Self Advocacy Net Stories
|
|
| Bobby
Charette |
8/8/2003 11:56:00 AM
|
My name is
Bobby. I live with Claude, Lynn, Natalie, Mario. I go to work with Wayne
at Arc. I love my coffee and pop. I love monkeys. I like to go for car
ride and go see some construction site to look at the big machine.
|
|
|
Chantal Carriere |
8/8/2003 11:46:00 AM
|
My name is
Chantal. I have my own apartment in the community and I love it. I love
to paint (paint by numbers,rocks) I like to go out with the Drop-In
center and have fun. I really enjoy when people come and visit me in my
apartment, I like visitors. I also enjoy going out with my Girls Group
we like to go to the restaurant. My family is very supportive. I have a
lot of friends. I like to tease the people I know. I really enjoy the
summer because I go out more, I hate the winter it's to cold to get out.
The favrite thing I like MEN!!!
|
|
| dieter
b mielken |
7/4/2003 3:08:00 PM
|
i Iam looking
for this person named dAISY MAY STEVEANS I KNOW IHAVE LIVED HERE ONEE I
LIKE TO
GET BACK IN TOCH PLEASE HAVE HERE WRIGHT TO ME.here is my address it is
896 chapman road cobble hill and my phone number is 1 250 743 0043
|
|
| dieter
b mielken |
7/4/2003 2:58:00 PM
|
| |
|
| renea
watson (job seeker) |
7/2/2003 4:09:00 AM
|
i am 15yrs and seeking a job....
i am good with horses as i have 2 of my own i am willing to work my hart
out as ......
i go to a privet school and have good grades.
i live in the camden (sydney) area and need a weekend or afternoon job i
just need a chance u can contact me on 0403566300 after school hrs or
email me at helga_fish_69@hotmail.com
|
|
| renea
watson |
7/2/2003 4:06:00 AM
|
i am 15yrs and seeking a job....
i am good with horses as i have 2 of my own i am willing to work my hart
out as ......
i go to a privet school and have good grades.
i live in the camden (sydney) area and need a weekend or afternoon job i
just need a chance u can contact me on 0403566300 after school hrs or
email me at helga_fish_69@hotmail.com
|
|
| Angie
Banks |
6/26/2003 11:25:00 AM
|
My name is
Angie. I'm 23 years old. I enjoy having BBQ's with my friends. I live in
Sturgeon Falls with a Family Home provider and my friend Simone.
|
|
| Debbie
Charette |
6/26/2003 11:23:00 AM
|
My name is
Debbie Charette. I am 47 years old. I like ti invite my friends over for
a BBQ. I also like to go to the restaurant with my friends.
|
|
| LeeAnn
Morrison |
6/25/2003 10:08:00 AM
|
My name is
LeeAnn. I live in Northern Ontario. I live with Louise, Jacques,
Melanie, Natalie, Stephanie and Suzanne. They are my family. I have a
cat named Gizmo, and two dogs. One named Rocky the baby and one named
Sunshine.
I like to go to the restaurant for coffee and I like to walk with the
dog. I go to a tea party once a week with Chantale and Debbie.
I like to go for sleep overs with Dianne, Louise Angie, Simone, Maria
and Margaret. They are my friends. My next sleep over will be at a Bed
and Breakfast.
|
|
|
Raymond Chretien |
6/24/2003 11:21:00 AM
|
My name is
Raymond. I live in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. I am a very busy 57 year old
man. Last summer I went for a week long vacation in Nova Scotia. I had a
very good time and I experienced many new things. I've also been to
Florida.
I have a part time job at Giant Tiger in Sturgeon Falls. I clean outside
of the store and do odd jobs in the store. I love my job at the store. I
have been working there for 11 years. I chose to leave the segregated
workshop that I used to work in. I go to school 2 days a week from
September to June. I have my own apartment in the community and I have a
support worker to help me for 3 hours a week. I spend a lot of time in
the community on my own and sometimes with other people from the Drop In
Centre.
|
|
| Jill.
|
6/19/2003 12:12:00 PM
|
just adding
to the story of the boy that stumbled and fell over,during the special
olympic in seattle..you know the special olympic oath..."let me win,but
if i cannot win,let me be brave in the attempt"...that's what i wanted
to add. *smile*
|
|
| Self
Advocate |
6/18/2003 6:35:00 PM
|
A few years
ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically
or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line
for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out,not exactly in a
dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that
is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a
couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry.
They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went
back every one of them.
One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This
will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to
the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, the cheering went on for
several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story,,,.
Why?
Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is
more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping
others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.
Passing this on, may change our hearts as well as someone else's. "A
candle loses nothing by lighting another candle".
|
|
| Joe
Pezzutto |
6/18/2003 10:50:00 AM
|
My name is Joe Pezzutto. I live in
Sturgeon Falls, Ontario with Mme Robert. I go to the Drop In Centre
whenever I feel like it. I like to bake cookies at the Drop In Centre.
Everyone says I'm the best cookie baker in Canada. I wish I had my own
cookie bakery so I could sell my famous chocolate chip cookies to
everyone.
I also like going on the 4 wheeler and going for rides in my friend
Dianne's truck. I spend time with my friend Dianne and her family every
Christmas. I'm part of the family and the girl's call me uncle Joe. I
get lots of presents when I go there.
I also like fishing. Sometimes my friends Jacques or Guy bring me
fishing. I'm going to Guy's camp in July for a visit.
|
|
| Dale
Brown |
5/22/2003 1:56:00 PM
|
I am a
firefighter from Terrace, BC. I work hard there for a long while. I go
Bowling once a week. I won a trophy for Bowling. I came in First Place.
I live on my own and do my own shopping.
|
|
| Dennis
DesRoches |
5/15/2003 11:42:00 AM
|
I want people
to be happy. Henri and me live in the same house. We live together with
a family named Guy and Marie. I live in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario.
|
|
| Dennis
Desro |
5/15/2003 11:38:00 AM
|
| |
|
| Sarah
|
5/12/2003 7:40:00 PM
|
After the first few months of school I was
walking home and saw something unusual. I was about two blocks away from
my street when I saw a boy on the other side of the street. His backpack
was overstuffed and he was carring a lot of books. This kid looked kind
of dorky.
Then I saw some of the school jocks whispering a few steps behind him
when one of them did something so cruel. He ran up behind him and pushed
him to the floor. I stood there in shock as the jocks ran away laughing.
I couldn't just stand there watching him slowly picking up his books. So
I ran across the street to help him. Now it seemed as if there next was
a big love scence. Dont worry, it's not. So after I helped him we walked
on talking. Of course I carried some of his books.
So soon we became the best of friends. I joked arond some days saying
"Dork" and things like that. He never to offence. He was very sweet and
nice. I wish that others gt to know him the way I know him.
So a few years pasted and it was time for our graduation from 12th
grade. I was so excited. My friend, he was in the head of the class and
presented a speech at the end of the diplomas. He wouldn't let me hear
the speech, he said it was going ot be a suprise. He had turned from a
geek looking kid, with glasses and all of that to a pretty handsom young
man.
When the time for his speech came, the jocks that had pushed him down
those few years ago where chating. They started laughing when my friend
marched full of pride up to the stand. I bopped them on the head to shut
them up. When he finished his speech, I wanted to cry. His speech went a
little like this...
"Hello Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming to our graduation for
the class of 2002. I'd like to say a few words before we finish the
ceremony. Many people have created tight friendships with many friends
during the past years of high school. Friends I say is one of the most
important things to help you get through school. I know this by a
personal experience. After a few months had passes by back in 10th
grade, I was walking home. I was carring all of my things from my
locker. Some other kids had pushed me down when my good friend *he
looked right at me* helped me up. You see, that afternoon, I had every
intention of killing my self. My life was miserable. I had no friends.
Sure my grades where A+s but that had no effect on me. I didn't care one
bit about my grades. What I most wanted was a true friend. And that day,
God sent a friend to protect me from killing myself. I've thanked God
every day. I am so happy I didn't kill my slef that day. There is so
many things I never would be able to do, all of the things I have done
since then. For example, the honor of speeching this speech tonight. So,
when I am finished, please dont clap for me, if you do clap, clap for my
friend. Sarah. Please stand."
I stood up and smiled at him. The audience was clapping and crying at
the same time. He walked down the stage towards me and we hugged. The
audience clapped even louder. We sat down by each other and the rest of
the night, couples of people turned around and smiled brightly to us. I
was so happy of that day.
-Authors note
This story was not 100% true. The part with the kid that was going to
kill him self was true. My teacher told the story to our class and I
wanted to make the story more dramatic and happy. It wan't me! Just to
let you know.
|
|
| AU
speaker tells inspirational story of overcoming disability |
4/7/2003 1:56:00 AM
|
AU speaker
tells inspirational story of overcoming disability
Publication date:
Saturday, March 29, 2003
BY JIM BAILEY
Staff Reporter
In many ways, Johnnie Tuitel has had tremendous advantages in life. He
cracked joke after joke at Anderson University's Thursday morning chapel
convocation. He is a successful businessman. This spring he will be
named Hope College's Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.
Then you realize he is operating from a wheelchair. With lighted wheels,
yet.
Tuitel, guest speaker as AU observes Disability Awareness Month on
campus, was born 3 1/2 months prematurely 39 years ago when his mother
suffered a ruptured appendix. After defying the odds by merely
surviving, he was subsequently diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and his
Dutch immigrant parents were told he would never be "normal." "Put him
in a home, go home and have normal children," they were advised.
"But my dad told me, 'We didn't understand English that well, and when
they told us you had cerebral palsy, we thought you were gifted,'"
Tuitel joked.
His parents pushed him to be all he could be, he recalled. "The world
owes you nothing just because you're in a wheelchair," they told him,
"but you owe the world everything."
He played Little League baseball. "I could get on my knees behind the
plate and catch," he explained. "Today it's called adaptive physical
education; back then it was just a kid who wanted to play baseball."
In 1974 he became the first student with a disability to be mainstreamed
in the public school system in Michigan. He went on to receive a
bachelor's degree from Hope College in Holland, Mich.
He has co-written books and operates a nonprofit organization that
provides wheelchairs for people who cannot afford them. He has received
several prestigious awards.
"They give you awards for just waking up in the morning," he cracked.
