OPTIONS NEWSLETTER

Summer 2014

311A-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6 PH: 204-947-0194 (TTY) Toll F: 1-800-663-3043 Fax: 204-943-6625 Email:thecentre@ilrc.mb.ca Web: www.ilrc.mb.ca

Chairperson Lori Ross Vice –Chairperson Brian Baldwin Treasurer Linda Ross Secretary Arnie Klymchuk Directors Martin Nyachoti Sharon Olson Nathaniel Ondiaka John Pinkerton George Russell Darlene Marcoux Giselle Bernardo Executive Director John Young Created/Edited through the ILRC Options Newsletter Committee. The views and opinions expressed in this edition are those of the original authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of ILRC.

Soaking in the Sun and IL: A

Celebration of 30 Years

From the Soapbox John Young

oaking in the merits of Independent Living means more than just resting on the laurels of success or understanding

disability issues on a profound level. Soaking it all in means knowing your rights and entitlements. It is about harvesting vital information, using it and sharing it with the community. Fully absorbing the IL Philosophy means standing up for others who may not be able to stand up for themselves. It means equality and integration rather than segregation. It means employment and skills training and absconds dependence on government programming and subsidization. Soaking in IL means dutifully paying taxes but receiving services in exchange. This means Handi-Transit vehicles should be able to access the diamond lanes like any other Transit vehicle. As it stands, persons with disabilities are paying for services that are not made equally available to them. Soaking in IL is more than educating the masses; it is the representation of the disability community standing up for itself, an unequivocal voice of unity for change and equality. Proponents and leaders in the Independent Living movement are no longer apologizing for standing up for their fair share. For crying out loud, it is high time we stop apologizing for wanting basic human rights! Soaking in IL doesn’t mean sitting back and waiting for government to do for us when we can do for ourselves. There are many that have yet to learn or experience this. Let this be the summer of action then, a time for

coming forward and taking control of life and community around us.

Writin’ and Rollin’ Libby Zdriluk

eing born with a disability has really given me so many experiences in my 28 years. As a kid I felt I was no

different from my peers; my parents always encouraged and supported me in giving me the best childhood possible. I always thought nothing was impossible and I never felt like my disability limited my experiences and believed I had a perfectly normal childhood. Then the reality of your disability comes into play as you transition into an adult. The legal supports you had as a child suddenly disappear when you turn 18. You no longer have that support network provided as a child with a disability. Sure, I will always have my parents (for a long time I hope!) but I knew the day would come where my disability would determine the kind of life I was going to have and only I would be able to shape how I was going to live it. I was introduced to the I.L. philosophy at the age of 19 and I truly believe it became a compass to navigate through a society that often has no real awareness of how difficult living with a disability can be. Before I felt I was truly able to believe and live by the principals of the IL philosophy, I knew I was going to have to truly know myself. I learned you have to meet the people and the world we live in half way. From the age of 19 to now at 28, many of my experiences have in some way been guided by the I.L. philosophy. Let me tell you the best one I have had: moving out on my own at 21. I happened to be working at ILRC at the time

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and one day a co-worker approached me about an accessible apartment that had become available through 1010 Sinclair and Fokus Housing. Now I had never even considered moving out on my own before, not because I was afraid but because I was comfortable living with my parents. I had room, board, support, and love. I think deep down though I knew the only way I was going to continue to evolve as a person with a disability and make my way in the world was to put the philosophy into action and this is how it was used in my transition to live independently:

1.) Making choices: I was told about

the apartment and knew that this

was a rare opportunity since the

demand for safe, affordable

accessible housing was very high

but the options available were very

limited.

2.) Taking risks: I was told about the

apartment over lunch and the next

day I said to myself: “You need to

do this, you have nothing to lose

and you know you can always go

back home.” 3 weeks later I was

moved in and had the lease signed

for the year. I have never once felt

like I needed to go back home

3.) Accepting responsibility: I had to

learn many things in such a short

period of time. I had to learn how to

write rent cheques, live on a budget

and pay for basic things that I had

always had at home (heat, cable,

phone), directing my own personal

care. It was certainly daunting but I

did it!

4.) Taking control and becoming

part of the community: That one

decision I made has now spanned

into 8 years of living independently.

Sure it’s had some rough spots but

I grew and learned from each and

every experience good and bad.

Now I know my story is only one of many but I

encourage anyone who reads this to really

think about how the IL Philosophy may help

you in your own lives. Working here at ILRC

has allowed me to see the philosophy in

action. As ILRC’s new receptionist, I would

like to personally encourage you to come and

see us, see what we have to offer and join our

community. We have been a part of it for over

30 years and I hope to be a part of it for many

years to come.

