Overcoming Odds and Barriers with Education by Krystian Shaw

I am so excited. I have run my newspaper business for four and half years now. I've been told I have good writing skills, but I still need someone to edit my work. Most of the writing skills I have learned by myself because once I started grade 8, my teachers mainly focused on teaching me life skills. So I am going back to school to improve my skills for my business and career.

The public school district is offering adults from 18 and up to take courses to get there Dogwood diploma. My main focus is to get writing and communication skills so I can learn how to condense my writing. My goal is to say everything I want to say in as little words as possible. And I would like to improve my writing skills so very little if any editing needs to be done in my newsletter articles. For those who don’t know what my newsletter is about, please go to my facebook page at The Kamloops Self Advocate Newsletter/Diverse Abilities.

I am mainly concentrating on English and communication courses, but I will also tackle math and other important skills for my business called the Kamloops Self Advocate Newsletter. I register on April 24th for my schooling, but they gave me literacy tests such as math, English and reading comprehension in the meantime before I registered to know what grade level I am at.

The special education classroom in high school mostly focuses on life skills and work experience and they refused to teach me academics because they thought I couldn't do it.

Look at me now.

I run a business with little support. I want to be more independent, make my messages much shorter for Ability Online, as well as my business. I'm looking forward to improving my skills.

I would like to get my Dogwood which allows people to take university courses, but I don’t need it to reach my goals in life. Although, since I am a go-getter, I still want to keep that as my long-term goal. It’s referred to as street school and it’s free for all adults in the community who don't have their Dogwood and who were not able to graduate from public school.

If you want to upgrade to go to university, you can do that at a university. But they don’t offer you a Dogwood. You just get a grade 12 certificate. At Street School, you write government exams and will receive your grade 12 diploma once you complete all required courses, take the tests and pass.

I am grateful that free programs exist in the community, especially for those who were not offered the same education in school while growing up like me.

The educational system needs to realize, just because we are born with challenges, that doesn’t mean they should assume we are not capable. Give us a chance and push us to as far as we can go. We might surprise them and be capable of learning more than they ever thought we could. I will give an update after I register to let people know what grade level I do have without any formal education when I was young.

Don't "dis" my ability.

Canadian Paralympic Athletes Win Big by Shandi Pace

After sending it’s largest contingency to the Paralympics Canada did not disappoint. The
athletes representing the maple leaf picked up a total of 28 medals (8 gold, 4 silver, 16 bronze). This blows away Canada’s most successful Winter Games set in Vancouver in 2010 where 19 total medals were won, 10 of which were gold.

Many athletes were able to accomplish what they set out to do. Mark Arendz was the clear choice as Canada’s flag bearer after his impressive medal count. After years of heartbreak, he finally won the biathlon gold he was missing. Arendz won a total of five individual medals and a cross-country mixed relay silver to bring his total to six.

Brian McKeever became Canada’s most decorated Paralympic athlete and won triple gold in PyeongChang. He now has 16 Paralympic medals, 13 of them being gold. The Canadian men’s sledge hockey team took home the silver medal after a heartbreaking overtime loss to the United States.

Mollie Jepsen won four medals in South Korea, including gold in the women’s standing super-combined slalom. This 18-year-old can only walk away with her head held high and medals of every colour around her neck.

These athletes were unstoppable as soon as the Games started. With the amount of talent Canadian athletes have shown over the last two weeks, it’s only fitting to be even more excited for the next Paralympic Winter Games in 2022.

You Can Play by Shandi Pace

"If you can play, You Can Play.” At the beginning of March the National Hockey League’s wraps up its Hockey is for Everyone month. The NHL is one of the most accepting professional leagues stating that they, “believe all hockey programs – from professionals to youth organizations – should provide a safe, positive and inclusive environment for players and families regardless of race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation and socio-economic status.”

The NHL has a list of representatives they have been working with to guarantee inclusivity to anyone watching or playing the game of hockey. They include:

• Diversity ambassador Willie O’Ree – The first black person to play in the NHL.
• Josh Pauls – Captain of the U.S. National Sled team who will be competing at the 2018 Paralympics this month.
• Harrison Browne – The first openly transgender person in professional hockey.
• Fred Sasakamoose – The NHL’s first Canadian indigenous player.
• A player ambassador from each NHL team.

Partnered with the NHL and Hockey is for Everyone is the You Can Play Project. The You Can Play Project was created so that any athlete, coach or fan that brings heart to their sports arena is given an equal opportunity to play, regardless of their sexuality and gender identity.

The NHL’s Patrick Burke founded You Can Play in 2012, after his brother Brendan came out as gay in 2009 as the manager of the Miami (Ohio) University hockey team. He died months later in a car accident.

Brian Kitts took over as president of the You Can Play Project a year ago and has wanted to build Patrick and Brendan Burke’s memorable legacies. “You Can Play is non-profit organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ athletes and straight allies in sports. We specifically work for LGBTQ+ issues in sports, leaving other issues like employment and marriage equality to other organizations with that focus,” said Kitts.