"God gave me the ability, through my mother, to laugh," he said. "I can
do a lot -- more than is good for me, probably -- but I'm never going to
walk. But I'd rather spend my life in this chair with the security that
my name is in the book; I know the gifts that are coming my way" in the
hereafter, he emphasized.
Tuitel admitted that parental influence was a big plus for him -- "most
of the time," he said with a grin.
"It breaks your heart when you see a kid in middle school who has bombed
out. You find out the father is gone all the time, or the mother is out
dating every night or passed out on the couch. Kids need boundaries. I
tell them life is a struggle, but you've got gifts. But a lot of kids
don't have that resource."
From a physical standpoint, Tuitel believes disabled people have
advantages today they didn't used to have, in part because of the
Americans with Disabilities Act that has mandated such things as curb
cuts and ramps to assist people in wheelchairs in getting around. "But
we still have a long way to go, not so much from a physical standpoint
as a personal one."
Mainstreaming has been helpful in bringing people with disabilities into
situations where they can achieve alongside others. But he admits it's a
mixed bag. "They need inclusion, but some need one-on-one attention;
sometimes they fall through the cracks," he said.
As someone disabled from birth, he feels no particular advantage over
someone suddenly thrust into that world through accident or illness.
"Either way, you can't walk," he explained.
Tuitel cites his faith in God as the most important thing in his life,
along with his children. "I've done a lot, but none of it on my own," he
observed.
His advice for students, again subtly tongue-in-cheek: "Ten years after
you graduate, your grade point average means very little. My first year
at Hope, my GPA was 0.6. This year I'm going to be Hope College's
distinguished alumnus."
|
|
http://web.archive.org/web/20030815194457/http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/cgi-bin/LiveIQue.acgi$rec=41499?hb_story
|
|
| |
3/9/2003 8:55:00 PM
|
| |
|
| Living
with Spina Bifda |
3/7/2003 2:42:00 PM
|
Dear Friend,
My name is Amy Hensel and I am from Oswego, NY. The
reason I am writing you is because I wish to share a bit about my
hasband with you. First of all, I am including a story my husband wrote
about living with a disability called, "Living with Spina Bifda". After
you read this story I am sure you will be amazed with Roberts heart.
Also the most important thing I would like to tell you about is, on
Thursday Oct 3rd at 2;:12 pm My husband Robert set a Guinness Book of
world record with The Longest long distance wheelie in a wheel-chair to
raise money for wheel-chair ramps in our community. Below I am giving
you the address to a online newspaper that did a story on my husband
during the event. Please take the time to look at the site and I know
you won't be disappointed. The website address where you will find the
story on my husbands world record is at:
www.oswegodailynews.com
"Please Note"
The Story was done on Friday Oct 4th 2002 so you will need to look up
that day. Also, the name of the article you will be looking for is "
Local Man Makes World Record By Staying On Two Wheels."
Living With Spina Bifida
I grew up with a birth defect known as spina bifida, a disability that
affects my sense of balance, causing me to walk with a limp. Not only
does it affect the function of the legs, but it also has an impact on
the kidneys, causing them to deteriorate.
The disability has had its ups and downs. As a young child, I can
remember the way other children would look at me and stare because of
the way that I walked. There were many times that my schoolmates would
laugh at me and call me names simply because of their lack of
understanding of why I was a little different, especially back in the
mid 70s and early 80s. Children then were just unwilling to take the
time to learn why one of their classmates might walk, speak or seem
noticeably different from themselves.
Now that I am an adult, I have noticed that the stares and names have
begun to fade, and judgments that once were negative have begun to turn
toward acceptance. The signing of the ADA has played a great part in
breaking down some of those barriers that, as a child, left me to fight
a war that seemed to have no end. Now I look beyond what I can't do and
focus on what I CAN. I have learned that limitations open doors that
have been closed, showing other ways to meet our needs. I have always
looked at life as a challenge, grasping each obstacle with open arms.
There is nothing in this world that comes easy. I must stand tall and
look forward, to be ever so ready for what still lies ahead. People
often feel sorry for those who were born with some type of disability.
But their compassion is misplaced. Yes, I may not be able to run as fast
or perform certain tasks, but my disability gives me a better look at
life and all that's around me. I want to be seen not as a disability but
as a person who has, and will continue to, bloom. So I decided to become
a advocate on behalf of disabled Americans, to fight for our rights that
for so long have been ignored. I feel that it only takes one powerful
voice to change the minds of many nations, and as long as I have a mouth
to use and a mind to think I will continue to work to bring peace upon
the disabled community.
Author: Robert M. Hensel, born in Rota, Spain in 1969. Currently a
resident of Oswego, NY, he is an international poet-writer. On October
1st of 2000, Robert was honored when the mayor of his home town declared
a week for the disabled, "Beyond Limitations Week", in his name.
"BEYOND LIMITATIONS"
Placing one foot in front of the other, I've climbed to
higher lengths. Reaching beyond my own limitations, to
show my inner strength.
No obstacle to hard for this warrior to
overcome.
I'm just a man on a mission, to prove my disability hasn't
won.
BY: American Poet: Robert M. Hensel
|
|
| HOW
PEOPLE COMMUNICATE |
3/7/2003 1:27:00 PM
|
By: E. Sara
Seesahai, Nasheena Virani, and Watson Derek Moy
Words are powerful so you have to be careful which words you use. Words
can make people feel many different emotions. One small word can make a
big difference. If you say something nice, people will want to be around
you. You will make people feel happy and comfortable. But if you say
something rude or swear, chances are people will feel offended and hurt.
It might mean that you lose your job or get kicked out of places you
love.
People can use words to make things better, for example using kind words
to comfort a friend. You can also use words to solve problems like
talking through a misunderstanding. Using words to share your ideas with
people is powerful. Your words can bring a positive change to your life
and the people around you. If people can�t use their verbal skills to
communicate, there are many other ways to get your point across. You can
use sign language or body language, or you can use pictures or drawings
to show how you feel. If people are communicating to you make sure that
you answer them, and pay attention so don�t doze off! Listening and
answering people�s words will show that you care.
You can make a difference with your words, both good and bad. It is your
own decision to make.
|
|
|
Friendship in our Lives |
3/7/2003 1:23:00 PM
|
By: Watson Moy, E. Sara Seesahai, and
Nasheena Virani
Friendships are very important to our lives. Friends share our good
times and help us through the bad times. It is important to have many
friends in your life. When push comes to shove you can count on your
friends. You have to make room in your life for the people you love,
like your friends and family. Friends are people that you can trust;
they can help you with things you are having trouble with. They can make
you feel good by complimenting you, giving you a warm hug, and
supporting you. With a friend you can share warm memories of happy
times, full of laughter and fun. Love is the greatest thing you will
ever have; it is built into your very skin. Everyone is able to love and
be a friend. To be a good friend you need to offer your support and
comfort, and be with them through both the good and bad times. Good
friends are like precious jewels; it is so wonderful to have them around
in your life.
Having no friends is like being in a dark room full of strangers. You
feel scared and lonely with nobody to trust, and that would be very
frightening. Life would be pretty boring without friends. Nobody to
share phone calls with or go out and do something fun. With no friends
you couldn�t share your frustration and sadness. Carrying around those
feelings inside you can make you feel helpless and angry tempered.
If friendships are so important to your life, how do you make a friend?
Go to places you like to go, for example bowling or a bookstore. Look
around at the people there and introduce yourself. Have a chat and give
them a chance to get to know you. If you both like something, make a
plan to go and do it together. Call your new friend to talk and invite
them to do more things with you. Make sure you treat your new friend
well. That means answering when they talk to you and not tease them if
they don�t like it, as this can hurt their feelings. You don�t want to
risk losing your friends by treating them badly.
After reading this, take a moment to call one of your friends. Please
remember that friendships are very important in your life, don�t take
them for granted.
|
|
|
Chelsea
|
3/4/2003 3:35:00 PM
|
Basketball
My first basketball practice. I was really nervous, but i got out there
and play with the rest of the players and guest what I wasn't so bad. We
learned on to bounce, dribble, and pass the ball what an exprience.
|
|
|
Persons with Disabilites (pt 1), by Cathy Grant |
2/8/2003 3:34:00 PM
|
We had just
finished showing our video, the one narrating our �cultural story�, and
we explained the context of it. It was our story, that of all political
refugees, from any country, from any kind of political persecution.
Elana had told some of our personal circumstances, centering on the
difficulties of rediscovering normality, the problems of learning to
enjoy life again without feeling guilty. We noticed that again, as
always before, the story had made a deep impact and the participants
were wrestling to react, not knowing exactly what to do, but certainly
searching in their own lives, for circumstances approaching what they
had just seen and felt. Two of the participants told us that they had
lived in several places in Canada, having had to encounter the
difficulties of new beginnings in their own lives and recognizing
commonalties with what they had just heard.
Then Cathy began to speak but did not want to be taped. She wanted to
explain how the passage in the video that says �nobody wants to know
your story, they only ask you formal question,� resonated with the story
of her whole life. A member of the co-op�s Board, she made it to the
home where the meeting was taking place in her electric wheelchair. From
the very beginning we all felt clumsy, trying to accommodate her in the
living room trying to find her a position where she could see and hear
well. The wheels got stuck in the carpet several times. The chair
appeared extremely heavy and bulky. To get her close to the window, so
that she would not feel too hot, involved several moves - our efforts to
push conflicting with the electronic commands Cathy gave the chair by
pressing buttons. We did not know anything about her but we had seen the
stream of sympathy that moved the other participants to make her feel
welcome and at ease. Then, a veritable cascade of pain began to flow out
of her initially carefully chosen words, pronounced in her voice, which
wrestled to be understood with every word.
�Nobody wants to hear your story, they just ask you formal questions�,
she said, telling how people could not relate to her, how hard it was
for everybody to just listen to her. She explained her feelings of
powerlessness when people rushed to shut her down, whenever she
attempted to disclose something about her life. How people rush to
comfort her with shallow words, emphasizing, perhaps with the best
intentions, how �fortunate she was having appropriate caretakers, living
in a nice co-op, having a whole system of support for people like her.�
�But nobody can understand that it is not my surroundings that trouble
me the most. It does not matter what the circumstances of my environment
may be, it is me that is the problem, this pain in my soul, in my heart.