Centre Survey and Review Robert Mitchell

t regular intervals, usually every 5-6 years, the ILRC Board of Directors conducts a review of the centre’s

performance and standing in the community. This past year, another survey was conducted with multiple formats used, predominantly an anonymous online link through surveymonkey.org. The survey itself was constructed in several key parts: program development, perceived relations with like-minded agencies and future direction. The complete survey report and findings are available on the ILRC website in an accessible PDF format. In the realm of program development, ILRC continues to be relevant and innovative, with the possible exception of service gaps existing in such fields as education and

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employment where the results were skewed. In the realm of perceived relations within the community, ILRC is in a unique position relative to many others in 2014. The landscape of non-profit and charitable service groups is changing in that several are fund depleted as governments move away from grant support with little to no viable and measurable return. In fact, the landscape is turning toward a social enterprise model wherein non-profits are encouraged to generate their own revenue or, at the least, match government support in their field of delivery. ILRC is at the forefront of this movement, attributing much of its growth and success to service delivery and marketing the Centre’s expertise to diverse sectors, including public, private and government spheres. The results of the survey indicate that key service areas are being addressed and the community of survey participants is satisfied with the overall direction of the agency. For future work, the ad-hoc Evaluation Committee may consider recommending to the Board that work continue in the fields of youth leadership, an area wherein the community benefit overall. The Evaluation Committee would like to thank everyone for participating in the survey. The responses form an essential component for the Board to assess the direction of ILRC and help plan future program development.

Did You Know?

he Legal Help Centre has opened their doors Wednesday, June 4, 2014. It is a non-profit organization set up with

community volunteer professional and student lawyers from the University of Winnipeg and University of Manitoba. They are located in Portage Place Mall on the second floor towards The Bay Skywalk. Anyone seeking Legal Advice that cannot afford to hire a lawyer can seek their resources. For more information you can visit their website: www.legalhelpcentre.ca MTS has launched a province wide text with 9-1-1 for the deaf, deafened and hard of hearing or speech impaired (DHHSI). The MTS Accessibility Centre located in Portage Place Mall offers visually impaired customer contracts in Braille or large font. They also have staff who uses American Sign Language. They also offer an Accessibility Credit of $15.00 a month discount for customers with a 4G smartphone plans only available to the DHHSI. For more information you can visit the website: www.mts.ca/accessibility or www.textwith911.ca.

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How Far We’ve Come Joanne Fabian

t seems not that long ago we were all gathered together to celebrate the ILRC’s first 20 years. This last landmark

anniversary for the centre marked my 2nd year only with the centre. I remember back then finding it to be quite remarkable that we could bring so many people with disabilities together and this was before the advent of the powers of social media. Now here we are and they are predicting that by 2024 there will be approximately 226,000 Manitobans with disabilities. That equates to one fifth of the population. There have been many changes in the language we use, and the way buildings are built and how businesses are deciding to lay out their products. Businesses are becoming more aware in order to be inclusive of people with disabilities, a market that has been for the large part untapped. Some changes I have seen in regard to my disability include: going through the transition of using DOS and converting over to a Microsoft Windows operating system; depending at one time on the library to access information whereas now everything is available via mobile devices; using phones that you can actually access with more tools than just the call and answer feature; screen readers and voice over products developed right into the hardware or operating systems rather than having to buy secondary software products: GPS devices to assist with navigation; and assistive devices for other disabilities now found in mainstream stores rather than having to go to specialty store. I mention many positive changes; clearly I am aware that there are still many challenges and

barriers to overcome. However, with the demographics changing, and people becoming more aware of their rights, people will command and demand superior customer service. Canadians with disabilities represent 47 billion dollars of purchasing power – the decision should not be a difficult one!

Scent Free Environment

any people have severe allergies, asthma, and environmental sensitivities to such things as hair

spray, scented deodorant, perfume, aftershave, scented fabric softeners, etc. The ILRC believes it’s really important to provide a scent-free, safe space for everyone, so please don’t wear fragrances when you come to the ILRC or any of our events.

