PossAbilities_Vol_01_No_04

Volume 1, Issue 4

Prepare to be inspired.

1Thanks in large part to Mileieu Family

Services, Andrew Csanyi is working his dream job – a mini-shift at a popular Surrey eatery. Obliging and enthusiastic, Andrew dives into his job the moment he walks in the door. His boss admits he was a little skep-tical about hiring Andrew, who has mild Down’s syn-drome, but says it was a wise move – “he’s by far the most reliable person on staff.” Page 3

2Josh Sam and his fel-low track and field

participants were “smiles from ear to ear” in South Surrey as they earned ribbon after ribbon during the second annual Bayridge Invitational Elementary Track Meet. And from what we could see, the athletes didn’t seem to mind where they placed – as long as they got a chance to compete like the children without disabilities. Page 9

3Wheelchair rugby. Yes, you read that

right – wheelchair rugby. Richmond is about to host the 2010 World Championships and Team Canada’s chances of nabbing gold are good. But to get gold, the Canadians have to get past the mighty Americans, the world’s top-ranked wheelchair rugby team. See more on this amaz-ing sport, Page 10

4Ask Bev Young what she likes about the

Chilliwack Opportunity Society and her answer might surprise you – it gives her a place to do her homework and dish dirt about her beloved Vancouver Canucks. The society has been advocating for the public acceptance of people with developmental disabilities for 40 years. Find out what makes it so special. Page 4

Is this your fi rst time picking up Possabilities?

5If you’re looking to be inspired, look no

further than Ramesh Ferris, who hand-cycled across Canada to raise awareness about polio. Ramesh is about to speak at the UN about his Cycle to Walk cam-paign, which aims to eradicate polio in de-veloping countries. Polio paralyzed Ramesh’s legs for life but he says he al-ways finds the positives in life. Page 11

PA02/ Volume 1, Issue 4 • POSSabilities • thenownewspaper.com

www.outreach.surrey.ca

O U T R E A C H & S U P P O R T S E R V I C E S

WELCOME! Outreach and Support Services offers a variety of programs and support for individuals with disabilities to get involved and take part in an active and healthy lifestyle.

FUN FOR KIDSDon’t miss out on these Saturday afternoons packed with wacky gym games, arts n’ crafts, and adventure outings in the community. A great place to make friends, get active and have fun in a welcoming atmosphere with a different theme every week! For children with special needs. Staff support provided (ratio 1:2/3). Offered in partnership with the Surrey Association for Community Living.Register for all 8 sessions or for weekly drop in.8 Sessions $105.00 / 1 Session $13.25 Saturdays, Sept 25-Nov 20 4217201 Sa Sept 25 1:30pm-4:30pm

Newton Recreation Centre

KIDS WHO COOKLet’s get cookin! Try a variety of cool recipes to cook for your friends or family. Learn how to whip up breakfast shakes, appetizers, dinners, desserts and baking goodies. A great life skill and a delicious way to spend the afternoon! Ages 8-12yrs. Staff support provided (ratio 1:2). Offered in partnership with the Surrey Association for Community Living.4 Sessions $36.50 Thursdays, Sept 9-Sept 30 4217616 Th Sept 9 3:30pm-4:45pm

Fleetwood Community Centre 4 Sessions $36.50 Thursdays, Oct 7-Oct 28

4217617 Th Oct 7 3:30pm-4:45pm Fleetwood Community Centre

COOKING (YOUTH)Surprise yourself and others. Learn to cook food for the various meals of the day ... breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and desserts! Ages 13-18yrs. Staff support provided (ratio 1:2). Offered in partnership with the Surrey Association for Community Living.4 Sessions $31.25 Thursdays, Sept 9-Sept 30 4220321 Th Sept 9 4:45-6:00pm

Fleetwood Community Centre 4 Sessions $31.25 Thursdays, Oct 7-Oct 28 4220322 Th Oct 7 4:45-6:00pm

Fleetwood Community Centre

TEEN BLASTBored of staying home on Saturday afternoons?! Breakout of your old routine with some new friends and visit exciting locations around the Lower Mainland! Ages 12-18yrs. Staff support provided (ratio 1:2/3). Offered in partnership with the Surrey Association for Community Living.Register for all 11 sessions or pick your days!1 Session $17.50 Saturdays, Sept 11-Dec 11

DANCE MIXER - CHILDRENGet a mix of your favorite dance moves incorporating Hip-Hop, Jazz, Ballet, and Musical Theatre techniques. A fun way to improve overall balance, posture, strength and coordination. Offered in partnership with the Surrey Association for Community Living.10 Sessions $46.25 Mondays, Sept 20-Nov 29 8-12yrs4219012 M Sept 20 4:00pm-5:00pm 8-12yrs


DANCE MIXER - YOUTHGet a mix of your favorite dance moves incorporating Hip-Hop, Jazz, Ballet, and Musical Theatre techniques. A fun way to improve overall balance, posture, strength and coordination. Offered in partnership with the Surrey Association for Community Living.10 Sessions $46.25 Mondays, Sept 20-Nov 294219013 M Sept 20 5:00pm-6:00pm 13-18yrs


SPIRIT VOLUNTEER PROGRAMNeed volunteer support? Want to become a Volunteer? Catch the SPIRIT! SPIRIT (Support Participation and Inclusion ~ Reach out, Involve and Transform!) embodies the desire to strengthen community and increase involvement and participation. It enables more members of our community with disabilities to participate in Surrey Parks, Recreation & Culture activities to improve their health and wellness, education, and/or personal development with the support of a volunteer.

