COMMUNITYLIVINGREPORT

Message been a member of the Transition from the Steering Committee and was sitting Board on the interim board of directors for CLBC. I realized that Nicole’s life after graduation had not been as suc- CONTENTS By M. Lynn cessful as her school years, and Rolko Message from the 1 she’d deserved greater participation Board Welcome to in the community at large. My deter- the September mination to see individuals have the September 6th: 2 edition of Community Living Report. opportunity to access more choices, CLBC celebrated its When Lois asked me if I would be greater independence, to be part of independence interested in writing a guest article in the whole community and be heard our newsletter, I hesitated for a very became even more intense. October is 3 brief moment. Yes it was brief, Community Living So here we are -- after years of ask- because as many of you know, I am Month! ing governments for change and for extremely passionate and often over responsibility for our loved ones, their excited about the possibilities for CLBC takes another 4 families and their support networks, individuals, their families, friends and step towards CLBC has become a reality. This is support networks in the Community "A New Way" significant. I am excited about the Living family. opportunity facilitators will have to EVENT REMINDER: 4 I remember when we got the tele- participate in supporting individuals BCACL is turning 50 phone call from Nicole's principal let- and families in a more flexible and ting us know that she and four other caring way. I say in a caring way, From Good to Great 5 children with special needs would be because for years the facilitators training event moving into the mainstream in their have been gatekeepers instead of local schools. I was overjoyed and at doing what they were trained to do. Person-centered 6 the same time I was terrified. As a I look forward to service providers planning in action result of Nicole becoming "just anoth- sharing their successes and innova- er kid" she went on to graduate with tive ideas with all of us. I am pleased Creating safeguards 7 her peers to a standing ovation. that families and their loved ones will When we lost Nicole, in 2003, a few have meaningful participation in the You've Gotta Have 7 of her friends contacted all of her person centered planning process. Friends project graduating class and the majority of I know our board and staff will stay A national forum 8 them attended her Celebration of true to the vision. I also know that in Life at her high school. Oskar and I order to be successful our communi- Contact us 8 were overwhelmed by the respect ty must act as one. It is natural to be and the love radiating throughout the fearful of change, but in time, I know celebration. SEPTEMBER 2005 the compassion that lives in all of us Vol.1 No.9 At the time of Nicole's passing I had will turn our hopes into reality. COMMUNITYLIVINGREPORT The Newsletter for Community Living BC

September 6th: CLBC celebrated its move to independence in an afternoon of food, fun, music and recognition...

We would like to thank everyone who joined us on this special day. Our vision, that children and adults with developmental disabilities, supported by family members and friends, will have the opportunities and supports needed to pursue their own goals and par- ticipate as full and valued citizens in their communities, is one step closer to becoming reality. We hope you enjoy the pictures of a great day!

Amanda Lennard & Lois Hollstedt

Paul Goldberg provides some entertainment while flipping hotdogs 2

Jeff Moulins with a friend Minister Hagen opens the celebrations COMMUNITYLIVINGREPORT The Newsletter for Community Living BC

October is Community Living Month! AROUND BC: EVENTS AT A GLANCE 1st annual Art Show for BC artists with developmental WHERE EVENT DATE/TIME HOST disabilities.

Cloverdale: "A Night of Stars" September 30 Peace Arch October 6th & 7th Shannon Hall Community Services Terasen Gas Building 6050-176th St. www.pacsbc.com (ballrooms), 1111 West Georgia St., Vancouver. Prince George: Community Living October 7 AiMHi Prince 950 Kerry Street Pancake 8am - 11am George Breakfast (free) www.aimhi.ca The Mainstream Association and the Prince George: A "Fall Fun Fair" October 15 AiMHi & West Ethical Funds Company 950 Kerry Street - for the Family. 11am - 3pm Bowl Association Gymnasium www.aimhi.ca join forces to celebrate Community Living Month, October 2005, by hosting Surrey: The Imposter's October 15 www.bcacl.org Central City Review the 1st annual art show Shopping Centre for people with develop- mental disabilities. Penticton: Community Living October 21 Penticton & District Leir House, Month Tea Community 220 Manor Park Resources Society Event & Art Show www.pdcrs.ca October 6th, Williams Lake: Open House: October 21 Williams Lake 6 pm - 10 pm Opportunity Centre, Community Living Association for 203 North 5th ave. Evening Banquet Community Living www.wlacl.com Art Show & Silent Auction

Williams Lake: Concert: October 21 Williams Lake October 7th, Opportunity Centre, Handchimes 1pm Association for 10 am - 6 pm 203 North 5th ave. Community Living www.wlacl.com For details, please see Prince George: An afternoon of October 27 Prince George Self 950 Kerry Street - Bingo (free) 1pm - 3pm Advocate Caucus their website: www.aimhi.ca Gymnasium www.artshow.mapcl.org

Prince George: AiMHi's Halloween October 28 AiMHi, Community 950 Kerry Street - Dance. Tickets: 6:30pm - 10pm Options & P.G. Self Gymnasium $5.00 / person Advocate Caucus www.aimhi.ca

