News - Province Wide
Canadian Paraplegic Association (Alberta) launches office in Wabamun!
Working from a basement home office in Wabamun, the smallest office of the Canadian Paraplegic Association (Alberta) is now open for business. Art Erickson, Community Development Coordinator, is already working to improve accessibility for people with disabilities in West Central Alberta.
Art has held discussions with the Economic Development Officer in Wabamun to improve access to the waterfront park in the village. It was agreed that it would be beneficial to everyone to make some changes that would greatly improve access to the boat dock, public washrooms and spray park, and funding sources are being investigated to achieve these improvements.
Art has also scheduled meetings with councils in Fox Creek and Edson and a meeting with the town manager, and representatives of health services, housing and transportation in Hinton. Inquiries are also underway for a number of other communities west of Edmonton. Art will audit the communities and area parks and campgrounds as well as log resources and develop volunteer and funding opportunities wherever possible.
To reach Art in the office call 780-892-3431, or on the road at 780-722-1299 or email art.erickson@cpa-ab.org.
50th Anniversary
CPA (Alberta) is proud to be celebrating 50 years of service on behalf of individuals with spinal cord injury and other physical disabilities. In celebration of this event, we talked with many of our members and supporters and produced a short 50th Anniversary Video. Click on the image below to view. Thank you to Maunders McNeil Foundation Inc. for their sponsorship support of our 50th anniversary.
NEW! Community Living Attendant Training
CPA (Alberta), in partnership with several other Alberta organizations, is leading the development of a new program called Community Living Attendant Training. This program is community-driven and instructed by people with disabilities and community partners, based on the philosophy of consumer/employer-directed care. This training program is six weeks in duration and incorporates theory and practical skills into the training to prepare students to provide a flexible array of supports specific to each consumer/employer's unique independent living needs.
We will be implementing a pilot demonstration in November 2011. If you would like more information on this program or to volunteer as a classroom instructor, classroom observer, or home host trainer, please contact Kristie Coulombe at (780)419-3530 or kristie.coulombe@cpa-ab.org.
Thoughout the month of May, a number of community leaders throughout the Province of Alberta which included government officials, high level executives and local celebrities conducted their day to day business from a wheelchair in support of the Canadian Paraplegic Association (Alberta)'s vision of a barrier free future. Chair-Leaders wheeling throughout their day in Calgary, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Red Deer and Edmonton all garnered a new awareness and first hand knowledge of the challenges people with disabilities face on a daily basis when it comes to accessibility in our communities. For more information, contact Zachary Weeks at 780-424-6312, ext. 2250 or go to http://www.cpa-ab.org/news_events/chair_leaders
New Online Resource Guide for People with Physical Disabilities The Canadian Paraplegic Association (Alberta) is currently developing a new online resource guide for people with physical disabilities, which will be launched early September, 2011. The purpose of this guide is to provide information and resources on housing, attendant care/homecare, and adaptive equipment and devices all in one central location. The website will also have an interactive component where you can leave comments and/or rate a product or service that you have tried. If you would like more information, you can contact Kristie Coulombe at kristie.coulombe@cpa-ab.org. Newly Designed Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Brochure The Canada Disability Savings Program (CDSP) would like to announce the availability of a newly designed Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) brochure - Helping People with disabilities save for the future. This bilingual publication will give your clients an opportunity to learn more about the RDSP, the Canada Disability Savings Grant (grant) and the Canada Disability Savings Bond (bond), in a plain language format. The updated publication replaces the current RDSP brochure. It provides important information about the two new improvements made to the RDSP, by the Government of Canada, to provide people with disabilities with more flexibility when saving for the future. As of January 2011, clients are allowed to claim unused grant and bond entitlements from the past 10 years (starting from 2008, the year RDSP became available). Also, beginning in July 2011, a portion or all of the retirement savings from a deceased individual can be rolled over into the RDSP of a financially dependent child or grandchild with a disability. This updated publication also includes current income thresholds for 2011. For more information click here 2011 National Household Survey Statistics Canada has announced the new National Household Survey (NHS) will take place in June 2011. On behalf of Statistics Canada, CPA Alberta encourages our readers to ensure they complete this important survey as NHS data are vital to helping foster a healthy community, as they are used to support government planning and program delivery, including family services, housing, roads, public transportation, and skills training for employment. The data are also used to help support government programs directed at target populations, such as visible minorities, lone-parent families and seniors.
For more information on the National Household Survey, please click here Full Serve Gas Stations If you know of any full serve gas stations that are not included on our list, or are no longer full service, please let us know so that we can update our information. The list provided is a compilation of information provided by many individuals. CPA (Alberta) neither endorses nor guarantees that the information is complete or correct. This month, thanks to Mieke, we have added information about several locations in the Grande Prairie area. Alberta SCI Pressure Relief Fund Applications are now being accepted for the Alberta SCI Pressure Relief Device Fund. Albertans with spinal cord injuries can apply for up to $5,000 for pressure relief devices not covered by AADL or NIHB. Application deadline is June 15, 2011. SCI Alberta has a new website! You can find them at http://www.scialberta.ca/ Website(s) to check out: Bathroom independence www.cleanrevolution.com |