Good
day from the House on Empress. This newsletter is chockfull of
news and updates on events, public awareness, and services.
The Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) is moving into high
gear in terms of raising awareness and looking for funding. So
please read UPCOMING EVENTS:
FUNDRAISING and come to our events to show your support.
In this newsletter you will also find sections on: Programs
at CHKC, GBC
Students – Helping and Reporting on CHKC, and Thanks
to our Many Supporters – a section recognizing some of
the great support we have. Happy reading!
PARTICIPANT
COMPLETES 6 WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM
Participant Update:
THREE, TWO, ONE… BLAST OFF!
I
waited for Christmas to be over to attend CHKC. I wanted to
stay for six weeks, and January 2004 seemed like the best time
to go. There were many e-mails sent back and forth setting up
my adventure at CHKC. Finally, the 5th of January arrived and
I took off in a plane for Toronto.
My
name is Sara. I am 23 years old and I am totally blind. I am
also hard of hearing, but I consider myself blind first since
I was born that way. The hearing loss came later and I
didn’t want to wear hearing aids at first. I am from
Winnipeg, Manitoba. My reason for coming to CHKC was to learn
cooking, cleaning, and all that other household stuff. My
instructors were very good. They taught me lots of the things
I wanted to know, and they would ask me if there was anything
else I would like to cover.
The
Centre is a very nice house. That’s right, it’s a house.
It has lots of space and the kitchen is well laid out and
organized. It was a pleasure to live there for six weeks, even
though the time I spent there was mostly filled with classes
since I didn’t have long to stay.
The
people there encouraged me to try new foods. Before I attended
CHKC, I would hardly eat anything not on my list of accepted
foods. The food I am most glad I tried is pizza. It will be
great to be able to join in pizza eating and fit in with the
crowd. CHKC does not force people to eat what they cannot
stand, but they do ask that you try things. Most of the foods
I thought I didn’t like I had either never tried, or
hadn’t tried in so long I really didn’t know if I didn’t
like them anymore. So I tried new things and if I said, “I
don’t like it”, I was not asked to try it again.
I
loved Toronto! It is a great place to have cool adventures. I
went to the CN Tower; yes, all the way to the top. I cannot
see a thing, but the view was great! It was the “being
there” that mattered. I went to a lot of malls and grocery
stores. I wanted to ride on a streetcar, but never got the
chance.
My
CN Tower key chain says that the name Toronto is derived from
a native word meaning “place of meeting”. Toronto is
definitely a place of meeting. I met so many people there it
is incredible! I have never met so many people before.
If
you attend the Centre, I would recommend you be prepared for
doing lots of studying and work. The people there are very
nice, but they do require you to do your work. They are very
good at praising you when you do something right though, and
you shouldn’t feel too bad if you mess up. They are big on
the idea “forget the mistake, remember the lesson”.
I
would recommend the Centre to any Deaf-Blind individual. It is
a hard road to travel, but the reward in the end is worth the
trip.
If
you would like to ask me more questions about my adventures,
please e-mail me at: Push3@mts.net.
I will be more than glad to chat with you while you attend the
Centre.
Submitted
by Sara Quinton, Participant, CHKC.
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CHKC
is gearing up to raise awareness and funding. Please visit our
Upcoming Events page for
details on the following events:
-
Achilles St. Patrick's Day 5K Run/Walk
- New
You Image Fundraising Event
- GBC
Open House & Intervenor Job Fair
- Annual
Garage Sale At CHKC
- CHKC
Car Wash
- JuneFest
2004
- Ride
For Awareness
- Beer
Bottle Drive
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CHKC
is finalizing a kit to send to potential sponsors. If you know
of an individual or a company that would like to sponsor CHKC,
please contact CHKC. There are many sponsorship opportunities
available.