It is this body in which I find myself trapped, this wheelchair without
which I cannot move. It is me that is the problem, it is me that I
cannot stand any more, living every minute of my life wondering how is
it that I made it through the previous minute. It is the horror that I
feel realizing that I am a mirror in which people do not want to see
themselves, I see them walking away, feeling sorry or guilty, but
without knowing what to make of their encounters with me.� Please
contact me to let me know what you think of my writing at the following
e-mail address: cgrant@aebc.com
|
|
|
Persons with Disabilities (pt 2), by Cathy Grant |
2/8/2003 3:33:00 PM
|
� This week
has been particularly bad for me. So many problems at home, so much
abuse, so much anger. It�s like a black hole without end. And those
caretakers shutting me down all the time, blaming me or making me feel
bad or ungrateful. Whenever I point out a problem affecting me, for
example, that I need a new wheelchair, they will defend themselves
saying that it is not their responsibility. But I am not asking them to
solve my problems, I just need to talk about it, talk with them, with
anybody. Thank God that there is the telephone which allows me to talk
to people. How good it feels whenever the phone rings.�
�I have been abused ever since I can remember. My alcoholic mother and
my alcoholic father abused me until they abandoned me completely. I
moved from institution to institution, within this large machinery of
the system, with its doctors and nurses, and bureaucrats and social
workers, caretakers and welfare workers. All paternalistic or
indifferent, aggressive or careless. Worst of all, I do not even know
what I do need, if anything. I just know of this pain that never leaves
me. I cannot take it anymore; I never could take it and so often I
wanted a medication just to sleep, sleep forever and never wake up again
into this nightmare that is my life. Nobody seems to really care, nobody
loves, nobody has a heart, nobody has time for feelings, and that is why
this society is in the mess it is.�
People talked long after Cathy left. She was expected to be home at 10
pm. How to deal with her situation, how to help her, how to accommodate
her needs and support her? At the same time all the feelings of solitude
affecting each of the participants began to emerge. The tyranny of daily
life with its demands on each of them. The lack of intimacy and dialogue
in the co-op even among the Board members, the decline of socializing in
the co-op. Something profound had happened right there: people could not
relate to each other anymore as they did before because a new intimacy
had been shared in the group during this meeting. How important it would
have been if all of the neighbors had heard Cathy open up, say things
and talk in a way that none of them had heard before.
This meeting was a microcosm of the whole Diversity Project, a living
example of the difficulties a community faces to cope with difference.
It was clear that despite the good will of community members, there is a
feeling of relative powerlessness and confusion. The group talked about
how difficult it is to find energy and time in everybody�s life to go
out and help others when so often they come back exhausted after work.
There was unanimous agreement on the positive value of the experience
they had just shared and on the extent to which workshops similar could
benefit other members of the community.
Cathy has contacted us to add this note to her story.
�Since this story I have reflected much more on the worried upset state
that I put myself through. I have decided not to dwell on what I can�t
control that used to upset me. Today, I appreciate in a deeper way what
people do for me and am truly thankful for their help. I appreciate the
mountains, the trees and animals more. It still feels like I wasted a
lot of time in systems but I don�t get as frustrated as I used to.�
You can contact me to let me know what you think of my articles on thsi
website at the following e-mail address: cgrant@aebc.com
|
|
| YOU
CAN GET THERE FROM HERE! (By Cathy Grant) |
2/8/2003 3:31:00 PM
|
There are
very few maps to help us make our journeys of the heart. It is not a
journey we make alone, for we need good friends to tell us when we have
taken a wrong turn, and put us on the right road again. We have to
remember that �no pain, no gain� applies to mental as well as physical
progress.
Sometimes on our journey through life we came across problems that are
like brick walls, and we need the courage and motivation to map out a
way to surmount them. If you can�t go through the wall, try going round
it. If one door won�t open, try another door. Some people are in a very
tough situation and are hurting so bad they have a hard time getting
motivated to change. They need support to move in the journey of life.
This process may take years.
It�s one step at a time. When you run into a block, try to be happy
where you are, then congratulate yourself for having got that far, then
use the block as a stepping off point for the next part of the journey.
Never give up! Hold the dream, and keep dreaming. Your dreams will tell
you where you want to go.
As we go through life, we sometimes become like the hermit crab. We
change and grow and have to move from one shell to another. The time
when we are without a shell is when we are the most vulnerable but, the
journey must be taken. For the body and mind. Also, the crab usually has
a choice of returning to the old shell, though we may no longer fit into
it properly, so it feels like a prison or an institution instead of a
home.
Living in an institution can cause real problems. Sometimes, incorrect
information is given them; this information becomes a basis of knowledge
or understanding of a situation. Then when you leave the institution,
the gaps in your knowledge become apparent and a new start has to be
made. Low self-esteem is a major difficulty for those who are
institutionalized, and this may make it hard to begin the journey. When
we are constantly being reminded of our limitations, it makes our
limitations seem greater than they really are. We should set our own
limitations, and not allow others to set personal limits for us. We have
to believe in ourselves, and keep a balanced view.
Of course, fear of the unknown brought about by new situations make it
difficult to trust enough to bring about changes. Sometimes problems can
hound and haunt you but, try taking one very small step outside or
beyond them, staying in reach so you can step back if you have to. You
will be surprised at the blessings I guarantee you will get if you take
that step!
Sometimes, in order to make the change, it is necessary to leave behind
a past experience, and this will hurt both you and them. But, trying to
mix two different situations is difficult, and time and �space� is
needed to get your act together. The often one can reconnect again.
Maps are good for traveling around the physical world but, our inner
journeys which reflect our real feelings, are ones that need very
careful mapping. Religion is one kind of a map but, not everyone reads
the map the same way. Also, it is easy to get into the trap of believing
the interpretations of others, rather than believing for themselves.
The physical map changes because the boundaries of countries often
change, and the map of our lives often undergo drastic boundary changes
too. Remember that just as there are speed limits when you travel the
highways, so there are speed limits to interior travels. Only we who
take the journey of the heart can set the speed limit so that we, with
God�s help, arrive safely at our destination.
Cathy Grant
November 15, 1988
cgrant@aebc.com
|
|
| How to
walk on thin Ice (Pt. 1) (by Cathy Grant) |
2/8/2003 3:28:00 PM
|
HOW TO WALK
ON THIN ICE WITHOUT FALLING THROUGH
� I KNOW YOU BELIEVE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU THINK I SAID, BUT I�M NOT
SURE YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU HEARD IS NOT WHAT I MEANT.�
By Cathy Grant
Take Care of Millie tells of newly widowed Millie and her daughter Jan
and the communication problems that nearly wreck their relationship.
�Communication� explores different kinds of relationships and the
communication blocks that can occur. References to these sources will be
made in this paper.
Human relationships can be fragile things and we often approach them as
if we are walking on thin ice. Real communication helps to stop us from
falling through the ice too often.
The most important thing to remember is that people should have their
feelings recognized as valid, and empathy with those feelings should be
used as the basis of communication.
Communication, like charity, should begin at home. But we learn by
observation, and we often observe people who have never learned to
validate the feelings of others. In the film, a little boy goes to his
parents� room one stormy night and says, �Mommy, I�m afraid of the
storm.� His mother replies, �oh honey, no you�re not.�
When feelings are denied, children, especially boys, feel they should
not express them. Then, as adults, they still have the same problem and
are unable to talk about their emotional needs. The old saying, �little
children should be seen and not heard� can be a very dangerous precept.
In the film, the point was made that some parents are too embarrassed to
discuss the facts of life with their children. And yet sexuality is a
normal part of life, and growing up, and not to discuss it increases the
chance of teenage pregnancy. There is another episode in the film where
parents tell a teenage girl that they do not want her to go out at night
with her boyfriend in his car. The girl hears �You don�t trust me.� The
parents mean they want to protect her from a situation she may not yet
be able to deal with.
Another problem that can arise is the different ways in which boys and
girls are raised. Little boys are socialized to be �tough� and little
girls are to be gentle and nurturing. So girls don�t learn to be
assertive in making their needs known, and boys learn to be aggressive
and not sensitive to the needs of others. Both of these behaviors can
block communication.
There are many communication blocks. Age and physical appearance should
not be blocks but often are. People who are physically handicapped are
often treated as though they are little kids, mentally retarded, sexless
and deaf. I myself have had people pat me on the head as if I were a
little child and speak to me in far too loud of a voice.
|
|
| How to
Walk on thing Ice (pt. 2) (by Cathy Grant) |
2/8/2003 3:26:00 PM
|
Sometimes
people do not communicate verbally, but do so by body language. This
often speaks much louder than words for words can be misinterpreted.
Body language can usually be understood very well, unless the other
person is from a different culture.
Written communication can present problems. The reader cannot question
the writer to make sure of the meaning, and there is no body-language or
voice inflections to use a guide to true meaning.
Communication between people can be interfered with by modern
inventions. The presence of television in people�s living room means
that people often react to the set, rather than to each other.
Understanding can be blocked if people do not discuss their expectations
of each other, feeling that if the other person really cares, he or she
will �know� what they should be doing or saying. Millie and Jan don�t
discuss their expectations of each other, and don�t air their true
feelings. Nor should anyone expect that one person can meet new people,
and to be useful.
When meeting new people, communication can be established by finding a
common ground, or building a bridge to the other person. Millie gives
the bird woman, who does not speak English, some bread-crusts to feed
the birds. Then her knitting is the point of contact between herself and
the jogger.
Touching such as holding hands and hugging is a very important way of
communicating. In the book, Jan�s husband Fred holds Jan gently in his
arms while he tell her she should listen to what her mother is trying to
tell her. In this way, he shows her that while he doesn�t like the
things she has been saying and doing, he still loves her very much. This
kind of behavior greatly reduces the chance that communication will be
blocked by defensiveness.
Sexual activity, or the lack of it, is a big way of communicating. When
it ceases, it is usually a signal that something is wrong with the
relationship.
Friendship and relationships are risk-taking experiences so we are all
at risk. It is easier to keep things to ourselves, or to say them to
others, rather than say them to the person concerned. We are scared that
if we speak up, we will lose the relationship, the more important the
relationship, the more scared we are of losing it.
|
|
| How to
Walk on thin Ice (pt 3) (by Cathy Grant) |
2/8/2003 3:26:00 PM
|
In
communication, honestly is hard, but it is the best policy. We may lose
the relationship but it is better to risk that than to live a lie.
