CPABC news

leisure
parents
general interest
t
h
e
issue
Ce r e b r a l Pa l s y As s o c i a t i o n o f Br i t i s h Co l u mb i a s u mme r 2 0 0 8
inside this
I hope that everyone has had a relaxing and
enjoyable summer. As we begin to rev-up
for the fall and winter activities, it is worth
taking a moment to glimpse back and
acknowledge what we have accomplished
this year.
The Board and staff continue to work diligently
in seeking revenue opportunities as we move
closer to our fund raising campaign target of
$350,000. We have received a commitment
fromthe Kinsmen Foundation of $60,000
over the next ve years. It has been mutually
agreed that these proceeds will be allocated
to our CPABC Tanabe Education Bursary
Fund. This will allow us to assist more of you
who are pursuing post-secondary education
studies. We will also consider no other option
requests for equipment and assistive devices
for post secondary educational purposes.
We are very appreciative of the Kinsmen
Foundation Board of Directors and truly
value their support of CPABC. I would like to
Words from the
President
specically acknowledge the leadership and
foresight of Philip Jewell who serves as their
President. Thank-You!!
Feri, Director of Programs and Administration,
was able to obtain a grant that enabled
CPABC to send 10 children with cerebral
palsy to summer camp. Historically, CPABC
has provided campership subsidies in years
gone by and I amso pleased that we have
been able to revive this important initiative.
It is our intention that this will again be
offered annually.
As most of you all know, CPABC has been
seeking to become an International Afliate
with the American based United Cerebral
Palsy (UCP). CPABC staff has been utilizing
useful UCP information through their website.
Two representatives fromUCP came to our
ofce on May 22/2008 to conduct an internal
audit as part of their application process. The
audit was comprehensive and I thought the
process went well. Then in mid-June, CPABCs
Directors Kent Loftsgard, Don Renaud and
myself attended the UCP AGM and Conference
held in Washington, DC. There was a clear
commitment in welcoming the Canadian
contingent with the Canadian Embassy
in Washington, DC hosting the opening
reception of the Conference. The conference
was very informative and we developed new
contacts with other conference attendees.
There was a delegation fromthe Cerebral
Palsy Association of Alberta at the conference
and I believe that a stronger connection
between our organizations grew throughout
the conference. Incidentally, our newest Board
Member, Ron Blackmore, is a former Board
member of the Cerebral Palsy Association
of Alberta. These two new partnerships are
important for CPABC and we will see more
benets as time goes on.
CPABC continues to be involved with
representation of Board members to the
Provincial Equipment & Assistive Device
Committee and the Emergency Planning and
Preparedness Initiative.
I continue to proudly serve you and this
organization to the best of my ability. I
very much appreciate the diligence and
support of the Board of Directors. I also
want to acknowledge the dedication of our
staff and to our volunteers that help us out
week after week, THANK-YOU!!
Your President,
Craig Langston
Page 2
t
h
e
CPABC news summer 2008
In May, CPABCs downtown Vancouver
ofce welcomed four students from Sir
Winston Churchill Secondary Schools Youth
Philanthropy and Initiatives Program. (YPI)
The YPI programwas started in 2002 by
the Toskan Casale Foundation; its goal is to
provide high school students with a practical
experience in community development.
Students learn to assess the needs of a
charitable organization in this case, CPABC,
and then work together with the organization
as volunteers. The student teamis required
to develop a funding request proposal for
their chosen organization. Upon completion
of the research and service portion of the
project, the students present their proposal
to an independent judging committee. The
winning teams organization is then awarded
a $5000 grant from the Toskan Casale
Foundation.
As part of their YPI project, the Churchill
youths, under the direction of CPABC staff,
engaged in a whirlwind of cleaning, sorting,
ling, and pizza eating in preparation
for United Cerebral Palsy Organizations
site visit.
The YPI Programserves two main purposes:
rst, it brings young people, with their
fresh intuition and motivation for change,
into contact with issues that affect their
communities. Secondly, they learn the
fundamentals of philanthropy for example,
the challenges of running a not-for-prot
organization. Our Churchill students
conducted a thorough interview to learn
about many aspects of CPABCs operation,
such as how we manage and disburse our
funds, how our mission is implemented in
day-to-day operation, and whomwe serve.
