Category Archives: Inclusion

Impressive Disney Planning – Cont’d

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For all the changes that we’ve had to make in the past week, our travel agent has been wonderful!  She has been quick with information, bookings, reservations and insurance stuff and more.  The girls are excited and Patrick is waiting for me to make up a countdown calendar to put on his wall.

4 of our sit down meals are reserved, one for each park, including two character lunches!  One with Winnie the Pooh Gang (whoever of them can make it) and another with one or more of Mickey’s Gang!   The other two reserved meals are suppers, one being a Chinese cuisine and the other Italian.  With the Dining Plan we have, (we have the dining plus plan for free), we get one table seated meal, one quick serve meal and one snack each day we are there.  Heather, our travel agent, called me today with some great news!!  All the restaurants we have our reserved meals with, will accommodate Patrick’s diet as well!  How awesome is that!! :)   They will chop/puree up Patrick’s meal for him/us! How great is that?!  That will make some of our meal-times easier! :)   We’ve been informed to inquire at any others we attend for meals, as they may accommodate him, but those are not guaranteed!  Regardless, those 4 meals still help.

We’ve been given information about accessing many of the attractions at the parks with regards to accessibility and their alternate entrances for persons using mobility devices.  These entrances also allow a maximum of 6 people from the party including Patrick to stay together.  Since we are now 5 again, we can stay together and enjoy the attractions together!

A couple of the attractions we are looking at, are Kilimanjaro Safaris and the Jungle Cruise, both I know Patrick will love as it will give him opportunities to see many different types of animals.  He is also excited about going on any attractions that are train rides.

Today, we went for passport photos.  I had already called Passport Canada and inquired about what would happen or need to be done if we couldn’t get a photo of Patrick not smiling and without his teeth showing.  They said I would need to get a letter from a Doctor explaining why.  So in the meantime, I’ve put a call in to the Ped. Dentist for a letter with an explanation and why I’m requesting one.

Everything about the trip is booked now.  Plane tickets, Insurance, Resort, Transportation to and from the airport, Park tickets and some of our meals…everything is booked and paid for.  The reality of it is starting to hit me!  All the little pieces of information that we’ve been given and all the answers to all the questions we’ve asked have been answered and answered quickly as well.

I’m a little extra tired tonight, so I’m going to end here for now.  I will post more updates soon.

Thanks for stopping by and keeping up to date with us.  We love to hear from you too!

Have a wonderful evening! :)

 

What is Accessibility to you?

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Wikipedia defines accessibility as the following:

“Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the “ability to access” and benefit from some system or entity. Accessibility is often used to focus on people with disabilities or special needs and their right of access to entities, often through use of assistive technology.”

The dictionary has an interesting definition of accessibility:

1. Easily approached or entered.

2. Easily obtained: accessible money.

3. Easy to talk to or get along with: an accessible manager.

4. Easily swayed or influenced: accessible to flattery.

 

Both have offered a very broad, general definition.  What does accessibility mean for you?

For many people who live with disabilities, accessibility can mean the difference between being able to get out of the house to attend to the daily chores/outings/events and things typical for many people, or NOT being able to get out or get to many places to do what many take for granted, go to work, go shopping, visiting, etc…

Accessibility means different things for different people.  We all need to have accessibility to some extent.  You may be thinking, “I don’t have a disability!”.   Disability or not, we all use things everyday that help make things ‘accessible’ to us.  Think about it.  Can you think of 3 things you use every day that help you do things and get places?

How many times have you used the automatic door openers to enter buildings?  That’s accessibility!  How many times have you chosen to take the ramp instead of a few stairs?  That’s accessibility!  Have you ever used a ‘jar gripper’ to help you open jars and other lids difficult to open?  That’s accessibility! Do the taps in your kitchen or washroom have ‘lever-like’ knobs instead of the usual ’round’ ones?  Believe it or not, that’s also accessibility!