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Services
in Ontario for those who have become Deaf-Blind
This
report outlines the reality for Ontarians who have acquired
the disability of Deaf-Blindness and who have access to
services through CNIB Deaf-Blind Services. For years CNIB has
been subsidizing Deaf-Blind Services beyond the funding
received from the Government of Ontario, even though DBS is
not a Core Service of CNIB. Recently a decision was made by
CNIB to discontinue this subsidy and to ask the Ontario
government to increase funding so services could be maintained
at the current level. The additional funding CNIB is
requesting will not increase service hours or employ more
Intervenors.
The
truth is, having Intervenor Services for only 2 or 3 hours per
week is not sufficient for most individuals who are Deaf-Blind
to ensure equality or quality of life. CNIB tries to meet the
need but some people now being served will lose their services
if increased funding is not forthcoming, and others now on
waiting lists may never get help.
The
problem is not a lack of trained Intervenors. A number of
graduates from the two-year Intervenor Program at George Brown
College (GBC) have been unsuccessful in securing full-time
employment because there is no funding to serve all who ask
for and need their services. Simply put, there is not enough
funding to the agencies which are prepared to serve these
people and create more jobs for those graduating from the
Intervenor Training Program. The fear is that GBC will not
continue the Intervenor Training Program if there are no jobs
for the graduates.
Many
are not served. It is estimated that there are 1,800
Deaf-Blind Ontarians who are not being adequately served. Only
16 Canadians (all in Ontario) with acquired Deaf-Blindness
have what can be called adequate services (30 hours per week
of Intervenor Services). They live at Rotary Cheshire Homes, a
Toronto-based apartment building for adults who are Deaf-Blind
that want to live independently. Statistics Canada does not
ask the identifying questions in their HALS surveys to report
how many Canadians have this dual disability, although they
have given some consideration to the problem. To my knowledge
there has been no decision to date to try and identify this
low incidence disability. Using the statistics of other
countries, it is estimated that there are 7,000 Canadians
living with the dual disability of Deaf-Blindness. Canadians
who are Deaf-Blind are difficult to reach because they lack
access to information and communication. Seniors, who have
become Deaf-Blind because of the aging process, are for the
most part not identified and do not receive the services they
need.
Still,
Ontario residents fare much better than elsewhere in Canada.
Services are almost non-existent in other provinces for those
who acquired the disability of Deaf-Blindness after early
childhood. Thanks to the efforts of the Canadian Deaf-Blind
and Rubella Association fairly extensive services are
available in most provinces for Canadians who were born
Deaf-Blind.
A
united effort will be required to correct this intolerable
situation. Meetings are ongoing, with participation by persons
who are Deaf-Blind, CNIB, Canadian Deaf-Blind Rubella
Association, Independent Living Residences for Deaf-Blind,
Rotary Cheshire Homes, CHKC, and other organizations of and
for persons who are Deaf-Blind. This united group calls itself
Deaf-Blind Coalition of Ontario (DBCO).
Some
people who are Deaf-Blind have applied to the Ministry of
Community and Social Services for 'Individualized Funding',
asking for funding that will permit them to purchase services
to meet their needs. This will ensure access to the community
to become informed and participating citizens - this is a
right for all Canadians. These individuals are also waiting
for a response from the Ministry regarding their funding
requests.
Just
imagine what your life would be like if you only had 2 or 3
hours a week to hear and see in order to gain information
about the world around you. This is the life for many who are
Deaf-Blind.
Surely
it does not take much to see that the right thing must be done
for our Deaf-Blind citizens, our Charter of Rights speaks to
their right for inclusion. Supreme Court Decisions also have
declared that services must be provided: Martin and Laseur vs
NS (WCB) and Eldridge. This is really a rights issue.
Submitted
by Joyce Thompson, Volunteer and Advocate.
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The
Deaf-Blind Coalition of Ontario is an association of
individuals and organizations advocating for access to
appropriate Intervenor services for all citizens who are
Deaf-Blind living in Ontario. Member organizations represent
Deaf-Blind consumers, service providers, agencies and advocacy
groups working together toward this common goal. Most people
who are Deaf-Blind experience significant difficulty in
accessing appropriate Intervenor services. CHKC is an active
member of this coalition.
