for the Community Navigator:
South Cariboo–100 Mile House 250-395-4883
Cariboo/Chilcotin–Williams Lake 250-398-8220
Kootenays–Cranbrook 250-426-5222
Prince George 250-564-8644
Kelowna 250-861-3644
North and West Vancouver 604-987-6959
Visit: http://www.cmha.bc.ca/.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, BCCPD's Derek Isobe and Jane Dyson at a function hosted by the Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network to celebrate the RDSP.
The BCCPD is currently working on a project funded by The Law Foundation of BC to produce resources on the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RSDP). We will develop a manual and short videos, as well as conducting workshops.
More information will be posted on our website as resources become available.
Great chefs know: the secrets to a good recipe are amazing ingredients and lots of slow, steady blending. This Recipe for Connection has it all!
Preparation time: As long as it takes
Yields: 1 happy individual
Serves: Everyone
Ingredients
Directions
Nutrients Per Serving
by Christine Gordon
Several community organizations have come together to launch an exciting new province-wide initiative. The BC Personal Supports Network is aiming to build a future where access to personal supports (also known as disability supports) is no longer based upon the medical model or program eligibility, but instead reflects a person-centered, functional approach that enables full participation. Personal supports include equipment and assistive devices, as well as sign-language interpreters or attendants.
Building on the work of the Provincial Equipment and Assistive Devices Committee and the joint community-government partnership which led to demonstration personal supports centres in Victoria and Prince George, several community groups have agreed to work together as a Network to help British Columbians with disabilities find personal supports. These organizations and consumer groups have all adopted the Participation Model* which emphasizes personal goal-setting, self-determination, peer support, trialing, training and follow-up in the process of acquiring personal supports.
Network members (organizations listed on this page) will share expertise and resources so that a person with a disability can enter any door in the Network and be connected to the "navigation" process. We now have navigators in the Network to help guide individuals toward their participation goals.
Primary navigation begins wherever a person may be—sometimes at the very beginning of coming to grips with disability and, at other times, helping to refine a plan for participation that is well underway. As many consumers and advocates know, British Columbia has a complex array of programs and services for people with disabilities. This Network is designed to help people navigate through this complex sea, while it commits to streamlining its own processes and convincing other governmental and non-governmental organizations to do the same.
We believe that a Network can function more effectively than any one organization. To demonstrate this belief, the BC Personal Supports Network has taken on its first project. In collaboration with the Disability Services Division of the Ministry of Housing and Social Development, the Network is delivering the Equipment and Assistive Technology Initiative (EATI).
The EATI is a new pool of funding that will be available for people who have employment or volunteer goals, and who are not eligible for funding from other programs for equipment or technology that meets their functional needs. This new funding comes from the federal/provincial Labour Market Agreement which transferred funds from the federal government to the province. The funding is meant to assist with programs and services that would help people with disabilities and other groups who face significant barriers to labour force participation.
In order to deliver the EATI, the Network has engaged several super navigators who will guide people through the EATI process. Super navigators build on the work that the Network's primary navigators do by focusing directly on people who are eligible and ready for EATI funding.
The EATI process exemplifies the best practices of the Participation Model. There are no medical assessments and no prescribed list of equipment and assistive devices from which an applicant must choose. Applicants are able to choose the equipment or technology that will work best for them in meeting their employment or volunteer goals and to receive the assessment, training or follow-up supports that they need to ensure that they can reach their goal.
The Network Partners Council, which acts like a Board of Directors for the Network, collaborated with the Ministry of Housing and Social Development on designing the policy and procedures for EATI, and both are sharing responsibility for meeting the goals for EATI. These goals are aimed at ensuring that people with disabilities get equal access to EATI-funded equipment and assistive devices, and that most of the EATI funds get directly to people with disabilities.
This means that organizations in the Network will use their existing services and resources, whenever possible, to deliver EATI funding directly to people with disabilities and will not use the funds to create new and expensive programs.
The Network hopes to grow slowly but surely to include new member groups (Network members are called "clusters") and to encourage each cluster to organize to increase knowledge and understanding of particular functional areas.