CPABC was proud to offer this unique
opportunity to involve youth in the greater
community, and to
provide insight
into the
needs and
issues of
the disabled
community. Although CPABC did not win
this years YPI grant, we would be happy
to participate in this worthwhile program
in the future.
For more information on the Toskan
Casale Foundation and its Youth
Philanthropy and Initiatives (YPI) see:
http://www.toskanfoundation.org/ypi.html
YPI CLEAN-UP CREW
Lets Camp!
Earlier this year Feri, Director of Programs and
Administration, applied for and received a
$2,500 grant fromthe Hamber Foundation.
Whooee! This money was to go towards helping
children and youth, with CP, attend a summer
camp of their choice. We are pleased to report
that ten families received nancial assistance
to help themcover the cost of such things as
transportation, to and fromcamp, attendant
care and camp fees. Each camper was asked
to submit a short write-up on their camping
experience. With seven different camps
represented, we are in for an interesting read
in our fall newsletter, so stay tuned!
Sitting-Yan Sun | Left to Right- Anson Ching, Thahusan Pushparaj and Ziran Xu
Page 3
His early medical history
shows that he had the
determination, guts, and focus
to go after what he knew he
was capable of, despite
appearances. Jacob has enough
inner stamina and agility to more
than compensate for the physical
effects of cp.
Jacob began karate training as therapy -
something new that might go beyond the
tediumof the same old physical therapy. He
started training in fall of 2005, an hour a day,
four days a week. He stuck to the work, even
though his body didnt respond the same way
it did for his peers in the class. He learned
new ways of stretching and strengthening
his muscles.
He was encouraged by teachers and
classmates who treated himlike everybody
else. But it was Jacobs own effort, sweat,
and determination that kept himat it, and
that saw himenter his rst competition in
November of 2005, where he won 2 medals
for special achievement.
After that, Jacob got real karate fever, and
began training 5 days a week. He earned
his rst belt in December, and that was when
Jacob convinced his momto come along for
the ride.
In spring 2006, Jacob attended a two-day
special training session from ten time
National Karate Champion Gary Sabean. This
cardio and ghting technique training was so
intense that some black belts gave up after
the rst day. Jacob didnt he stuck it out.
A week later Jacob was at another special
training session with the head Sensei of the
club, who only comes to town once a year
because hes also the personal karate trainer
for the Prince of Dubai Jacob learned a lot
fromhim.
K
a
r
a
t
e
K
i
d
!
And so his career continued; this kid from
Mackenzie who has cp but practices karate
anyway, and earns his belts and medals.
Silver and bronze medals, green and purple
belts.
This is a kid whose parents were told he
wouldnt walk without leg braces, and that
hed never ride a bicycle.
But he walks, rides, golfs, swims, plays
volleyball, cross country skis, and lets not
forget, does karate.
Were honouring Jacob for his achievements
today because he sets an example for all of
us. We all face obstacles in life - some of us
nd a way over, around, or through them, and
some of us stop trying when things begin to
look daunting, or we're faced with our rst
failure.
Jacob is one of those people who doesn't stop
striving, and that's why his accomplishments
deserve to be recognized.
Jacob, on behalf of The Cerebral Palsy
Association of BC, and everybody who's ever
faced a mountain, congratulations.
Many of us, when we think of the martial
arts, think rst of the kinds of movies made
popular by Jackie Chan, where the good guy's
noble character is matched by his almost
superhuman strength, speed, and grace. We
don't think of a kid froma small town in BC,
and if we did, he probably wouldn't have
cerebral palsy.
But on August 21st, Tammy and Breeze
were on hand at the 2008 Wado Kai
Karate Championships at Hollyburn Country
Club in West Vancouver, to recognize the
achievements of 12 year old Jacob Potvin,
a kid fromMackenzie, BC who has cp and
epilepsy, and practices the discipline of
karate.
Jacobs achievements deserve recognition
because of what they mean for every
one of us.