To live under the control of other people makes it hard to communicate.
This can apply to students in a school, patients in a hospital or the
lower ranks in the armed forces. This inability to communicate can lead
to tension, which can lead to bladder control problems, rashes, and even
gastric ulcers. So true communication is vital for both physical and
mental health.
True communication means that strategies must be implemented to achieve
results. Sometimes this can be achieved by having a neutral third person
act as facilitator to keep the flow of information going, and prevent
the discussion from digressing into a brawl!
If we venture out into the thin ice of true communication, much can be
done to help us not to fall through. Communication needs the proper
surroundings, and proper conditions, to succeed. When we are tired, we
cannot pay full attention to what is being said. True communication
needs people who are well rested, and should be held on neutral ground,
if possible. That is, in a restaurant, or in a park, where it is more
difficult for people to just walk out instead of confronting the
problem.
Always respect the dignity of the other person, any damage to their self
esteem will close off communication. Do not allow the discussion to
become a confrontation. Let the other person know that you love them,
and do not want to hurt them, but they are doing something that is
upsetting you, and you need to talk about it.
Make sure you don�t use emotion-loaded words. Don�t say �you have a bad
habit that drives me crazy.� Instead say something like, �I�m sure you
don�t realize how I feel when you do that, but I just have to explain it
to you.� Use eye contact at all times, don�t stand over the person, but
be physical on the same level.
Always check and make sure the other person knows just what you mean.
After all, a word may mean one thing to you, but something different to
someone else. Use the simplest words you can. If you use long words to
someone who is in an emotional situation it is like a doctor using
medical terminology to a patient. It is more likely to create confusion
rather than clear up a situation.
Do not expect to just deal with your problem and then close off the
communication. Give the other person a chance to express his or her
feelings. And if at first you don�t succeed, don�t give up, but try
again. A good relationship is really worth the effort!!
|
|
| Touch.
It's a good thing! (Part One) |
2/8/2003 3:22:00 PM
|
by Cathy
Grant
Without touch you can die.
I may not have died physically in the past, by my emotions and my soul
were on the critical list several times. I feel that many people still
have a problem touching individuals who are disabled. The reasons for
these problems are many. Part of it might be ignorance, but mostly I
think it is fear, fear that they may hurt me in some way, fear that my
disability is somehow contagious, fear that they may get into trouble
with me or someone else if they "invade my personal space". These fears
are often exasperated by my electric wheelchair. I wish people (this
included, in the past staff people) could get over this, because it was
contact with others that finally helped me to start healing.
The reason why touch is so important is because it lets the disabled
person know that they are real. This might sound a bit strange but let
me explain with an example from my own life.
I am a middle aged woman with cerebral palsy. I would be the first one
to admit that I am sensitive about parts of my body, and that if I move
or am moved too quickly in the wrong way, it hurts and I let people know
it. However, this does not mean that I am made ouf of glass! A gentle
squeeze on the shoulder, back or hand is not going to break bones. If
you are unsure about wether or not some form of youch is welcome of not,
just ask! I or whomever you are supporting will generally let you know.
When I was very young, I was very upset one nigth and my dad picked me
up and walked me through the house. As well as walking, he started to
dance with me in the living room with me in his arms. I remember this as
if this happened only yesterday. In the world today, there have been
studies whereby children who get touched are happier and healthier as
they get older.
|
|
| Touch:
It's a good thing (Part Two) |
2/8/2003 3:01:00 PM
|
When I and my
twin brother were born, we were both in incubators for aroudn 52 days.
The incubators at that time did not allow for much touch by medical
staff let alone parents. I personally feel that this had long term
negative effects on my physically and emotionally. Making it more
difficult to relate to people around me and increasing my feeling of
isonlation.
I know how I survived my childhood and my teen years with very little
touch from the people around me. I did this by faith and determination
that my needs would eventually be met. My needs finally started getting
met just over a year go. At this time I started getting honest and more
open with my staff, my friends and most importantly myself. I try to
stay honest even when things start to get rough. It has not been easy. I
still have my bad days. Old tapes are played back, and I've ended up in
screaming matches with my staff and friends. However, in the end, the
air being cleared, and their hugs have let my hody know that everything
is alright.
In my past, I had lots of hug poster-poem sayings all through my house.
But people never seemed to get the hint!
A really good example of what I'm talking about happened about a year
and a half ago. I was talking to a new staff who had had a lot of
experience in the field. I was telling him about my life, an old story
that I seemed to tell all of my staff, when he suddenly came over and
gave me a big hug. Ar first I was floored that someone was actually
perceptive enough to see what I really needed. THen, I felt as if he was
truly there with me at that time in that place. I also felt emotionally
safe for the first time in a long while. As soon as that happened all
the anger and furstration that I have been holding onto for years came
up and out. I cried and criend, and all that this new staff did was hold
on to me in silence When the initial onrush had settled down he quietly
listened to me. He couldn't help me with the problems that I had, but by
just being present and letting me know by his physical actions that I
was in that space helped me heal.
A gentle hug means more than these words on paper, probably. I know for
a fact, that the saying goes "a picture is worth a thousand words."
As we are in very difficult times with the government, we need to hug
people and support them in greater ways.
|
|
| TAKE
MY PRESENT ��PLEASE By Cathy Grant |
2/8/2003 2:54:00 PM
|
January 25th,
1988
I believe people find it hard to receive; therefore they are more
interested in giving than getting. We have been trained as children, and
continue to believe as adults, that giving is good, but receiving is
selfish.
In the Gospels, it is written that it better to give than to receive.
But if people do not accept gifts, nobody can give! Since we receive
God�s unconditional love, it is up to us to love unconditionally too,
and this means being able to receive. If we truly love our neighbour as
ourselves we must do what will make him happy. So we should follow the
golden rule and �do unto others� by receiving gracefully and gratefully.
It seems to be easier for people to receive at Christmas, but after the
new year people tend to go back to their old ways. Yet our need to give
love, time and caring goes on the whole year round. So I think the
greatest gift anyone could get would be the ability to receive things,
especially LOVE.
Taking things from people who are not very well off makes the recipient
feel guilty, I think. People say things like �oh you shouldn�t have!�
and �keep your money to buy something for yourself.� People tend to
think that handicapped people shouldn�t buy things for others. If you
take your purse out to pay for lunch, for instance, people will say �put
your money away, please� or �you can pay next time.� But, the next time
never comes.
When people won�t take from me, I feel frustrated. Just the same, if
someone more handicapped than I am gave me something, I would probably
say �oh, you shouldn�t have.� I would accept the gift, and I would be so
touched I would probably cry.
Much of the difficulty is caused by a lack of true communication. We
need to talk about when it is our turn to give, and when it is our turn
to receive. When I am out with friends we discuss this beforehand. I
think we all should do this.
There are times when someone really needs to give, and if they are not
allowed to, it hurts. Handicapped people have something to give, and
they should be allowed to give it!!
|
|
| A
Gentle Soul. By Cathy Grant |
2/8/2003 2:45:00 PM
|
Two years ago, I came to Spectrum Society
for Community Living. Their mandate is to work from a healthy position,
and promote Gentle Teaching as a means to best serve the people they
support. Once with Spectrum, I noticed that my staff, for the first
time, really listened to what I had to say regarding my life. They also
acknowledged my worthiness as a human being. But most important to me,
they were gentle.
This gentleness was expressed to me in several different ways. First, a
gentle attitude, by this I mean by really listening to me and showing
sincerity towards me. They also followed through on my decisions, even
if they felt that they were incorrect ones for me at the time.
Second, a gentle touch confirmed that their presence was healing. It
could have been as subtle as a touch on the hand, shoulder, or back or
it can be as great as a hug, when I was feeling down or in real pain.
A gentle look showed me their true interest in what I had to say without
judgment. A gentle look could tell me so much and helped calm my fears.
It reassured me of their reason for being here, as my support staff.
Perhaps most important was that this gentleness expressed was in their
voices. A gentle touch is not necessarily a soft voice. Some of my best
workers are very loud people. However, a gentle voice does contain a
zeal for life, that loud or soft can not be silenced. At its core, it
was this zeal that gave me the strength to heal and improve my life for
myself.
All of these, the attitude, the touch, the look, and the voice, all
come, in my opinion, from a gentle soul. A soul that itself is healthy
and well balanced. I firmly believe that a soul that is not healthy can
not help others to heal. A gentle soul does not need to put up walls or
false fronts to protect itself. Instead it is real and says to the
world, �This is who I am; warts and all.� This allowed me to know what
kind of person I am dealing with and in that knowledge lay the safety
that I needed to change and heal myself.
|
|
| jorge
|
12/4/2002 4:15:00 PM
|
The leyend of
the fire
This is a leyend of a lot time ago when the animals king the earth,they
were two groups, the
rastrers and the big tigers, one day the tigers
found the fire in the tree that was burning they maked a circle araund
the tree
and they dident move from there because they felt the heat, the rastres
animals wanted that, one
animal was bery brave and confronted the tigers he turned in ball, and
he raise his tail to the fire and it start to burn the tail and he run
into his friends cave they feed him with dry leaves and foreever they
werent cold any more.
|
|
| Craig
Mitchell |
11/15/2002 2:25:00 PM
|
I am a 37
year old man with cerebral palsy who is interested in meeting women with
similar interests. I like to go to clubs to people watch and listen to
good rock music. I think it is romantic to go to the beach and talk
until the sun sets. I am a social drinker, and I do not smoke. I believe
all good relationships start with friendship and progress naturally to
be romantic if the chemistry is right. My other interests include
watching sports, travelling, playing video games, and going to
restaurants with friends. I like to go swimming. I am interested in
radios and have been a radio collector for many years. I use a
wheelchair to get around. I live in Burnaby. I have use of a van that
accomodates two or more wheelchairs.