The EATI is only the first of what will be many projects for the Network as it proves that working together and putting the needs of people with disabilities first is the way of the future for both governmental and non-governmental organizations. The members of the BC Personal Supports Network are investing their energy and resources in this vision.
If you would like to know more about the Network or would like to be part of the EATI process, please contact one of the member groups listed under Network Members below.
* You can read about the Participation Model on the BCCPD website, www.bccpd.bc.ca, under Community Campaigns, Equipment and Assistive Devices.
Primary navigation begins wherever a person may be–sometimes at the very beginning of coming to grips with disability and, at other times, helping to refine a plan for participation that is well underway.
Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.widhh.com/
Voice: (604) 736-7391
TTY (TDD): (604) 736-2527
Email: info@widhh.com
BC Coalition of People with Disabilities
http://www.bccpd.bc.ca/
Telephone 604-875-0188
Toll Free 1-800-663-1278
TTY for people with hearing impairments only 604-875-8835
Email: joyce@bccpd.bc.ca
Neil Squire Society
http://www.neilsquire.ca/
Tel: 604-473-9363
E-mail: info@neilsquire.ca
Richmond Centre for Disability
http://www.rcdrichmond.org/
Tel: 604-232-2404
TTY: 604-232-2479
Email: rcd@rcdrichmond.org
Victoria Personal Supports Centre
http://www.drcvictoria.com/
Phone and TTY: 250-595-0044
Email: reception@drcvictoria.com
Prince George Personal Supports Centre
http://pg-psc.com/Default.aspx?PageID=1
Voice: 250 563-2008
TTY: 250 563-2058
Email: marvene@pg-psc.com
British Columbia Association for Individualized Technology and Supports (PROP and TIL)
http://www.bcits.org/
-PROP
Phone toll-free 1-866-326-1245 (local and long distance)
Email: prop@bcits.org
-TIL
Telephone: 604-326-0175
Email: til@bcits.org
The Seeing Caucus (a grouping of consumers and providers for those with vision loss)
Linda Bartram (Chair) Email: lindabartram@telus.net
BCCPD would like to thank all the people who generously supported our end-of-year fundraising drive. Especially in these financial times, we appreciate and depend on support from the community. Thank you for helping us continue our work.
Can you contribute $2, $5, $8 or more per month? Even a small amount goes a long way and provides a funding base we can count on.
Joining our Visionaries Circle is easy. You can authorize BCCPD to bill your credit card monthly. Or you can set up monthly donations in seconds by clicking on the "Donate Now Through Canada Helps.org" button. To donate by phone, please contact Nancy at 604-875-0188. Thank you.
I think that the disabled communities' Measuring Up Initiative offers a practical way for disabled people to push for change. Measuring Up–. shows communities where and how to remove housing, transportation, training and employment, services, and quality of life barriers that disabled people face. Mike Harcourt. For more on Measuring Up, go to http://www.2010legaciesnow.com/measuring_up.
James, pictured at left, with his brother Brian
For 20 years, the Cucek family has been seeking help from the BC government for their son James who has autism. James' mother, Linda, believes that the intensive Lovaas therapy, that includes 40 hours a week of treatment, offers the best hope for James to thrive. However, the provincial government will not cover the costs of the $60,000 a year treatment and, instead, he has been receiving ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis) treatment from his brother Brian, who has a contract with the BC government.
James Cucek was diagnosed with autism when he was 13 years old. His mother Linda has been his advocate ever since, looking for the best possible therapy to help James and keep him from being "trapped in his own world."
When James was 22 years old, his treatment became the responsibility of his older brother, Brian. Brian received a certificate in the ABA treatment which gives him the skills to work with his brother.
Brian is excited at the prospect. "I want to see my brother grow and become a better person. With me working with him, I hope I can help James in his social skills and behaviour, and help him interact with people."
When the film Rainman was released in 1988, some people associated autism with an extraordinary skill. For most people with autism, this isn't the case. James is one of the lucky ones. Though many people with autism do not have the ability to connect with others, James is verbal. "Extremely verbal!" Linda says.
He is also uniquely blessed on the piano. Since first sitting down at a piano at age 4, James has continued to progress and often plays compositions by ear. He now composes his own music and belongs to the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN).