More and more I think about how things are looking and how they will be, accessibility-wise, with regards to my son.  Where can I take him that will be accessible?  What if he wants to go places with his friends more as he continues to get older, and it’s not accessible?  My thoughts already go to even just the simplest things like going to family dinners.  Not everyone has an accessible place.  At 14yrs old, he is too big to be carrying on my own.  Even to do a 2 person lift, how many doorways are wide enough to accommodate?

1 in 7 people in ON have a disability and that number will increase as our population ages. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act was passed in 2005.  Its goal is to make Ontario accessible for people with disabilities by 2025.  Through province-wide accessibility standards, they will improve accessibility by identifying, breaking down and preventing barriers to accessibility.

In the near future, I’m going to take a look at accessible housing to begin with.  How many homes are actually accessible?  What does the market consider accessible? (Yes, it will be different for each person’s needs, but in general, their definition)  Are the accessible houses affordable for those who actually need them?

I’m also going to look at transportation.  It’s availability; it’s cost and is what’s in place working? Is it enough?

If you know someone in either of these areas that would be interested in meeting with me, discussing this and even possibly giving me a ‘guided tour’ to see what’s out there, please contact me, I’d be pleased to meet you.

I will be writing about the information I find for articles and for my blog.

Wish Granting Organizations/Programs – What do you know?

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Rolling Journey – “I do what I can’t”

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It all started with a Kijiji Ad…

Do you have the “road trip gene”? Can you put time in your life to travel?

……and this epic journey began for my friend Greg Moore.
“I do what I can’t” says Greg.

Follow along on his journey via his facebook page, his blog and twitter!

Truely an inspiration!  I’m enjoying the pre-trip posts and all that’s happening for him!  I know you will too!  I can’t wait till they actually leave for it!

Greg Moore’s Facebook Page

Greg’s Blog – Rolling Journey

Greg’s twitter – @rollingjourney

 

Good Luck Greg!! :)

Summer so far

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Patrick’s Summer – 2011

Patrick is having a busy summer.  Quite a number of appointments this summer, new orthotics are being made and looking at some different ideas for seating to keep him sitting up straighter and better in his wheelchair, along with a number of other follow ups regarding his potassium levels and his blood pressure.  We have recently found out that Patrick’s kidneys are only working 60-70% normal, so he is being followed closely to keep an eye on their function.

Casting for new Orthotics

Patrick started attending respite this summer, two weekends and 1 week away throughout June/July and August.  He has been enjoying them.  The week in August is the first time for that length of time he’s been away with people he didn’t know.  He’s had a couple rough moments, but overall enjoying himself.  He has gone to the movies, bowling and gone on some walks, done crafts…attempted some swimming and more.

Patrick will be attending Drama Camp again this year.

This program is put on for children using Augmentative Communication Devices, through Thames Valley Children’s Centre and The Original Kids Theatre Company.  There were 2 sessions, morning – for those attending for the first time, and afternoon – for those who have had experience already attending.

Patrick will attend the afternoon sessions, going down to the theatre with one of his respite workers via para-transit, Monday to Thursday for a week.  Friday morning they put on the performances.

They are doing 3 plays.  The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Sounds of the Night and The Eighth Dwarf.  Each child has their lines for the plays programmed into their communication devices prior to the camp.  Patrick reminds me every day to go over his plays with him, so he can do his lines! All the plays were written and directed by one of the Original Kids.

Each child was paired with one of the Original kids for each play to help them along when necessary.  The first 3 days were spent rehearsing the plays.  Thursday was dress rehearsal day.  Friday morning both groups, morning and afternoon, put on their plays for family and friends at the Spriet Family Theatre, downtown in the Covent Garden market.

All the kids have a great time!  They receive a certificate, a poster, a shirt, and a program.  Wonderful memories indeed!

We will be starting to work on our school time schedule for mornings and bedtimes to help get a head start on the routines he will be using for school.  He’s going into high-school; it will be a big change for him.  We went out a couple weeks ago to get his school uniforms.  He’s been counting down to school all summer!  He is excited and happy that school will be back soon!  He can’t wait to see his friends and the EA’s!

