Program Schedule
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Friday, October 22, 2010
9:00 a.m. — 10:00 a.m.
Opening Plenary: Join us as we open our conference with messages from leaders in the community movement - sharing stories and lessons that inspire, challenge, and 'move mountains' for change. We welcome John Lord, parent, author, researcher, and family leader, who will talk with us about his perspective on challenges we face and how families and their allies are changing the future.
BREAK 10:00 - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. Sessions (see below)
Inclusive Education: Teaching Everyone, All the Time, Everywhere (continued at 1:30 p.m.)
This session will focus on inclusive education as a school reform issue rather than a special education issue, and will argue that all students can participate in grade-level curricula when teachers plan units and lessons that have a place in them for everyone. Examples of inclusive instruction for students with significant cognitive, motor, and/or communication disabilities will be provided as illustrations.
presenter: Pat Mirenda
The Home Stretch - Transitioning from Secondary School to Life as a Young Adult
This session will discuss the partnership between School District 43’s (Coquitlam) work experience program for students with disabilities and the Transitions program at Douglas College. Learn how working with community agencies can help students successfully transition from school to adult life and how you can start up your own service provider’s roundtable.
presenter: Cindy Lee
The Hopes of Inclusive Education Through Participation, Belonging and Opportunity
See inclusive education through the eyes of a teenager; this session will present a short documentary on the inclusive education experience of Dallen, followed by an open panel discussion reflecting on the film.
presenter: Aimee Morry
Climb Every Mountain - Dreaming Our Possibilities - (continued Saturday at 9:00 a.m.)
This workshop is a journey of discovery, based on the belief that if you understand your purpose and are doing something about it - you are a powerful leader. Participants will be guided through fun activities, small and large group discussion and the completion of a “dreambook” presentation.
presenters: Barb Goode and Shelley Nessman
Family Networking for Inclusive Lives
Learn how two groups of families at different parts of their journey (representing both young children and young adults) have realized that working and thinking together has the potential to create new ways of realizing an inclusive life for their sons and daughters.
presenter: Catriona Johnson
Real Work for Real Pay - the Voices of Self Advocates and Families
This panel will feature family members as advocates for their sons and daughters as well as self advocates who are standing up for their right to work and be paid. The panel will share successes and challenges, answering questions from families, self advocates and care providers on employment and real work for real pay.
presenters: Hope Taylor, Rasika Aklujkar, Bryce Schaufelberger, Amy McMillan
Grassroots Social Marketing for Small Non-Profits
The imagery and messaging your group uses has significant impact on whether or not your stories get
told in popular media. This session will look at how to create social messages about inclusion, social justice and the imperative of diversity.
presenter: Krista Flint
Building Lasting Friendships
This workshop will explore the role of families in developing friendships for self advocates. Through
practical ideas, stories and sharing, participants will learn about friendship development during the early years, transition years and adult years of their children.
presenter: Wendy-Sue Andrew
Building Inclusive Communities
Learn how families across the country are building the capacity of communities to properly support families as they are empowered to support themselves. Through facilitated discussion, session participants will be asked to identify the various barriers and challenges faced by individuals and families in getting what they need to secure inclusive lives in the community.
presenters: Doris Rajan, Don Gallant
Friday - LUNCH - 12:00 p.m. — 1:30 p.m.
1:30 p.m. — 2:45 p.m. Sessions (see below)
Teaching Everyone... (continued from 12:00)
Post Secondary Education and Inclusion (continued at 3:15 p.m.)
Inclusive post-secondary education has proven to be an effective means for an inclusive adult life and meaningful employment. However, opportunities to be included in universities and colleges remain very limited or non-existent. This session will highlight quality inclusive post-secondary education, and how to create and expand these opportunities across Canada.
