CPABC Roundtable Summer 2012

7/28/2019 CPABC Roundtable Summer 2012

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summer 2012

2012 Survey SummaryneWs

general

World CP day

RRSP into disability trust

World CP Challenge

CEREBRAL PALSY ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

the

I have been enjoying the beauful

sunny weather and some of the many

cultural/summer fesvals and events

that are oered throughout the greater

Vancouver area. I hope that everyone

is having a relaxing and enjoyable sum-

mer.

I am very pleased with the July 11,

2012 announcement by the Translinks

Board of Directors to reverse their orig-

inal decision to eliminate the taxi saverprogram. Taxi savers are vouchers that

people with disabilies and seniors can

use to get a 50% discount on taxi fares.

People rely on taxi savers as an inte-

gral part for them to stay engaged in

the community. Many of us, including

myself, retain a certain amount of taxi

savers at all mes for those moments

when we need an immediate trans-

portaon opon for emergencies. The

eliminaon of the taxi saver program

would have removed a crical safety

opon for people in mes of urgency

- ulmately, people would have been

hurt without taxi savers.

I was part of the community-based

campaign for the connuaon of the

taxi saver program. The focal point of

the campaign and its slogan, `Taxi Sav-

ers are Life Savers`, illustrated perfectly

the importance of taxi savers in peoples

lives. The People with Disabilies and

the Seniors Advisory Commiees for

the city of Vancouver were instrumen-

tal in convincing the Translink board ofdirectors that the eliminaon of the

taxi saver program was a bad decision

- addionally, Vancouver city council

passed a moon unanimously to not

support the eliminaon of the program.

I commend the eorts and me spent

by members of both advisory commit-

tees that led to the retenon of the

program. July 12, 2012 - a day aer the

Translinks announcement, a third pub-

lic forum had already been planned. It

quickly turned into a celebraon of the

victory to save the taxi saver program.

It was at the celebraon that someone

there stated that those involved were

wheelchair warriors. In response, I

stated, I like the sound of that. The

gentleman then responded with, Go

ahead and use it; thus, Wheelchair

Warrior is now incorporated into my

signature line.

At the me of the taxi saver dispute,

I was the vice-chair of the disability

advisory commiee for Translink. On

July 09, 2012, I was forced by Translinkpersonnel to resign from their advisory

commiee due to my public opposion

and concerns regarding the eliminaon

of the program. I did resign proudly as

I knew I was doing the right thing and

I was appropriately represenng the

best interests of people with disabili-

es and seniors. My forced resignaon

was unfortunate. Accessibility on public

transportaon sll remains a high pri-

Presidents

Words

Connued on page 2


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2

they Want your teeth!

BC dental assoCiation . BCda

CPaBC neWs summer 2012

Back in May the Cerebral Palsy As-

sociaon was approached by the BC

Dental Associaon. They asked that

we provide them with the names

of adult members of our associa-

on - with cerebral palsy - living in

the Lower Mainland area, who may

wish be parcipate in their dental

pilot projects. Word went out via

our webpage, Facebook, Twier and

personal emails.Pilot projects are meant to collect

data on the outcomes of providing

dental care to vulnerable individuals

and to idenfy any gaps in dental

coverage that may exit in govern-

ment plans. Potenal parcipants

are asked to ll out a medical q

onnaire and to have a quick

of their mouth to determine if

are a good t for the project.

accepted into the program the

have a dental examinaon to d

mine what treatment is requ

Parcipants are asked to ll o

evaluaon form before, during

aer the pilot is completed. T

is no cost to paents parcipathis sounds like something you w

be interested in registering for p

email us at wh@bccerebralp

com or call us at 604-408-9484

we will add your name to the lis

It is esmated that 100 children are born, in BC, each year

with cerebral palsy (CP). At the moment there is no one place,

where all children with CP go for treatment; therefore, there

is no one place that is compiling data on this condion. The

Cerebral Palsy Registry of BC hopes to change this, but they

need your help.

On May 9th your CP Associaon met with Diane Wicken

er, the BC Project Coordinator for the Canadian Cerebral Registry. If you have a child with CP, who was born in

and 2010, Diane would like to interview you. She will b

lecng data around such things as the Moms health, del

infecons prenatal risks, the services your child is rece

how oen, and if you are happy with these services. C

denality is respected. A number is assigned to each ch

no personal informaon goes into the date base.