DBCO
Core Values
The
Deaf-Blind Coalition of Ontario believes that: all individuals
who are Deaf-Blind have a right to Intervenor services; the
amount of Intervenor services provided should be based on the
individual needs of consumers; the government has a
responsibility to fund the delivery of Intervenor services
based on individual need.
How
You Can Help
Go
to your MPP, MP or Councilor to raise awareness about
Deaf-Blindness and the need for appropriate Intervenor
services. Give them a copy of this newsletter or write them a
letter. If you would like help writing the letter, please
contact CHKC.
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CHKC
continues to increase the number of classes and programs. From
January to February, we had a residential participant in the
Centre for an intensive personalized program. Now we are
getting ready for the next residential participant - who
starts in a few short days. We get calls from potential
participants from all walks of life almost every week. The
people considering individual courses at CHKC include teens
graduating from high school this June and adults that want
computer training and to develop skills to increase
independence. It is truly an exciting time to be part of CHKC.
New Course:
Business Writing
Have
you ever needed to write a business letter, submit a report or
prepare a presentation? Would you like to feel more
comfortable in meetings? Do you want to learn how to take
minutes or create an agenda? From resume writing to chairing a
meeting, you choose the topics that you want to learn in this
Business Writing course. If any of this sounds
interesting, please contact CHKC
for more information.
Peer
Support
There
has been interest from the community to start up a group that
is open to all individuals therefore CHKC is taking names for
a new group to start up later this year. If you are interested
in joining the new group, please contact CHKC.
The
Usher Peer Support Group is working on becoming independent
and is looking for funding for Intervenors plus volunteer
Intervenors. If you are interested, please contact upsg2003@yahoo.ca.
Instructor
Report: O&M Tips
The
following tips have been provided by Karen Wood, O&M
entrepreneur and instructor at CHKC:
-
When
traveling with a sighted guide, have your cane open with
the tip on the ground. This will make it easier for the
guide especially in crowded areas because people often
notice and move out of your way well in advance. The tip
on the ground will also give you more warning of any
drop-offs.
-
When
using your cane with a sighted guide be sure to hold your
cane lower on the grip or shaft and keep it just in front
of yourself. This will prevent you from tripping your
guide.
-
Did you
know that using a roller tip or a ball roller tip on your
cane and keeping your cane rolling on the ground should
help to improve your balance?
Do you have any O&M
concerns? Let us know and we
can answer them here in the next newsletter.
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CHKC
is fortunate to have several students helping at CHKC. The
list includes: Kenneth Boone, Daisy Lor, Amy Baird, Sandy
McFadden, and Jennifer Maciel. CHKC has 2 placement students
from GBC – Natasha Woodcock and Andrea Radcliffe. Thanks to
everyone for providing an invaluable service to CHKC – your
time and your perspective!
Amy
is making two tactile orientation and mobility maps for CHKC.
Her objective is to create maps that can be accessed by people
with moderate to severe vision impairments, to help promote
independent travel within the community where CHKC is
situated, and to help create a tactile, concrete learning tool
to assist with Orientation & Mobility training. Amy has
had the opportunity to explore techniques used in tactile
map-making with the help of Karen Wood, Balance and the CNIB.
The maps will be on display at the GBC Intervenor Program Open
House on March 31, 2004 and then they will be available at
CHKC.
Jennifer
is brailing stories for participants that will help reinforce
braille instruction.
Ride
for Awareness
My
name is Kenneth Boone. I am 26 years old and a graduating
student of the 2004 Intervenor for Deaf-Blind Person Program
at GBC. I grew up in Collingwood, Ontario and moved to Toronto
in the summer 1997 after back packing across British Columbia.
Growing up I was always fascinated with American Sign
Language. My mother faced the prospect that she might lose her
hearing and although she only developed a mild hearing loss,
she shared with me what she was learning about ASL and finger
spelling.
Subsequently
I spent an enjoyable 5 years in Toronto within the visual arts
field and felt I would like something to complement my other
interests. For one year, I researched different opportunities.
