Participants at Kardel’s Futures Club were recently interviewed regarding their dance class experience and here is what they had to say:  “I asked a few participants with one of the dance groups for their reflections on the sessions. Linda, Renee, Johnny and Lawrence all said that they had not taken a dance class before attending sessions at Kardel’s Futures program. Renee said she likes that she gets to help pick the music and that there are “no bad moves.” Linda likes “everything,” and Lawrence noted that “it’s fun AND Joanne plays Cantonese songs.” Johnny said, “I feel great after dance,” and Renee and Linda said they feel energized.” 

To read the full article and to find out more about dance classes in the Victoria area please click here. 

Dancing has an extensive array of health benefits and it is fantastic for physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual and social well-being. Studies have found that dancing can decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety, lessen pain, minimize isolation, help heal trauma, promote healthy aging, and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Dancing can also improve range of motion, balance, coordination and agility; increase muscular strength and endurance; and benefit the heart and lungs.

Dancing can be an amazing way of bringing people together, as communities have done around the world for a very long time. Dancing in a supportive setting can help meet a variety of basic human needs: for connection, acceptance, belonging, closeness, mutuality and respect; for autonomy, choice, freedom and spontaneity; for joy, humour, movement and safe physical contact; and for celebration, contribution, creativity, harmony, inspiration, meaning and self-expression. (This list draws from the Needs Inventory by the Center for Nonviolent Communication.)

Quality of life survey expands across B.C.

CLBC is continuing to expand its survey of individuals’ quality of life in regions throughout B.C. this year. The survey, called include Me!, asks individuals CLBC serves how they would rate various aspects of their lives. The aim is to have a better understanding of individuals’ needs to provide improved supports and services. Click here to read more about include Me! and learn how a service provider has used the survey data to create new ways to discuss quality of life with those they support.

Walk On Victoria is an organization dedicated to improving the walkability of local neighbourhoods and promoting walking as a sustainable form of transportation.  Walk On Victoria has created a new online guide called the Citizen’s Guide for Reporting Sidewalk Issues and Concerns.

The guide provides a step-by-step process that allows residents to report matters of pedestrian safety, and who to contact from each municipality in the region.

Residents are able to report broken sidewalks, overgrown bushes or trees and other hazards, such as telephone poles on sidewalks, that make it difficult for pedestrians to get around.

The Citizen’s Guide for Reporting Sidewalk Issues and Concerns can be found at walkonvictoria.org

West Coast REACH! Association is a registered non-profit organization newly-founded by Anne-Marie and Peter Brimacombe.  Through the performing and visual arts they nurture, inspire, empower, inform and unite people of all ages, cultures, faiths and abilities.  Click here to view their website with registration information.

Currently REACH! offers three programs for children, youth, and adults.  All three groups will perform together in the Spring in an original, musical show celebrating the beauty of diversity in Canada on its 150th birthday.  Participants of all cultures and ranges of ages and ability are encouraged to join.  No previous performing experience is required but commitment to regular rehearsals is needed.

Celebrate Diverse ABILITIES is created under the guidance of the CLBC Editorial Board, which is made up of self advocates from across the province, as well as family members.

The theme for this edition is “Good Health and Well-being” and self advocates share stories about ways they are leading healthy lives in community, from dancing at a club downtown, to volunteering at the Boys and Girls club, to joining a Meet Up group to play Frisbee and more.

Click the story links below to read more, and you can click here to visit the Celebrate Diverse ABILITIES web page.

We always appreciate your feedback. Tell us what you think of this edition by sending an email to: [email protected].

Enjoy!

Second Wave, familyWORKs, & Community Living Victoria present:

Planning for Transition and Employment:  A Series of Workshops on Concepts, Considerations, and How To’s for 2016/2017

Click on the poster  for more information.

2017 is the year for Disability Pride:  Celebrate inclusion with the rest of Canada

Inclusion BC is launching a year-long celebration of Disability Pride as part of the official Canada 150+ celebrations, marking our country’s 150th anniversary. Funded in part by Canadian Heritage, we are excited to be offering grants to help include people with intellectual disabilities as leaders and contributors in existing community activities, causes or celebrations across British Columbia. Citizens with intellectual disabilities are essential to the Canadian mosaic. Throughout 2017 we’re promoting Disability Pride with the goal of inspiring action.  Visit DisabilityPride.ca to view The Story Behind Disability Pride, a short documentary that covers our exploration of pride and its role in civil rights movements. It looks at how and why pride consistently falls on the path to inclusion, what our Disability Pride celebration could look like, the importance of belonging and what being a Canadian means. So, we invite you to be part of defining Disability Pride in 2017. Start planning how you want to participate in your community. What groups or causes do you care about? How can you join in supporting movements, activities and celebrations?

• Visit DisabilityPride.ca to learn more
• Submit an idea for funding
• Share the movement! Help us get the word out to others
• Connect using our hashtags: #disabilitypride and #Canada150

Funded by: Inclusion BC Foundation and Department of Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada Questions?

Contact Amy Nugent,

Executive Director,

Inclusion BC Foundation

[email protected]

604.777.9100

Please click here to review our updated Strategic Plan for 2016.

Three Surveyors from CARF International will be coming to visit Kardel on January 9th to 11th, 2017.  As part of the survey, the surveyors will interview people who receive services, their families, our staff and others.

Below is a poster telling you more about the survey.  If you have any questions please contact me.

Stuart Munger
Director of Programs and Quality Assurance
250 382 5959 Ext 232

A nation-wide survey is being conducted from October 24 to December 10 to discuss savings for persons with disabilities.  Responses will help enhance long-term savings for persons with disabilities.

Click here for more information or if you’d like to complete the survey click here.