WINTER 2011 - Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region

AUGUST 2011WINTER 2011THEFORUMInside...A Message from theILCWR Board...........2A Message from theExecutive Director…32011 In Review....4-5Our Success Stories:Patti’s Story.............6The Gift That KeepsOn Giving.................7Visit the NEWwww.ilcwr.org!Follow us onTwitter!@ILCWRWarm Holiday Greetings!HappyHolidaysfrom theIndependentLiving Centre ofWaterlooRegion!Welcomeonce again toThe Forumnewsletter,ourpublicationfor you, theILCWR family.Christmas lists are beingmade all over Waterloo Regionthese days, but the bestpresent we could have askedfor has already arrived!Our new website,www.ilcwr.org is now fullyoperational, and we encourageall of our members to visit andcheck out the news stories,upcoming events calendar, anddescriptions of our programsand services—it’s all availableonline, anytime!We are also pleased toannounce that ILCWR is nowon Twitter! Follow @ILCWRto stay up to date on news andevents that concern ourneighbours with disabilities inWaterloo Region. And keep aneye on your inbox for thebi-monthly ILCWRE-Newsletter launching in2012.The new year is justaround the corner, andso is the deadline for theAccessible CustomerService Standard under theAccessibility for Ontarianswith Disabilities Act. OnJanuary 1, 2012, all privatesectorbusinesses musttrain their staff in AccessibleCustomer Service. If you are abusiness owner, or know of abusiness that has yet to do thetraining, ILCWR can help! Callus or e-mail AODA@ilcwr.orgfor more information.There’s much more newsin the pages to come—pleaseenjoy, and Happy Holidaysfrom your friends at ILCWR!“Together, Freedom Through Access and Choice”

3WINTER 2011Irecently had thepleasure of listening tothe Honourable DavidOnley, the LieutenantGovernor of Ontario.His Honour has madeaccessibility the focus ofhis tenure and defines itas “that which enablespeople to achieve theirfull potential.” Further,he suggests that “trueaccessibility only occurswhen people with disabilitiescan fully participate insocial, economic, andcultural life.” He spoke ofphysical barriers, attitudes,and bias as the things thatcreate ‘handicap’—notthe disability itself. Thesepowerful and inspiringwords serve as a call toaction for us to continueour journey together onthe path of removing thesebarriers to full participation.Our Centre is aleader in implementingthis dream. The programsand services we offerare built around the coreprinciples of consumercontrol, full participation,and peer support andwe can be proud of theaccomplishments that wehave achieved, both as aCentre and as a part of alarger movement. Curbs arecut, doors openautomatically, individualshave jobs, and people withdisabilities have a say indefining what they needand how they receive it. Thework we do has a profoundimpact of the daily lives ofour whole community.We continue tomake strides forward inour mission to provideexceptional, consumerdirectedsupports that allowpeople to live independentlyin the community.Focusing on the themes ofcommunication, relationshipdevelopment, and conflictresolution has enabled usto raise the bar. Equallyimportant is our strategyof raising the profile ofthe organization. Throughour broad reach into thelarger community, we areable to ensure that the ILphilosophy is kept on theagenda and that the voicesof our consumers are heard.There is much moreto accomplish though—our work is not done.According to His Honour,recent figures suggest that15.5% of Ontarians have adisability of some sort, andthat when you include theirfamilies, the number risesto an incredible 53% of thepopulation that is directlyaffected by disability. TheseA Message From theExecutive DirectorBil Smith,Executive Directornumbers are staggering. Wehave a great opportunity tohave an impact, and withyour continued support,together, we can continue tomake a difference.Many thanks to all ofyou: consumers, staff, andsupporters—the members ofour IL family, for helping usto realize the dream. I wishyou all the very best overthe coming holiday seasonand much prosperity andgood fortune in the comingyear.Bil SmithExecutive DirectorIndependent Living Centreof Waterloo Region

5WINTER 2011...In ReviewILCWR raised$2,000 with itsMay Fundraiser,El Cinco DeMayo TacoFiesta!With an allyou-can-eattaco buffet,silent auction,cake auction and piñata activities, theevent was muy bueno!El Cinco De MayoTaco Fiesta!The 14thAnnualTournamentof HopeFeatured inthe August,2011 issue of The Forum, the 14th AnnualTournament of Hope raised a phenomenal$31,406.50 to purchase assistive devices for14 individuals with disabilities!“The World is Changing”Consumer ForumIn October, ILCWRconsumers gottogether to discuss issues related todisability and accessibility in achanging world. We were fortunate tohave John Lord facilitate the event.