Finally I found a career that not only interested me
intellectually but also stimulated my emotions, and it was
Intervention.
I
will be cycling an approximate 300 km journey from Tobermory
to CHKC in Toronto. The ride will take place in June,
Deaf-Blind Awareness Month. I ask that you please support me
in my journey by making a donation, either in person or
online. All monies raised will go to CHKC to help provide
services and support for people who have become Deaf-Blind.
The
“Ride for Awareness” is my year-end project for the GBC
Intervenor Program. I do not see “Ride for Awareness” as
another assignment or project but a journey of learning and
personal awareness. For me it represents the path I have taken
to arrive at the place where I am today: to be involved in the
field of intervention and with the Deaf-Blind community to
whom I have been so lucky to be introduced to. For others, I
hope I represent their own journey in life and I hope to
celebrate their own individual accomplishments. Through this
journey, I hope to raise awareness about Deaf-Blindness and
further all of our journeys together.
I
am currently working on a website that will document the
journey. Sponsors will be able to access the CHKC website
directly through mine in order to conveniently donate online.
The website will be up and running in early March! If you
would like to donate in person, I will be at the GBC Open
House that is being held on March 31, 2004. If you are unable
to attend the Open House and would like more information,
please feel free to reach me at info@rideforawareness.com
or visit www.rideforawareness.com.
I welcome any denomination and thank you for your support!
Submitted
by Kenneth Boone, 2nd Year Intervenor Student.
My
Placement Experience at CHKC
Let
me introduce myself. My name is Natasha Woodcock and I am a
second year student of the Intervenor for Deaf-Blind Persons
Program at GBC. I am doing my final placement at CHKC.
Choosing
a final placement is an immense decision for a student. There
are many options to consider: congenital or acquired, the type
of experience one will receive, communication level and
networking possibilities. I chose CHKC mainly for the complete
experience I knew I would receive there. These experiences
included working with the new director of CHKC, Patricia
Grant; the opportunity to work with varying types of persons
with Deaf-Blindness; point of access to many organizations
serving individuals with Deaf-Blindness; and finally hands-on
experience during instructional classes. Was my decision a
good one? I would have to say yes.
In
just six weeks, I have been made to feel a part of the team
and not just a person here today, gone tomorrow. I have been
included in activities essential to the Center’s core.
My
placement has included many areas: Rehab, O&M, follow-up
support, technical device training, fundraising and
intervention. During rehab and orientation & mobility
training, I made notes on how best to utilize an Intervenor.
Later in the day, I would follow-up with intervention to
reinforce the morning’s lesson. I would go for a walk with
the participant to reinforce O&M techniques. I would have
lunch with the participant to reinforce rehab training.
Throughout each training session, I learned teaching
strategies that will be useful when intervening with clients
in the future. The instructors had marvelous techniques for
motivation, self-advocacy and customizing programs for
individual needs. I was able to provide tips to the
instructors and to the residential participant that proved to
be very useful.
An
important aspect is giving participants opportunities to solve
problems and opportunities to demonstrate capabilities to
others. With instruction from the residential participant, I
was able to use Kurzweil scanning software. This excellent
piece of technology allows people who can’t see to scan
printed material onto the computer. The user then reads it
using the computer and a voice synthesizer or the refreshable
braille display. Users can do anything they want with the text
file – enlarge it for easier viewing or send it to a friend.
Before starting my placement I had heard of Kurzweil but was
never given the opportunity to learn and use this technology.
CHKC
is a wonderful organization with much-needed services for the
Deaf-Blind community. This final placement continues to be an
excellent learning experience.
Submitted
by Natasha Woodcock, 2nd Year Intervenor Student.
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Ferda
Suleiman has joined CHKC as a part-time Fund and Awareness
Raising Co-ordinator. Ferda will provide support to CHKC 2
days a week. Incidentally, this March marks one full year of
volunteering for Ferda and CHKC is happy to be able to offer
her this part-time position. Thanks for everything, Ferda.