AQUA-FIT FOR LIFE For Individuals with developmental disabilitiesRelax, renew and rejuvenate! A social, water based exercise program adapted for individuals with developmental disabilities. Low impact exercises increase balance, dexterity and core strength and buoyancy promotes relaxation in a safe and supported environment.7 Sessions $46.00 Monday, Wednesday 19yrs+4223056 M, W Sept 8-29 10:30am-11:30am

Newton Wave Pool8 Sessions $52.50 Monday, Wednesday 19yrs+4223068 M, W Oct 4-27 10:30am-11:30am

Newton Wave Pool6 Sessions $40.75 Monday, Wednesday 19yrs+4223074 M, W Nov 29-Dec 15 10:30am-11:30am

Newton Wave Pool

AQUA-FIT FOR LIFEFor Individuals with physical disabilitiesFeel good, from the inside out! A fun, water based exercise program adapted for individuals with physical disabilities. Low impact exercises increase balance, dexterity and core strength and the buoyant properties of water promote relaxation and rejuvenation in a safe and supported environment.7 Sessions $46.00 Monday, Wednesday 19yrs+4223062 M, W Sept 8-Sept 29 12:30pm-1:30pm

Newton Wave Pool8 Sessions $52.50 Monday, Wednesday 19yrs+4223071 M, W Oct 4-Oct 27 12:30pm-1:30pm

Newton Wave Pool6 Sessions $40.75 Monday, Wednesday 19yrs+4223082 M, W Nov 29-Dec 15 12:30pm-1:30pm

Newton Wave Pool

AQUA-LAUNCHERS – ONE TO ONE Youth will be taught important water safety and skills while progressing at an individual rate in an inclusive atmosphere. Perfect for youth just starting out or for those who want to improve their strokes. Offered in partnership with the Surrey Association for Community Living.8 Sessions $54.50 Saturdays, Sept 11-Oct 304222992 Sa Sept 11 11:45am-12:15pm 13-18yrs

Surrey Sport & Leisure Complex7 Sessions $47.75 Saturdays, Nov 6-Dec 18 4222995 Sa Nov 6 11:45am-12:15pm 13-18yrs

Surrey Sport & Leisure Complex8 Sessions $54.50 Saturdays, Sept 11-Oct 304222941 Sa Sept 11 11:45am-12:15pm 3-18yrs

Newton Wave Pool7 Sessions $47.75 Saturdays, Nov 6-Dec 184222945 Sa Nov 6 11:45am-12:15pm 13-18yrs

Newton Wave Pool

RED CROSS SWIM KIDS – ONE TO ONE Join in the fun and splash into our supported swimming lessons! Children will be taught the Red Cross Swim Kids program and progress at an individual rate in an inclusive atmosphere. Offered in partnership with the Surrey Association for Community Living.8 Sessions $54.50 Saturdays, Sept 11-Oct 304222923 Sa Sept 11 9:00am-9:30am 4-5yrs4222924 Sa Sept 11 9:30am-10:00am 6-8yrs4222925 Sa Sept 11 10:00am-10:30am 6-8yrs4222926 Sa Sept 11 10:45am-11:15am 9-12yrs 4222927 Sa Sept 11 11:15am-11:45am 9-12yrs

Surrey Sport & Leisure Complex7 Sessions $47.75 Saturdays, Nov 6-Dec 18 4222971 Sa Nov 6 9:00am-9:30am 4-5yrs4222973 Sa Nov 6 9:30am-10:00am 6-8yrs4222974 Sa Nov 6 10:00am-10:30am 6-8yrs4222975 Sa Nov 6 10:45am-11:15am 9-12yrs4222987 Sa Nov 6 11:15am-11:45am 9-12yrs

Surrey Sport & Leisure Complex8 Sessions $54.50 Saturdays, Sept 11-Oct 30 4222722 Sa Sept 11 9:00am-9:30am 4-5yrs4222725 Sa Sept 11 9:30am-10:00am 6-8yrs4222726 Sa Sept 11 10:00am-10:30am 6-8yrs4222732 Sa Sept 11 10:45am-11:15am 9-12yrs4222737 Sa Sept 11 11:15am-11:45am 9-12yrs

Newton Wave Pool 7 Sessions $47.75 Saturdays, Nov 6-Dec 18 4222767 Sa Nov 6 9:00am-9:30am 4-5yrs4222771 Sa Nov 6 9:30am-10:00am 6-8yrs4222772 Sa Nov 6 10:00am-10:30am 6-8yrs4222773 Sa Nov 6 10:45am-11:15am 9-12yrs4223178 Sa Nov 6 11:15am-11:45am 9-12yrs

Newton Wave Pool

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Surrey Parks, Recreation & Culture, in partnership with Surrey Association for Community Living (SACL), offers recreational opportunities for children and youth with disabilities.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICESOUTREACH AND SUPPORT SERVICES

111 - 10277 – City ParkwaySurrey, BC, V3T 4C3

www.outreach.surrey.ca [email protected]

Tel: 604-502-6321 or 604-598-5864Fax: 604-502-6315

Milieu Family Services

Most employees would balk at the pros-pect of working a four-hour shift.

But for Andrew Csanyi, a mini-shift at a popular fast food eatery is a dream job.

Csanyi works at the WokBox, an Asian fast food restaurant located in a busy shopping plaza in the Newton area of Surrey.

Obliging and enthusiastic, Csanyi dives into his job the moment he walks in the door. His mild Down’s syndrome means his stamina is lower than others though and half-shifts – which are favoured by employ-ers to cope with the busy spells but are diffi cult positions to fi ll – are a perfect solu-tion for both Csanyi and his boss.

“Andrew is really passionate about work-ing in the restaurant industry. He was in the Douglas College culinary arts program so it was kind of a perfect fit for us,” says Will Kells, business development and marketing manager for the franchise.

Kells admits Csanyi faced a steep learning curve. Although the managers mentored him and gave him time to get comfortable in his setting before assigning more tasks and responsibilities, business is business — they have no time to coddle anyone.

“He works with us every Thursday and Friday which are the restaurant’s two busiest days so we’re not giving him the slower days, the slower shifts. We’re throwing him right into the fi re,” Kells notes.

Csanyi, 22, found his job at the restaurant with the help of Milieu Family Services.

The agency, which operates under the

Community Living BC umbrella and is funded by the provincial government, pro-vides a range of services for adults with developmental disabilities.

Jaret St. Andrassy, an employment coun-sel lor, says the goal of the agency’s “customized” employment program is to match employees with an employer in a meaningful way that goes beyond tokenism for the client and the feel-good factor for the employer.