3 COMMUNITYLIVINGREPORT The Newsletter for Community Living BC

CLBC takes another step towards “A New Way” EVENT REMINDER BC Association for Community Living CLBC's new service delivery model is a change (BCACL) is turning 50! from the way we used to provide services to you. BCACL 50th Anniversary Conference and To make sure the service you get is uninterrupt- AGM ed and high quality, CLBC has decided to phase in the new approach slowly. This means the new September 29 - October 1, Vancouver approach will be tried out in just a few communi- Airport Conference Resort, Richmond ties first before introducing it province-wide. 2005 marks BCACL's 50th year of advo- CLBC has identified the communities of cating for the inclusion of people with Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Langley to develop developmental disabilities in the commu- and conduct business in this "new way," nity. BCACL is looking forward to a year of beginning in October 2005. reflection, celebration and building on its These communities were suggested for the fol- foundations for the future. 'Everyone lowing reasons: Belongs' is the theme for the conference 1. They are close to headquarters for and AGM on Sept. 29 - Oct. 1. It will be a support logistics great place to build skills and increase knowledge about rights and strategies. 2. There is a mix of service providers in each Everyone is invited! community For more information, visit 3. There is support for the CLBC model from the BCACL website: providers www.bcacl.org/BCACL_50th_Anniversary/ 4. There is an urban/rural mix in the geographic area 5. There will be a Community Living Centre The CBLC staff in the Abbotsford office have located in the community along with been asked to participate in this phased-in quality service analysts on site approach. This development will be closely mon- itored for a three month period ending on December 31, 2005. The Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Langley CLBC offices will provide services and conduct busi- The information gathered in Abbotsford will be ness following the new CLBC service delivery used as the model is being phased in through- model. These offices will also provide CLBC with out the province beginning in January 2006. the opportunity to monitor this change, adjust A project manager will oversee the development where necessary and provide "best practice" site and will report directly to Doug Woollard, information to continue with this roll out across Vice President, Planning and Community the province. Development. 4 COMMUNITYLIVINGREPORT The Newsletter for Community Living BC

From Good to Great: Developing Person- will begin processing workshop applications on Centered Agencies in British Columbia October 3rd. TRAINING EVENT * Please note that initial registration will be limited to 2 people per agency because CLBC is hopeful that representatives from as many different service This past spring, CLBC hosted the first From Good providers as possible from across the province will to Great conference -- a gathering focused on devel- attend this workshop. oping person-centered agencies in BC. For more information, please visit our website: Under CLBC, person centered thinking and planning www.communitylivingbc.ca/from_good_to_great/ will now play a major role in the new service deliv- ery model. At its simplest level, it is a way of organ- izing activities and supports around one person to meet his or her needs and work towards a better future. TRAINING EVENT: In November phase II of the Good to Great confer- ence series will be held in both Kelowna and Kelowna: November 28 & 29 Richmond. These conferences will be entitled Capri Hotel, 1711 Harvey Avenue, Building Capacity for Person Centered Supports Kelowna, BC. and Services: A Workshop in Person Centered Room rates are $70.00 per night plus Thinking. applicable taxes for single or double occu- This event will bring people together to share ideas, pancy. An additional adult occupying the and help service providers facilitate personal plan- same room is $10.00 per night. Poolside ning more effectively for individuals and families. rooms are an additional $20.00 per night. This 2-day training event, facilitated by Michael Richmond: November 30 & December 1 Smull, serves as a foundation for anyone involved in Riverside Palace - 14500 River Road, supporting people with developmental disabilities. Richmond. Day one will focus on learning person-centered thinking skills that support choice, while also addressing health and safety issues. In day two, About the Facilitator: participants will focus on practicing mindful listen- ing and using the information to describe what is Michael Smull is the director of Support important, and how to best support each person. Development Associates and has worked with peo- ple with disabilities for the past 30 years. He has The training is designed and recommended for all extensive experience in nearly all aspects of devel- paid staff, regardless of their role. CLBC field staff oping community services. Michael has written and managers are also encouraged to participate. extensively on issues relating to supporting people The cost to register is $150.00. Registration forms with challenging behaviors, person centered plan- will be available on the CLBC website in the coming ning, and the challenge of changing systems to sup- weeks and the BC Association for Community Living port self-determination. 5 COMMUNITYLIVINGREPORT The Newsletter for Community Living BC