Those involved in the martial arts typically share
certain attributes: things like determination,
passion, commitment and stamina, along
with physical gifts like strength, agility, a good
sense of balance, and speedy reexes. They
probably dont begin training with the kinds
of neurological decits that come with cp.
Karate is an activity that requires balance,
muscle coordination, aerobic tness, strength
and exibility So what do you do if you
want to learn karate but you were born
without all of these gifts? You rely on the
gifts you DO have, and thats what Jacob did.
evening, and a great dinner at a local
restaurant! We had a silent auction and even
a 50/50 draw to keep everyone involved.
Players received shirts, hats, and of course
the ever popular tournament goodie bag.
We enjoyed lots of pizza, and donated treats!
At the end of the tournament, medals were
awarded to all players.
Apart fromthis competition, power soccer
is also a sport that is played during the BC
Disability Games and Sportsfest. There are
also tournaments held in other countries, and
we have had the great experience of playing
in Arizona for the past three years!
If you are interested in Power Soccer, or know
someone else who might be, you can contact
me for more information.
Cathy Cunningham
President, B.C. Power Soccer
c.cunningham@shaw.ca
t
h
e
leisure summer 2008
Need for Speed!
My name is Cathy Cunninghamand I amthe
coach of a very unique team.
My teamconsists of eight players who use
their power wheelchairs, tted with metal
attachments, to manoeuvre an oversized
soccer ball down the gymoor in an attempt
to score a goal. This sport is known as
Power Soccer!
Power Soccer has gained great momentum
as a sport over the past few years. In BC
we now see teams in North Vancouver,
Surrey, Greater Vancouver, Nanaimo, and
the Okanagan. We have just formed the
Canadian Power Soccer Association to
promote the game in other provinces.
This sport is played all over the world and is
a game for all ages, male or female. The only
requirement is that you have good control of
your chair, and that you like teamsports. Our
players in BC range in age from6 61. At
the moment we have many female players as
well as male players. Some teams have spare
power chairs that have been donated - that
allows some manual chair users to give the
sport a try.
Each April, Penticton hosts the BC tormPower
Soccer tournament. In its rst year, I struggled
to get 16 players to take part. This past April
I had to limit the players to 36 due to gym
time! This tournament is different fromall the
other competitions because you dont have
to register a full teamto participate. I collect
all the individual registrations and then
build the teams so that the players can meet
other players, formfriendships and
learn different methods of play
fromeach other. Holding a
tournament such as this
really encourages brand
new players to get right
into the game, as they will
have experienced players
to learn from. This weekend
tournament also saw the
supporters enjoy a Penticton
Wine Tasting
c.cun
play
a
he
n
SportAbility
is a non-prot,
volunteer-driven
association whose goal is
to provide physical recreation
and sporting opportunities for
athletes with brain injury, cerebral
palsy and stroke. We support people
of all ages with a wide range of physical
disabilities and provide themwith multiple
sports fromwhich to choose, our most popular
being Sledge Hockey, 7 A-Side Soccer, Power
Soccer and Boccia.
You Can Play Too!
SportAbility-throughout BC
Sledge Hockey: While sitting on a sled
with blades, players must use two miniature
hockey sticks with picks on the end to propel
themselves and maneuver the puck.
7 A-Side Soccer: A scaled down version of
regular soccer, played on a shorter eld with
smaller goals.
Boccia: Two teams compete at trying to
throw their six balls closest to a white target
ball.
Power Soccer: Athletes try to maneuver an
oversized soccer ball around a gymnasium
and in between the goal of their opposing
teamusing an electric wheelchair with a
plastic foot-guard.
SportAbility strives to promote healthier
lifestyles for people with physical disabilities
living throughout the major regions of BC.
Our sports are not only fun, but also inclusive
because of the way they can overcome many
of the setbacks associated with even the most
severe physical disabilities.
One of our top priorities for this year is
to launch an ongoing initiative in Surrey,
Kamloops and Victoria called You Can Play
Too. By organizing after-school events for
elementary and high school students, we hope
to seek out and show these individuals that
sporting opportunities are indeed available
to them.
Interested in participating as a new athlete,
volunteer, ofcial, coach or sponsor?
Please visit our website at www.cpsports.com
or contact Ross MacDonald at (604) 599-
5240 or toll free l-877-711-3111.