Trying on School Uniforms for Highschool

 

Persons with disabilities play sports too!

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The other day while at the Orthotics office with my son, I noticed and grabbed a magazine called Play2Podium.  It states it’s a magazine for special needs families.  This was a free sample copy of the Winter 2011 edition.

While going through it I found some great information on sports for people with disabilities to participate in.  I did some more looking and found some more sites!  I’ve bookmarked all the ones I have found so far into one folder and will certainly keep them handy when I hear of others looking for something to get involved in.

I wanted to share them with you.  Some will fall into the winter sports and as you know, winter will be here soon enough! ;)

Canadian Amputee Sports Association – http://canadianamputeesports.ca/index.html

Canadian Blind Sports – http://canadianblindsports.ca/eng/index.htm

Canada Para-Alpine Ski Team – http://canski.org/para-alpine-ski-team

The Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association – http://ccpsa.ca/en/default.aspx

Canadian Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association – http://cewha.ca/

Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association – http://www.cwsa.ca/en/site/

Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing – http://disabledskiing.ca/

Ontario Sledge Hockey Association – http://ontariosledge.com/

ParaSport Ontario – http://www.parasportontario.ca/Default.aspx

Wheelchair Basketball Canada – http://www.wheelchairbasketball.ca/en/homePage.aspx

ParaEquestrian Canada – http://www.equinecanada.ca/para-equestrian/

Ontario Blind Sports Association – http://blindsports.on.ca/

Wheelchair Tennis – http://www.tenniscanada.com/tennis_canada/Pub/DisplayPage.aspx?enc=WqmHTIXb3hZBDLgekBXg/g16dCnUPZfiIR142ql1ulNxfx5r0F1EFukdEywK7teN7x7gN9vSqE+iOWSfJQywCw==

Special Olympics Canada – http://www.specialolympics.ca/

Special Olympics Ontario – http://www.specialolympicsontario.com/

Special Olympic Sports:

Winter Sports

  • Alpine Skiing
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Curling
  • Figure Skating
  • Floor Hockey
  • Snowshoeing
  • Speed Skating

Summer Sports

  • Aquatics
  • Athletics (Track & Field)
  • Bowling (5 & 10 Pin)
  • Power-lifting
  • Rhythmic Gymnastics
  • Soccer
  • Softball

Canadian Wheelchair Curling Instruction Videos – http://www.curling.ca/start-curling/wheelchair-curling-instruction/

See anything of interest to you or a family member?  Check it out further by visiting their website.  So much is gained by participating!

I will add more as I come across them, but I think we’ve got a good start here! :)

Looking to volunteer?  Each of these sports I’m sure welcome volunteers! :) Contact the sites for more information on volunteering and/or if you have questions about the sport.

Till next time…

Get involved and play hard! :)

People First – Not disability

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This is my little rant for today!

How many times have you heard someone speaking about or describing someone as a ‘disabled person/child’?  How many times have YOU yourself used that terminology as well?

Have you ever been given a ‘name’, nickname or otherwise for something you did that you didn’t like or care for, yet people still refer to you by that name to this day?  This hopefully gives you a little bit of an idea of what I’m trying to say here.  It’s not exact, but the context is similar.

What can’t people look at the PERSON first!?!  That’s who they are after all.  A person/child…who happen to have some challenges and/or have a disability(ies).

I DO NOT have a disabled child!!  I have a CHILD who happens to have a disability!

He is NOT ‘that kid’!  He is NOT that ‘disabled child/boy’!  His name is Patrick…and if you ever have the pleasure and honour of meeting him one day…you will meet a great young man, with many wonderful qualities who will bring a smile to your face like no other!

I don’t want you feeling sorry for me either because my son is who he is.  I’m very proud of him!  Accessibility may hinder some of the things he can do and access, but he can do whatever he wants to do and try!   He just might have to do it differently!

People with disabilities don’t want you feeling sorry for them.  They deserve respect like everyone else.