Each NHL team hosted multiple pride nights and has a player ambassador that will serve as the go-to person on their team to talk about LGBTQ+ issues. This is the first time any professional league has had one designated player on each team who will be an LGBTQ+ ambassador.

"The true testament of the NHL and NHLPA is seen through Hockey is for Everyone month, especially when it comes to You Can Play – the fact that all 30 clubs have an ambassador, is such a moment of solidarity," said Jillian Svensson, vice president of operations and development for You Can Play.

The sports world is one of the only places where slurs are used, ‘casual homophobia’ and discrimination towards those who are different still exists. The goal for You Can Play is to promote respect for all athletes.

"We love sports, but hated the way sports treated our gay brothers, our LGBTQ+ friends or ourselves. We thought if we could start a discussion that focused attention on a player's ability – regardless of sexual orientation – we could change the culture of sports,” said Kitts.

The You Can Play Project recently celebrated its sixth anniversary. According to Kitts, the biggest change in those six years has been the willingness of leagues and athletes to get involved. In that timeframe they have united with several large partners including the NHL, CFL and MLS.

"The NHL, CFL and MLS, CWHL and COC have been such amazing partners, for many different reasons, but the visibility they offer to ‘normalizing’ inclusion at the most elite level of sport is truly amazing,” said Tyvon Greene, co-chair of the Canadian Eastern Region Advisory Board for You Can Play.

According to Greene, inclusion doesn’t just start and stop with major sports partners. It begins with how the community is receiving the message. The first step in supporting a cause is to educate and spread the word.

"Read up on You Can Play's work and on the issues surrounding LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport. From there, there are so many different ways to help out: make a video, run a You Can Play night, tell a few friends, and make a donation,” said Greene.

Valentine's Day Campaign

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. This year, instead of buying chocolates why not donate to Ability Online?

The average amount Canadian’s spend on candies and chocolates for their special someone each year is $191. We think that donating to Ability Online for Valentine’s Day can help make a lasting difference.

In reality, most gifts don’t have a continuous impact: roses wilt and chocolates tend to go bad. Make your present to a loved one a donation that not only shows how much you care, but is also a gift that gives back.

Over the last 27 years Ability Online has been a free, supportive online community for kids, teens and young adults with all kinds of disabilities or health challenges. It’s become a place for those who need help to get advice from role models and mentors. Highlighted in our blog and across our website, our members have accomplished some pretty great things.

Without Ability Online, many members and parents would feel alone. Building an online community where they can seek support and make new friends is the boost most need to succeed. Donating will insure that our members will continue to receive the online support they need.

This Valentine’s Day, help our kids accomplish even more incredible things.

Donate today: https://portal.donationfarm.com/ability-online/campaign-detail/56

Friends Help to Deal with Bullying by Sarah Evans

I was asked to write about my experience with bullying and honestly, I'm not exactly sure what to write. I was bullied a bit in elementary school, but in some ways it doesn't seem so bad. Not that it was right, but it didn't seem mean-spirited. For example, one time a girl who was younger than I was made a hurtful comment to me. I don't remember what the comment was, but she did apologize and she said she didn't know that I had feelings because I had a disability. We were both young at the time and we were friends, so I see this as more of an educational opportunity than anything else.

One incident that sticks out in my mind happened one day when I was eating in the food court at a mall. My disability makes it difficult for me to feed myself, and sometimes it can get messy. There were a couple of boys at the table next to me and they were pointing at me and laughing and making comments about how gross it was. This may not have been traditional bullying, but it really hurt my feelings. I remembered that the next day I was going to an event with friends. Thinking about that helped me to get through the incident.

Unfortunately, bullying is real and it does hurt, but focusing on friends who care about you and other positive things will help us to remember that we are valued and important. 

Why I Vote by Sarah Evans

I have always believed in voting. By the time you read this, the Canadian federal election will be over and we will be on to the next thing.

This isn't about promoting one party or candidate over the other.

Today when I voted it felt good. On the way to the ballot box after marking my ballot, I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself, and I had a strong conviction that my voice mattered.

People have different reasons for voting or not voting. I think of people in other countries that fight for democracy and sometimes vote at great personal risk. I realize how fortunate I am to live in freedom and don't want to take it for granted. 

Click here for some information on accessible voting.

Find your polling station and other voter transformation here!

Wellness Tools by Sarah Evans

The things I like to do are not only fun, but they help me to maintain my emotional wellness.

I like to go out and be with people, and the library is a great place for this. There are a variety of groups at the library. A couple of months ago, I started playing chess. I really enjoy it. I'm still learning how to play. Even though it can be difficult, I like the challenge and it helps me to develop my critical thinking skills.

It also helps to build community around myself. Ability Online is great for that. I also listen to a podcast called the Daily Audio Bible that gives me a real sense of community. Just like I take care of my physical health, it is very important that I do these things to stay happy and calm.

The Canadian Mental Health Association has some interesting facts about mental health in Canada. Check out this link: Fast Facts About Mental Health