Representatives from STEPS Forward, BC Inclusive Post Secondary Education, will also be on hand to answer questions and share information about the work being done to support students with developmental disabilities at colleges and universities in BC.
presenters: Bruce Uditsky, Anne Hughson, Vianne Timmons, Tamara Hurtado, Jessica Humprhey
The Art of Inclusion: Pushing Boundaries, Moving Mountains and Creating Pathways to Potential
This participation-oriented workshop will lead participants through a variety of dramatic, abstract
art and thinking-outside-the-box activities in order to consider creative ways of tapping into an individual’s potential as it relates to education.
presenter: Cindy Frostad
Self Advocates Seeding Innovation (SASI)
Join us on a virtual tour of the Self Advocates Seeding Innovations (SASI) project. Coordinated by the BC Association for Community Living and funded by Community Living BC, SASI has made it possible for self advocates across BC to lead their own groundbreaking projects in community.
presenters: Tanya Norman, Karla Verschoor, Bryce Schaufelberger & Jo Rikley
Experience of Homesharing - Voices of Self Advocates
This workshop will highlight findings from a research project (based at the Centre for Inclusion and
Citizenship at UBC) exploring the residential option of “Home Sharing” in British Columbia. The session will include a discussion and question/answer period.
presenters: Rachelle Hole, Dale Froese, Leanne Froese, Earllene Roberts, Sara Lige
Cross Ministry Transition Planning Protocol for Youth with Special Needs
In October of 2009 nine government organizations developed a protocol on how they would work together to support youth with special needs and their families as youth transition to adulthood. This session will examine the protocol as a tool that can be used by youth and their families across Canada in conjunction with educators, government, employers and other community members when planning for this important transition.
Safeguards: Addressing Vulnerability Through Planning and Families (continued at 3:15 p.m.)
This workshop will look at Safeguards as deliberate actions that help a person to be safe in the community, to take advantage of opportunities, and to prevent harmful things from happening.
presenters: Angela Clancy and Shirley Yamashita-Paterson
A Matter of Life or Death
End-of-life-care and euthanasia debates, pandemic protocols and protocols on withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment are raising troubling ethical questions for people with intellectual disabilities. Join members of CACL’s Values and Ethics Task Force to discuss these pressing ethical issues that challenge and confound us.
Presenters: Bendina Miller, Audrey Cole, Val Surbey, Shane Haddad, Anna MacQuarrie
Successful Housing Partnerships
This workshop will profile a successful partnership between BC Housing, Pacifica Housing Advisory
Association and Community Living Victoria. Participants will learn successful strategies to leverage community resources to provide inclusive affordable housing.
presenter: Ellen Tarshis
Friday 3:15 — 4:30 p.m. Sessions (see below)
Post Secondary Education (continued from 2:45)
Safeguards: Addressing Vulnerability Through Planning and Families (continued from 2:45)
UN Convention: Change Agent or Status Quo?
This session will facilitate a discussion as to what Canada’s ratification of the UN Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) means for families and self-advocates. Learn how to use the Convention as a tool to make chnage and to secure the rights of people with disabilities in Canad.
Presenters: Anna MacQuarrie
World Cafe: Promoting Self Determination
Moving from group to group, participants will discuss approaches to promoting self-determination for people with developmental disabilities. The main ideas and themes will be presented at the end of the session.
facilitator: Karla Verschoor
Accessing Your Community
This practical, hands-on workshop will look at ways to find out what’s going on in your community, how
to become included in your community and where to look for information on what is available to you in your community.
presenter: Laura Klassen
Finding the Perfect Match: My Path to Employment
Through the personal story of one individual’s path to employment, this session will introduce and share approaches to supporting individuals who face barriers to employment. The session will also share methods of developing partnerships with local businesses, families, and communities that can help break down these barriers.
presenter: Tamara Shaw
Parent Power: Developing a Voice for our Children
Learn about “Parent Power,” a new project from the the New Brunswick Association for Community Living that is helping parents advocate for services and information for their children enrolled in early learning and child care environments. Participants will learn how they can play a leading role in the development of their child’s supports.
presenter: Dixie Lee Mitchell
The Importance of Friendship in Living a Good Life
Having close friends makes a person feel valued. After the screening of a short film that explores and
demonstrates the value of friendship, participants will form into groups and share ideas about friendship. Groups will present their ideas through a fun improv presentation.
presenter: Amy McMillan
Accessing Resources in Your Community
Many families throughout the province have found interesting and innovative ways to access local community resources for their loved ones. Come and hear a panel of family members discuss how they have achieved this, share information and strategies and pool ideas on how support your loved one the most out of their communities.
presenters: Panel of Family Members
Friday 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. • • Opening Ceremonies
Friday 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. • • President’s Reception
Saturday October 23
9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Sessions (see below)
Climb Every Mountain (continued from Friday morning session)
CommunityWORKS (continued at 10:30 a.m.)