I can be reached at (604) 436-1376
|
|
|
michelle
|
11/1/2002 5:00:00 PM
|
hi I am back
and I just wanted to tell everyone that I had a very good time and the
scenery was even better coming back .
|
|
|
michelle
|
9/30/2002 6:09:00 PM
|
hi everyone I
am in grandisland now as we speak and boy was it fun . I went on a bus
for 2 days and boy was it tiresome but I made it . seen some beautiful
country . I glad that I come hope the retreat went well and everyone
learned lots at edenvale this weekend . talk to u again
|
|
|
michelle obyrne |
8/31/2002 1:07:00 PM
|
hi everyone I
just wanted to tell you my emails have changed .
michelleobyrne2002@yahoo.ca and I also have another one
michelle_obyrne2002@msn.ca so anyone can get me here and I just wanted
to tell you I got my long distance back . and I so happy and I have a
funny experience I tried to get a hold of u bryce and you dad answered .
I just wanted to tell you guys that hahaha
|
|
|
stephie
|
7/18/2002 11:58:00 AM
|
The Forest
Juniper lived by a small forest.
The forest was always peaceful, quiet, and on somedays almost energised.
Juniper beleived that the forest held a magic of some sort. Why? because
whenever she entered it she always felt the spirit of the forest
fllowing through her.
If someone and reasently chopped down one of the forestes trees she
entered and felt great sadness, pain, and nothingness.
If the forest had reasently been rained apon she entered and felt joy,
raleef,and accompaniment.
Juniper soon became elder and was unable to walk into the forest. Yet
every deed someone did for the forest she felt the joy.Every unnoble act
someone did to the forest she felt the pain.
Feeling all these feelings made her reolize that
all the forest did was help her see the magic inside her and everyone.
We are all part of magic. Equally as important as the forest.
|
|
|
Friendship. (a poem by jillian B.) |
6/22/2002 5:40:00 PM
|
Friendship is
like a ball of string,you and your friend are wound up so tight,nothing
could ever break the bond that you have with your friend,years go by,and
that ball of string starts to unravel,and soon,you and your friend are
disconnected,though the years,there has been everything from school,too
new friends,too homework,but that doesn't bother you,cos you have your
own circle of friends to keep you company,untill one day,in the 9th
grade,you ask your friend,to sign your yearbook,she writes 'it's great
seeing you after all these years',you read this comment in your
yearbook,and it just makes you feel good,that's real friendship..the
end. (just a poem i wrote,about my friend,natasha)
|
|
| my
story about my favorite girl in the whole wide world |
5/11/2002 2:07:00 PM
|
hi there just wanted to post a quick
little story about my favorite girl in the whole wide world her name is
jillian she is a sweetie and she is a wonderful girl and she has been
there for me for the longest time and i call her mommie now because i
have never had an online mommie before and one day i was going through
alot and i had met her on a community called the comfort room and we
started talking and i told her that i felt kinda down and needed someone
to talk to and ever since then we have become very good friends and she
is a very understanding person and very nice and she keeps things very
private whatever you tell her stays between you and her and thats it and
nobody else so if anyone out there ever needs a friend to talk to make
sure that you contact jill for sure!!
anyway
thats my story
and i love you jill with all
my heart and you will always be my favorite
forever and ever
|
|
|
michelle obyrne |
5/2/2002 2:56:00 PM
|
hi everyone I
just wanted to tell you I think the website wonderful and my New Email
is michelleobyrne2001@yahoo.ca anyone can email me and I get back as
fast as I can
|
|
|
Bobbi-Lin Legere |
3/23/2002 3:32:00 PM
|
I am working
at Mountainside Cafe. I realy like my job. I love going to the Legion. I
take a Line Dance course.
|
|
| Edwin
Marzo |
2/19/2002 8:43:00 PM
|
Hi! I'm Edwin from Manila, Philippines, a
family man with two daugthers, aged 7 & 4. I am for an employer who can
give me an opportunity to work somewhere in Canada. I find it hard to
live now in the Philippines, my life is dedicated to my two daughters
and my wife, so I am looking for kind-hearted Canadian to help me live
with confidence in life knowing that my daughters are growing as a
God-loving persons. I can do a lot of works from labor to clerical
positions. Pray for World Peace!!!
|
|
http://web.archive.org/web/20030815194457/http://www.selfadvocatenet.com/stories/edmarz@eudoramail.com
|
|
| Tracy
Martin |
2/4/2002 11:55:00 AM
|
I was born in
Abbotsford, BC on June 25, 1979. When I was born I had some difficultys
so the hospital sent me right over to Vancouver General Hospital and
there I stayed for sometime and my family stayed with me.
I went to school at the age of five. My very first school was Hatzic. I
did not like going at first because I was I was scared but all children
are scard to go to school for their first time but this was different
for me.
I moved on and made it to grade one and I started to like school now but
was still worryed to go some days. The school year is now over I get my
report card and mom reads ot to me. She did not sound happy. The school
says I need to repeat grade one all over again because the teacher
thought I was a little slower then the other students. I thought I was
going to grade two with all my other friends that were going but I had
to stay behind.
So with me staying behind made me a hole year behind in the rest of my
hole schooling year and yes it did hurt to be a year behind. I was a
year behind to graduate and all through school I had only a few friends
and that was not much fun but it was better then no friends then at all.
I graduated with my Dogwood certificate and you think the people that I
went to school with would have any respect for me still now that we are
out of school well they don't. They still see me as that slow girl all
through school. Some days I wish I would wake up and be a new person
where people would have respect for me. I wonder some days what I did to
deserve such a rude replay from some people and I do not do anything to
them to make them act this way to me.
Now I go to community support and I have made some good friends and I
think I will keep them. I enjoy going to the programs and see my worker
Bev. We work on a few different things and there are somethings I know I
need to learn like I know I need to learn how to stand up to people that
disrespect me because I am different to them in their eyes.
|
|
| Joyce
Friesen |
2/4/2002 11:31:00 AM
|
People took
advantage of me when I went to school. Kids teased me. As a disabled
person it is hard to live on my own, to do shopping and buy things and
to do business like insurance, rent, bills, groceries and cooking.
|
|
| Laura
Swindlehurst |
2/4/2002 11:28:00 AM
|
HI my name is
Laura. I can talk and I know when how I feel sometimnes when peple don't
understand what I'm saying sometines I find that the people who don't
know me talk to me like I'm 2 years old. I really don't mind repeating
myself and if I reallt can't make myself undersdtood I'm always happy to
write down what I'm trying to say.
|
|
| Jamie
Owen |
2/4/2002 11:24:00 AM
|
HI my name is
Jamie Owen and I would like to share my story with you. I have had
problems because of my size and I would like to share some of these with
you. I have had kids up at the swimming pool call me names and whip me
with their towels. I told the lifeguard what had happened and he told
the kids to leave. I have had people shoot me with one of those
supersoakers as they drove by on First Avenue. I have learned to walk
away when this happens and not to get angry. I have some trouble going
out to places due to a lack of accessibility in restaurants, vehicles,
movie theatres, sporting events. There are a lot of places that I go to
that I cannot access properly so I leave. Things are slowly getting
better and I keep smiling. Thank you very much for listening.
|
|
|
Shannon Lebrun |
2/4/2002 11:19:00 AM
|
I think that
since I have been on community support that it has helped me a lot. I
have Bev as a worker and she has helped me so much. Bev has helped me
find a house, helped me look for things for my house, took me to do a
lot of things and I appreciate it so much. I think community support
helps everyone out in the long run. I don't think I would be where I am
right now without the help of community support. I can say they are
always there for you. You get a worker two times a week for five hours
and they take you shopping, help you cook, take you to appointmemnts. So
now like I said with Bev or any worker they are always there for you and
here are some examples: If I have to go to the doctor's or go to a
counselling appointment and I can only make it on a day that I am not
working with Bev then she will arrange to get another worker to work
with the client she has that day and she will take me to my appointment
and if she can't take me then she will make sure that I get there and
back safely. I like how they put you first and make sure you live on
your own and can't phone anyone then if you have workers number then you
can call them and they can help you if they live close or they will try
to make you feel better. With Bev, I call her and she lives too far away
to get me, but she always says it is O.K. and the landlords are
upstairs. I like how they are there for you no matter what. I am happy
that there is something like community support around and that they can
hekp you no matter what.
I think the Mission Self Advocacy Group is about how to stand up for
your rights and since I have gone to the meetintgs it has helped me to
stand up for my rights. I feel like I can now go out in the community
and speak to anyone about problems that I have and when people listen to
me and they help me with the problem I feel like I have achieved
something.
|
|
| Marie
Hart |
10/20/2001 8:24:00 AM
|
I live in
O'Leary PEI. I enjoy coming to the CACL Conference and meeting people
and seeing websites like SelfAdvocateNet so we can learn from each
other. I have a 7 year old son. His name is Gordon and he is in Grade 3.
I have good friends and support from the O'Leary local ACL.
|
|
| Self
Advocate |
10/18/2001 3:34:00 PM
|
i enjoy coing
to the mall and meet some friend
to have coffee and talk.
at home i like to use the computer and serfe the
internet sometime i like to play video game
|
|
| Bobbie
Jean Maceachern |
10/18/2001 11:31:00 AM
|
i work for
the assiciation for the community living of queens county,i work at
sherwood drugmark,i'm a pretty good worker,and i work at the sister
saith marthus saint marys,i do the dishwashing,i'm a very busy person,i
work for brenda who's my boss..
|
|
| peggy
curry |
10/18/2001 11:05:00 AM
|
hi my name is
peggy,and i'd like to say the confrence in Moncton new brunswick is
nice,it's nice to meet people from all over the world..
|
|
| Bonnie
Johnston |
10/18/2001 10:56:00 AM
|
My name is
Bonnie and this is my first time at the CACL Conference and AGM. I am
here in Moncton, New Brunswick at the conference. I will be doing a
presentation tomorrow about my faith community in Cobourg, Ontario.
Thank you for inviting me to the conference and I hope that my
presentation will inspire others to take leadership training and develop
a project of their own.
Bonnie Johnston
Ontario Association for Community Living
Board Member
|
|
| Karl
Harris |
10/14/2001 3:50:00 PM
|
Hi My Name
Karl Harris I Living Hear In Chilliwack Be Moved In Owen Sound Ontario
In Mouth In November That Sad I Leave My Post In Owen Sound, After 34
Year In Chilliwack, After Our House Is Sold. Don,t Let B.C. Die, Let In
Ontario Is Alive, Thank You Chilliwack I Serve 30 year In B.C.