Andrassy says presenting a good business case to the prospective employer for hiring a Milieu client is at the core of the program.

To facilitate a good match, staff routinely tour businesses in the region and evaluate their operations with an eye to “gaps” in workfl ow and duties. They later match the client’s skills with a job in this accumulated “job bank.”

As part of the process, counsellors assess the client’s aptitudes and skills through a se-ries of interviews and a home visit and then compile a profi le.

The gaps in workfl ow at the WokBox were evident during the lunchtime rush. The cooks would step away from the grills to quickly clear tables but the lineup to place orders would back up even quicker, making for grumbling customers. Now clearing ta-bles is one of Csanyi’s jobs.

Csanyi begins his shift by spritzing all the tables in the restaurant with cleaning solu-

tion and wiping them down in preparation for opening. He’s fussy and methodical —no missed spots.

“He doesn’t cut corners,” says Kells, notingthat Csanyi dutifully sticks to his college training.

Csanyi says his job is “very, very interest-ing” and likes “mostly everything” about it.

Some of his other tasks include helpingwith the food prep for the chefs, which healso performs with orderly precision. On this day, after he fi nishes with the tables he slips on a pair of plastic gloves and sets toweighing out two-ounce portions of beef

strips and placing them into individual bags,which the chefs will later throw onto thegrill as they fi ll the orders.

“This is the best part,” he says, smiling.WokBox owner Howard Ross admits that

he was a bit skeptical about hiring Csanyibut he’s glad now that he gave him a chance.

Ross says he appreciates Csanyi’s workethic and upbeat mood.

“He’s always happy, cheerful and comes towork ready to work,” he says.

Kells adds that Csanyi is tremendouslyloyal and reliable, plus punctual.

“He’s by far the most reliable person onstaff. He’s here half an hour early and he’salways looking for what he can do next,”Kells says.

“He’s brought a lot of life and energy tothe restaurant.”

Marisa BabicPossabilities Writer

He brings life to the restaurantAgency hooks Andrew up with ‘perfect fit’ of a job

GaryHOLLICKPublisher

BeauSIMPSONManagingEditor

Marisa BABICPossabilities writer

CONTACT: 604-572-0064

ArlieMCCLURGGeneral Sales Manager &Director of BusinessDevelopment

SEND US YOUR STORY IDEAS: [email protected]

Kim ROSEConsultant and Business [email protected]

Margot GAULEYBusiness [email protected]

Ellen GALLANTGraphic Designer

Darryl SCHICKProduction Manager

Andrew Csanyi says he likes ‘almost everything’ about working at a popular fast food eatery in Surrey. Brian Howell Photo

We’re not giving him the slower days, the slower shifts. We’re throwing him right into the fi re.”

Will Kells, Andrew Csanyi’s boss

“

Possabilities is produced by the NOW newspaper, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

Suite 201-7889 132 Street, Surrey, B.C. V3W 4N2Phone 604-572-0064Fax 604-572-6489

thenownewspaper.com • POSSabilities • Volume 1, Issue 4 /PA03

Organizations

When clients like doing chores and home-work, you know you’re doing something right.

Ask Bev Young and Janice Buckberry what they like about the Chilliwack Opportunity Society and their answers are a tad surpris-ing.

“I like to do my homework and I like sweeping,” says Buckberry, who has been coming to the Opportunity Society’s Wil-liams Road building since the early 1980s.

Young, who has been a society client since 1977, likes working on her literacy tasks, along with dishing the dirt on her beloved Vancouver Canucks.

The outgoing pair are just dozens of intel-lectually disabled adults the organization has helped in its 40 years – an anniversary the group celebrated with an open house in May.

Most have Down’s syndrome. Others have fetal alcohol syndrome and disabilities caused by childhood seizures or physical trauma. Unable to live totally independent lives, the society gives adults like Young and Buckberry a place to see old friends and learn skills that can help them in their day-to-day lives.

Manager Arlene Pede, who has been with the society for 40 years, says public accep-

tance of the developmentally disabled has increased dramatically since the group be-gan in 1970.

“People looked at them like they’re strange. Now, they’re part of the commu-nity,” said Pede.

The public’s attitude is no doubt linked to the growing visibility of adults like Young, who works part-time at the Strathcona Ele-mentary school library.

And it’s also likely due to the irresistiblefriendliness of the organization’s clients:walk into the Williams Road building and you’re immediately met by smiling faces andhand shakes.

And you’re just as likely to run into Op-portunity Society clients at a bowling alley, a seniors’ home or a park.

The society’s growth over the past 40 yearsmirrors that of Chilliwack. From less than 10 clients and a single staff member in 1970,Pede now manages a full-time staff of fivewho oversee 29 clients.

The building has changed too, and willsoon get a quiet lounge room for the soci-ety’s senior clients; as with the country as awhole, the organization’s clients are growingolder and now require a quiet space to relax.

Meanwhile staff members like Pede andsupport worker Heidi Glaister – two of sixfull-time staff members – are dealing withthe sadder aspects of an aging population.

“We’ve got people who are now aging andDown’s syndrome people tend to age very,very, quickly” said Pede, “so now we’re goingthrough that stage of our life where we’reseeing our friends getting old, and there’s asadness to that.”

Glaister, who has worked at the society for13 years, added: “Because we’ve been here solong, it’s becoming more and more like fam-ily all the time.”

When Opportunity knocks in Chilliwack

Tyler OlsenPossabilities Contributor

Chilliwack Opportunity Society client Bev Young completes her literacy homework at the society’s Williams Road headquarters.

Society celebrates 40 years

of helping those with

intellectual disabilities

be part of our community

Tyler Olsen Photo


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Briefl y

Cash for sportsThe Cerebral Palsy Association of British

Columbia will receive a $70,000 provincial community gaming grant to support Sport-Abi l i ty, a spor ts ini t iat ive a imed at encouraging people with disabilities to par-ticipate in sports. SportAbility and Cerebral Palsy of BC executive director Terrie Moore says the gaming funds are essential to pro-viding sports opportunities for people with physical challenges.