This session will use the “Star Raft: New Tools for Identifying, Engaging and Mobilizing Community
Connections” to offer a robust set of tools and strategies for developing and maintaining action-oriented personal support networks that are asset-based, family-friendly, and anchored in valued community relationships.
presenter: David Wetherow
A Guided Tour: Special Education Resources
This session will take parents and educators through a guided online tour of special education resources, including projects such as the BC CASE Resource Teacher Learning Series and the BCTF Teaching to Diversity website.
presenter: Saima Fewster
Family WORKS
This workshop will include an overview of FamilyWORKs, a family based economic inclusion project, followed by a discussion about the role of families in securing meaningful employment for people with developmental disabilities.
presenter: Kevin Lusignan and Maggie Vilvang
Using Art to Advance Inclusion
Join Ynklude for a fun and interactive session demonstrating the inner workings of this successful
inclusive arts collective from the Yukon Territory.
presenter: Julie Robinson, Ynklude
Session in Development
presenter: Andrew D. Robinson, from the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth. Andrew is the Associate Deputy Representative; Advocacy, Community and Aboriginal Relations.
Transition Times - Important Planning Points on Your Journey to Adulthood
This fun and lively session will review and discuss the transition ‘hot spots’ from infancy to adulthood - specifically Infancy/Early Childhood, Kindergarten and Primary School, Adolescence/Puberty, Secondary School and transitioning to Adulthood. Successful outcomes and challenges faced in dealing with transition points will also be discussed.
presenter: Sylvie Zebroff
Saturday - BREAK 10:15 - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 — 12:00 p.m. Sessions (see below)
Community WORKS (continued from 10:15 a.m.)
Deinstitutionalization: Finding Out, Getting Out, Speaking Out
This workshop will present information about the history of institutionalization of people with intellectual disabilities in Canada, the experiences of people who have been institutionalized and current efforts and the challenges faced in ensuring that all institutions across Canada are closed and remain closed.
moderators: Shane Haddad and Norm McLeod
presenters: members of the People First of Canada/CACL Joint Task Force on Deinstitutionalization
People Planning Together: Building Self Esteem
This workshop will talk about the challenges self advocates face on a daily bases and how can we get
where we want with determination. We will talk about People Planning Together how it changes lives. We will also talk about building a worker co-op and a way to start your own business, making your dreams come true. There is never a dream to big to reach.
presenter: Gladys Duran, Ryan Groth, Barb Goode & James White
Building a Grassroots Social Movement
A panel of families and committed community partners from across Canada will explore the roles of families, local ACL’s and community groups as we build a new social movement for the 21st century to the lead the agenda of human rights and full citizenship for people with developmental disabilities in Canada. This session will also showcase the experiences of other social change movements that have been successful in advancing the rights of marginalized people.
Panel presenters: TBA
The Early Years (0-5)
This session showcases what we have learned from our conversations with families who have a member with a developmental disability. The workshop will focus on what we’ve learned about balance, quality of life and working in partnership with service providers. Participants will be invited to consider and dialogue about what family-centred practice really means.