Love
Karl Harris
|
|
http://web.archive.org/web/20030815194457/http://www.selfadvocatenet.com/stories/KarlHarris@Dowco.com
|
|
| Jill.
|
9/28/2001 1:46:00 PM
|
how i got
started with my 'Dear jill' column in the first place was listening to a
radio talk show,and this person inspired me into having my own adivce
column,her name is Delilah,and she's so caring,so loving,she listens to
your problems,just like me :)..Delilah also has a website,and she also
has an advice column to :),i don't know if any of you listen to her talk
show...but she's very kind hearted,she's a kindred spirit,and i love
her!...i had a good time in victoria :),it was fun...some of you may not
know this,but this website got an award for one of the top websites in
canada...wooohooooooo!!,we should give ourselves a hand for being
heard!..if it wasn't for going to the retreat last year,we wouldn't have
got an award! :)...gregg,bryce,cam and i went to victoria...i'm going to
the retreat in november...so,that's my story :)
|
|
| Ludo
Van Pelt |
9/6/2001 10:05:00 PM
|
Self-Advocacy,The Next Generation.
I have been doing a special project to initiate a project, this self
advocacy group is a youth group through the North Shore Association for
the Mentally Handicapped where I work. It's mission has been to make
plans for their future, to be ready to become leaders for tomorrows self
adfvocates and to share of what our dreams will be. (Next stories will
tell you of what we done)
|
|
| Tammy
VanPelt |
9/6/2001 8:53:00 PM
|
Hi,my name is
Tammy VanPelt.I am 18 years old and I live with my mom and dad in
Burnaby B.C.Someday I hope to work with people who have disabiltes.I
have a friend named Jennifer Summers,she is my very bestfriend and we do
alot of things together.Jennifer is 19 and lives with her parents
too.Jennifer has a disabilite and yet she is very happy to always be
with her friends,she goes to Burnaby South where I graduated this year
from grade 12.We swim,go to Metrotown,go to movies or just hang out at
her house and listen to music.I also have a new kitten her name is Kiki.
|
|
|
Shannon
|
6/24/2001 7:37:00 PM
|
HI my name is
shannon Lebrun, I am 20 years old and I live in mission bc. I work with
kids in a preschool and I play soccer and hang with friends.I gey very
upset when people call me names and don't take me for who I am I want to
be treated as you would want to be treated. I love to go swimming, I
love soocer, The mall, and I have a worker name Bev Harms and I work
with her twice a week for five hours and she helps me cook clean and
helps me save my money she is reallu great to me and I want to thank her
for that.I have a boyfriend name shawn and we have been going out for
about a year and three months and he is the best boyfriend I could have.
That is what I wanted to write{There are you happy I wrote something
bryce{lol}
|
|
| sofia
|
6/13/2001 8:33:00 PM
|
i enjoyed the
confrence @ executive towars in richmond & looking forward 2 the next
meeting @ whistler@
|
|
| Mark
Bain
|
6/12/2001 2:21:00 PM
|
I am a toy
train collector for the Canadian Pacific Railway. I build railroad cars.
Someday I hope to go to the Kootneys in Revelstoke and Cranbrook. I have
always been a Canadian Pacific Railway fan. I would like to contact the
historical society that deals with CPR's history. Its a good hobby and
interesting. I like it. I also collect model railroad magizines. I have
been into the hobby for three years.
I live in Terrace B.C. where it is all C.N. country. Real train engines
motors are all built by General Electric and General Motors and these
trains are over 4000 horse power. I am interested in hearing from other
people that have the same interest.
|
|
http://web.archive.org/web/20030815194457/http://www.selfadvocatenet.com/stories/choices@telus.net
|
|
| Silas
Clayton |
6/12/2001 2:16:00 PM
|
I work at
Choices writing a newsletter. I use the computer and internet. I like
hanging out with my friends and family and hope that I can go to the
BCACL next year. I go visit my family in Aiyansh every fall and they
come to Terrace all the time. I went to Hawaii for two weeks and had a
good time.
Have a nice day.
|
|
http://web.archive.org/web/20030815194457/http://www.selfadvocatenet.com/stories/choicesterrace@telus.net
|
|
| Peter
Nisyok |
6/12/2001 2:12:00 PM
|
I work every
day except for Thursday. I like hockey and go to games at night at the
arena on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday every week. I am good
cook and like to cook and like to eat. In the summer I go and stay with
my family in Aiyansh.
|
|
|
Marlene Sampare |
6/12/2001 2:08:00 PM
|
I live in
Terrace and my family lives in Skeena Crossing. Right now my mom is sick
and in the Hazelton Hospital. I like playing cards and going for French
Vanilla Capaccini. I work at an office and have my own business selling
baked goods. I like talking to Colleen when I am having a problem
because she helps.
|
|
| Kelly
Tompkins |
6/11/2001 9:05:00 PM
|
my name is
kelvin shane Tompkins i've been an
self advocate for a year now i was at the agm
conferance in richmond b.c. i'm a mascot for
ICO my hobbies are bowling, spending time with
my wife and my friends. My best friend that i
met at high school his name is darryl harand
my other hobbies are reading, collecting old
records from the fifties and the sixties. I love
doing housework for my wife i was born in
kelowna b.c. for 37 years i have a mom she is
a very wonderful mother. I love her alot my
dad is not here anymore he died in 1997 in
March 7th. I love being a self advocate we do
alot of neat things in the advocates. I'm a
dj at the social drop in with dale and sid
i love doing that kind of job but we don't paid
for it. Living with my wife is great we do lot
of things together like going shopping and
going to malls. Mark is a great guy i really
thing he is a great man for these meetings
because he does alot of nice things for us.
by kelly Tompkins
|
|
| Erik
Bekker |
6/8/2001 5:56:00 PM
|
My name is Erik Bekker. This is my first
year with the Self advocates, and I enjoy being down here. I learned
alot from every seminar so far and am looking forward to the last part
of the seminars, I live in Kelowna and am involved with special
olympics, softball, floorhockey bowling, and in my spare time I like to
listen to my cds. I take part in Karaoke every second tuesday, and I am
an awesome singer, and also every friday. I have a girl friend named
Wendy, she is from Langley and is currently getting ready for
provincials for swimming in Prince George. Aside from that she is
getting ready for the softball provincials in Surrey B.C. In August she
will be moving to the Okanagan to be with me. I met Wendy through a
floorhockey tournament in 2000. She and I communicated for three weeks
and then started writting letters and then we are currently talking
every morning and every evening. I am thankful that she is with me. I
have in my family I have my father Martin, my mother Jean, my three
sisters, Sonja, Daphne, and Helen and my lone brother David. David and
Daphne are twins, david is older by 11 minutes. They missed being New
years day babies by one day, and they are the centennial twins of
Canada. I have my pets Charlie and Misty, they are great additions to my
house, and I will soon have Wendy as a room mate. I am getting rerady to
continue my recycling duties at the college and as soon as football
season starts, I will be helping the Okanagan Sun with my best friend
Syd and it will be our second year with the football club. In 2000, Syd
and I had achieved Canadian Juniour league champions and are hoping to
repeat as champions in 2001. I thank Syd and his girlfriend Tammy for
being such good friends.
|
|
| Sydney
Freeman |
6/8/2001 5:45:00 PM
|
I have a girl
friend named Tammy, we've been together for two years. We live downtown
Kelowna, behind the Kelowna Secondary School. We live in a condo. Tammy
and I are both involved in the B.C. Special Olympics. Tammy competes in
Bowling, she also competes in softball. I compete in Softball,
floorhockey, soccer, and powerlifting. I am presently working at Costco
as a bike detailer. A bike detailer fixes bikes, builds them and fine
tunes them. Tammy is in a cooking course at the Parkinson Recreation
Centre. Tammy and I are presently at the Annual General meeting of the
bcacl. I am on the self advocacy caucus of the bcacl. I represent self
advocate and i bring back information and take information to the
caucus, and back to Kelowna I take the information that i get at the
caucus. I have a father who lives in Kelowna and his name is Ian. My
step mother is named Joanne. My real mom lives in Victoria. I have a
step brother that lives in victoria as well as one of my grandmothers.
|
|
| Mindy
Tompkins |
6/8/2001 5:37:00 PM
|
I am a very
well organized person, and i love to cook for Kelly (my husband). I also
love to shop. Kelly and I have two beautiful cats. Their names are
Cuddles and Amy. They are little brats, and Cuddles is lazy. I live in
Kelowna near the OUC or Okanagan University College. I work at the
Burger King near Orchard Park Plaza. I work 2 or 3 days a week from
around 11am. to 4pm. I've been there for two years next month. I earn
minimum wage at my job. I love my husband. We will have been married for
two years on July 17th. 2001. Kelly and I both have recieved alot of
support around getting married. Married life is wonderful.
|
|
|
Langley Self Advocates |
6/8/2001 5:29:00 PM
|
We are trying
to get a group of people together to start a self advocate group. We
were almost at the point but then the bus strike happened and put a
wrench in all our plans. Now we are organizing and hopfully within the
next few weeks we will be having our first meeting. We have a group of
about 8 people who would like to get going on this group, our goal is to
do something on self assertiveness, but first we just want to get our
group going. My name is Deborah Grahame and I would be the advisor of
this group. It would be neet to get any support and assistance from
everyone out there that is dealing with issues of self advocacy and
advocacy. I'd love for people to contact me at my email at
damyga@hotmail.com my office phone number is 604-534-3477 please leave a
message on my voicemail if there is no answer. I will get back to
you.....Deborah.
|
|
|
Patrick Piccin |
6/8/2001 3:24:00 PM
|
hi I am a Volunteer at Community
Service.4-5 days a week. I am with the life challenge program .I work
with Len and Rose .I on Homes board This summer at Cultus Lake .I going
camping at Cultus Lake this summer.
|
|
|
Russell Wheat |
6/8/2001 9:02:00 AM
|
I live in Fort St John. I work at KFC 4
day's a week.I have 3 brothers & 3 sisters. Two brothers & two sisters
live in Dawson Creek & the rest of us live in Fort St John. I like
hockey games,playing base ball in the summer. I have been in the skating
festivals for a number of years. I live in a duplex with a friend. I
have travelled to Tanzania in 1988-1990.
|
|
| Wendy
Menzies |
6/8/2001 8:57:00 AM
|
HI everyone,
I am a good worker because I do recycling, Before that I did screening
of envelopes for Income Tax because it gets really busy during March.
