Resource Centre for Independent Living

If you haven't already heard about StopGap Parry Sound, by spring you'll definitely be curious about the brightly coloured ramps around downtown! So what is StopGap? It's a foundation that strives to bring people together in creating accessible and inclusive communities for everyone. With it's roots dating back to the fall of 2011, what began as a one-off project in Toronto has now grown into a registered Canadian charity with a track record of building 1000+ ramps in communities across the continent! StopGap helps communities address the real issue of accessibility by providing the schematics and support for building ramps for businesses with a single step, allowing them to become accessible spaces. These ramps are brightly coloured and removable, so as to not pose a hazard or encroach on sidewalk space, so they can be easily put out as needed and then stored. You can learn more about the StopGap Foundation on their website. Visit StopGap Parry Sound's Facebook page to stay up-to-date and support the project by sharing with your friends to create awareness about the issue of accessibility in our community. Are you interested in volunteering or donating materials? Contact Kylee Labrosse at 705-746-6996 x106 or rise-dfsupport@cogeco.net, or send a message to StopGap Parry Sound on Facebook!

2017 Theme: "Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all." International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is an annual observance, proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. It aims to: Promote the rights & well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development Increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. You can learn more about IDPD on the United Nations website. If you are interested in celebrating, check out some of the events being held in Ontario below! IDPD Events in Ontario KITCHENER: Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region invites you to join our celebration of International Day of People with Disability on Tuesday, December 5th, 2017. This year we will celebrate by raising our voices and honoring the stories that make us unique. Celebration includes a free lunch and Creative Writing Workshop facilitated by Susan Ksiezopolski. Susan Ksiezopolski is an accomplished Canadian author and an expert facilitator in creative writing workshops. Susan believes, “Everyone has a right to have their voice heard.” LONDON: The Independent Living Centre London and Area is holding a Swiss Chalet luncheon on December 5, 2017. (Register in advance). There will be information posted about International Day of People with Disabilities. OTTAWA: Planning underway for a half day ( 2 workshops -TBC) and an Open House for invitees to come and meet our members and staff from 2 to 5 pm. An evening holiday party 530 to 8 pm Possibly an official recognition and declaration signing 3:30 – 4:00 pm. KINGSTON: We will be inviting members, affiliates, and community members into our Centre to celebrate ways our community has contributed to the sustainability and resiliency of Canadian society. Light refreshments will be offered to all that wish to celebrate with us. Articles pertaining to recent, local stories of people with disabilities overcoming barriers and contributing to a resilient society will be posted on the walls for discussion. THUNDER BAY: Flag Raising at City Hall with Proclamation signing and an Open House at the Independent Living Resource Centre Thunder Bay. KAPUSKASING: Volunteer luncheon (by invitation only) and afternoon get together at the Disability Resource Centre for Independent Living. SUDBURY: In celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin invite you to join them for their 9th Annual Persons with Disabilities Breakfast, on Friday, December 1, 2017 at 7am at the Holiday Inn Georgian Rooms D&E, 1696 Regent Street, Sudbury, Ontario. Guest Speaker: Dr. Steve Daniel. RSVP by November 27th reception@ilsm.ca TORONTO: Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) collaborating with the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) Toronto Chapter, Balance for Blind Adults, Canadian Hearing Society (CHS), Citizens With Disabilities – Ontario (CWDO), CNIB GTA, Magnet (online job-matching platform for people with disabilities), National Education Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) will be celebrating: International Day of Persons with Disabilities Toronto. Date: Saturday, December 2, 2017 Time: 2 – 4 PM Location: Metro Hall, 55 John St., Rooms 308 and 309 Program includes: Presentation from Susan Picarello, Assistant Deputy Minister, Accessibility and Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities Panelists from employment agencies and employers highlighting initiatives, programs and partnerships that increase the employment of persons with disabilities. Networking with employment agencies and employers For more information, or requests to attend, be on the panel, or to have a display table at the event, please contact Yin Brown at yinbrown@gmail.com Check out the IL Canada website for a full list of IDPD events across Canada.

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If you missed the event but are interested in picking up some of the techniques we learned, check out this 20-minute video with some highlights of the class! Share this with all your creative friends & be sure to Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with future events!

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RISE celebrates the Grand Opening of it's new office location and the 30th Independent Living Across Canada Day!