The registry hopes to eventually link into other data b

around the world to look at such things as: if certain typ

CP are more prevalent in one part of the world than an a

er, if links can be found in children who have CP and if ce

types of CP can be traced back to a common denominatGovernments like stascs. It is believed, by your Ass

on, that if we can gather numbers on CP we can lobb

government for services and funding because we will be

to show stascally - the areas in which those service

funds are needed. This may be a huge benet to indivi

with CP.

If you have a child who was born in 2009 or 2010, and w

like to know more about this study, please contact D

Wickenheiser, BC Project Coordinator for the Canadian

bral Palsy Registry, at 604-453-8300 ext. 8482.

a CereBral Palsy

registry for BC

ority for me. I now know I can be more eec-

ve to advance beer accessibility through

community-based collaboraon.

The phrase, It is okay to say NO`, spoken to

me many years ago from a personal mentor,

gave me the strength and courage to speak

out contrary to Translink. This is the message

I want to leave with all of you. It is okay to say

NO and we must say NO when it comes to

bad decisions that will hurt ourselves, other

people with disabilies and seniors. Once we

say NO then we can begin to have a conver-

saon of how to best deliver programs and

services to truly serve the best interests ofpeople with disabilies and seniors through-

out BC and Canada.

Your President,

Craig Langston

Wheelchair Warrior

Connued from page 1


3/8

TO RAISE.TO REACH.TO REALIZE

2012 By Carol Snson, Board of Directors

The Board of Directors would like to

sincerely thank everyone who took

the me to parcipate in our spring

survey. We were looking for some

conrmaon that the road we were

going down was the direcon our

members really wanted go and we

believe we did receive this support.

How w conicat:

The most important nding from

the survey is that our members are

very well connected to social media

and internet resources. Over 90%

of the responses to the survey were

completed on-line even though

there was a mail-out of hundreds

of hard copies of the survey in our

spring newsleer. Most respon-dents want to communicate with

the CPABC through e-mail or social

media such as Facebook or Twier

(86%).

Our newsleer is sll our most ap-

preciated service however the big-

gest reason people did not use our

other programs was because they

were not aware of them (45%). This

will encourage us to work harder on

how we share informaon aboutour bursaries, camp subsidies and

personal supports. We also need to

improve our website so that these

programs are easier to nd on-line.

Our internet resources, printed re-

sources and individual advocacy

and support program have also

been well used and are very much

appreciated by respondents.

We received a great deal of sup-

port for developing a support-style

and informaon-sharing group that

could reach all areas of the prov-

ince using new on-line technologies

(79%).

sytic Advocacy:

We really appreciate the support we

received for our intenon to go for-

ward with more systemic advocacy

(87%). We are aware that Revenue

Canada is watching non-prots fortheir levels of advocacy but we be-

lieve that we can walk this line suc-

cessfully. We received many writ-

ten comments about how we might

move forward and we would like to

thank the people who pointed out

that we need to include employ-

ment opportunies as something

we need to advocate for. Social

isolaon and a lack of recreaonal

opportunies (68%) were also men-

oned many mes in the wriencomments.

There were also many comments

about programs and services for

children and beer access to medi-

cal services (62%) for everyone is an

important issue.

Conclion:

Please watch our newsleer, Fa-

cebook page, Website and Twit-

ter feed for our new programs and

services as we move into the future

and thank you again to everyone

who took me out of their busy lives

to parcipate in our survey! Survey

results will be posted at www.bcce-

rebralpalsy.com

survey summary


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CPaBC neWs summer 2012CPaBC neWs summer 2012

CP ChallengeCollateral form


5/8


World CP Challenge is an exciting 4 week team activity that will getyou active and improve your health and wellbeing. Its also a funway to raise much needed funds to support the Cerebral PalsyAssociation of British Columbias vital work.

Perfect for co-workers, school classes and family friends, itssomething everyone can enjoy!


6/8

6


Connued on pa

We are excited to report that the CPABCS Campership Pro-

gram has just completed its h year nancially assisng

kids aend a special needs BC camp of their choice.

This years nine campers ranged in age from 6 18 years

and parcipated in camps in Mission, Wineld, Squamish

and Coquitlam. Our camp subsidies went towards such

costs as paral camp fees, transportaon costs and care

aendant fees.

