Last week Community Living Manitoba hosted a conference in Thompson that focused on celebrating abilities in Northern and rural areas of the province.
Anne Kresta, interim manager of Community Living Manitoba says this three-day meet-up was to rally together. “The goal was to bring people together in the north to talk about disabilities and the many opportunities there are by using the disability community and including the disability community in school, work, and in the broader community.”
Community Living Manitoba is a non-profit registered charity that is dedicated to the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Celebrating Abilities didn't stop at just intellectual disabilities though.
Gladys Nielsen* travelled to Thompson from southern Manitoba to give a workshop during the conference. Nielsen is on the board for the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, Manitoba chapter. “We wanted to introduce some of the things that we do in Winnipeg that will help people here. We can provide more information since quite often when you're losing your hearing you're caught between two worlds, and you don't fit with the hearing anymore, and you don't fit with the deaf.”
Brenda Davidson is a colleague of Nielsen, and the supervisor of the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, northern regional office. Davidson says improvement of services is a major focus of this event. “I have a hearing loss and services in Northern Manitoba are not equivalent to what they are down in southern Manitoba. That is one of the things we are trying to advocate. It gives us an opportunity to raise awareness.”
Executive director for the Disabilities Issues Office in Winnipeg, Yutta Fricke spoke about accessibility legislation. “I'm convinced people understand that their community is diverse, they know that their parents needs are changing, and I think people want to give services, in a way for everyone to be able to access. Accessibility legislation is moving us towards that place where all employers, public and private sectors are aware of what accessibility is.”
While Fricke was in Thompson she visited the University College of the North, the City of Thompson, and provincial workers to talk about accessibility legislation.
It means something different to everyone Fricke says. “It's people in wheelchairs being able to come into businesses, that the aisles are wide enough, that service animals are welcome, and that everyone is treated with dignity and respect. That is the groundwork.” Accessibility legislation does not change building codes, but hopes to improve buildings so everyone who opens the door can be welcomed the same way.
One in six Manitobans has a disability, and Fricke says it could even be higher here. “In First Nations it's higher, and Thompson has a large First Nations community, so you can count on it being higher. I've heard as many as a third. It's a lot.”
Kresta says there is information available after this conference is over for people wanting to learn more. “Community Living Manitoba works really hard to provide information to people. We've put together a number of resources like our family guide to options. It's a resource that a family with a newly diagnosed child can have. The province of Manitoba also has a number of fact sheets.”
Through all the information given to the registrants, one thing was made very clear: having a disability is not something to hide.
“I think it's very exciting we have a conference in the north. The services I receive in Winnipeg, we don't offer 100 miles out of the city, let alone in Thompson. This is just getting the wheel turning, and it's a step in the right direction,” says Nielsen.
Fricke agrees, “Now it's not hidden, it's exciting to see how far we've come. We know we have a far way to go, but it's great to see all these people together in one room with the same vision.”
This sentence has been amended from the original, which did not include the proper spelling of Gladys Nielsen.
