by Jeff Stackhouse The Berry Beat Festival takes place in downtown Abbotsford each year on the first weekend in July and attracts approximately 30,000 people to the historic downtown core. This year’s fest was improved due to the addition of a Farmer’s Market, The Vancouver Busker’s Festival, and the addition of new musical […]
Employers in the BC Labour Market are having a tough time finding good employees to fill the jobs that need doing right now. With one million job openings expected over the next ten years, agencies like the BC Self Advocacy Foundation (BCSAF) are working to ensure people with disabilities have the right not just to apply for these jobs, […]
The Kamloops Self-Advocate is a newsletter for people with diverse abilities published by Krystian Shaw. The July 2014 edition of The Kamloops Self-Advocate is all about volunteering and the Inclusion BC conference, and features upcoming events, recipes, and much more! Click here to download the July edition of the Kamloops Self Advocate Newsletter. If you would like […]
by Shelley Decoste My very first official experience as a Self Advocate happened at a conference in Smithers in 1986. It all began when someone from the Fort St. John Association for Community Living mentioned that they were interested in sending a couple of self-advocates to the first annual Northern Self Advocate Conference. […]
In British Columbia Canada, the unemployment rate for individuals living with the label of developmental disability is over 83% yet employers rate this demographic as 93% more hardworking. Transitioning youth are passionate about employment! In the Simon Fraser Region of BC, employment is the most requested service through Community Living BC (Government of BC). Over […]
Tara Kimberley Torme is a self-advocate who has been diagnosed with Asberger’s Syndrome. She recently attended the InclusionBC conference in Nanaimo, and here she shares her experience of the four-day event. If you would like to read her more detailed recap of the conference, please click here: 2014 InclusionBC Conference Recap At the 2014 […]
Brandi Morrison-Stovman should not have to explain to her son Braedyn what a “retard” is. But the 12-year old who has Down Syndrome asked her this painful question. A recent experience while camping caused Stovman to speak out about acceptance and kindness. “He loves to camp. We go to the beach a lot,” she said. ”We […]
Too frequently, in the health care field, adults with developmental disabilities are unnoticed, uncomplaining, and unheard; neglect and abuse are commonplace. Paramedics, nurses, firemen, search and rescue personnel, trauma doctors, and family physicians all have a responsibility to help make developmentally disabled patients’ lives better by first acknowledging people with developmental disabilities as people and […]
My name is Margaret Hunder. I was born in Pouce Coupe, BC, in 1955. I moved to Dawson Creek when I was 6 years old. I come from a line of strong advocates. I had two parents who made sure I went to regular school and had every opportunity to learn like all the other […]
by Jeff Stackhouse Every Canada Day Abbotsford chooses a Canada Day theme. This year it was “Beach Party”. The music, fireworks, and parade were harmonized with the beach party theme. At a scorching 32 degrees, what better theme could there be as everyone I know wished to be at the beach. This way, the […]