For Linda, Brian working with James is the best of both worlds. The brothers are 18 months apart and, in spite of James' autism, the two are usually very much "in sync."
"Being so close in age," Linda said, "They've been together through everything. Finally, there will be somebody with the knowledge James needs."
I started Stand Up For Mental Health, my program teaching comedy to people with mental illness, in 2004. I had no idea what I was doing.
I'd been a counsellor and a stand-up comic for about 13 years, plus I have depression, so I figured I was the perfect person to start something like this. The first thing I did was talk to people I knew in mental health and put the word out to consumers to let them know what I was doing. Then there were the logistics of getting a low cost training room, printing up workbooks, doing intake interviews and scheduling classes.
I learned that, once you have a program, you become a fundraiser. I asked people to help me put on shows that we used as fundraisers, an endeavour that required lots of work and yielded moderate success. The fundraising continues, but now I have someone else doing it and that's a good thing –cause I suck at asking people for money.
Starting up something fairly big like Stand Up For Mental Health requires a lot of persistence, the ability to keep going in the face of setbacks and having the right idea at the right time. Oh, and it helps to have a sense of humour!
My favorite part of Stand Up For Mental Health is watching people transform. They show up at the first class scared and timid and, as they start to perform and gain confidence, they become different people. I'm always in awe of what people with disabilities can accomplish when they are given something that has meaning for them.
Visit: http://www.standupformentalhealth.com.
I've had the experience of one small step leading to something unexpected.
A while ago, I took a cooking class at the BC Paraplegic Association. I learned a lot, including the fact that there weren't any community kitchens out there for people with disabilities. We talked about this and someone said, "Well, does anyone want to take this on?"
I found myself saying "yes" and with the help of Nicole Todos, we started looking for a place where people with disabilities could get together and share a meal. George Pearson Centre was gracious enough to offer their kitchen and Activity Wing. We started spreading the word, and soon the Pearson Community Kitchen was born.
We now meet once a month at Pearson with my partner doing the cooking. We spend a few hours together, planning and cooking the meal, enjoying the food and chatting.
The meals are free for people at Pearson, but anyone from the community is welcome to join us for only $5. The response has been wonderful and we often hear, "this is the best meal I've had in ages!"
We're always looking for volunteers to help with dinners. Volunteers can share the meal with us for free or we're happy to take their contributions to help with costs! And, in May, we'll be looking for someone to help cook meals. Ideally, the person will have a Food Safe certificate and some knowledge of people with disabilities. If you would like to know more about volunteering, I'd be glad to talk to you at 604-263-3653.
When I took the cooking class, I had no idea we would end up starting something like this! So, I encourage other people to try something new–you never know what will happen.
We had such an amazing response from the community on our theme of Connection, we couldn't include everything in the print version of Transition. You can see them below in our Web Extras section.
Building on over 18 years of experience in facilitating hundreds of social support networks for people living in isolation, PLAN Institute for Caring Citizenship has created Weaving the Ties that Bind, an online course for facilitators. Using our proven approach, this course provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a social network facilitator. Designed to be both practical and inspirational, Weaving the Ties that Bind consists of four easy to follow modules: 1. Understanding social support network facilitation 2. Preparing to develop a social support network 3. Addressing challenges and building confidence as a facilitator 4. An introduction to Tyze, a new online social networking site
Individuals working with or living with people who are socially isolated including seniors, people with disabilities and/or chronic health challenges, and youth. The course includes: 1. Instructional video clips, web links to essential resources 2. Chat rooms for scheduled and informal cyber-meetings 3. Discussion boards to post messages or comments 4. Online support from the course moderator 5. Course materials including a book, CD-ROM and DVD 6. Self check exercises and certificate of completion For further details or to register, email inquiries@planinstitute.ca or call 604.439.9566.
BCMOS is an independent non-profit society dedicated to enriching the lives of people with significant physical disabilities through wilderness and other outdoor recreation activities. Excursions range from day hikes to challenging treks.
Please visit their website at http://bcmos.org/main/index.php/, call 604-688-6464 or email bcmos@disabilityfoundation.org.
When you connect with other people, it breaks your isolation. You feel part of something larger than you and it gives you an opportunity to offer your skills and abilities to others. With giving, we get back ten-fold.