“Being physically active and participating in sport when you have a disability can be very challenging, both because of the need for expensive specialized equipment and also because specialized programming is not available in many places,” Moore said.

Surrey-Panorama Ridge MLA Stephanie Cadieux says the funding will allow Sport-Ability to deliver its many sports programs including power soccer, boccia, sledge hockey and cycling.

Wheels in MotionThousands of Canadians participated in

Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion events across the country in June. This year marked the 25th anniversary of Hansen’s legendary Man in Motion World Tour.

Presented by Scotiabank, the fundraiser raised over $1 million.

Locally, a record number of teams took part in the Wheelchair Challenge raising an estimated $75,000 at the Vancouver/Lower Mainland event for projects to help people with spinal cord injury.

“The participants came together to help keep alive the dream that Rick Hansen had 25 years ago,” said Vancouver event chair Kirk McLardie.

The defending championship team from McDonald’s, one of the event sponsors, held onto its title and took home the trophy.

Besides the wheelchair challenge, partici-pants and spectators had a chance to try out the sport of wheelchair rugby.

Rick Hansen, president and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation, praised the partic-ipants for making Canada a better place.

“It is inspiring to see so many people striv-ing to realize the same dream — a Canada that is inclusive and accessible for everyone.”

– Possabilities

Display opens eyes in LangleyTry on a disability

Zosia Ettenberg is on a mission to edu-cate the public about disabilities.

Ettenberg, 64, is the force behind the Langley Poss-Abilities Society, a society that advocates for people with disabilities and educates the larger community about their challenges.

Most recently, Ettenberg was the co-ordi-nator of the disability pavilion that was among the many pavilions at Langley’s In-ternational Festival held during the weekend of Aug. 28 and 29 at Willoughby Park. After a successful debut year last year, disability pavilion organizers expanded the displays this year. This year’s focus was on sports and recreation.

“We wanted to capitalize on the Para-lympics,” Ettenberg said.

The “try on a disability” displays chal-lenged people without disabilities to put themselves into someone else’s place by trying to perform simple tasks.

They included ambitious challenges such as navigating a wheelchair obstacle course. They also included seemingly easier tasks such as strapping someone’s dominant arm to their chest, turning them into “an ampu-tee or a stroke victim” and handing them a jar of jam: “Here’s your jam, now open it.”

Once they fi gure out that trick, Ettenberg hands them a cracker and knife and in-structs them to apply jam onto the cracker.

“Suddenly they’re chasing the cracker all over the plate.”

R.J. Irwin, a driver for HandyDart, tried a few devices meant to mimic a disability.

He slipped on a pair of specially made white gloves with the fi ngers sewn in such a way as to prevent nimble fi nger movement

and then attempted to pick up a coin froma change purse. The gloves are meant tosimulate debilitating arthritis.

He also tried to pick up an object, in thiscase a quarter, off the ground with a “pik-stick.” It looked easy but the exercise leftIrwin fumbling with frustration.

Although he works with people with dis-abilities, Irwin confessed that he didn’tappreciate just how tough it is for a personwith a disability to perform simple every-day tasks.

“It made me feel helpless,” he said. “I couldn’t do anything properly.”Ettenberg says the “try on a disability”

challenges are designed to educate the pub-lic, and also to show people that those withdisabilities can adapt and “learn to live lifeagain.”

“It’s made me open up my eyes,” said Ir-win.


Chris Keller gets a push from Cliff Calverey on an obstacle course in Langley that Calverey designed to demonstrate the diffi-culties of day-to-day life in a wheelchair. Brian Howell Photo


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For a FREE consultation call: 604.228.4357604.228.4357www.nursenextdoor.com

Do you know someonesomeone who needswho needs our help?our help?

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Link Up EmploymentServices for Persons with Disabilities

604-602-1505601 West Broadway, Suite 400

Vancouver, BC V5Z 4C2 Email: [email protected]

18years

The saying “sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me” has set the tone for the im-

portance of language that is used when it comes to people with disabilities.

If we think it, we say it and then it affects our actions and behaviour. After watching the Vancouver Police Department offi cer re-cently on the news pushing a woman with Cerebral Palsy, who clearly had mobility is-sues, I was outraged.

I thought, “How do we change the behav-iour of society when even those who are trusted to serve and protect people have such little respect for people with disabilities?”

With that one unnecessary push – fol-lowed by standing above her with his two other partners demonstrating no apparent remorse, no outreached hand to offer to help – in that second, he diminished all of the fantastic efforts that most police depart-ments do in support of people with disabilities, such as Special Olympics and many other community events.

Although the offi cer reported the incident to his supervisor immediately and apolo-gized to the woman after this incident, as a concerned citizen it still feels a bit swept un-der the carpet.

If that was any other citizen, perhaps in another part of the city, or without a disabil-ity the coverage of this story would still be front page news.

And yet, the story has lost its power with a simple apology? Would anyone else have stood for this?

People First, which is the longest-running and best-known self advocacy organization run by and for people with developmental disabilities in the world have worked tire-lessly to change the language people use when it comes to people with disabilities.

Often, people with disabilities are margin-alized and referred to by their medical or intellectual ability before even being referred to as a person.

Teaching and learning how to speak to all people should be a goal of parents, teachers and certainly our community leaders/role models. People with disabilities simply want to be known as a person first and for the abilities and incredible lives they are living.

Some examples are simple. Using words like retarded and handicapped

are first and foremost outdated and disre-spectful. Some examples, according to

People First (and common sense) of how to refer to people with different disabilities can be seen in the chart above.

As a social experiment, I decided to count how many times I heard the dreaded “r” word in one week.

I was not only astounded but heard it in many surprising places – not only from varying ages of people but in locations such as playgrounds, workplaces, parties and even Facebook statuses! If we want to change the behaviour of people, we must first begin with ourselves using respectful language and demand that others do the same.

Even when it is uncomfortable, we need torespectfully correct people using damaginglanguage and take the opportunity to make adifference. If we, as society accept it, nothingchanges. People may not think they havemeant anything bad by it or say that it is no‘big deal’ but it truly is.