Without the help of an aendant, many of these children

could not aend camp; so even though the camping session

itself may be free to the parcipant, the care aendant fee

can be a real barrier to that child being able to aend.

That is where the Campership Program of the CPABC co

in. Thanks to the generous donaons we receive, tow

this program, we can assist members of our associa

with the many costs associated with going to camp.

Seventeen year old Olivia has received funding from us

the past four years and has just returned from a six day

at Camp Wineld. Her parents wrote:

Thank you so much! We really appreciate all you give to

ivia and to so many other deserving kids. Olivia had a g

me at camp and is already looking forward to next y

C.a.m.P. Where Kids Can Be Kids

On June 5, Tammy van der Kamp

and Feri Dehdar were invited to

dinner by the Burnaby Host Lions

Club, where they enjoyed a White Spot

burger. Aer dinner Tammy outlined the

CPABCs accomplishments for the past year, and gave the

club members an idea of some of the funding challenges

facing the CPABC for the upcoming year.

Some of the accomplishments that Tammy menoned were

the 8 CPABC bursaries awarded this past year to students

living with CP to assist with their post-secondary educaon.It costs the CPABC $2,500 per student to be able to maintain

this valuable program. The CPABC also enabled 14 children

and adults with special needs to aend a summer camp

of their choice through the campership subsidy program. It

costs CPABC $ 2,000 per camper to be able to connue to

help send people to camp each year. Another accomplish-

ment The CPABC is proud of this year was their ability to

make a contribuon of $2,000 toward the construcon of

the Agur Lake Camp project. This camp will be unique in BC

and will provide fun, respite and support for children with

special needs and their families.

Like all non-prot charitable organizaons, the CPABC has

had to operate with limited resources due to cutbacks in

funding from the BC Gaming Commission. This m

were becoming ever more creave in our quest for fun

projects, and we must also make each dollar work hard

So we are very excited when groups like the Burnaby

Lions express an interest in our bursary program.

This small but generous club went out of its way to m

us feel welcome. Even PADS dog Breeze enjoyed he

as she had an opportunity to schmooze with an old fri

Aaron the Guide Dog, a beauful black lab.

Just a couple of days later, on June 7, Tammy and CP

President Craig Langston were guests of honour at the

nual Donaon Barbecue hosted by the Burnaby Loug

Lions Club, where they accepted a cheque for $500.00

enjoyed a delicious barbecue dinner.The CPABC is only as eecve as it is because of the

erosity of groups like the Burnaby Lougheed Lions, and

Burnaby Host Lions, who understand the value of our v

to see people who live with cp reach their full pote

With this kind of support behind us, the CPABC cannot

but succeed in its mission.

CPABC would like to thank both the Burnaby Host L

Club and the Burnaby Lougheed Lions Club for their

nued support.

For more informaon about our bursary or camper

subsidy program or if you would like to make a dona

to help us keep these programs available for those aeby cp, please contact our oce at 604-408-9484 or in

bccerebralpalsy.com .

BurnaBy lions

We thanKyou!


7/8


an i role my rrsP intomy disaBility trust?y Halldor K. Bjarnason, Lawyer - Access Law Group. www.Trustlawyers.ca

Registered Rerement Savings Plan,RRSP, is created with pre-tax dol-

rs. As a result, when funds are de-

gistered and paid out of the RRSP,

come taxes must be paid. A dis-

bility trust, on the other hand, is cre-

ed with aer tax dollars and has no

ecial tax-exempt status. As a result,

you wanted to move money from an

RSP to a trust, you would rst have to

thdraw (or de-register) the funds

om the RRSP, pay income tax on these

nds, and then place them into the

sability trust.

ere may be a signicant tax liability

hen funds are withdrawn from the

RSP. However, a person normally

adaPtive

sliPPers

Do you have swollen

feet? Are you unable toslip feet easily into slippers? Silverts

Adapve Footwear has the answer with

their extra wide opening, skid resistant,

easy touch closure slippers. Contact

Silverts today at www.silverts.com or

1-800-387-7088. They are in Canada.

training WithCereBral

Palsy - an e-BooK

his book, Training with Cerebral Pal-

y, Joshua Neufeld, personal trainer,rovides exercises, stretches, acvies

nd nutrional recommendaons that

ssist people with cerebral palsy to live

healthier lifestyle. Check out his web-

te at www.cerebralpalsytraining.com

nd start training today!