Here are my suggestions on how to start.
Ingredients: Desire to help others and give back to the community Free time Kindness Compassion Sense of humour A lifetime of experiences and skills to share A functional telephone Access to computer Procedure: 1. List the things that you really enjoy doing and the skills you have that lend themselves to these activities. 2. Find a computer to use to access the website of the community you live in, search for ‘volunteer opportunities’ (or use Google and specify the community where you’d like to volunteer). 3. Research volunteer opportunities that encompass activities that you enjoy. 4. Alternatively, speak to friends who volunteer and ask them for contact information, if it sounds like you might enjoy doing similar activities. 5. Even if you are housebound, many volunteer opportunities exist which use the telephone or computer. 6. Fill in application forms, get interviews, be candid about your abilities and your expectations. 7. Ask lots of questions. 8. The screening process for volunteering these days is rigorous but once completed, participate in your chosen activity wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. 9. Most important of all, HAVE FUN! Your enthusiasm will be contagious to all those around you.
I was in my early 20's, when I complained to a co-worker (someone older and much wiser) that I found it really hard to meet "the right guy." She gave me a piece of simple advice that I have found useful at many times in my life, whether I was trying to find the right partner, or make connections in my community generally.
The advice was this: "Do what you love and you will find yourself surrounded by the right people." When people are passionate about what the're doing, others are drawn to them, whether they share the same passion or not.
Also, when we enjoy something, we want to share it, and can find ourselves overcoming shyness and other hurdles to do so. The tricky part can sometimes be figuring out what you love doing. So sit down and have a think. What makes you happiest? What do you always wish you had more time to do? Then find some time to do it and enjoy both the activity and the people you will meet.
The choice to become involved in your community through volunteering is almost never out of a necessity for remuneration, but rather for the benefit of society. It empowers us through action, creating a shift from what wasn’t possible to endless possibilities. Volunteering can teach skills, make connections and, ultimately, a more cohesive society.
In the lower mainland, Volunteer Vancouver is an excellent example of an organization that is growing the voluntary sector by posting positions, holding workshops, distributing a monthly publication on upcoming events, plus having a comprehensive resource library. They are a great place to look for a volunteer position. Small communities will usually have a volunteer center to help you explore ways to connect.
The special horses we have help maintain a peaceful environment. It is very much a friendly human culture too, so you will soon be made to feel at home! The main focus is on the horse and the child rider, and the volunteers pitch in.
For more details, please visit the VTEA website (http://www.vtea.ca/) or call the office at 604-857-1267.
The Lower Mainland Down Syndrome Society provides:
And, we are always recruiting volunteers to help us with these programs. Learn more about us at www.lmdss.com or contact us at 604-591-2722 or lmdss@telus.net.
Sometimes we don’t connect with others because we feel low, anxious or stressed. But, by not connecting, we can feel worse. To stop this vicious cycle, we recommend you make a plan. Write down:
If you often feel low and want more help building confidence and getting more out of life, you might benefit from a free and effective CMHA program called Bounce Back. You can do the Bounce Back program from your own home. Talk to your doctor to get a referral or visit www.bouncebackbc.ca for more information.
CMHA is also involved with a magazine called Visions. Our spring issue is on social support and mental health. Subscribe for free at www.heretohelp.bc.ca. Resources
Editorial Statement The views and opinions expressed within the pages of Transition are not necessarily those held by the total membership or Board of Directors. The material presented herein is meant to be thought-provoking and to promote dialogue. Transition is a forum to share information within the disability community, and with government and the general public. It is also an opportunity for people with disabilities to display creative talent.
Disclaimer Any firm or company advertising in Transition is for our readers’ benefit and does not constitute an endorsement by the BCCPD.
Our 2012 CPP Series guides are now available in English, Punjabi and Traditional Chinese.
How are we doing? Send us your feedback on BCCPD.
See our multilingual publications .
9-1-1 and You
Be Prepared
George Pearson Centre, gardens, orchards....find out about a wonderful new project here.
See our Disability Benefits Help Sheets , including new Chinese and Punjabi translations.
BCCPD Online
Open an RDSP
The Registered Disability Savings Plan can benefit people regardless of their income. Learn more.