No one would stand for their medicalcondition or IQ being referred to beforetheir name so why should anyone with a dis-ability? Remember, words lead to actions and actions lead to future policy.

Think before you speak and remember: people are people fi rst!

Column

Language should reflect we’re people firstKim RoseViewpoint

People with disabilities Disabled people/the handicappedPeople living with HIV HIV/AIDS patients or victimsPaul has a cognitive disability (diagnosis). Paul is cognitively disabled.Kate has (diagnosis of) autism. Kate is autistic.Ryan has (diagnosis of) Down/Down’s syndrome. Ryan is retarded/mentally retarded.Sara has a learning disability (diagnosis). Sara is learning disabled.Mary is of short stature/has dwarfism. Mary is a little person/dwarf.Bob has a physical disability (diagnosis). Bob is a quadriplegic.Tom has a mental health condition. Tom is emotionally disturbed/mentally ill.Nora uses a wheelchair/mobility chair. Nora is wheelchair-dependent/wheelchair user.Steve receives special education services. Steve is a special education student.Tonya has a developmental delay. Tonya is developmentally delayed.Children without disabilities Normal/healthy/typical children…communicates with her eyes/device/etc. …is non-verbal.Amy is without residence. Amy is homeless.

Proposed usage Conventional usage


The Semiahmoo House Society

The Semiahmoo House Society is a non-profit organization located in Surrey/White Rock, which exists to provide quality services and

support for people with disabilities and their families in the community.

Our Society believes that each individual has the right to these services, which will enable him or her to participate - to the greatest

extent possible - in the same activities of daily life as a non-handicapped peer. We further believe that other rights - to liberty, personal freedom, dignity and meaningful life - can be enhanced

and protected be ensuring that individuals have strongly dedicated personal, family and service delivery support systems in place.

When thinking about making a charitable donation, or planning your estate, we ask you to consider using the Semiahmoo House Society as one of your vehicles. The difference your gift can make would be

considerable.

For more information on our Society, or how to help us in our efforts, please contact

The Semiahmoo House Society15306 24th Avenue, Surrey BC V4A 2J1

604-536-1242

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Learn how to use a computer Develop your abilities and skills Explore career opportunities Receive assistance to secure employment

Access funding for training and supports

For more information contact:Yasmin Juma

604.473.9363 ext. 127www.neilsquire.ca

Empowering Canadians with Disabilities using Technology, Knowledge and Passion

Conference

Seventy-five self advocates gathered in Victoria recently for My Community: A Self Advocacy Conference – a day filled with learning, networking and fun.

The inaugural conference provided an op-portunity for self advocates to meet and discuss significant issues such as building safeguard networks, preventing bullying and leadership and self advocacy.

The event was organized by self advocates Mary Emmond, Candace Williams, Jessica McCartney, Michael Langridge and Ava Wil-liams, with support from Becon Support Services, Kardel and Garth Homer Society staff, Community Living B.C. (CLBC) South Island Community Council and community volunteers.

“We helped plan the logo, the activities, door prizes, delegate packages and T-shirts, and thank you letters to the presenters, vol-unteers and sponsors,” said Emmond. “Organizing an event like this gives you con-fi dence.”

Organizers took great care to make sure it was a “green” event (almost everything used could be composted), that everyone had a chance to participate and that session topics were relevant.

“The topics and speakers we chose were

what self advocates said they wanted to learnabout, particularly bullying,” said Williams.

A highlight for many was Call it Safe:Things you can do to Prevent and HandleBullying Part 1 and 2 led by Shelley Ness-man, CLBC’s self advocate advisor.

These sessions encouraged people to talkabout their experiences with bullying, andto identify how to be safer in their commu-nity. Participants were supportive of oneanother as they shared their stories and learned tips for staying safe, including thefi ve fi nger rule:

❚ Say the name of the person bullying you;❚ Name the bad thing they are doing;❚ Tell them how it makes you feel;❚ Tell them to stop, and❚ Tell them what you will do if they don’t. An example of using the fi ve-fi nger rule is:

“Johnny! I don’t like how you are calling menames. It makes me feel bad about myself. Iwant you to stop or I will tell my friend.”

“I made new friends today and learned alot. It was a good day,” said one participant.

To learn more or connect with self advo-cates in your community visit www.startwithhi.ca or become a fan on www.face-book.com/StartwithHi.

– Possabilities

Self advocates gather for learning and fun


IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYER...Job Placement ServicesOver the last 20 years, Kwantlen’s Job PlacementServices for People with Disabilities has successfullyhelped more than 2,000 employers meet theirrecruiting needs. Our goal is to match your jobrequirements with an individual’s demonstrated skillsfor a successful placement.

What can we do for you?• Our services are offered to you (the employer) at NO COST• We provide access to pre-screened and job-ready employees• We can match your hiring needs for either

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Employer Testimonial“After many years in the restaurant business, I have triedmany different job placement programs with little success...until now. I feel it is the special attention given by theJob Placement Specialists with Kwantlen PolytechnicUniversity that has made the difference. Many thanks for helping us fi nd a great team member.”–Mark Bos at Eastside Mario’s Restaurant in Langley, B.C.

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Job Placement Services for People with Disabilities

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South Surrey

Kids from 16 Surrey elementary schools, some using walkers and others wheelchairs, made a warm-up lap around the track to the soul-stirring sounds of “Chariots of Fire.”

The empowering rite took place in early June to mark the opening of the second an-nual Bayridge Invitational Elementary Track Meet hosted by Bayridge Elementary school at the South Surrey Athletic Park.

The track meet is aimed at giving students with special needs in the Surrey school dis-trict a chance to participate in competitive sports.

“It’s the ultimate inclusion,” said Brenda Webster, a teacher at Bayridge Elementary and one of the coaches for her school’s team.

The games started with 80-metre, 200-metre and 400-metre laps around the track. The races were split by gender and age.

Akshay Sachdev, a 12-year-old student at Strawberry Hill Elementary, competed in all the distance events. It took Akshay consider-ably longer to complete the challenging 400-metre race than the other kids.

Long after they had all crossed the fi nish line, Akshay was left a solitary fi gure on the track, with still halfway to go.

