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Archive for the ‘Advocacy’ Category
BCACL conference ignites new insights, activities
June 14th, 2012
Benefits of co-housing, yoga, advocacy come home for posAbilities members
Michelle Strutzenberger
A couple of posAbilities members attending the recent B.C. Association for Community Living conference came home inspired with ideas for new activity in the days ahead. Read the rest of this entry »
B.C. People First committed to growth
June 6th, 2012
Board member Dave Sherritt reports on decisions at recent gathering
Michelle Strutzenberger
The B.C. People First movement is interested in strengthening its connections, advancing itself and in the process doing a lot more to rebuild local communities. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Advocacy
Laurel team excited by possibilities presented by move and awareness day
March 28th, 2012
Supporting families key part of service
Lisa Bailey
As World Autism Awareness Day approached, posAbilities’ Laurel Behaviour Support Services (LBSS) was looking forward to showing support for those living with autism spectrum disorder as well as potential collaboration that would benefit individuals and their families. Read the rest of this entry »
WAM shines the spotlight on media arts as a career and channel for change
March 21st, 2012
Screenings and workshops run tomorrow through Sunday
Lisa Bailey
Considered an insurance liability on set in her wheelchair, S. Siobhan McCarthy says she was repeatedly passed over as an actor in favour of able-bodied peers to play a character who has a disability. Read the rest of this entry »
Greater freedom and choice envisioned for future of inclusion
February 8th, 2012
More organic connections and variety of staff skills necessary
Lisa Bailey
Already witness to a huge shift to community from segregation that presented challenges as well as valuable lessons, Gerry Fremming is excited for greater freedom, choice and involvement for people who have a disability going forward. Read the rest of this entry »
Expanding employment, housing options and building awareness focus for 2012
January 4th, 2012
PosAbilities CEO says best achievement will be people who have a disability achieving full citizenship
Camille Jensen
A posAbilities employment service that is helping people find meaningful work is expected to expand to Vancouver, Richmond and North Vancouver in 2012. Read the rest of this entry »
New chapter opens with Woodlands demolition: self-advocate
October 26th, 2011
Work to provide a voice for change continues
Lisa Bailey
When the Woodlands Centre Block tower came down Oct. 18, it was like turning a page for people who have a disability, says posAbilities board member and self-advocate Lorie Sherritt. Read the rest of this entry »
Pertinent forum grows from self-advocates’ questions
June 15th, 2011
Committee identifies need for information on employment policy
Lisa Bailey
A collaborative forum and an information pamphlet on a pertinent employment policy for people with developmental disabilities were sparked from questions asked by self advocates.
This experience illustrates the importance of self advocates like those on posAbilities Self Advocates for Equality (S.A.F.E.) Committee.
“Self advocates are people that will be able to really identify the needs and wants of the community because they’re part of it,” says posAbilities staff member and S.A.F.E. Committee adviser Simone Brandl.
“If you have someone who supports them, they don’t understand as well as someone immersed in that community. That’s why we need self advocates. We need people who are in that community who understand it and its challenges and are able to work through it for other members,” Simone says.
The S.A.F.E. Committee is the driving force behind a free evening forum June 23 in Chilliwack for adults with developmental disabilities and their families.
It’s the second such educational event on Community Living British Columbia’s (CLBC) employment policy centred on people with disabilities working in the community.
It took effect in 2008 but finding and understanding information on the extensive policy can be challenging.
S.A.F.E. Committee members had many questions related to the policy on disability benefits, training and supports for individuals.
Given the committee’s revamped mandate to mentor younger self advocates and educate peers on issues they identify as important in their community, the idea grew for a seminar to provide readily accessible and accurate information.
“They felt it would be a better scenario to educate because if they had these questions (about the policy), they thought other people who have disabilities probably had similar questions,” Simone says.
“And so before we knew it, it was a whole workshop,” she says.
A total of 65 people attended the first forum in Burnaby last October.
CLBC, which attended the event to discuss the policy, asked the committee to supply all of the questions posed and created a pamphlet that was distributed.
The forum has become a partnership with CLBC, the BC Association for Community Living and the Ministry of Housing and Social Development.
The upcoming forum, serving the Fraser Valley, will feature a panel of experts on the policy and related issues. A self advocate from Chilliwack People First will also talk about his employment experience. Delegates will then be able to move amongst smaller discussion groups.
Simone says this informal approach was adopted after the inaugural forum to create a more comfortable environment for asking questions and gathering information.
A third forum will be held in northern British Columbia based on inquiries received from Prince George and area.
For more information on the forum, contact posAbilities at 604-299-4001.
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