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The Way I Was Margita Tobolkova

y birthday was in May. The number of years is high enough that I reflect on the past rather than plan for the

future. And, I prefer to reflect on the nice points in my life. I am sure we all have some shady memories but why dwell on that? I finished university in Slovakia, and then I wanted to go out of the country for at least a year. Through stubborn research, I found a university in Canada that gave me a scholarship. At that time, it was very hard in Czechoslovakia to get an exit visa to move to a Western country. But I managed – to the utter amazement of all my coworkers. So, I landed in Canada, and here I have stayed ever since. I found a good paying job in Toronto; it enabled me to be a good daughter, good sister and a good aunt to my nieces and nephews. I enjoyed being generous. I remember when my parents died, the first thing that came to mind was how happy I felt to buy them things they could not afford; or the glorious trips abroad we spent together. What wonderful memories! I remember my sister and her family. We went here and there and everywhere. Just in Europe and Canada, but there is so much to see and experience in both places. Through the trips with them, I too discovered wonderments I hadn’t known before. My poor little sister has died since then, but I have photographs and memories that will last forever. My brother joined me in Canada and married here later on. He is blessed with four beautiful girls and one beautiful boy. When they were little, I frequently had them overnight with me on their birthdays. I spoiled them rotten: we

watched movies and movies, many of them four times in a row. I cooked fancy breakfasts, took them to hairdressers and explored Toronto. We would go to Holt Renfrew and they picked out any dress they liked. Then, a nice lunch in a restaurant. After I moved from Toronto to Winnipeg, I ended up missing their teenage years. Then in 2010, I decided to take a train trip to Toronto. I was quite apprehensive to see them; after all, there was such a big age difference, and they are all grown up with university degrees and fine jobs. And with boyfriends and girlfriends, I might add. I was wondering if we would have anything in common after all this time. And, what do you know – they welcomed me as a most important VIP. I was surrounded by love. They all remembered the good times we had together. There was no generation gap; I seemed to be “with it”. I had to learn some local slang, but that wasn’t a problem. I have certainly picked up on my years. There were a few moments where it showed. One of my nieces wore a dress with a very deep cut along the back. I noted she may be cold in it – I received a lot of laughs in response. Or, she picked up a car to go to Toronto beaches for a photo shoot. I asked why he doesn’t take a street car instead. She said - “No offence auntie, but you walk too damn slow”. So, there you have it. Outside of my family, I am very proud of landing a freelance job with CBC radio. They picked me up after reading some of my published articles. That was a job I loved more than anything I ever worked on before. Regretfully, through the budget cuts, CBC Winnipeg no longer uses freelancers. I continue writing – sometimes for a fee, most of the time pro bono, or as a volunteer. I love writing. Often, I write just for my own amusement and send it to my closest friends

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and relatives. I love photography; I am often seen with a camera around my neck. With the additional hobbies of practicing piano and gardening, I trust these activities will carry me into the twilight of my days.

ILRC supports a “Stay Healthy” policy for all consumers, volunteers, visitors and staff members. Please DO NOT come to the office if you are sick. Many people with disabilities have weakened immune systems and a simple cold or flu can easily become a dangerous illness. Do your part to help everyone stay healthy!

Tech Corner by Jason Hirose

ummer is finally here so it is time to get outside and enjoy the weather. While we are out in the sun why not put that

sunshine to good use? Let’s take a look at solar chargers and see if they might be something for you. There are many different solar chargers available, from AA battery chargers to automotive chargers. The ones that most people are interested in are for portable devices. These chargers can be as small as a chocolate bar and are capable of charging a wide variety of devices through a USB port. This means that it could charge your cell phone, e-reader, tablet, or GPS as well as some cameras and flashlights. These chargers all require intense direct sunlight to work. Low intensity light in the shade or winter sunshine will probably not be enough for the charger to function properly. Larger chargers do allow more sunlight to be collected and so they generate more power. In turn this means a larger charger will be capable of charging a device quicker. The trade-off is that a larger charger is also less portable. When it comes to the chargers themselves there are two styles; those with internal batteries and those without. The ones without batteries naturally cost less (starting around $30 for a small panel) but will only work when the sun is out. On the other hand, chargers with batteries can be charged in the sun at any time and will continue to power a device as long as there is still power in the internal battery. The cost for a charger with a battery starts around $60.

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It bears mentioning that high heat and direct sunlight is bad for devices. Modern batteries can be damaged by heat so if you’re using a solar charger make sure your device is out of direct sunlight. If gaining some independence from charging from wall outlets sounds interesting to you give solar chargers a look. Make sure to get a charger that works for all of your devices then head out to soak up some sun.