But braced by a steely determination and shouts of encouragement from the specta-tors, Akshay kept pushing his walker to the fi nish line.

“Super job!” said Surrey school board chairwoman Laurae McNally, as she pinned a blue “Winner” ribbon onto his team jersey.

After the race, Akshay told a reporter he was able to fi nish the tough course because he kept telling himself “just keep walking…”He was also keen “to win a ribbon.”

Later, the students competed in shot put, long jump and an obstacle course, which in-volved crawling through a tunnel made of mats and chairs, placing a beanbag on their heads and circling a chair a couple times, doing a log roll, carrying a birdie on a bad-minton racket, hopping though four hula hoops and fi nishing with double hops.

“I couldn’t do some of this stuff,” quipped McNally as she watched the athletes.

Principal Margaret Geddes said she had no idea the track meet would become so popular.

When she organized the fi rst one, she fi g-ured it would be like any ordinary sports day but the excitement of the kids and the hard work by scores of volunteers, which in-cludes parents and retired teachers, has quickly turned the event into a winning re-gional track meet.

“It’s so inspirational,” Geddes said during a break in the festivities.

“I just love their smiles from ear to ear,” she added, “even when they finish last in their heat.”

Although the students compete, the track meet isn’t meant to be a competitive event in the traditional sense.

It’s more about building confi dence and self-esteem and just plain having fun in the fresh air.

“Every ribbon says ‘Winner’,” she noted.

Track meet the ‘ultimate inclusion’Marisa BabicPossabilities Writer

Josh Sam fromBrooksideElementarytakes his best shotin the long jump at the secondannualBayridgeInvitationalElementaryTrack Meet in South Surrey.

Basin Khan tosses the frisbee during the track meet, which is aimed at giving stu-dents with special needs in the Surrey school district a chance to participate in competitive sports.

Brian HowellPhotos

It’s so inspirational. I just love their smiles from ear to ear, even when they fi nish last in their heat.”

Margaret Geddes

“


The world’s top wheelchair rugby players are coming to town.

The Canadian Wheelchair Sports Associa-tion and the B.C. Wheelchair Sports Association are poised to host the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships at the Olympic Oval in Richmond from Sept. 17 to 26.

Kathy Newman, 2010 WWRC organizing committee co-chair, said event organizers played the Olympic card to strengthen their bid with the International World Rugby Fed-eration to host the tourney.

Riding the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games wave was a natural, she noted.

“We recognized that there was a unique window of opportunity,” said Newman, who is also executive director of the B.C. Wheel-chair Sports Association.

To help advance the bid and groom Cana-dian players for intense international competition, the associations also intro-duced the Canada Cup tournament in 2004,

which is held every two years.Wheelchair rugby players from 12 coun-

tries will battle for gold at the world championships.

Adam Hunt, coach of Team Canada, said the team’s chance of winning gold is excel-lent.

The fi nal selection for the team that will play at the competition was made just prior to the Canada Cup tournament in Montreal this past June, where they lost a heartbreaker to the guys from Down Under.

“We ended up fi nishing second, losing by one to Australia,” Hunt said. “So the way we see it, we’re one goal away from being world champions.”

Team Canada consists of four B.C. players and the rest are from Saskatchewan, Mani-toba, Ontario and Quebec.

To prepare in the final days before the competition starts, the team will attend a training camp at Camosun College in Victo-ria.

The Americans, the world’s top-ranked wheelchair rugby team, will be the ones to beat.

Hunt says the U.S. has been the best in the

world for years and more recently Australia has developed into a dominant force with the emergence of a player their team touts as “a superstar.”

To the novice fan, wheelchair rugby may appear to be a rougher game than regular rugby, just as sledge hockey looks to be a lot more bruising than even a rough and tumble NHL game.

“The game’s definitely louder,” he con-ceded.

But it’s more about the size of the athletes and the weight of their chairs. When you have 150- to 200-pound men in 40-pound reinforced wheelchairs colliding at high speeds, he noted, they’re bound to make a clatter.

“With most contact sports it always looksworse than it really is. The wheelchair takesthe brunt of the abuse,” he said.

Although he believes the tournament willhelp raise the sport’s profi le, he noted that the province already leads the way.

“British Columbia is a world leader whenit comes to hosting world rugby events.”

Like others working on the organizing team, Hunt suspects the 2010 World Wheel-chair Rugby Championships at the OlympicOval will profit from the post-Olympic/Paralympic buzz.

“There’s not too many people I meet that come out and watch a game that aren’t reallyimpressed by the sport and the athletes.”

For tickets, visit www.2010wwrc.com.

Sports

Wheelchair rugby’s best battle for title Team Canada’s

chances of winning gold at this year’s wheelchairrugby cham-pionshipsare excellent, said coach Adam Hunt.



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Cycle to Walk

Polio survivor focuses on life’s positives

A man who hand-cycled across Canada to raise awareness about polio, a disease that was wiped out in the Western hemisphere but continues to affl ict children in develop-ing countries, is about to speak at the UN.

Ramesh Ferris, a polio survivor, is slated to be in New York City for the speaking en-gagement on Nov. 6, which marks Rotary International Day at the United Nations. The UN observes the day annually in recog-nition of the service club’s humanitarian works, including its efforts to eradicate polio around the world through its PolioPlus cam-paign.

Ferris, a Rotarian, will share his story about his “Cycle to Walk” campaign.

“It’s a big honour to be able to co-repre-sent Yukon and Canada at the United Nations to talk about polio eradication,” Fer-ris told Possabilities.

Ferris, a social worker in Whitehorse, Yu-kon completed his 7,140-kilometre odyssey in 2008. He started his six-month journey at Mile O in Victoria on Vancouver Island on April 12 “to celebrate” that day in 1955 when Dr. Jonas Salk presented the polio vaccine to the world and completed the trip on Oct. 1 in Cape Spear in Newfoundland.

Ferris, 30, was stricken with polio at the age of six months.

“It paralyzed my legs for life because I didn’t have access to the vaccine,” says Ferris, who uses a cane.