Presenter: Val Upton
Passing the Torch: Transitioning Family Supports to the Next Generation
Learn about a joint project by the Community Living Society and family members that is assisting the
transition of family support networks from parents and other older family members to siblings and younger family and friends.
presenter: Debra Smith
Reciprocal Relationships: The Final Frontier
Learn about Personal Support Network projects happening across BC in this multimedia, interactive
workshop. Participants will discuss the top ten questions that people ask, and what we think the
answers might be, and how we’ve come to believe that we’re actually further ahead than anyone suspected!.
presenter: Aaron Johannes
Saturday - 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
LUNCH and Midway Plenary
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Sessions (see below)
Inclusive Activities for Youth Group Leaders
Need some new techniques for effectively engaging young people? This session includes the teachings of “12 Inclusive Activities” as well as some additional theories and practices adult allies won’t want to miss!
presenter: Elsie Kipp
Taking Care of Others, Taking Care of Ourselves
In the past, people with disabilities have been denied the chance to make decisions and take care of our loved ones. Hear stories of how self advocates are caring for parents, children, spouses, friends and ourselves. We will explore the issues we face in playing these roles. Help us celebrate our abilities and successes in making our own decisions and choices.
presenters: David Johnston, Gerald Oesch, Lorie Sherritt, Sherry Shortman
Families Promoting Employment
This interactive workshop will bring families together to explore the philosophy and direction of employment for their sons and daughters. Learning to see through an employment focused lens families will learn to envision a future where employment is a component of their son or daughter’s life.
presenter: Cathy Anthony, Helen Stovell and Hope Taylor-Polaris
Family Emergency Preparedness and Building Social Networks
The increasing number of Canadians affected by natural disasters has shown us the need to take the lead and be prepared in the event of a natural disaster. This session will look at the importance of building on social networks to strengthen individuals’ and families’ ability to survive and recover from disasters.
presenter: Karen Martin
Social Media for Social Change
Learn how LiveWorkPlay (Community Living affiliate in Ottawa, Ontario) is using social media to transform itself from a social services agency to a social change agency, shifting from a focus on disability differences to one of human commonalities, and working to change conditions and attitudes in the community to support a transition to attitudes and practices that promote the full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
presenter: Keenan Wellar
The Joys and Challenges of being a Brother or a Sister
This workshop will highlight the stories of three sisters in their journey of having a brother and a sister with a developmental disability. It will speak to the need and hope of brothers and sisters as allies in a journey towards full opportunity for their brother or sister.
presenter: Jasmyne Quaife
Cultivating Intuition - Balancing Logic & Intuition for Effective Decision Making
Intuition is unlimited, always accessible and never wrong. It is with you at all times, always providing you with important information. The question is, how often do you listen to it? Join us for this fun and interactive workshop where, using creative activities, open dialogue and written material, you will strengthen your intuitive capacity and apply it to practical life situations.
presenter: Vince Gowman
Saturday - BREAK 3:00 - 3:30 p.m.
3:30 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.
Closing Plenary
Join us for an inspirational closing plenary that will weave together the themes, learnings and stories gleaned from the conference. Speakers will include representatives from all three of the conference hosts along with other community living family leaders.
7:00 p.m. — 12:00 a.m.
Celebration Dinner and Dance
Join old and new friends for an evening of good food and good times. Don’t forget to wear your dancing shoes to party Whistler-style! Dance the night away to the rockin’ tunes of All Shook Up.
Sunday October 24
*note: The Canadian Association for Community Living will be holding its annual general meeting throughout the day on Sunday. Details to follow.
8:00 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.
Family Breakfast
8:30 a.m. — 10:00 a.m.
The Gauthier Family
Joanne and Mike Gauthier, along with their daughters, will share their journey as parents with intellectual disabilities living in interior BC. Joanne and Mike will talk about good times and not so good times, sharing what they have learned as a family through song, pictures and story telling. We hope to inspire people to take chances and challenge people to shift their perception about parenting with a disability.
BREAK 10:15 - 10:30 a.m.
Sunday - 10:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
Advocacy Central
As families, we face a number of challenges as we navigate the range of supports and services for our children. The range and availability of these supports and services has been impacted by limited budgets in many areas.
Families find they need to develop and improve their skills to become strong and effective advocates to access the supports and services their children need and to uphold their children’s rights. This session will give families the opportunity to share: the issues they are facing, their successes and strategies, and the resources they have found in their communities, and in themselves.
facilitator: John Lord
