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Bliss Users' Conference
October 30, 1997
Opening Remarks were made by Paul Marshall.
Let me welcome you to this year's Bliss Users' conference. We believe we have a very exciting day ahead of us. I personally was really looking forward to this day for the past month because both Shirley and I were able to get together a panel of four individuals who I think will offer us quite a bit to think about and discuss as our morning's section unfolds.
More about this in a minute.
We all look forward to this day. It is a day where we all come from different parts of Southern Ontario to renew friendships, discuss issues that you feel are important to the Bliss community and just enjoy the day together. Really this day is your day to share and bring up anything. We try to set aside mountains of time for you to just talk. Later, we will hopefully talk to you about some plans that we want to develop regarding our Home Page on the internet and possibly setting up Bliss pals with some of you. Also, we are wanting to start talking to you about planning a Bliss Retreat.
Tonight, it is our Friends of Bliss evening and we always look forward to this night. So, sit back and enjoy your day. I will apologize for myself because I have to slip out this afternoon for about two hours to attend a meeting.
Do not fall for that, Paul is just slipping out to enjoy the day outdoors! Watch!
He will take more than two hours to get back here!
Boy, give a nonspeaking individual an inch and they will take a mile
You do not need to tell all of my secrets, lap top!
see if I will ever bring you out in public again!
Now let us turn to this morning agenda, and get the show on the road. Last year at our conference we discussed many issues that were facing the Bliss community. Issues like: how and what ways we could advocate more in our communities. We made a big list that addressed many different areas that the group thought were important for us to start in an advocacy role. Shirley and I decided the possible chance of having a panel discussion, to further talk and hopefully will come up with ideas to develop an action plan that we all can be a part of.
Let me introduce the four panel members to you. First, we have Treena Guy from Ottawa, who most of us already know from past conferences. Treena works at a business, that is called Computer Wise who designs and make all types of posters, cards etc. Treena is a strong advocator for Bliss and for the general integration of the nonspeaking population.
Our second person on the panel is Lucy Nyman. Some of you will remember Lucy because she was at one of our past conferences. Lucy worked for an organization called PUSH. This is where I feel a little bit foolish,
Paul, you maybe feel foolish sometimes, but you look foolish most of the time!
all right, cut that out, my friend! You are not that funny!
I do not know what PUSH stands for, so maybe Lucy or Sam can fill us in on this and also give us a brief overview of the organization. I understand that Lucy's work there was in the advocacy field. (WE FOUND OUT THAT PUSH STANDS FOR "PERSONS UNITED FOR SELF HELP")
The next person is Justin Clark. He is also from Ottawa and works at Computer Wise along with Treena. Justin is a comittted advocator himself and is not new to this topic.
Our last panel member is Sam Savona.(sorry my voice output just didn't say your name correctly.
Sure Paul, put it on me!
I know better!
Paul, you were drinking when you were writing this yesterday.
Sam has been a constructive critic of the Toronto Transit Commission for many years because he believes it must be accessible to every citizen. His biggest achievement thus far is that he, along with his fellow activists, convinced Metro politicians to begin to retrofit the conventional public transportation system for wheelchair accessability. As a result, Sam was one of the first people in an electric wheelchair to ride the subway unassisted. Also Sam ran in the Federal Election as a candidate for the New Democratic Party in the Eglinton-Lawrence riding. He placed third out of five candidates with 3800 votes. Sam plans to run in the next Provincial Election.
Welcome and we all are looking
forward to what each of you have to say this morning. Now I think I am going to put up an
overhead with a few issues that we may want to discuss. I am going to stop talking now and
just let things happen.
| The following topics were considered for discussion: |
| 1. Transportation |
| 2. Lobbying with government |
| 3. Education needed, e.g. of doctors |
| 4. Self education |
| 5. Involvement in partnerships |
| 6. Housing |
| 7. Reading Skills |
| 8. Right to be viewed as equal citizen |
| 9. Learning how to advocate |
| 10. Funding |
| 11. Using current resources |
| 12. Use of Internet/BlissInternet |
| 13. Outreaching/Networking |
The following notes were taken from the overheads that wereprepared for each discussion group.
| Group A. | |
| How! | |
| Be viewed as equal
citizensEducate others, e.g. doctors Lobby with government Access literacy and educational opportunities |
|
| . Want to be treated
like anyone else -- with dignity and respect - Opportunities in relationships (educate
yourself -- what are my rights?) · Make connections on a personal level · Advertise who you are · Go to schools, make presentations · Little kids -- teach them. Remember they grow up Government -- 17% of population have some form of
disability, minority·Local polititians |
| Group B. | |
| How! | |
| Relate to housing and attendant care | |
| Project, built a care
facility, implemented without though to needs ofpersons with disabilities · Concern re having to live in location in order to have care needs met that may not be where you would like to live · Need specialized attendants · Need recreational atendants or access to recreation BEST SOLUTION: BUILD OUR OWN! Save money! |
| Group C. | |
| How! | |
| OutreachNetwork Be involved in partnerships Access BlissInternet |
|
| . want to communicate with others
especially other AAC users· want to be more connected · need to know where to go for support (e.g., local companyh provides $800. annually for augmentative communication device · groups have difficulty raising money and finding volunteers · not enough support or enough further education · Staff need to take the time to provide support · Getting connected to the education system can help. Don't wait. Initiate · Literacy can extend involvement · Having teachers, staff, family who will encourage self-advocacy · Access to computers need your own · Lack of resources *** |
the following comments were made by justin.
I am lucky man. I live in a home where people attends to my needs are also my friends they listen more carefully and go the extra mile. When I was younger, I had attendant care in school. At work we have an attendant named Greg
Danielle who started our workplace has raised the funds to pay Greg because there is no money available. I am fortunate that I can use public trains and our van, also I have this computer and my voice output system to talk and people at the rehabilitation that repair it
It took a long time to repair my chair the other day. Norm talked to them seriously that they promised to do better than that they promised to try harder they will spare parts in the shop some friends like Robbie create pace for trips conferences much life
Years ago Danielle went job in the federal government with John the interview was going well when it mentioned that he would a bit of help in the washroom and cutting his food the job disappeared.
It is funny that services understand the needs of children with disabilities they have months for attendant care wherever they are it seems that when we hit 18 our needs disappear some of us need some voices equipment at home work day to day
We need help at work school in sports people like Russel George Treena and others could easily go to college and university if they had an attendant can see treena a teacher or bliss instructor two. of our people live in a hospital and want to move to a hone the communication department at the rehab is inadequate we are aware of that and many other needs how we make others aware of these heeds and teach them give them power to respond
You can choose to have a voice and power at our work place we welcome students doctors and teach them how attend listen to us I talk to school churches groups about the integration of people in their midst
we write letters attend meetings to try to influence people to make the right decisions it never stops we have rights but also responsibilities to make this world a better place for ourselves and others that follow thanks
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