His birth mother in India, who had no ac-cess to proper medical care, made the heart-wrenching decision to give up her baby for adoption to a family in the West, so he could get a chance at a better life.

Ferris was adopted by the Anglican bishop in Whitehorse, Yukon, Ron Ferris.

“I was the fi rst international adoption in the Yukon territory.”

Partly through his faith, he found the strength to focus on the positives in life.

In 2002, Ferris traveled to India and met his birth mother for the fi rst time.

Ferris says he harbours no bitterness to-wards his birth mother for giving him up for adoption. He admires her for her sacrifice and courage in making her heartbreaking decision.

“It was an amazing experience, just really

wonderful to meet a woman that really just made one of the biggest decisions of her life to give me up so I could have a better life,” he said.

“She was just in tears, but she was just so happy to know that I was alive, well and walking.”

During the visit, Ferris experienced some anguish of his own.

“What was heart wrenching for me in that trip to India was to see polio survivors on the ground, crawling in dirt, using cut-up pieces of tires to pad their knees and sandals which they placed on their hands to crawl around because they didn’t receive braces or crutches.”

Those distressing scenes inspired him to

launch his “Cycle to Walk” campaign.The campaign, supported by the Yukon

Rotary Club, raised $300,000.Ferris believes the campaign has raised

awareness about the threat polio poses to-day, more than 50 years after Dr. Salk anddeveloped a vaccine.

Polio, a preventable disease, is endemic is India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.

“If we don’t continue to fight, an addi-tional 10 million children will be paralyzedover the next 40 years,” Ferris said, quotingWorld Health Organization fi gures.

“My mission is to educate as many Cana-dians and people around the world that wehave to work together as a global commu-nity to eradicate polio.”


Inspirational hand-cyclist speaks at UN on Nov. 6

“She was just in tears,but she was just so happy to know that I was alive, well and walking.”

Ramesh Ferris

“

Ramesh Ferris, a polio survivor, will speak at the UN on Nov.6 about his Cycle to Walk campaign to fight polio. Sharon Doucette Photo


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Community Events

September

❚ Lower Mainland Down Syndrome Society Buddy Walk – Sept. 25. Come on out to the Buddy Walk, a fun family event that promotes acceptance and awareness of individuals with Down syn-drome. The event supports the many projects of the Lower Mainland Down Syndrome Society (LMDSS) and its par-ent networking branch, the Fraser Valley Down Syndrome Support (FVDSS). For more details and forms, and to pre-regis-ter, call 604-591-2722 or visit lmdss.com or fvdss.org. Early bird cut-off deadline is Sept. 18.

❚ The British Columbia Schizophrenia Society invites directors and members to the annual general meeting, which takes place Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. at the Richmond General Hospital auditorium, 7000 Westminster Hwy., Richmond, B.C.

❚ The Canadian Down Syndrome Society Conference is coming to Vancouver on May 20 to 22, 2011. Hosted by the Lower Mainland Down Syndrome Society (LMDSS) the plans are shifting into gear in September and dedicated and reliable volunteers are needed for the local or-ganizing committee. Volunteer roles include being a sub-committee co-ordin-ator or part of a sub-committee team. To join the LOC or for more information on the conference, call 604-591-2722 or email [email protected].

❚ Transitions To and Through Adulthood – Wondering what is available for life options for your son or daughter after high school? This group offers a chance to meet with other parents for support and information. Meetings are: Sept. 29, Oct. 27 and Nov. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Simon Fraser Society for Community Living, 551 Salisbury Ave., Port Coquitlam.

❚ Health & Wellbeing in Children, Youth, and Adults with Developmental Disabilities: Autism, Intellectual Disabilities and other Neurodevelopmental Disorders – will provide education and informative updates on psychiatric, behavioural and complex health components specific to individuals with developmental disabilities and showcase best practices in the field. Event happens Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites, 1763 Comox St., Vancouver.

❚“The Legacy of Terry Fox” and “Colourwheels” can be seen for free at the Leigh Square Community Arts Village until Sept. 20. The Terry Legacy exhibit features all the T-shirts designed for the Terry Fox Run and other memorabilia, in-cluding the T-shirt worn by Terry Fox during the marathon to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the run. You can sub-mit and share stories about the impact of Terry’s run on your life. A special hand-made quilt will be featured in the exhibit and auctioned to commemorate the run’s milestone anniversary. A concurrent ex-hibit in collaboration with Rick Hansen

Wheels in Motion is “Colourwheels,” a celebration of the artistic expression and achievements of artists with spinal cord injuries.

October❚ October is Community Living Month –watch for local community events celebrating Community Living Month.

❚ Lower Mainland Down Syndrome Society general meeting. For details, call 604-591-2722 or visit www.lmdss.com.

❚ The 2010 Joint BCACL, FSS and CACL Conference – “Families, a Journey of Generations Moving Mountains” hap-pens Oct. 22 to 24 at the Fairmont Chateau in Whistler. For more informa-tion, see familyfocusconference.com.

❚ PosAbilities sixth annual Art Show for B.C Artists with Developmental Disabilities happens Oct. 14 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St., Vancouver. Visit www.posAbilities.ca or call 604-299-4001 for more information.

November❚ Celebrate National Down Syndrome Awareness Week with a family event on Nov. 7. Refreshments and entertainment; Call 604-591-2722 or visit lmdss.com.

❚ B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association’s 18th annual general conference is in November at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond. Visit www.bcnpha.ca for more information.

❚ 2010 International Conference on Developmental Disabilities and Aging/Alzheimer’s Disease happens Nov. 19 and 20 at SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings St., Vancouver. People with developmental disabilities are living longer. As life expectancy increases, clin-icians, families and service providers are witnessing new challenges in managing age-related issues. For more information, visit www.dsrf.org.

December

❚ Lower Mainland Down Syndrome Society’s annual Christmas networking event is set for Saturday, Dec. 4, noon to 3 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Hall, 8842 119th St., Delta. A long-time LMDSS family tradition is to bring a plate of your favourite Christmas baking to share. The society will be providing a great buffet lunch. There will be entertain-ment for all ages, crafts, treat bags, door prizes, and lots of fun. Please RSVP be-fore Dec.1, via email: [email protected] or [email protected] or call 604-591-2722. Suggested minimum donation at the door is: Adults $2; non-members $5; children and self advocates are free.


