LiveWorkPlay News SEPTEMBER 2010 (Archived)

IN THIS ISSUE…
PEOPLE FIRST & AL CONDELUCI NOV 19-20
PREPARING TO ELECT MAYOR AND COUNCIL
A WEEKEND WITH DAVE HINSBURGER
LEARNING AND SHARING NEWS
WELCOME NEW PLACMENT STUDENT
YOUR SUPPORT APPRECIATED

PEOPLE FIRST & AL CONDELUCI NOV 19-20

LiveWorkPlay is pleased to be partnering with People First of Ontario to host a combined People First in Ottawa conference and Social Capital workshop with Dr. Al Condeluci. The two-day People First conference starts at 5pm on Friday and finishes up with social time on Saturday night. People First is for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, promoting equality, speaking up, making decisions, and teaching the community about rights and abilities. Condeluci’s session (open to the public) is on Saturday from 9am to 3pm.

Self-advocates can register for the entire two days of the People First of Ottawa conference for just $75 (includes 3 meals). The session with Dr. Condeluci is open for registration by the general public at a cost of just $25 (includes lunch). Details (including hotel options for out of town guests) are available via the registration links above.

PREPARING TO ELECT MAYOR AND COUNCIL

The citizens of Ottawa will elect their Mayor and 23 members of City Council on October 25! Sorting through it all can be difficult, and LiveWorkPlay is once again helping its members prepare to exercise their democratic rights and participate in the election by making informed choices.

In addition to supporting members to attend the live event at the Bronson Centre on October 7, LiveWorkPlay staff are hosting a special election preparation evening at the C3 Centre on October 21. Contact Grace Hudson to RSVP! The evening will include reviews of two mayoral television debates and discussion of key issues.

For those who can’t make it the LiveWorkPlay election page on Facebook has all sorts of links and information, and you can also post questions and get answers from LiveWorkPlay staff, volunteers, and other members!

A WEEKEND WITH DAVE HINSBURGER

The LiveWorkPlay Board of Directors are committed to supporting a better quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities. This means always challenging themselves to develop forward-thinking policies and practices.

Dave Hingsburger is a Canadian Disability Hall of Fame inductee, the author of many excellent books and videos (find them in the LiveWorkPlay library!), and a renowned international speaker. He first visited LiveWorkPlay in 2004, where he spent time with all LiveWorkPlay constituents to improve our collective understanding of quality to life barriers and what we can do to help reduce and remove them.

This time around the Board of Directors wanted time to listen and ask questions on a variety of specific topics. This is not a type of service Dave has provided very often, but with some convincing from co-leader Julie Kingstone, he agreed to do it! It was a wonderful and challenging two days full of wisdom, humour, and moments of sadness as the board considered some of the harsh realities facing people with intellectual disabilities and their families. But they were also reminded about what LiveWorkPlay is here for: to bring about social change and make this community and the world a better place for people with intellectual disabilities to have homes, jobs, and loving relationships.

In humourous fashion, Dave paid the board a strong compliment after they responded to one of his questions: “Oh, of course you know that. I keep forgetting this is an unusual board of directors.” If you feel that you missed out, fear not, we are bringing Dave back! You can see him at one of two workshops on March 4 or March 5.

LEARNING AND SHARING NEWS

LiveWorkPlay has never before been so active in learning from and communicating with others! On September 23 Board Member Tamara Gomes and CEO Keenan Wellar represented LiveWorkPlay at #GenYOTT 6: Back to Business! On September 28 it was off to Concordia University to present to the Social Computing course of Professor Ann Louise Davidson, well known to many of our readers for her many papers and research projects conducted with and about LiveWorkPlay members.

October will be a busy time too! LiveWorkPlay members Moira Fuenzalida, Cooper Gage, Caroline Matte, and Jennifer Harris are on their way to the People First of Ontario Annual Conference in Toronto, October 15-17. Stay tuned for a full report in the next edition! Julie Kingstone is on her way to the BC/Canadian Association for Community Living 2010 National Family Conference October 22-24, in Whistler, BC. Keenan will also be there, presenting “Social Media for Social Change” as part of the conference program. Keenan and Julie will also take part in “Real Homes: A social policy forum on eliminating barriers to people who have intellectual disabilities having homes of their own” presented by Community Living Ontario, Ryerson University School of Social Work and Ryerson University School of Disability Studies on October 29-30.

The United Way campaign is in full swing! See if you can spot someone from the LiveWorkPlay community in their campaign video! Felice Miranda (parent and long-time LiveWorkPlay supporter) is in demand as a member of the United Way Ottawa Speakers Bureau. Volunteer Coordinator Fran Childs is teaming up with LiveWorkPlay members at United Way “charity fair” events at various Government of Canada location with Heather Wynn (pictured with Fran), Cooper Gage, and Moira Fuendzalida

Manager of Mental Health Supports Allison Moores enjoyed Making Action Plans (MAPS) and Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope (PATH) training with Jack Pierpoint and Lynda Kahn from Inclusion Press. Both are graphic faciliation tools that can be used in person centered planning. LiveWorkPlay has been doing person centered planning for many years but we are always looking to improve!

WELCOME NEW PLACEMENT STUDENT

The longstanding relationship with the Carleton University Department of Social Work continues with Carolyn St-Amour, the latest placement student at LiveWorkPlay. Carolyn is completing her BSW at Carleton. She is in her third year and this is her first placement!

Carolyn is from Ottawa in addition to completing her BSW she also works 2 jobs. Part of her interst in doing a placement with LiveWorkPlay came from her experience of volunteering with students with intellectual disabilities in a local high school. Welcome, Carolyn!

YOUR SUPPORT APPRECIATED

If you would like to make a donation to LiveWorkPlay, please click here to donate online or use our new PDF donation form, which now has options for credit card and pre-authorized withdrawals. You may also specify how you would like your donation to be used.

We hope you have enjoyed this 46th edition of the LiveWorkPlay Blog. If you have received an email about this blog in error and/or you would prefer not to receive future LiveWorkPlay blog messages, simply click here and follow the simple instructions. Click here for the web page that can be used by newcomers who would like to receive LiveWorkPlay Blog email notifications. You can also subscribe using Networked Blogs. Please invite your friends, colleagues, and family members to subscribe. Send story ideas to Keenan Wellar