Neil Squire Society work with Penticton Indian Band (up to 2009)

Neil Squire Society & Okanagan Neil Squire Society & Okanagan PartnershipsPartnerships

Purpose of PresentationPurpose of Presentation

•Provide a background programming and partnerships in the Okanagan

•Describe the programs

•Speak to Osoyoos Programming

Number of People with DisabilitiesNumber of People with Disabilities

Aboriginals with Disability rate is ~ > 33%*

Number people with Disability:

•1,082 - 1,650 Okanagan on Reserve

•62,750 Aboriginals in BC

•375,292 Aboriginals in Canada

•4.4 million Canadians

BC UAIBC UAI

• British Columbia Universal Access Initiative

• 2004

• Work with CAP sites

• Work done with Penticton Indian Band (PIB) and Independent Living Vernon (IL Vernon)

• Provided basic Assistive Technology to make workstations more accessible

– Chair– Height Adjustable Desk– Trackball– Different Keyboards

Adaptive TechnologyAdaptive Technology

Kensington®

Expert MouseOptical Trackball

SafeTypeKeyboard

Kinesis Contoured Keyboard

Cirque® Easy CatTouchpad

Roller Bar Mouse

PerfitMouse

Arm Rest

Footprints to Technology ProgramFootprints to Technology Program

•Penticton Indian Band one-on-one computer

tutoring program

•Assist the training of Aboriginals with basic

computer technology

•Neil Squire provided Penticton Indian Band with

– 10 home computers

– Computer curriculum and resources

ATEC – Assistive Technology for ATEC – Assistive Technology for Employment CentreEmployment Centre

• IL Vernon

•Provided over $10,000 worth of Assistive Technology

– New Computer Station– 6 different Keyboards– 6 different Mice – Screen Readers, Voice

Recognition software– Monitor & Monitor Arm

Footprints to Technology BuildingFootprints to Technology Building

• Beautiful & home like log

building

• Opened in January 2006

• Program open to residents of the

Okanagan valley

• Disability center downstairs

• Youth center upstairs

Florence MacArthur, Project Manager, PIB

Neil Squire Employ-Ability ProgramNeil Squire Employ-Ability Program

•Started Oct 2006

•A three year pilot project

•To reach 90 people with disabilities and increase

their employability

StaffStaff

Mindy

Chad

Terry

Amadeus

Advisory Committee to ProjectAdvisory Committee to Project

Volunteers assist the project with community input and expertise at

monthly meetings

Volunteers; Michelle, James and Anne with staff (missing from photo; Florence Gladys, Sam, Michel)

EmployAbility - Modules EmployAbility - Modules

Modules of EmployAbility include:

•Assistive Technology & Ergonomics,

by distance consultation/on site

•Personal Health & Wellness, on site

•Career Development, on site &

distance

•Computer Technology by Distance

Learning

Additions and Adaptations to the curriculum were made to include

Aboriginal cultural values.

Neil Squire Employ-Ability ProgramNeil Squire Employ-Ability Program

•Also began Employ-Ability program with IL Vernon in 2006

Aboriginal Day / Open House, Aboriginal Day / Open House, June 21,2006June 21,2006

Elders Computer Introduction ClassElders Computer Introduction Class

Footprints to Better Living Conference, Footprints to Better Living Conference, October 2006October 2006

• Over 40 people with disabilities, Seniors/Elders attended a conference focusing on how Technology can improve your life

• Presentations by CNIB, Neil Squire Society, THEO BC, Chronic Pain Self Management and on Preserving Culture by Andrew

McGinnis

International Day for People with International Day for People with Disabilities, 2006Disabilities, 2006

Seniors on Seniors - SOSSeniors on Seniors - SOS

• National partnership with Neil Squire Society and Health Canada to promote the use of health technologies amongst Elders and Seniors

• Peer mentoring program to learn

– Cell phones, – Blood pressure & Heart

Monitors– Emergency response systems– Answering machines/caller ID

All Class Reunion August 3/07All Class Reunion August 3/07

Our Graduates Thank YouOur Graduates Thank You

Our Graduates Thank YouOur Graduates Thank You

Our Graduates Thank YouOur Graduates Thank You

Our Graduates Thank YouOur Graduates Thank You

Community NavigatorsCommunity Navigators

•For Aboriginals with Disabilities on Reserve

•Community Navigators - Recruit and train Aboriginal Peers and Elders to provide Peer Support

•Help link Aboriginals on Reserve with community and Band services

Community Navigator OutreachCommunity Navigator Outreach

Community Navigator GoalsCommunity Navigator Goals

•Engage all bands in the Okanagan Nation Alliance

•Ensure there are Community Navigators in all communities

•Serve Aboriginals with Disabilities throughout the Okanagan

Community NavigatorsCommunity Navigators

•Our first 5 Community Navigators

•Our Community Navigator Advisory Committee

Thank you for your time and interest in our work

Together developing partnerships we can make a difference

by empowering people with disabilities