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Employment

A new program is making it easier for people with disabilities to fi nd jobs.

Called EATI, which stands for Equipment and Assistive Technology Initiative, the pro-gram is operated by British Columbia Personal Supports Network.

Launched in the fall of 2009, BCPSN is a network of organizations working to im-prove access to equipment and assistive devices for the disabled.

Network co-ordinator Paul Gauthier said the idea was to pool resources so that more money fl ows directly to the people who need it.

The EATI program is the network’s first project. It assists people with disabilities to acquire JAWS software, power wheelchairs, van conversions, Dragon NaturallySpeaking software and other devices so they can enter the workplace.

Referring to the program as “citizen-cen-tered,” Gauthier said the program was designed to be as simple as possible to navi-gate.

Rigid rules and restrictions have been thrown out in favour of simplicity.

“What’s nice about our program is that you don’t have to have a job lined up,” he said.

The candidate must still meet basic eligi-bility criteria, he noted, but after that, getting into the program couldn’t be easier.

“What is your goal, what is the barrier and what do you need – those are the three ques-tions you have to answer to get into the program,” he said.

Staff, known as super navigators, help cli-ents “navigate” their way to a job, starting with a session to identify goals.

The clients are then matched to the ap-propriate technology based on their disability. Training is provided to use the so-p h i s t i c a te d d e v i ce s , w h i ch c a n b e intimidating at fi rst.

Gauthier, who has cerebral palsy and has used the system, knows its failings.

“I’ve grown up in the system myself. I’ve had to go doctors after doctors to always prove that I have cerebral palsy, that I have a disability,” explained Gauthier, a four-time Paralympian.

“With our program, someone self declares that they have a disability.”

Anyone wanting more details about the EATI program can visit www.bcpsn.org.

Achieving work goals has been made easierMarisa BabicPossabilities Writer


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Visit us at: www.posAbilities.ca

OCTOBER 14, 2010 5PM - 9PMHERITAGE HALL - 3102 MAIN STREET, VANCOUVER, B.C.

ART SHOW FOR B.C. ARTISTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Presents

At posAbilities we assist children, youth and adults with disabilities to lead meaningful and healthy lives. We work with families and community partners to deliver a full range of services:community inclusion, home living and behaviour consultation.

Come and experience the talent, confi dence and joy that artists bring to this beautiful and historic building.More than 400 pieces of artwork will be created in various media and presented for sale.

Artist Registration closes September 24, 2010.Visit www.posAbilities.ca to download the registration package or or call us

at (604) 299-4001 for more information about the Art Show or our organization.

THE 6TH ANNUALTHE 6TH ANNUAL

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Literacy project

Adults with developmental disabilities are not fully included in our society, nor are they recognized as able learners.

They do not have post-secondary literacy learning opportunities, with qualifi ed teach-ers, like other members of society.

Surrey Association for Community Liv-ing’s pi lot project , Moving Forward Developing Literacy Skills for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, demonstrates that adults with developmental disabilities deserve these opportunities.

It is exciting to know that this pilot project – funded by Human Resources Social Devel-opment Canada – is the fi rst of its kind in Canada.

What is important in a literacy curricu-lum for adults w ith deve lopmental disabilities?

First and foremost, we recognize the need to include those skills that will help the adults improve the quality of their daily lives. We address reading/viewing, writing/representing, listening, speaking/communi-cating, numeracy and basic computer skills.

We also recognize that the literacy skills must apply to the lives of the adults as they function within a social network (friends, family and caregivers), as a member of the community, as a resident and as an employee

or volunteer.In January 2010, we began the implemen-

tation of the curriculum in the classroom. We are grateful to the Surrey school dis-

trict for allowing us a space at L.A. Matheson Secondary school. Here our individuals thrived and came to view themselves as learners.

We started the classes by recognizing and celebrating the strengths and talents of each

individual. In a nutshell, we developed a growth mindset. We let all the adults know that they were capable learners. A safe learn-ing environment where every learner feels valued, respected and included is essential for all learners.

In the classroom, we used a highly inter-active, hands-on approach to learning.

Another component of this pilot project is to provide work or volunteer experience.

Through these experiences, we disprovedthe old belief that adults with developmentaldisabilities are most suitable for recycling orjanitorial types of jobs.

One of the most successful experienceswas with one of the shiest members of theclass who shone when playing with tots in arecreation program. The toddlers respondedenthusiastically to her genuine love of chil-dren and the instructor was delighted tohave her in the class.

The first six months in the classroompassed far too quickly and all the studentswere deeply saddened that the classes wereending. It is shameful that there is no furtherfunding for these 22 learners who built ajoyful, successful learning community.

Through the support of the communitywe honoured our learners at a year-end cel-ebration – one which will likely be a memoryof a lifetime for many who attended.

The memories for the adult learners andthe staff are rich indeed. The staff was in-spired by the learning and humbled by the experience.

It is my goal that this literacy pilot project is the fi rst step in the development of an ar-ticulated learning plan for this group of able and dedicated learners.

Joey Sahli is literacy co-ordinator for SurreyAssociation for Community Living.

Learners left with memories of a lifetimeJoey SahliPossabilities Contributor

Adult learners and staff celebrate after a successful six months in the classroom as part of a pilot literacy project for people with disabilities.


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Hi Emin.For some people with developmental disabilities, “Hi” is a big deal. For Emin, Hi means “you see me.” Hi means “I belong in our community.”

So, start with “Hi” and see what happens.

We all have a role to play in the safety of our fellow citizens. By just acknowledging an individual with a developmental disability, you can help that person feel included and safer. So don’t worry about saying the right thing. Just start with “Hi.” It’s a small word with big results.

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PossAbilities_Vol_01_No_04

Documents

surrey association

staff support

south surrey

support services

page 11pa02 volume

wheelchair rugby team

community living

popular surrey eatery