Society is slowly changing it’s outlook, realizing and accepting that we all have the same rights, and that making our cities as accessible as possible for everyone is certainly the right thing to do!  Whether the disability is visual, physical, mental and even sometimes invisible…just to name a few…in God’s eyes there are no differences…just people!

We should all look at people and things through God’s eyes…imagine how great that would be!!

Thanks for letting me rant/vent today!  If you have any comments/stories to share, or any questions, please feel free to comment or email me.  I’d be happy to reply!

Let me end by sharing the 2 Gold ribbons my son brought home from track and field yesterday!  Does he look proud or what!!  I know I am! :)

Have a great day friends!!

Special Olympics

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Special Olympics is humanity’s greatest classroom, where lessons of ability, acceptance and inclusion are taught on the fields of competition by our greatest teachers – the athletes”

 

Special Olympics Canada

http://www.specialolympics.ca/en/

Special Olympics International

http://specialolympics.org/

Special Olympics Ontario

http://www.specialolympicsontario.com/

 

MISSION STATEMENT

To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics promotes opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and develop skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community.

Over the past 40 years Special Olympics has grown from a modest program serving local athletes to become the world’s largest movement dedicated to promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion, and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sports.

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The purpose of this article is to bring attention and information of this great program that is available in most communities.  The benefits are great whether you are an athlete, coach, support staff or volunteer.  Your life will be enriched and forever changed.

Last summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer for the 2010 Special Olympics Summer Games held here in London, ON.  It was a time I’ll never forget!

London did an amazing job hosting and it showed in the faces and comments of the coaches, athletes and support staff.

The games created fun times and proud moments for the athletes, their teams and friends and family.  Many achieved goals, broke personal records and made new records for themselves and/or their teams.

Meeting so many wonderful people, athletes, coaches, support staff and other volunteers made this experience so amazing!  The athletes were the best!!

An Uncle of mine coaches a couple of the teams in Halifax.  When we have our family reunions they always consist of a softball game between the family and the athletes.  It’s something everyone looks forward to every year.  On top of that is a yearly BBQ my Uncle holds for them and many of the family are there to lend a hand in the preparations and happenings of the day.

There are 14 sports, and many Athletes do more than one!

http://info.specialolympicsontario.ca/programs-policies-procedures/14-sports

  • 5 Pin Bowling
  • 10 Pin Bowling
  • Alpine Skiing
  • Athletics (Track and Field)
  • Basketball
  • Bocce
  • Curling
  • Figure Skating
  • Floor Hockey
  • Golf
  • Nordic Skiing
  • Power-lifting
  • Rhythmic Gymnastics
  • Snowshoeing
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Speed Skating
  • Swimming

There are Regional, Provincial, National and World Games held.  Provincial Games are held on a rotating basis over a four-year period.  National Games are held every 2 years on a rotating basis. Athletes are selected from national competition to advance to World Games also held every two years on a rotating winter and summer basis.

Listed below are links to the District sites for Special Olympics, followed by a link to find Special Olympic programs by Community.

 

Central Ontario District - http://central.specialolympicsontario.ca/

Eastern Ontario District - http://east.specialolympicsontario.ca/

GTA District Site – http://gta.specialolympicsontario.ca/

Northern Ontario District - http://north.specialolympicsontario.ca/

South Central District - http://southcentral.specialolympicsontario.ca/

South West District - http://southwest.specialolympicsontario.ca/

 

Special Olympic Programs by Community - http://directory.specialolympicsontario.ca/Community-Programs/

 

 

Special Olympics are proud to be affiliated with The Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run.

http://www.torchrunontario.com/

The Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run is a community-based, province-wide event that sees the “Flame of Hope” carried across Ontario by members of law enforcement agencies from across the province.  The objective of this and other events is to raise funds for and awareness of the Special Olympics movement in Ontario.

The Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run is making a difference by raising funds for Special Olympics Ontario, and all funds raised are directed into community Special Olympics programs.  As well, the torch run involves law enforcement personnel in a community based, province wide program.  The torch run sets up community partnerships with sponsors, Special Olympics volunteers and local supporters, to reach a shared vision of helping athletes.