Page 4
Andrew Receives a Power Soccer Medal


parents
Fun
& Games
for 8 12 year olds
Summer means outdoor fun - and that should include everyone!
Try this with a couple or group of friends. Great for those friends who use scooters or motorized chairs.
The Positive Behavioural Support Program
(PBS) Proudly presents:
Positive Parenting: The basics and beyond
In Punjabi
A two-part interactive approach to creating
a positive, supportive atmosphere for your
family interactions.
You will learn : Positive strategies for dealing
with difcult behaviour, how to diffuse
power struggles, offer appropriate choices,
be consistent, provide consequences, model
appropriate behaviour
and much more!
Where: Surrey Conference Centre
Room#2- 9260 140th Street Surrey
Time: 6:30-9:30
Date: October 20, 2008
Cost : Free of charge
For more information and to register please
call:
Monisha Jassi @ 604.946.6622 ext. 315
Bottle Drop
Equipment: soft rubber balls and plastic pop or milk bottles,
with lids, partially lled with water.
Set up: Divide your friends into two teams. Line up each team
side by side, opposite one another and separated by a distance
of 20 feet. Place a row of plastic bottles in front of each team.
Play: At the count of three each teamthrows their balls and
knocks over the other teams bottles before their own are
knocked down.
?
?
Have a question about learning disabilities, crying behavior, or attachment issues?
Dont know who to ask? Check out the Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development at
http://www.child-encyclopedia.com/en-ca/home.html where you will nd the
most up-to-date information on 33 topics related to childhood development
and parenting skills. Information is organized into three categories:
What do we know? What can be done?
and According to the Experts.
Questions Answers
Page 5
Variations:
Have one set of bottles - both groups have 30 seconds, for all the team
members at once, to tryto knock over as manybottles as possible.
Keep score.
Position bottles in a diagonal, a circle or triangle shape
to add more challenge.
Teammembers must use their opposite hand to throw
balls at the bottles.
Come up with your own ideas! Have fun!
Adapted fromInclusive Games
bySusan L. Kasser you can borrow this book fromour lending library
Childrens
Medical Equipment
Loan Service
Children with special needs require specialized medical equipment
to enhance their daily activities, promote independence, and
facilitate educational and recreational pursuits. The Childrens
Medical Equipment Recycling and Loan Service provides recycled
medical equipment to children in BC ages 0 to 19. Several types
of equipment are available by therapist referral.
For more information call 604-709-6685
or email lmr.mels@redcross.ca
Page 6
t
h
e
general interest summer 2008

Self-Employment: An Unexplored Option for People with Disabilities
FREE Program to help people with disabilities assess whether
self-employment is a viable option for them.
Are you one of the 1.3 million Canadians that hate your job? Are you thinking self-employment is for you?
We are here to help! Social Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI), supported by Human Resources and
Skills Development Canadas National Ofce of Learning and Literacy Directorate, is launching its new website
tool, The Building A Bridge to Self-Employment for People with Disabilities Workbook Course.
Completely FREE for you to use!
Self-employment, can allow YOU to create employment opportunities for yourself and design your choice of
work and lifestyle.
SEDI is currently working with organizations across Canada recruiting people with disabilities interested in
participating in the program. Participants will have completely free access to the programas well as a coach
to help themuse the on-line tool and assess their suitability for self-employment. If they decide to pursue
self-employment, the coaches will assist themin nding the right programto help themachieve their goals.
Benets include:
One-on-one coaching, either in-person or online through our accessible Self-Employment
Assessment Online Workbook
Communication in American Sign Language over webcamif needed
Access and Accommodation as part of the assessment
Support fromboth Disability and Business organizations
National networks, resources, newsletters, best practices and more!
If you or someone you know is interested in exploring self employment, you can con-
tact Jenni Bolton at jbolton@sedi.org. To learn more about the program, check
out the website at www.cfdlearn.ca/exploreSE4pwd.
To learn more about SEDI, the website is
www.sedi.org
AFFORDABLE
WHEELCHAIR
ACESSIBLE VANS
World Accessibility has
entered into a partnership
with Accessible Transportation
Sales and Services (ATSS), to sell
good quality, used, wheelchair
accessible vans fromtheir Burnaby
location. These vehicles will provide
a reasonable alternative to
expensive new van purchases.
