April 1, 2018 The Kamloops Self-Advocate The Kamloops Self- Advocate: A Newsletter for People with Diverse Abilities INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Feature Articles Jokes Recipe Awareness days Upcoming Events April Issue# 52 Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion Let’s celebrate diversity this month and ways to keep our bodies and minds active. Inclusion is wonderful and celebrating diversity is a great opportunity to reflect on all of the positive things we have in our lives, even if we have challenges in some areas. Let’s encourage people to focus on abilities more so than our challenges. Put your label in a drawer and only take it out when you need support and services. Unfortunately, labels get you services, so that’s the only time labels should be used since we are people first, not a label. People should get to know everyone whether they have challenges or not. Many people with diverse abilities are hardworking members of society. Some people may be unable to work, but still have a lot to offer to society, including as friends and important family members. When we see people as people first, we are more likely to see what we have in common with each other. We all have the need to be loved, wanted, and have companionship. So please include everyone when socializing and having fun. Please don’t discriminate or stigmatize. You will have a much more fulfilling life and so will we. Contact us at: [email protected]#113-540 Seymour St., Kamloops, BC V2C 2G9 Office ph. 250-372-5856
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April 1, 2018 The Kamloops Self-Advocate
1
The
Kamloops
Self-
Advocate:
A Newsletter for
People with
Diverse Abilities
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Feature Articles
Jokes
Recipe
Awareness days
Upcoming Events
April Issue# 52
Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion Let’s celebrate diversity this month and ways to keep our bodies and
minds active. Inclusion is wonderful and celebrating diversity is a great
opportunity to reflect on all of the positive things we have in our lives,
even if we have challenges in some areas.
Let’s encourage people to focus on abilities more so than our challenges.
Put your label in a drawer and only take it out when you need support
and services. Unfortunately, labels get you services, so that’s the only
time labels should be used since we are people first, not a label.
People should get to know everyone whether they have challenges or not.
Many people with diverse abilities are hardworking members of society.
Some people may be unable to work, but still have a lot to offer to
society, including as friends and important family members.
When we see people as people first, we are more likely to
see what we have in common with each other. We all have
the need to be loved, wanted, and have companionship. So
please include everyone when socializing and having fun.
Please don’t discriminate or stigmatize. You will have a
Professionals Who Bring Light into Workplaces By Lisa Coriale
Kathryn Fields has lived in Kamloops for 12 years with her husband and her two little boys. She has a Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy (MScOT) and works part time at Royal Inland Hospital as an Occupational Therapist (OT). Kathryn became interested in occupational therapy when she was searching for opportunities for overseas missions. She loved how occupational therapy was focused on the client and their goals. Kathryn enjoys the variety of aspects that occupational therapy offers, “I love the variety in my job and how we don’t focus on just one aspect, but assess and treat the whole person. Physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and the person’s environment.” Kathryn works on the rehab unit with clients
who have had strokes or traumatic brain injuries. Many people who have had a stroke may lose function on one side of their body. Strokes can occur in different parts of a person’s brain. Because of this, clients may also experience issues with memory, problem solving, balance, vision or speech. Because each stroke and its effects are different, it can be challenging for Occupational Therapists like Kathryn and their clients to foresee their future improvements. Occupational therapy is based on different individuals and how they function and participate in daily activities. During recovery, Kathryn works with the clients to help them achieve these activities including getting dressed, feeding themselves, grocery shopping, cooking meals and housework. Another aspect that Kathryn has to consider is when clients may have to care for family members at home. A part of her job is also to assess clients’ needs for equipment such as wheelchairs, shower seats and grab bars. Kathryn works alongside her clients to make decisions to help
them get stronger and learn new ways of accomplishing tasks. She works with clients in different stages of their rehabilitation process. The clients' needs depend on who is new, who is going home, and who needs further assessment. Kathryn has the privilege and honor to work very closely with the medical team that consists of physiotherapists, rehab assistants, and speech therapists.
There are times where Kathryn has to come up with creative techniques to assist her clients. While working with new mothers on the rehab unit, she comes up with creative ways to practice diapering and swaddling. They use items such as dolls and bags of rice to represent babies.
A rewarding aspect of Kathryn’s job is being able to see clients improve, “It is amazing how the brain can heal itself and use other pathways after parts have been damaged.” Kathryn loves to interact one-on-one with her clients and their families.
We are grateful to professionals like Kathryn who take care of us when
April 1, 2018 The Kamloops Self-Advocate
3
we need them the most. Their compassionate love and support allows us to share our light with everyone in the community.
Krystian’s Corner I have a workout buddy
named Nikki. I feel very
lucky that Nikki wanted to
be my friend and my
companion for exercising.