This year was especially busy. I am doing pretty good with everything
else. I really like speaking out because I used to have probemns
speaking out until my friends, like Marci and Gerry and Patti and Ludo
helped me out. I really like being at conferences like this where I meet
lots of people and get to work with people like Gregg Schiller.
|
|
| JANIS
SHARYK |
6/7/2001 4:55:00 PM
|
HI I AM FROM
TERRACE B.C. AND I WORK AT TERRACE ANTI POVERTY AND PNGI AND ALSO BUSY
EVER DAY AND THEATRE, BOWLING CURLING BIKING
|
|
| Sherry
Macready |
6/7/2001 3:24:00 PM
|
I am a child
that cannot hear the words,
I can not hear what the words are saying,
I can not hear what the words have to offer,
I can not hear the words to the song of the world,
I can not hear the words of love,
The words are not there for me.
|
|
| Joan
Gatt
|
6/7/2001 1:25:00 PM
|
hi I am a
self advocate from Powell River and I work at a shingle mill and the
peak .I live at a group home .
|
|
http://web.archive.org/web/20030815194457/http://www.selfadvocatenet.com/
|
|
| Janice
OSTROM |
6/7/2001 10:44:00 AM
|
Hi My name is Janice OStrom, I live
independantly
with a room mate in an apartment in mission. I am treasurer of mission
self Advocates groups
Im with special Olympics. Im ALL SO going to summer games in july 2001
in prince george.
my hobbies are watching videos listening to music
I have a boy friend i like to socialize. with friends and all so like
helping out and meeting new people and working on the Computer writing
stories .
|
|
http://web.archive.org/web/20030815194457/http://www.selfadvocatenet.com/
|
|
|
Michelle O'Byrne |
6/7/2001 10:19:00 AM
|
hi I am a single mother of 9 year old
girl,her name is Lisa. I live in Chilliwack BC.I am a secretary for
people first in Chilliwack and on the board of director I do a report of
people first .I live independantly with my daughter in the commuity of
Chilliwack .I work part-time at Mertins car dealership as public
relation person and a cleaning and I coping ,shredding paper.
|
|
http://web.archive.org/web/20030815194457/http://www.selfadvocatenet.com/
|
|
| Albert
Hutchins |
5/15/2001 12:10:00 PM
|
The tigers
are in danger. Self advicacy groups and People First need to do
something about it and save them.
|
|
| Tracy
Martin |
5/15/2001 12:08:00 PM
|
No one will take the time to see the real
me. All I want is to go places and learn new things and be able to
socialize. I'm not blind or deaf. Things in life require patience, so
please see the real me! I don't want to be left out or ignored. I have
feelings like everyone else. Please see me and take me as I am. I like
to learn new things only that I am able to teach you things too. For
instance, I can teach you about the Real Me if you take the time to see
the Real Me!
|
|
| Dwight
Grose |
5/15/2001 12:04:00 PM
|
I like
working at the farm at Edenvale. I'm all excited about the Retreat
that's coming up in September for the self advocates. I like going out
on the weekends. I buy my lunch and then go home and watch TV. I like to
travel. I am going to a travle agent to find out about going to
Switzwerland. I like what Gregg Schiller is doing with the group. He is
nice and patient.
|
|
| Jill
Dunbar |
5/5/2001 11:45:00 AM
|
hi,my name is jill..and i volenteer in a
group home called evergreen,and i really like it there. on mondays from
7-10pm i go to dropin in abbotsford,and we play bingo,pool,listen to
music,watch videos..all that fun stuff :),i have a boyfriend and his
name is james,and he's the presadant of the abbotsford selfadvocates,and
we've been together for 5 years,going on 6 years in october :)..and we
go to the movies,and i go over to his place for dinner on wedensday
evenings..so..that's my life in a nut shell :)..and thank you by the way
for throwing your questions at me in my 'Dear jill' coloumn :)
|
|
| Laura
Swindlehurst |
5/2/2001 3:09:00 PM
|
I live in Mission and take part in some of
the programs in M.A.C.L. I live with Cathy Bonnett (the Supervisor of
the Community Supports Program) in Mission. I've been living with her
since the end of September last year. This past year I've been attending
Bonnie Hamilton's class at the University College of Fraser Valley with
the workplace T.A.S.K. program, which I have really enjoyed. One of the
other programs I attend is supported employment. I've been working a
couple of years at one of the Churches in Mission at the Community
Development Program, which I take part in. I work Monday afternoon for a
few hours, and Wednesday afternoon for about an hour and a half. I get
an incentive for my work every month. I do clean up and organizing at
the program. I also have a Community Supprt Worker who works with me a
cuouple of days a week. She takes me swimmmg. She also helps me with
other things like banking, cooking, and shopping.
|
|
| Henry
Lenzman |
5/2/2001 10:40:00 AM
|
My name is
Henry Lenzman. I loke tyo beoutside. I am an outdoor guy. I like to rake
leaves, travel on city buses to the Library and I like to swim.
|
|
| Sheila
Chouinard |
5/2/2001 10:38:00 AM
|
I am the Greeter for the Chilliwack People
First Self Advocacy Group. I work part-time at the Salvation Army 5 days
a week packaging baked goods. I live independently with my rommmate Tim
Dixon. We get some help from Tenant Supports Program. We get along in
the community quite nicely. We shop and are able to get around. I do
Bake Sales with the group and very involved in the self advocate
movement. I have gone to all the Edenvale Retreats. I have four brothers
and sisters.
|
|
| Lisa
Reddicopp |
5/2/2001 10:33:00 AM
|
I enjoy
shredding papers for my job. I like listening to my tapes. I enjoy going
for walks with my friends. I really like going out to the Savoy
Restaurant with my friend. I ride the buses and some of them are old and
also I have to hold on tight so I don't fall over.
|
|
| Dan
|
5/2/2001 10:30:00 AM
|
Hello my name
is Dan. I live in Mission. I'm involved in swimming gams. I like to play
on the computer and watch TV. My disability is ceerebral palsy and
epilepsy. I go to a volunteer program across the road. I would like to
be treated with respect.
|
|
| Sandy
|
5/2/2001 10:25:00 AM
|
My activities
I like is wrestling on TV. The wrestlers should not use language not
hurting other wrestlers. They should not use bad things on it. Vince
McMahon wants to divorce his wife, that is not right and I feel bad
about the wrestlers. Stone Cold wants to be friends with HHH and I don't
think that's not right. I work at the CourtHouse Cafe.
|
|
| Luke
|
5/2/2001 10:20:00 AM
|
My name is
Luke. I like to play with my dog. I take him for walks in the park and
he swims in the lake. My family is important to me. I think we should
help people who are sick. I would like to make money by helping all
kinds of people. Maybe at the McDonald's or Safeway. I want a job. I
spend my free time with friends at the movies or playng baseball. Not
too long ago, I checked out the DOVE Program. We laugh a lot there and I
am learning to use a comnputer and do shredding.
|
|
| Marcy
Baldwin |
5/2/2001 10:17:00 AM
|
I live in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I live on
my own in my 1 bedroom apartment. I am very involved with my 2 local
self advocacy groups - the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living and
the S.A.F.E. Committee at the Mainstream Society for Proactive Community
Living. I volunteer at the BC Association for Community Living. I love
to bowl and dance. I also collect Elvis Presley things. I also do guest
speaking at schools and colleges about my school days and what is what
like when I went to school. I also volunteer at the Main Street Legion
Bingo Hall once a month.
|
|
| Austin
|
5/2/2001 10:11:00 AM
|
I go to my
friend wedding is Joanne and Andrew. Brian having a wedding on Sunday
April 24. I go to Chilliwack for wedding in St. John Church and then go
to Harrison Hot Springs for supper in lobby than go home.
|
|
| Henry
|
5/2/2001 10:07:00 AM
|
I like police
officers.
|
|
| Nena
|
5/2/2001 10:07:00 AM
|
HI, my name is Nena. I like to use the
computer to play games and to improve my reading. I love to go out for
coffee at Tim Horton's, bowling, swimmimg and rhythmic gymnastics with
my friends. I enjoy visiting my family in Smithers during the summer. I
enjoy spending time with my friends at home and at the day program I
attend. A project I'm working on is knitting a baby blanket gor the
Christmas Bureau. I volunteer at the Community Services Thrift Store two
days a week. I would like to see the city transit routes changed to
provide more access in Abbotsford, including service to the
Costco/Zellers area.
|
|
| Gerry
Juzenas |
5/2/2001 9:50:00 AM
|
I am self advocate now for over 20 years.
I have been living on my own for about 15 years. I have also been on
many local Association's Boards too. I also do Self Advocate's guest
speaking at schools, self advocates' groups, and the government
Ministries. Right now I am the Secretary for the self advocate group I
am in. I am hoping one day to get married too. At the present time, I am
training on the Board of Directors for the Burnaby Association for the
Mentally Handicapped. My hobbies are to go dancing, bowling, out for
suppers with my friends, and lunch too, celebrating birthdays, Christmas
Parties, and watching Pay Per View Wrestling. When I am not at meetings,
I enjoy being an Uncle. I also listen to my CDs and watch TV. I am also
a fan of the Young and the Restless.
|
|
| Brian
Mathot |
5/2/2001 9:40:00 AM
|
The image
that we make comes from who we are.
If we work for 50% of what we get from the government we will present a
better image. We make 50% by working (those of us who can). If we stand
in a Pot of Gold that we find, how you spend it and give it away shows
who you are and how you shine and what shines over you as a person.
|
|
| Kathy
West |
5/2/2001 9:28:00 AM
|
My name is
Kathy West. My favourite things to do are watch Bob Barkers' The Price
Is Right and Richard Simmons and go for coffee. I have 5 jobs. I work at
Freeway Communications, S.P.C.A., Kids' Klub, Rogers Video, and Muggs
Coffee Shop. My favourite kind of coffee is peanut butter mocha.
|
|
| Connie
Neumann |
5/2/2001 9:25:00 AM
|
My name is
Connie Neumann and I love swimmimg. I go swimmimg 2 -3 times a week and
I really enjoy it. The other activities I do during the week are: Body
Shop, Christiian Womans Club, MCC Office, and baking my famous chocolate
chip cookies for my little Bake Shop. I love my jobs and meeting new
people, and going shopping. I'm looking forward to meeting new people at
the Self Advocates' Day.
|
|
| Patti
Van Pelt |
5/2/2001 9:20:00 AM
|
I live in Burnaby, BC. I am married for 8
years. I have an 18 year old daughter named Tammy. She is graduating
this year from high school. I love watching the soap operas: The Young
And The Restless; Days Of Our Lives; One Life To Live; All My Children;
General Hospital; and Port Charles. I love to Bowl and listen to music.