For details visit
http://www.atsscanada.com/
or call 604-439-7742.
October is Community Living Month
The BC Association for Community Living (BCACL) and the Province of BC have proclaimed October as Community Living Month.
Throughout the month, communities around the province and across Canada host Community Living Month events to:
Celebrate the abilities and achievements of people with developmental disabilities.
Acknowledge the hard work and commitment of individuals, families and community members in creating inclusive opportunities
for all at work, at home, in schools, and in community.
Encourage reection on what still needs to be done to expand these opportunities.
Promote action to increase the capacity of communities to embrace and welcome people of all abilities and eventually,
change the system!
BCACL is encouraging activities and events that highlight our ve key priorities:
Inclusive Education, Employment, Income Security, Supports to Families,
or Disability Supports. Join us in showing the nation what
Community Living means to you! By working together, we
can inspire a world where everyone belongs.
Check out our website, www.bcacl.org under
the Community Living Month section to get
resource materials, suggestions for activities,
and tips on how you can get involved.
Find out whats happening in your
community at our Provincial Calendar
of Events.
Send your stories and activities
in to Denise Lau, or should you
want any further information
regarding Community Living
Month, contact her at
604-777-9100, ext. 517
or dlau@bcacl.org.
Page 7
Last week our special child Nicholas
graduated. We felt proud that our child
had nally made it and was becoming
a young adult. Nicholas looked really
handsome on that day in his suite and tie.
I almost had tears in my eyes as I watched
himbeing wheeled to the stage as his name
was called.
We were asked to pick Nicholas up fromthe
teachers right away, so we did. We took
some pictures and then were not sure what to
do. Should we stay for the whole ceremony
like every graduate? But our graduate was
not with his peers-so what to do? We felt
embarrassed, angry, sad, and disappointed.
After some discussion we agreed to go home
as there was not much point in staying.
What could have been done differently? Our
child could have stayed with his peers, on
stage or wherever the graduated were. This
would have meant a teacher would have to
stay overtime or some students could have
volunteered to wheel our son to the stage
and stay with himuntil the end. How much
more inclusive this would have been!
Our son did not receive an invitation to
any graduation celebration. This should
change. Should the Student Council and
school authorities be made aware of this?
Will some students say, Oh no, those guys
are going to ruin the party, drooling all over
the place!
At the meeting of our Transition Group, I
mentioned that maybe we should have our
own graduation party. EVERYONE applauded!
I was happy and a bit surprised. Obviously
I was not the only one feeling this way. A
few people reacted to the suggestion of
holding a segregated grad party by saying we
were moving backwards; that many families
fought hard towards inclusion. Reecting on
this I did not agree. I felt we were moving
forward, toward a new kind of inclusion a
more empowering one because by holding
our own celebration we are owning it. We
are not pleading to be including. We do our
own thing and others are invited. It is a very
different feeling than themdoing their own
thing and inviting us.
The ght for inclusion has come a long way
but is far frombeing over. We can never force
anyone to love, accept or include us. There
are still those barriers that every parent with
a special needs child knows about. The look
of the principal when she sees us, Here she
come again, what will she ask this time?
We know the look of the teacher thinking, I
would love to include your child but I dont
have the resources, sorry. We even know the
looks of other parents of typical kids who
resent inclusion because they feel it is taking
time and resources away fromtheir kids.
If we look at history, all formerly marginalized
groups did not achieve inclusion by forcing
themselves into it. They fought to change
the discriminating laws and once that was
achieved, did their own things just look at
the pride parade
Another successful example is the Special
Olympics. It is separated fromthe regular
Olympics because of the disabilities of
participants and yet, it is a success story.
Would total inclusion mean that athletes with
disabilities have to participate equally with
regular athletes in order to feel included? I
dont think so.