Then and Now Terry McIntosh

ow! It is hard to believe that it has been 30 years working at ILRC. I have seen many faces coming and

going, different office spaces, and different political scenes but through it all ILRC has stayed true to its philosophy. It is hard for me to look back and reflect on my 30 years at ILRC, my memory of dates, etc. is not what is use to be….I’m old now. But these are my highlights: When I was first hired by Allan Simpson, it was just for a one-month term as there was not much funding available back then. I was hired to assist with preparing materials etc. for our first symposium and also as the

receptionist. One very busy month went by and Allan offered me another month of work. This continued on for a while until ILRC was able to secure more funding. I continued on as the receptionist for a couple of years. I have done numerous jobs at the Centre throughout the past thirty years and supported many different programs at the Centre. Currently, I have landed in PACE (Personal Attendant Community Education) as the Program Coordinator. In my experience, it has always been challenging with funding availability from the various government departments. I even remember the time when there was a news article about ILRC not having funds for such things as coffee and toilet paper! Boy, did we get a lot of coffee and toilet paper donations. Also in those days there were many fund raising events that ILRC held. There were many socials that we used for trying to raise funds, the Grey Cup tickets pool, summer student grants, and of course the Family Kite Festival. Now, I am proud to say the Centre has changed their look on fundraising and become more self-sufficient. New leadership has directed us to secure service delivery and to direct our own independence through the expertise we alone share. At the same time, I’m feeling saddened by the back sliding of community services for people with disabilities and the feeling our voice is not being heard again. We spend so much of our time educating private and community sectors on what persons with disabilities can contribute, the right to accessible services, etc. Throughout the years, the Centre has had many visitors from across the world; such places as Russia, Trinidad-Tobago, and Jamaica. Once, we had a delegation of 20 consumers from Japan come and learn about

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the Independent Living Movement. I was in charge of entertaining the delegates. Those poor people, I don’t think they knew what happened to them with all the “entertainment.” I know there have been so many other monumental moments and programs developed that the Centre has been involved with such as HIDI Qu’Qppelle, the development of the PACE program, trip to Mexico to promote Independent Living, expansion of our Brokerage program, etc. But that would turn into a book, which will become my retirement project. Stay tuned! In closing I would like to say I have loved every moment at the centre. I have made many long-time friends and I have learned so much. I have always been proud to be part of the Independent Living Movement and I look forward to the positive developments that this community will achieve in the coming year. .

Volunteer Profile

his issue of Options features Jessica Kennedy as the volunteer profile. Here is what she had to say about herself:

How did you come to be involved/volunteer with ILRC and how long have you been with us? I came to be involved/volunteer with ILRC because years back I worked with the Able Sail Manitoba program and I wanted to give back to the community as a volunteer and get more work experience and meet other individuals. In your words, what are you doing in volunteer work and what have you enjoyed most? I have been doing some reception experience (answering phone calls, keeping track of the employees in and out, giving out and accepting PACE applications), faxing, filing, photocopying, organizing/ folding pamphlets, as well as putting together pamphlets in envelopes for the different programs offered here in the ILRC. I did some typing, using Word 2013, and I have sat in on one class for the afternoon that is a part of the PACE program to get a better understanding about the PACE program. What I have enjoyed the most is … I really don’t want to cancel anything out because I enjoyed all the duties I was assigned to!

What has your experience been like being involved/volunteering with us and what have you learned? My experience has been very good. The duties were a great experience as well as the people here, because they have made this a

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very inviting experience for me to be here and I believe that is important because it makes me look forward to being here. Throughout my volunteering here at the ILRC I have learned how to use my communication skills, I learned how to retrain myself to do some faxing, photocopying, and I have learned a bit about myself, like I am more of a people person but I do work well on my own!

New Faces, New Places Natalie Pirson

here is always a place for new opportunities at ILRC. As some of you noticed, there is a new face under the

umbrella of the Community Living Program. Her name is Ruta Molner and she is our new Independent Living Consultant. Ruta started to work in this position at the end of March of 2014, but originally became part of ILRC even sooner - when she took the PACE program in 2012. After taking PACE training, she was employed at Qu’Appelle housing project as an ILA. Unexpectedly, life brought her into a position at the main office. She was very anxious and frightened, but at the same time she feels encouraged with such an opportunity given to her. We look forward to her ongoing contributions to the Centre. She is sincerely thankful for such an opportunity that ILRC has given to her.

Dear Advocacy Marie-Lynn Hamilton

y landlord wants to renovate my rental suite and has given me an eviction notice! What should I do?

Under certain circumstances, a landlord can evict a tenant in order to renovate a suite. However, there are many conditions under how such an eviction can occur. Before we get into any details, your best move is to contact the Residential Tenancies Branch (204-945-2476) as they are the authority that

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has the right to refuse an eviction order issued by your landlord. When a landlord issues an order of eviction for renovation, a verbal notice to move is never sufficient. The notice must be put into writing and, along with other elements, the notice must include:

- Currently, in Winnipeg, notice must be

at least five months in advance of the

end of your year-long lease. Also, a

landlord cannot force you to move

during the school year if you have

children attending school. For

example, if your lease was up on

December 31, 2014, the landlord

would have to issue you notice no later

than July 31, 2014.