Th music I like includes Dwight Yoakam, Vince Gill, and my favourite is
Mitchell Bottom. I also like some songs from 'N Sync and some songs from
the Backstreet Boys. I belong to the Simon Fraser Self Advocacy Group in
New Westminster and the S.A.F.E. Committee in Burnaby which stands for
Self Advocates For Equality at the Mainstream Society for Proactive
Community Living. I also sit on the BCACL Self Advocacy Caucus and the
BC Self Advocacy Foundation as the Board President. I am also one of the
Vice-Presidents of the BCACL Board of Directors. I also sit on the
Canadian Association for Community Living for their Board meetings in
Toronto. We just had one on April April 20 - 22/2001. I also love cats.
|
|
| Joanne
Bunnin |
5/1/2001 6:56:00 PM
|
I'm living on myown in my own apartment.
I've been living on ,my own for almost three years. I'm really enjoying
it. It's quiet but I'm doing really well. Burger King and VanCity are my
main two part-time jobs. These two jobs keep me busy. Every Thursdays
and Wednesdays I help my family out with things like mowing lawns and
house cleaning. This coming July I'm going to Prince George for the
Special Olympics Summer Games. It will be a blast. And after the Summer
Games I'm going down to Cold Lake Alberta and Edmonton for my Grandma's
birthday and that will be a lot of fun, etc... You can e-mail me at:
coolgirl74ca@yahoo.com
|
|
| Karen
|
5/1/2001 6:49:00 PM
|
My name is
Karen and my boyfriend is George. We like to phone each other and visit
each other. We would like to go out for dinner at Chicken Chalet. We
like each other a lot.
|
|
| Herman
|
5/1/2001 6:17:00 PM
|
My name is
Herman. I am 65 years old. I live in a group home. A different one now.
I like my home and my rommmates. I love football and baseball.
|
|
| Andrea
|
5/1/2001 6:16:00 PM
|
My name is
Andrea and a long time ago I wanted to move from my group home. I was
not happy there so I talked to my Social Worker and told her how I felt.
I told her I needed to move somewhere else. So I moved in with my new
caregiver and I call her Mom. I have a rommmate named Marlene too. We
are good friends and roommates. Now we all moved together, from Salmon
Arm to Kamloops and then to Abbotsford. I like it here.
|
|
| Carol
|
5/1/2001 5:55:00 PM
|
My name is
Carol and I like going to my Day Program and using the Computer.
|
|
| Jacob
Funk |
5/1/2001 5:54:00 PM
|
My name is
Jake. I love to draw pictures. I live with my mom. When my mom is gone
someday, I would like to have my own apartment and live by myself.
|
|
| George
Ricketts |
5/1/2001 5:52:00 PM
|
I love
Baseball. I go to Vancouver for games all the time. I like the Toronto
Blue Jays and Vancouver Canucks. I wish it was cheaper tickets because
they are costing too much.
|
|
| Carey
|
5/1/2001 5:49:00 PM
|
My favourite
recreational activity is working-out. I work-out with Jenny every
Thursday afternoon. I enjoy working-out because it's fun and I like
being in shape. I also work at the Courthouse Cafe on Mondays and
Wednesdaya with all my friends. But I plan on getting a job, eventually!
I also plan on working-out for the rest of my life! Sometimes I workout,
by myself, but I don't seem to mind. My advice to anyone who wants to
start working-out is: Start off slow, and then work your way up! This is
my first story I have ever written. Thanks for letting me share my
story.
|
|
| Irene
|
5/1/2001 5:38:00 PM
|
My parents
passed away in 1970 and 1984. My dad used to work for the CN Railroad
and my mother used to work in a hotel. I've lived on my own in my own
apartment since 1995. I get some help from support staff and my
neighbour. I go out a lot with my friends. I go to visit my brother in
Vancouver and my other brother in Hope for the holidays. I also talk to
my cousin on the phone. On Sundays I go bowling at the Chillibowl and I
go to Church in the morning. I like decorating my apartment with
pictures and wind chimes. And I like going for walks with my friends.
|
|
| James
Stowell |
5/1/2001 4:48:00 PM
|
I pack
fridges and couches and lots of different things. I am a good worker at
MCC in Mission and have been there for a year and a half and I love
doing sports in the special area of a school field. I will be going to
Prince George for soccer in Special Olympics this summer. I live in
Mission for seven years and was living in the area of Vancouver Island
before that.
|
|
| J.P.
Maher |
5/1/2001 4:44:00 PM
|
Hi! I am the Vice-President of the Mission
Self Advocacy Group. I have a good job at Pizza Hut in Mission as a
dishwasher. I am also active in my local Special Olympics. I will be
going to the Special Olympics Summer Games in Prince George in Juy 2001.
I am not being mistreated at my job that I am at now for more than 5
years. All of my coworkers treat me as one of the team at Pizza Hut
because I have good job skills. I want to network with other self
advocates in neighbouring communities and other countries around the
world.
|
|
| Tim
Dixon
|
5/1/2001 4:22:00 PM
|
I work 4 days a week at the Cottonwood
Mall in Chilliwack, BC. I live independently with my rommate Sheila and
we get some help from support staff. I am President of both the People
First Self Advocacy Group and of the Saturday Drop-In Centre. I am very
involved in the commuity and helped with the People First Bake Sale. Two
years ago my dad passed way. I miss him but I'm doing OK on my own with
a little help from my friends.
|
|
| Bryce
Schaufelberger |
4/25/2001 10:43:00 PM
|
hi i live in mission i truly beleave that
people with disabilities can speak for themselve and make their own
choices with or without help and i truly beleave that all people with
disabilities have rights and be treated with respect and oner they with
wish with respect to and i also like to have friends to hang around with
and do self advocacy with our friends family and community service that
will help us out on what we think is write and we want to be included in
things like board of directors ie community living and community coucil
meetings and listen to what we have our ideas being accounted for and
take though ideas into concitration not put in the back burner oner them
with respect that all for now
|
|
| Bruce
Nierop |
4/25/2001 10:21:00 PM
|
I am a drummer in the Penticton Pipe Band.
I volunteer at our 1/4 mile speedway. Do some bowling for Special
Olympics. Played Floor Hockey in 1996 and won BC championship. I think
the site is GREAT!
|
|
| Alfred
Fredrickson |
4/25/2001 9:56:00 PM
|
I am Alfred Fredrickson and I live with my
parents. We live near Terry Fox school. I go on Mondays to help out and
put food in bags.Tuesday I go to Epic and do meal on wheels. Wed. I work
at Otter Coop grocery store and I put things on the shelves and I like
my job and I get paid for it . Thursday I go to the Epic program. Friday
I go to the Dovehouse . I am in Special O. and Iam in bowling,track and
field and baseball and I enjoy beening in them all..Now I an in a self
advocate group. Sunday I go to church So I have a busy life..
|
|
| Barb
Goode |
4/25/2001 9:48:00 PM
|
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SELF ADVOCACY
FOR A LONG, LONG, TIME. I LIVE WITH MY KITTIE WITTIE. THIS PAST WEEK WE
HAVE FELT VERY HOUSEBOUND NO BUSES. mY VISION IS THAT SOME DAY THAT WE
ALL WILL BE TREATED FAIRLY. THIS IS ONE OF MANY I HAVE. ONE OTHER IS
THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE MY SPECIAL FRIENDS. IT IS SO NICE TO BE ABLE TO HELP
OUT WHEREI CAN WITH ANYONE.
|
|
| James
Graham |
4/25/2001 9:47:00 PM
|
I am a self-advocate living be myself. I
thought the website was excellent, however, I thought the narrowing the
width of the webpages would be good. My vision is for me to grow
mentally from self-advocacy. Frankly.
|
|
| Dwight
Grose |
4/25/2001 9:46:00 PM
|
I like working at Edenvale Farms. I take
care of the animals. I want everyone in Germany to know about our
website. I like to drive a tractor. I have a dream to travel to Austria.
I think this website is imporatnt so everyone knows about us.
|
|
| Shawn
Palmer |
4/25/2001 9:44:00 PM
|
My name is Shawn Palmer. I live in
Chilliwack, BC. This is my first year with the People First, and second
year with the DropZone. I have been teaching a friend on how to use the
Internet at the DropZone. I think the Internet is a good for: e-mailing
people back and forth, meeting them, and finding out other information
about activities, sports, games, and elections. If you are ever in
Chilliwack, the DropZone is the coolest place to hang out!
|
|
| Robert
Fruno |
4/25/2001 9:43:00 PM
|
�I Really Enjoy My Job�, by Robert Fruno
I work at the Safeway in Sardis, BC on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday. I recycle bottles, collect cans, and put away shopping baskets
and carts. I also help people carry their groceries and load them into
the car. I have worked at Safeway for 11 years. I just received my 10
Year Award. I really enjoy my job and have met many nice people there. I
get assistance from Support Workers and I do a lot of things on my own
like grocery shopping, going to the Library, and visiting friends for
coffee. I go swimming and bowling with Special Olympics. I go to my
Church and sing in the Choir. I like watching videos and listening to
music at home. I used to live with my foster parents Aunt Dee and Uncle
Ray. Then in 1993 I moved into my own apartment in Vedder. My foster
parent passed away years ago. But last year I was able to contact my
real parents and my brother and sister. Now I call them on the phone
sometimes. I really want to see them and spend time with them and their
families. I really like living in my own apartmemt and I keep it clean.
|
|
| Jamie
Alexander |
4/25/2001 9:42:00 PM
|
Good
afternoon my name is Jamie Alexander I live in Prince Rupert B.C.I have
been involved in the Prince Rupert Self Advocacy group scince 1996.I
will be starting a new job at Subway My hobbies include going on camping
trips and car washes bottle drives bake sales also doing things with my
friends even cleaning the trail on 5th east.I am going to be attending a
conference in Richmond B.C.in june I will be there the 7th 8th and 9th.I
am looking forward to seeihg you there Bye for now
|