approach can benefit someone involves a young man that I have worked with for many years. The young man has many challenging behaviours Person-Centered that led to him being placed in residential care Planning in when he was younger. These challenges Action eventually led to placement breakdowns, critical incidents involving violence/aggression, and he left school sooner than planned. By Doug Barr Social Worker, In May of 2004, this young man was spending Courtenay on average 10 days a month in the local psychi- atric ward, receiving PRN medication almost every day, and most importantly being extremely I have been a CLS unhappy with his life. Through my work in the IF social worker since project, I was able to consider a more person- 1993 and have centered approach for him. I was able to spend worked in the Comox Valley the entire time. In the time necessary to review what he wanted to my practice, I have attempted to have a person- have in his life. I spent time with him, his centered approach as much as possible, given support network and his family. I was able to the restrictions placed on me by the existing sys- apply the principles of person-centered planning tem. I found over time that I was frequently in to his situation, and from that, helped create an the position of trying to fit a person into an individualized plan of support. The plan required existing service, even if it was clear that the sup- a team approach, with everyone keeping the port or service was not optimum. This often young man at the center of all we did. required me to be reactive when the inevitable The end result is that as of this month, the crises would develop. Ironically, I would then young man has not been hospitalized in 17 have to spend more time and resources fixing months, he has only needed to receive PRN problems that were created by the "pounding a medication twice in that same period, he runs round peg in a square hole" style of social work. his own planning meetings once every two I was dissatisfied with the way in which my prac- weeks with his whole team, and most important- tice was headed and became very interested in ly he is happier then he has been in many years. the possibilities offered by the Individualized He still has his challenges, but his flexible sup- Funding Project. I applied for and was accepted port plan can accommodate his needs and he to be a facilitator in 2003-2004. I took part in does not have to fit into our existing programs. the provincial training and was able to see that For this young man, he is finally "a round peg fit- a person-centered approach was possible, and ting into a round hole." that my practice did not have to change in a radical way to adopt it. Doug Barr Social Worker The clearest example of how a person-centered Community Living BC, Courtenay 6 COMMUNITYLIVINGREPORT The Newsletter for Community Living BC

Creating safeguards craft intentional safeguards to enhance strengths and for people with assets in both people and organizations. Properly done, such intentional safeguards can produce many disabilities important benefits. For example: freedom from undue by Michael Kendrick, PhD anxiety, more adequate preparations for managing and anticipating adverse events, the ability to manage Most people with disabilities risk better and address needs more effectively, better live with vulnerabilities of all quality and flexibility of safeguards to respond to what kinds, and many of these could people and organizations actually need. develop into a significant cause for concern under certain conditions. Fortunately, vul- On August 11, North Okanagan Community Life nerabilities can be managed so the probability of Society sponsored a workshop led by Michael some events is prevented or lessened. Kendrick on the relationship between the creation of intentional safeguards and generating quality of life The same is true of organizations -- the quality of their outcomes for people with disabilities. work and contribution is also vulnerable and may need to be managed in order to be properly addr- The event was attended by self advocates, family ressed. In both instances, a positive approach is to members, service providers and staff.

You've Gotta Have Friends genuine friendships for people living with disabilities. After several meetings discussions have grown to A project in community development include seniors, family members of individuals with developmental disabilities, youth from the local col- A good life is more than just services. A good life lege, ministers from various local churches and pub- means being surrounded by family and friends, and lic health staff. These discussions focus on communi- engagement with the community. ty development --- on creating ways for the communi- ty itself to take ownership of this issue, instead of The Langley Association for Community Living (LACL) relying on governments to provide direction or fund- believes strongly in this idea. LACL has been provid- ing. Around 200 community leaders, public and pri- ing a large number of programs, supports and initia- vate, from the Langley area have been invited to tives to the community living sector for many years learn more about these discussions and to have the now. However, staff have recognized for a long time opportunity to become a bridge between people on that for some people, these do not go far enough. both sides of this issue. Some individuals they support do not have anyone in their lives besides those who are paid to be there. On November 8th 2005, You've Gotta Have Friends As a result these individuals can feel lonely and iso- will hold a celebration to announce the winners of lated, living within their communities but not feeling their recent photo contest. Be sure to watch the LACL connected to the people and activities around them. website for contest winners. About a year ago LACL started a new project called For more information, please visit the LACL website: You've Gotta Have Friends. The project members www.langleyacl.org/friendship/ or contact Daniel gather regularly to explore and discuss the issue of Collins, Executive Director: [email protected]. 7 COMMUNITYLIVINGREPORT The Newsletter for Community Living BC

A National Forum: inclusion, human rights, and equality of their Advancing a family agenda to support family member with a disability. This forum will look at disability and family support across the Canadians with disabilities lifespan -- from pre-natal life, to children, work- ing-age adults and seniors. Hosted by the Canadian and Saskatchewan Engage in dialogue, learning, and building soli- Associations for Community Living, and the darity for a broad-based family support agenda Canadian Coalition for Family Supportive Policy. with a focus on: inclusive ethics and values; When: November 2 - 4, 2005 access to disability supports; inclusive communi- ties; family economic security; planning for the Where: Sheraton Cavalier Hotel, Saskatoon, future; and family leadership and networking. Saskatchewan. The purpose of this forum is to bring together For more information: Visit their website: people with disabilities, families, advocates, poli- www.seatoskymeetings.com/cacl/ or contact cy makers, and researchers to consider how to Greg Holmes, Project Coordinator with Sea to advance a family agenda that can support the Sky Meeting Management Inc.: (604) 984- wide diversity of families seeking to secure the 6455, Email: [email protected]

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