I knew of her at Board
Game socials. She
answered my request for a
workout buddy on
Facebook. I am very
grateful that Nikki wanted
to become my friend and
be my exercise
supporter. I like her and
will keep my commitment
with her because she is a
nice friend and peer. We
will help each other to stay
healthy and fit. She will
also drive me home
sometimes instead of me
taking handy dart, or if
handy dart can’t do it. I am
lucky to have her in my
life and will support her as
a friend and she will
support me too. She is a
great friend to have.
The first time she and I
met me at planet fitness, I
was so worried about her
working me too hard that
my anxiety gave me a
nosebleed. She calmed me
down and told me we will
work together and have
fun. She encourages me to
work hard enough to break
out with a little sweat but
we need to have fun too.
She helped relax me and
was very understanding.
After breaking the ice with
her, when we exercised for
the first time, we both
exercised enough to break
a sweat but we also had
fun together too. It makes
me look forward to
exercising. I really want to
lose weight and get
healthier both mentally and
physically. Thanks Nikki
for helping me in my
journey.
Healthy Living
Column By Krystian
Have you ever felt
exercising alone to be
boring? If so, how about
trying out a workout buddy
or a fitness partner to make
exercise more fun. Fitness
is good for your mind and
body and overall
wellbeing. It is a great
stress reliever too. Having
a workout buddy is great to
prevent you from losing
your motivation. You can
both push each other to
work harder.
Bringing a Walkman or
having music on your cell
phone or an MP 3 player
helps to make time go
faster also. Everyone needs
an exercise program that is
right for them. Planet
fitness is very inexpensive,
you can do Zumba at the
Y, or even just go for a
walk. All of these will
help to get your heart rate
up, which is great for
keeping your heart and
mind healthy. It also
reduces stress.
The important thing is to
find something you enjoy
so that you are more likely
to stay motivated and keep
doing it.
Jokes When do monkeys fall from the sky? During Ape-ril showers! Can February March? No, but April May!
Why is everyone so tired on April 1? Because they've just finished a long, 31 day March! What season is it when you are on a trampoline? Spring-time! Why are trees very forgiving? Because in the Fall they "Let It Go" and in the Spring they "turn over a new leaf". Source: http://jokes4us.com/miscellaneousjokes/weatherjokes/springjokes.html
Pancake 2 cups all-purpose flour ½ cup sugar 4 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 2 eggs, slightly beaten 2 cups milk ½ cup butter, melted 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ cup mashed ripe banana (1 medium) ½ cup miniature chocolate chips
Toppings 3 firm medium bananas, cut into 1/4-inch slices (about 3 cups) ½ cup chopped walnuts ¼ cup real maple syrup
Steps 1. Heat oven to 400°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil; spray with cooking spray. 2. In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt until blended; set aside. 3. In medium bowl, beat eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla and 1/2 cup mashed banana with whisk until blended. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture until just blended (batter will be
lumpy). Pour into pan. Sprinkle chips on top. 4. Bake 20 to 24 minutes or until golden brown, center is set and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on cooling rack 10 minutes. Top with Toppings. If desired, serve with additional maple syrup. For success in this recipe, different stages of ripeness in bananas works best—firm bananas for slicing, and ripe bananas for mashing. Taken from: https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/banana-chocolate-chip-sheet-pan-pancake/
What Inclusion and
Diverse Abilities
Mean to Me By Krystian
Inclusion means being
friends with people of all
walks of life. No one
should be excluded
because of their color,
nationality, religion or
challenges in life.
Diverse Abilities is a term
that means to focus on
abilities rather than
disabilities. Although you
might have a challenge in
one area, you still have
many abilities. Always
keep in mind, your abilities
outweigh your
challenges. That's why I’m
grateful that the Best
Buddies international
program exists, because
they encourage everyone to
make longer lasting
friendships for people with
developmental
disabilities.
Best Buddies is an
example of a program that
is a non-profit and matches
people up to make
friendships. People need
friendships with a mixture
of people. If people would
let their guard down and
talk to someone who is
different from themselves,
they would be surprised
about how much you have
in common. For example,
if you meet someone who
is in a wheelchair but you
are fortunate enough to
walk, talk to them. They
may have many of the
same likes as you do. What
sports do they enjoy or
what music do they like?
If you meet someone who
has learning disabilities,
don’t assume you have
nothing in common with
them. They might not be
book smart, but might be
street smart, even more
than you are. Those who
can’t see have a lot to offer
to those of us who can
see. We have no idea of
the tricks they find to make
life easier for themselves.
We can all learn from
everyone. Making
friendships with people
who have different abilities
than we do will enlighten
our lives and teach us more
April 1, 2018 The Kamloops Self-Advocate
6
things than we would
know if we don’t include
everyone in our world.
Enhance your life by
including all in your
everyday life. When you
see someone on the street,
say hi even if their life
seems to look more
challenging than your own.
Who knows, a meaningful
friendship might develop
as a result.
“Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead Walk beside me… just be my friend” ― Albert Camus “The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.” ― Bob Marley