Sensing - clever title right?
So, imagine you can't hear and you can't see. I think it must be like walking around at night without light or sometimes like closing your eyes in night club that is SOOOO loud you can't hear your friends and you just kinda nod and pretend that you can understand.
Now imagine that friend in the club was trying to tell you that she needed help...and you couldn't hear and you couldn't do anything about it and you can't see anymore and you just sit there smiling and thinking everything is okay, but its not.
Now imagine you are deafblind and that is your friend, family member and you don't konw what is going on, in fact you almost never know what is going on around you. Now imagine you are not in a club but ANYWHERE and you can't hear or see what is going on around you.
Then imagine if one person had magical powers and could tell you everything that was happening around you and basically act as your eyes are ears. Then you can always respond, be there, help and feel included.
That person is an intervenor in the life a deafblind person. They need them - it should be human right - its about a life of dignity.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Monday, January 22, 2007
The Need to Come Together
In BC there are three organizations whose mandate it is to serve the Deafblind Community.
The Canadian Deafblind and Rubella Association - BC Chapter (CDBRA BC) services mainly children through their Early Intervention Program, Summer Intervention Program, Summer Recreation Program and Hospital Intervention Program.
Deafblind Services Society of BC (DSS) provides professional intervention services to adults and some children. Primarly DSS operates community living services and day programs funded by Community Living BC. DSS also runs the Volunteer Intervention Program and Special Opportunities Fund.
The BC Association of the Deafblind (BCADB) is an association group whose members are primarily adults who are acquired deafblind. The have on going social, recreational and peer support programs.
All three agencies work closely together and many of us volunteer with each other. Last year, for the first time, we all came together to organize and celebrate Deafblind Awareness Week. But to move forward we must begin to work more closely together.
If we want a "Lifetime of Service" for someone who is born or acquires deafblindness, the most challenging of all disabilities, then we must come together. We must pool, share, combine, join, merge, enhance, build, grow and foster our resources collectively under one larger umbrella.
In my opinion, there is no better way for all of us to provide services today and into the future.
The Canadian Deafblind and Rubella Association - BC Chapter (CDBRA BC) services mainly children through their Early Intervention Program, Summer Intervention Program, Summer Recreation Program and Hospital Intervention Program.
Deafblind Services Society of BC (DSS) provides professional intervention services to adults and some children. Primarly DSS operates community living services and day programs funded by Community Living BC. DSS also runs the Volunteer Intervention Program and Special Opportunities Fund.
The BC Association of the Deafblind (BCADB) is an association group whose members are primarily adults who are acquired deafblind. The have on going social, recreational and peer support programs.
All three agencies work closely together and many of us volunteer with each other. Last year, for the first time, we all came together to organize and celebrate Deafblind Awareness Week. But to move forward we must begin to work more closely together.
If we want a "Lifetime of Service" for someone who is born or acquires deafblindness, the most challenging of all disabilities, then we must come together. We must pool, share, combine, join, merge, enhance, build, grow and foster our resources collectively under one larger umbrella.
In my opinion, there is no better way for all of us to provide services today and into the future.
Friday, January 19, 2007
What? NO Services???
In British Columbia, Canada, where there are SUVs, high end grocery stores and $300 running shoes are everywhere, adults who are acquired deafblind do not have access to intervention services.
Intervention is the process of a trained professional acting as the eyes and ears of someone who is deafblind. The intervenor provides their client with information in the preferred mode so they can safely access their community, communicate and basically do all the things we take for granted.
Acid burns in my stomach when I think that many of the people I know or have met do not have support to do go shopping, banking, engage in social activities or participate in community events. Without intervention, they are isolated and often rely on families who are already over burdened.
This has to change - and we need to talk about it. We need to demand from our government, rich folks and everyone else to build these services. Helen Keller, showed us what someone can contribute and change the world with Intervention. So, let's get intervenors for all the other deafblind folk and let's dot it NOW!
Intervention is the process of a trained professional acting as the eyes and ears of someone who is deafblind. The intervenor provides their client with information in the preferred mode so they can safely access their community, communicate and basically do all the things we take for granted.
Acid burns in my stomach when I think that many of the people I know or have met do not have support to do go shopping, banking, engage in social activities or participate in community events. Without intervention, they are isolated and often rely on families who are already over burdened.
This has to change - and we need to talk about it. We need to demand from our government, rich folks and everyone else to build these services. Helen Keller, showed us what someone can contribute and change the world with Intervention. So, let's get intervenors for all the other deafblind folk and let's dot it NOW!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
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