“Over time, we have become pillars of the arts and culture community in Port Carling in Muskoka. It keeps us very busy. We have a gallery attached to our home, and we run artist-in-the-school programs, give lessons and do other cultural programming. Our lives were turned upside down though, on June 27, 2013 when I (Gary) ended up in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the hospital because of an unidentified virus. I was totally paralyzed, unable to move anything but my eyes. The exact cause is unknown but is an unidentified virus. Faced with the challenge to adapt to a new way of living, we both together, have approached this with the same vigor as when we were building the arts community. Our experience shuttling between various hospitals and healthcare facilities in Toronto and Barrie has made us aware of some of the gaps in the healthcare system. We’ve seen first-hand what it’s like to hit road blocks along the way. One of these road blocks was learning that I wouldn’t be able to go home. I use a ventilator to help with my breathing and I was told that there weren't enough resources (nurses or trained staff) in Muskoka to be able to provide care for someone who uses a ventilator. With some creativity, persistence, and help from Heather Hollingshead, we’ve been able to find another way. We met Heather, a Regional Services Coordinator with SCI Ontario, when I was in the ICU. She has been with us on this journey ever since. At the time, we hadn’t really wrapped our heads around what I would need to be able to live independently. I would need things like a wheelchair, a modified vehicle, and renovations to make our home accessible, plus 24 hour care. Heather was able to let us know about all these things and right away began the process to get me a wheelchair. She was also able to put together one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle - getting us a home. After more than a year in ICU I was accepted into the Transition to Home Ventilation Program at West Park Healthcare Centre in Toronto. During this 14 week program, that actually turned out to be almost year, we learned that local healthcare resources wouldn’t be able to provide that same level of care for me to return home. Fortunately, they applied for Direct Funding and were successful. This was the key to enable me to return to my life in Port Carling. Throughout my time in the ICU and at West Park, I remained involved with the running of Muskoka Chautauqua, which Gayle and myself co-founded 20 years ago. Since returning home to HQ I am right back in the thick of things! With the help of an eye-gaze computer I am able to work alongside Gayle and Chautauqua staff in the office. Now that I have been home for two years and experienced the breadth and depths of the health care system inside and outside of institutions, and following the challenges I have had to face, I am committed to making a positive difference in the future of healthcare delivery in Muskoka and the Province. I have become a healthcare advocate, working with professionals within the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care and the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network. We have lived in Muskoka for many years and have been long-time advocates for arts, culture, and life-long learning. We have been celebrated and received a number of awards for our work in the community. I was named Citizen of the Year the year before my ordeal began. Now we happily accept speaking engagements such as at Critical Care Services Ontario Community Care Council, Rotary Clubs, and TVO’s The Agenda to advocate for positive change in healthcare delivery. We are proud and grateful to live in such a caring and supportive community and acknowledge Independent Living and the Direct Funding program in playing such an integral part in my ability to live at home and my ability to contribute to my community”. Gary

“My name is Alyre M., I am 66 years old. I am a paraplegic (with no balance) due to an accident in October 2004. After several months of rehab, I came home with the support of my wife and Personal Support Workers. The staff were good to me, but there was no consistency in the scheduling. We moved to Bracebridge in 2013 to be close to our daughter, and therefore, we had to change services. Before making the move, I was guaranteed my service would not change. I had workers come at 7 am till 9 am for morning care and again at 8 pm for evening care. Some said they would provide PSW’s for personal care, but they would not do my bowel routine which is done Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. The nurses were sent out those days to do this at 7 am. The PSW’s were to have me up and ready by 7:15 for the nurses. The service provider wanted to send the PSW’s out at 9 am. But the nurses schedule was set for 7 am. It took some time but soon my PSW’s were coming for 7 am but my evening care was all over the place. Again, no consistency with workers or schedule times. Plus, I was only getting care from Monday to Friday no weekends. This left my wife to do every weekend. Red Cross had two training sessions to have enough personal to cover my shifts, but the dispatchers still sent untrained PSW’s. One time my wife had to come running to help, due to the PSW not knowing how to use my lift. If she had not been there, I would have been hurt. After several months, my service provider merged with another company and the nurses care changed. My PSW’s could only do personal care, dress, bath, get me up and put me to bed. The nurses said they would not do my bowel routine anymore. I was lucky the two PSW’s said they would take it on and my wife trained them. But if they were not scheduled to work, that meant my wife had to do it. I now had a sore and the nurses were coming 3 times a week to look after it. I was first informed about the Direct Funding Program, but did not consider it until one of the nurses asked if we had heard about it. I started the paperwork early in the summer of 2014. I was approved just after Christmas in 2014, but it did take some time to set up. I had to hire my staff. I have four-part time workers on the books, plus a bookkeeper. Three workers are PSW’s who look after all my personal care including bowel routine, some light house keeping and laundry. That was not allowed with my prior service provider. My other staff helps by driving me to doctor appointment and some maintenance on my equipment. I have care seven days a week. Morning care starts at 7 am, and evening care I set at 7 pm winter and later during the summer. If I have to be in Toronto for a doctor’s appointment, my main worker will start at 6 am. If I am going to be later in the evening, my workers will accommodate me. In return, I will work with them if they need to come in a little earlier or later. Its great to have four very able workers that I trust to be here on time working for me. I can not say enough about this program. Recently my wife went on a week trip. With this program, it gave her the freedom to do this. If I needed extra care while she was away this program allowed it. I would not have had that flexibility otherwise. My only regret is that I did not know about Direct Funding before hand. It is a great program and I hope more people like me will consider it." Alyre

"My wife and I live in our own home, on the outskirts of North Bay, Ontario. I am retired, aged 67 and I have been an active quadriplegic since 1979. Recently, I had to give up driving due to partial vision loss. When we first heard of the Direct Funding Program that is available in Parry Sound, we were cautiously optimistic about its suitability. Since starting the program in the fall of 2016, I realized the first benefit was a small team of people to interface with. We have three people that we chose that were directly suited to my needs. The prime attributes we sought were people with positive attitudes, a willingness to learn & the ability to take direction. We find we have strong relationship with staff who are dedicated to my needs. We’re adaptable to each other’s timing needs, changes and we are in control of our lives. Even my recent inability to drive has been offset by attendant care help, allowing me to stay involved in community services, volunteer work, personal care needs and shopping. Generally, I have many hours of service from people attuned to my needs for a broad scope of attendant work. As well, all of this allows my wife more time for herself than before and will prolong our ability to maintain independent living. In terms of public service delivery, the Direct Funding Program is an excellent example of an efficient use of public funds. It reduces overhead administration and staff training. It should be an example to follow regarding services for delivery and efficiency”. Stuart K.

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