- Notice of “right of first refusal,” a

concept where your landlord must offer

you the right to move back into your

suite after renovations are complete.

This notice must also include any

increase in rent and this increase has

to be first approved by the Residential

tenancies Branch.

- Notice that the landlord must pay you

compensation for moving expenses,

currently up to a maximum of $500.

- Notice that you have the right to

contact the Residential Tenancies

Branch if you want to dispute the

notice.

- Notice that you have the right to move

before the eviction date.

- This notice must also include standard

information, such as the date, your

name, your address and signature by

the landlord.

If any one of these elements are missing, the notice might be invalid, meaning you do not have to move on the date listed on the notice. If you feel this might be the case doe your notice, contact the Residential Tenancies Branch. In addition, if you feel that you can still live in the unit while the renovations are taking place, you have the right to dispute the notice. Good luck!

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Across 3.) Surname of the Executive Director of ILRC 9.) Fear of the number 13 13.) To be done in “a pig’s whistle” is to be done __________ 14.) The ‘R’ in ILRC 15.) Surname of the first man to hit a golf ball on the moon

Down 1.) The largest planet in our solar system 2.) Surname of the inventor of bifocal lenses 4.) Known as the father of western medicine 5.) High blood pressure 6.) The aircraft designed by William Powell Lear 7.) This king was known to turn anything he touched to gold 8.) The floor in the ILRC office has varying textures to aid the __________ impaired 9.) There are ______________ accessible washrooms in the ILRC office 10.) Caterpillars of the monarch butterfly need this plant to survive 11.) Machu Picchu was built by this civilization 12.) The company to first retail Aspirin in 1915

Announcing ILRC’s PACE Cover Contest!

If Yes, This contest may be for you!

ILRC is looking for a creative, innovative person(s) to design the front and back covers of our PACE National Package!

We want the cover to reflect the uniqueness of the PACE program and the leadership of the

disability community.

**Cash prizes available**

Email thecentre@ilrc.mb.ca for more info!

Are you creative?

Do you have a

flair for Art or

Design?

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1st prize: $250

2nd prize: $150

3rdprize: $75

July 3rd July 30th August 21st

All anglers must register by contacting:

Adele Legault

Email: adelel@ilrc.mb.ca

Phone: (204) 947-0194

All derbies will begin at 1:00pm on the

Riverwalk behind the Manitoba Legislature

Overall winners will be announced after all

derbies have taken place

Cash prizes will be awarded!

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Please Note that Independent Living Resource Centre will be conducting office renovations throughout July, August and September. This means the office will have limited staff during this time. Stay tuned for our new and improved finished product!

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MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM

Your membership helps us in programs, production and mailing costs of this newsletter. Being a member has its benefits in that you can vote at our next annual meeting, you receive our quarterly newsletter, and most of all you support the Centre and what we do. If you have not renewed your membership, please do so. The cost is $5.00. Please inform us about the following: ___ New Member ___ Renewal ___ I prefer not to receive any mailings from ILRC.

Name: _________________________ I prefer to receive my newsletter in this Format: Org. Name: ___________________ 1. Audio tape ____ 4 Braille ____ Phone: _________________________ 2. Large print _____ 5. Disk _____ 3. Email text only ____ 6 Print copy ____ Address:________________________ Postal Code:_____________________

ILRC STAFF Executive Director: John Young

Senior Program Coordinator: Doug Lockhart

Controller/Accountant: Thom Lamont

Assistant to the Executive Director/UEDP

Project Officer: Robert Mitchell

Reception: Libby Zdriluk/Volunteers

Payroll Coordinator: Michael Jimenez

Information & Referral: Glennys Beardy,

Natalie Pirson

Independent Living Skills/Peer Support: Joanne

Fabian

Individual Self-Advocacy: Marie-Lynn Hamilton

Network Administrator: Jason Hirose

ASM Staff: Adele Legault, Karl Paterson,

Kaylynn Dorne, Aaron Tully, Robin Hannigan

Senior Community Living Coordinator: Jodie

Jephcote

IL Consultant, Brokerage: Tina Gledhill

Tenant Resource Coordinator: Kelly Thurston

Community Living Staffing: Romeo Recalde

IL Consultant, Brokerage: Mildrate Matanga

MIST Housing Team Leader: Krystal Polson

Leisure Education: Joanne Fabian, James Kim,

Christina Buebos

Personal Attendant Community Education: Terry McIntosh

Urban Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Project: Robert Mitchell, Glennys Beardy

Kids on the Block: Zöe Kogan

DART Training: Joanne Fabian