are you Claiming all

you Can? revenue Canada

If you dont know about it, you cant

claim it! So educate yourself and startkeeping track. A few of the items listed

on Revenue Canadas website under

allowable medical expenses include:

bathroom and walking aids, specially

trained animals (cost, care and mainte-

nance), vehicle modicaon, stairway

chairs, disposable briefs/diapers, note

taking services, respite care expenses,

laboratory services, renovang, and

construcon expenses that oer great-

er mobility to an individual with a mo-

bility impairment.To speak to a person about an expense

you may be wondering about call 1-800-

959-8281. To view a list of allowable

medical expenses go to www.cra-arc.

gc.ca. Hit the search tab. In the search

for box enter the words list of allowable

medical expenses. Now click on #1

Which medical expenses are eligible?

Presto you are there! This website is

worth a look-see every so oen as al-

lowable expenses do change.

CPaBC general summer 2012

truly is a fabulous place where kids

th special needs can be themselves,

cepted with no boundaries, and given

ery opportunity to feel typical, in-

uded and loved.....

mmer is a me for busng loose, hav-

g fun and feeling free. If you would

e to help towards next years camper-

ip program please contact us at 604-

8-9484 or 1-800-663-0004 to make a

naon. It will make a dierence

nnued from page 6

cant qualify for provincial disability as-sistance when they have an RRSP. Nev-

er-the-less, it may well be worth taking

the tax hit in order to qualify - parcu-

larly if there are high medical costs in-

volved. However, it is always wise to

get legal and accounng advice before

making the decision to liquidate an

RRSP in order to get provincial disability

assistance.

Please note that this column is pro-

vided for general informaon only. As

specic facts aect how the law is ap-

plied to your circumstances, it is always

wise to get the advice of competent le-

gal counsel.


8/8

8

Cerebral Palsy Associaon of Brish Columbia

801-409 Granville St. Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2

Phone: 604.408.9484

Toll-Free (Enquiry CP): 1.800.663.0004

Fax: 604.408.9489

Email: [email protected]

Office Hrs: 9 AM to 5PM, Monday to Thursday

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS

ROUNDTABLE BY PASSIN

IT ALONG TO SOMEONE E

VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBERS

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

STAFF

CRAIG LANGSTON President

TRISH MCKAY Vice President

ANDY YU Treasurer

CAROL STINSON Secretary

RONALD BLACKMORE

TERREANE DERRICK

TONY KRUSE

JONN OLLDYM

FERI DEHDAR

TAMMY VAN DER KAMP

WENDY HAWRYZKI

WENDY HAWRYZKI & TAMMY VAN DER KAMP

Director of Programs &Administraon

Family & IndividualSupport Worker

Administrave Assistant


$100 $75 $50 $25

My choice:

Visa #

Expiry Date

Name on Card

Todays Date

Signature

Please mail to:

REALIZE EQUALITY

IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY!

Now, more than ever before your membership will help to :

Become a Member today!

Membership fee: $20

Donaon: I would like to make a donaon to support

the services and programs of the Cerebral Palsy

Associaon of BC. Income tax receipts are only issued

for donaons of $10 or more, unless requested.

Method of Payment: I have enclosed a cheque

payable to the CPABC or:

Cerebral Palsy Associaon of BC801-409 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2(Charitable Registraon Business Number 10690 4204 RR0001)

announCing

the 58th annual

general meeting of the

CereBral Palsy assoCiation of BC

Thursday, Septemmber 13, 2012

6:30pm - 8:30pmBonsor Community Centre

Mul Purpose Room 1, 2nd Floor

6550 Bonsor Avenue

Burnaby, BC V5H 2G8

Date:

Time:Venue:

Members, community partners & new members are all

welcome to aend. Seang is limited. Please RSVP by ca

ing 604.408.9484 or toll free in BC at 1.800.663.0004 to

reserve your seat. www.bccerebralpalsy.com

aCCess 2 entertainment Card

do you have yours?

The Access 2 Entertainment Program was launched in

Dec. 2004 making entertainment more aordable for

those requiring a support person. People with disabili-

es can apply for a personal Access 2 Entertainment

Card which provides free admission, or a substanal

discount, for their support person at movie theatres

and other entertainment venues across Canada. A fee is

required to receive a card which

is valid for 5 years. Appli-

caons are available at

www.access2.ca

Documents

CPABC Roundtable Summer 2012