As a parent of a young graduate with
developmental disabilities, I want a
special graduation party for my child
a party where his special abilities would
be celebrated. We shall have all the things
he loves: music, balloons, colours. His
schoolmates will be around as well as family
and friends. They will be there to welcome
himinto his new young adult life. Our special
graduation party will be much safer than
anything similar. There will be no drugs or
alcohol. After a few years, perhaps the other
graduating students will ask to be invited to
such a graduation celebration, and on behalf
of inclusion they shall not be refused (big
smile here) but it will be our party and our
rules shall apply. Drooling all over will be
allowed-wont that be a success story?
Nicholas plans for the futurehe has a
lot to do. Nicholas will visit elderly isolated
people with his support worker (hey, that
person is not going to be paid a good salary
just to take Nicholas to the mall sorry!) he
shall also help out at pet shelters, and visit
sick kids in hospitals. He will sing, dance and
clap his hands with outdoor musicians when
nobody else does. Are those things useful to
our society? You bet they are. Do they have
some monetary value? They dont have to.
Nicks job title can be Community Inclusion
Worker.
Canada is one of the best countries in the
world when it comes to inclusion. I amproud
to call it home. Inclusion is not perfect but
nothing in this world is. We have to keep
moving forward and offering people choices.
If at times, it seems they are making wrong
choice, it should still be okay because not
letting themdo so will denitely be a step
backwards.
A Graduation Story


by Rachelle Rasolofo-Czerwinski
Page 8
t
h
e
Cerebral PalsyAssociation of British Columbia
801-409 GranvilleSt.
Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2
Phone: 604.408.9484
Toll-Free(EnquiryCP): 1.800.663.0004
Fax: 604.408.9489
Email: info@bccerebralpalsy.com
OfceHrs: 9 AM to 5PM, Mondayto Thursday
Membership fee: $20
or whatever you can anord.
Donation: | would llke to make a donatlon to
support the servlces and programs of the
Cerebral Palsy Assoclatlon of 8C. |ncome tax
recelpts are only lssued for donatlons of $l0 or
more, unless requested.
$l00 $75 $50 $25
My cholce:
Method of Payment: | have enclosed a
cheque payable to the CPA8C or:
vlsa #
Lxplry Date
Name on Card
Today's Date
Slgnature
Please mall to:
Cerebral Palsy Association of BC
80l- 409 Granvllle Street
vancouver, 8C v6C lT2
Charltable Peglstratlon 8uslness Number l0690 4204 PP000l
Nowmore than ever before
your membership
will help to
Become a member today!
t
h
e
Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia summer 2008
Please recycle this
Roundtable by passing
it along to someone else!
CPABC Boar d Member s CPABC St af f
CRAIGLANGSTON
TRISHMCKAY
JONN OLLDYM
DON RENAUD
TONY KRUSE
KENTLOFTSGARD
RONALDBLACKMORE
LIZCALDER
LESEBL
TERREANEDERRICK
President
VicePresident
Treasurer
FERI DEHDAR
TAMMY VAN DERKAMP
WENDY HAWRYZKI
Director of
Programs &
Administration
Family&
Individual
Support Worker
Administrative
Assistant
ANNOUNCING
The 54
th
Annual General Meeting of
The Cerebral Palsy Association of BC
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2008
Time: 3:00 pm 5:00 pm
Venue: Bonsor Community Centre
Multi Purpose Room 1, Second Floor
6550 Bonsor Avenue
Burnaby, BC V5H 2G8
Notice of Resolution:
Be it resolved that bylaw 8.2 (a) be amended from the bylaws of the CPABC.
The bylaw reads: At the first Annual General Meeting of the Association at
which these Bylaws are in effect, twelve nominees shall be elected to the Board of
Directors in the following manner:
(a) The ballot shall set the names of all nominees who have consented in writing
to act as Directors of the Association, and indicate that up to twelve are to be
elected.
New amendment: At each Annual General Meeting of the Association up to fifteen
nominees shall be elected to the Board of Directors in the following manner:
(a) The ballot shall set the names of all nominees who have consented in writing
to act as Directors of the Association, and indicate that up to fifteen are to be
elected.
Members, community partners & new members are all welcome to attend.
Seating is limited
Please RSVP by calling 604-408-9484
or toll free in BC at 1-800-663-0004 to reserve your seat
www.bccerebralpalsy.com