Our Success Stories!WINTER 2011Patti’s StoryPatti was only 21 years old when shebegan to notice blurred vision in oneeye.“That was the first sign,” she said.“I didn’t even know what it was.”As it turns out, it was an indicationof the beginnings of chronic progressivemultiple sclerosis—a shock for Patti, whodoes not have a history of MS in herfamily.But she didn’t let it get in the wayof living a healthy, fulfilling life. Patti hadtwo children after her diagnosis, and didnot require the use of a wheelchair for fiveyears.A native of Kitchener-Waterloo, Pattispent some time living in New Brunswickand Nova Scotia before moving back in1998. She began receiving attendant carefrom a local community organization, butfound that she required a greater numberof weekly service hours than they couldprovide.That’s when she became affiliatedwith the Independent Living Centre ofWaterloo Region, which was able toprovide her with a greater frequencyattendant service that better met herneeds.Patti thinks fondly on her timereceiving Outreach support. “They’re likepart of your family,” she said, referring tothe attendants who helped her at homewith the tasks of daily living, and made iteasier for her to be a mother to her twoyoung children.Now, after 21 years of living withMS, Patti is still living independently, andis as busy as ever. Not only does she“ILC has let mekeep my life.”serve on the Board of Directors at theIndependent Living Centre of WaterlooRegion, Patti has also been heavilyinvolved with Waterloo Region’s Barrier-Free Advisory Committee. She alsocontinues to be active within KW Access-Ability, which over the years has providedcountless networking opportunities andvaluable relationships.Patti now lives in an apartment inone of ILCWR’s Assisted Living projects,where she feels very much at home.“ILC has let me keep my life,” Pattisaid. “There will always be barriers topeople with disabilities, but you help tokeep those barriers to a minimum.”“Our Success Stories” are featured inevery issue of The Forum, and also inthe 2010-2011 Annual Report.Visit www.ilcwr.org/annual-reports toread more!6

7WINTER 2011Can you believe that the IndependentLiving Centre of Waterloo Regionis celebrating its 30th Anniversaryin 2012?! It is an exciting milestone, andone that shows we’re here to stay in thiscommunity. For the supporters who havehelped us to get to this level of longevity,ILCWR introduces its new Pledged Givingprogram!How does it work?For donors like Sue, who has beendonating monthly to ILCWR for years,pledged giving makes the process easier.“It can be a whack of money up front,”says Sue, “but when you spread it outit doesn’t feel like it!”Just fill out a Pledged Giving form likethe one attached to this newsletter, andILCWR will process your donation throughyour Visa or MasterCard on a monthly oryearly basis—you won’t even have to thinkThis Year, Give the GiftThat Keeps on Giving!about it! And you will still receive your taxreceipt at the end of the year. As Sue putsit, “it’s very easy.”What are the benefits?Donors like pledged giving becausethey’re able to make the same donationthey would have otherwise, without withoutspending time and postage sending acheque.But ILCWR benefits too—havingpledged gifts means that we can planour programs for consumers with yourinvestment in mind. It doesn’t need to bea large amount—just informing ILCWR ofa planned donation helps to improve ourservices through good financial planning.Pledge a gift today, and help people withdisabilities achieve independence in ourcommunity!See us about...Your Values, Your Credit Unionwww.mscu.com | 1.888.672.6728

AUGUST 2011WINTER 2011ILCWR PROGRAMS AND STAFFSpecial ThanksTo Our MajorFundersExecutive Director - Bil SmithHuman Resources & Finance Director - Angela KornEmployee Health Coordinator - Christina ChurchillHuman Resource Coordinator - Doug BoucherFinance Coordinator - Tracy SpencerExecutive Assistant/Community Relations - Andrew PosenReceptionist - Jim DucharmeCommunity Support Services Director - Paula SaundersBeyond Barriers Coordinator - Vanessa HenrichsKids on the Block Coordinator - Angelika WernerYouth in Transition Coordinator - Bonnie TaylorPeer Resource & Advocacy Coordinator - Dan LajoieDirect Funding Coordinator - Lorene CollingwoodAttendant Services Director - Daryl NancekivellOutreach & In-Home Respite Supervisor - Cindy GuyOutreach Supervisor - Sandy StaufferOutreach Supervisor - Lise HancockProgram Support - Leanne SchadeProgram Support - Heather MarshSHAMROCK - WATERLOO - (519) 746-1312Laura Sparks - Project SupervisorMOOREGATE - KITCHENER - (519) 745-5949Allan Russell - Project SupervisorKIWANIS VILLAGE CAMBRIDGE - (519) 650-0843Jacqueline Doummar - Project SupervisorIndependent Living Centre of Waterloo Region127 Victoria St. S., Suite 201Kitchener, ON N2G 2B4Telephone: (519)571-6788Fax: (519)571-6788TTY: (519)571-7590Web: www.ilcwr.org ● Charitable # 10750-5356-RR0001Justice • Dignity • Respect • Teamwork • Welcoming