Special Olympics Ontario uses the funds raised to support three major initiatives:

  • Competition funding for communities hosting provincial and regional competitions, including travel and registration costs
  • Staff support, including SOO field staff
  • Support grants to new programs, competitions such as Hometown Games and programs in need, which amounts to approximately $250,000 per year

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The Special Olympics Programs are an amazing opportunity for youth and young adults to participate in a sport of their liking (some more than 1 or 2), make some great friendships, feel pride and accomplishment, attend some great social events, and enjoy new opportunities.

The joy and smiles on all of the Athletes faces is infectious and you can’t help but be taken in as you are surrounded by the warmth, happiness and pride!

Take a few moments to read some of the testimonials from the Athletes, coaches and family at the following link.

http://www.specialolympicsontario.com/default.asp?contentID=48

 

If you would like to become a volunteer for Special Olympics, here is where to start!

http://www.specialolympicsontario.com/default.asp?contentID=21

 

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/specialolympicsontario

Youtube – http://www.youtube.com/specialolympicson

 

Augmentative Communication

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*Did you know….

  • that 1 in 10 Canadians has a speech, language or hearing problem
  • an estimated 4% of the preschool population has a significant speech or language disorder
  • 8% to 12% of school children have some form of speech or language impairment
  • communication disorders in school-aged children are often misdiagnosed as learning disabilities or behavioural problems, and can be very difficult to treat in later years.  Children with behavioural problems are ten times more likely than other children to have language disorders
  • a child should use 200 or more words by the time they are 2-3 years old and by the age of 4 1/2 their vocabulary should consist of approximately 2000 words
  • speech and language disorders are strongly related to failure in reading and writing
  • drop our rates in students with communication disorders is 43% compared to 23% in non-impaired students

    *The Ontario Association for Families of Children with Communication Disorders: http://www.oafccd.com/

 

What is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and who uses it?

 

Augmentative, sometimes referred to as alternative communication (AAC) is a method of communication used by individuals with severe speech and language disabilities, those who have cerebral palsy, autism, ALS, suffered from a stroke, etc.

Some people have complex communication needs associated with a wide range of physical, sensory and environmental causes which restrict/limit their ability to participate independently in society. They and their communication partners may benefit from using AAC methods.

Having a severe speech problem affects many aspects of a person’s life. It may affect one’s ability to live in the community, direct one’s care, find employment, discuss sexual matters and report or prevent abuse

AAC is for those individuals who are unable to use verbal speech yet are cognitively able or when speech is extremely difficult to understand. These individuals will use gestures, communications boards, pictures, symbols, drawings or a combination of all of these. An individual would point to a single meaning picture – for instance if the individual was hungry, the picture may look like somebody eating. If the individual is also physically impaired, a head pointer may be worn to indicate the picture, which would relay the feeling.

The methods of AAC will vary and be personalized to meet the needs of the individual. Many forms of AAC will have an Assistive technology component, which will come in both high-tech and low-tech strategies. You don’t need special skills for understanding an individual who is using ACC, as the processes are self-explanatory.

AAC refers to ways other than speech that are used to communicate. Most people who use AAC have a variety of communication systems. Depending on their needs and skills they usually include a number of aided and unaided communication systems.

Unaided AAC systems might include:
Voice; nodding and shaking one’s head; facial expression; pointing or looking at desired objects; gestures; sign languages.

Aided AAC systems might include:
Communication displays (comprised of written words, letters or phrases, pictures or symbols); devices which speak or print out messages; call bells etc.

There are specialized AAC Services available to assist people in determining the AAC systems which best meet their needs and skills.

Here is a list of centres in Ontario for Augmentative Communication, http://www.accpc.ca/aboutaac-ontarioservices.htm

 

This information is for just that, information purposes only.   If you have questions and want more information, consult your Speech and Augmentative Communication Therapists.