Wylliam.
Since I registered my son Wylliam in the program, he has been provided with wonderful opportunities, including music courses, and computer courses that he absolutely adores. All of these opportunities have increased his self-confidence and have made us closer and more understanding of each other as a family.
I have shared my experience of the program with coworkers and helped others get into the program. I’m so glad to know they are happy as well about the improvements they’ve seen in their own children.
This program has changed our lives for the better. I can see the improvements Wylliam is making on a daily basis, which is really wonderful.
Thank you so much for your help and support. And thank you to the advisors as well, they help us so much!
PO4
St. Eustache, Quebec
Quebec Coordinator Promotes Special Needs and Moving On Projects
Melanie Belisle, our francophone coordinator, undertook a 2-year tour to reach-out, inform and promote the Special Needs and Moving On Projects in Quebec and Montreal Regions. She started in February 2016 and ended in March 2018. In all, she met with some 4,300 members.
She contacted each local President to talk about how best to promote the projects with their members. The most effective activity was the brief 4-minute work floor presentation made before workers went to work.
As a result of this work we saw a record number of CUPW members’ children come onto the Special Needs and Moving On Projects.
Taking the Projects on Tour
Coquitlam Depot May 14, 2018.
Shellie Bird, the CUPW Child Care Coordinator and Gail Holdner, Special Needs Project Coordinator, will be out meeting members to promote the CUPW Child Care Fund and the Special Needs and Moving On Projects. We are sending a strong message to all members!
When we work together we can improve the lives of postal workers at work as well as at home.
The western-swing of the tour started in Vancouver in early May. We will be doing the central and eastern swing of the tour in early fall.
Here we are at the Coquitlam depot with members and the president (on the right) of the Royal City local, Brooke Mousseau.
Negotiations with Canada Post
A Word from George Floresco, 3rd National VP
In the Current round of bargaining with Canada Post we again face many important issues. Things like service expansion and with it job security. For things like decent wages and benefits and for fairness and equality – no matter what job you do at Canada Post.
With the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services both the Corporation and CUPW are looking closely at their positions on these issues.
We know from past experience the Corporation will measure the support for our demands from the level of support they see from members on the work floor.
Though many locals have started the work of preparing for a possible work stoppage, there is much more we can do to help win improved working conditions and service expansion. Things like wearing our button demanding equality in the workplace. We need to show the employer we are serious about this issue and that fairness and equality are union principles worth fighting for.
CUPW Education Department has updated the Mobilization, Readiness and Action course and
we hope you would take part. We are ramping up our CUPW campaign to restore door-to-door delivery and service expansion like postal banking. These campaigns have been important for building community allies and building a long list of CUPW activists – it's not too late to get involved!
With our allies, Friends of Public Services we continue to build momentum across the country. These are important campaigns to get involved in. They send a message to Canada Post that we are serious about negotiating fairness, equality, good wages and a strong future for Canada Post and postal workers!
My little boy has been...
Jayden.
supported by the CUPW since he was a baby. It began with subsidized daycare through the Child Care Fund that was set up for parents to bring toddlers and young children who needed flex-care.
It really helped my husband and I. We would not have been able to get a suitable day care for the time in the morning that I needed, 5:45 a.m. – 6:00 a.m., so I could be at work by 6:00 a.m. – 6:30 a.m.
Later, I qualified with the Special Needs Project because my toddler was a high-needs kid. He was in need of a lot of one-on-one. He was put on meds by the end of Grade 2. We have done years of detox with meds and meal plans with Isagenix. It all helped.
In primary schools tutors were included in daily lessons. High school was hard but doable. Now that Jayden is in university he is struggling more. I have used the money from the Moving On project to pay the tutor but even with this help he is struggling. With only being able to take 2–4 courses a year it’s going to take a few extra years to complete his degree.
I am so proud of him for not giving up and for reaching for goals any person would want in life. I so far have the satisfied feeling that my son may one day be able to take care of himself and a family if he pursues his educational dreams to become a minister. From a sincere mom who is the biggest hero for her son and just adores that kid of mine.
Letter carrier
London, ON
My son was two years old when I began to notice that his eyes and hands twitched. At 6, he was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome. When Sean- William started having involuntary movements and vocalizations every five seconds, his pediatrician,
Dr. Clément sent him to CHEO to see a neurologist, where he was diagnosed with severe Tourette’s Syndrome. Normally, Tourette’s presents with either tics or vocalizations, but my son had both. Later, he was diagnosed with dyspraxia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and ADHD. At the time, I was unable to make ends meet. It has been only him and I since he was born. I work part-time on a 20-hour a week schedule. Now he needs a special education technician to help him at home, one he can connect with. Given his OCD he doesn’t let anyone into his world. Unlike others who had tried before, Ms. Paquin, a special education technician was able to make this connection with him, for the first time since he began school four years ago. At a psychiatrist’s request, she has agreed to follow my son until Grade 6, with the principal’s approval. She will come 3 hours a week as well as over the summer. We don’t want him to lose all the progress he’s made and have to start everything over in September.
PO-4
Gatineau, QC
Partners for Planning provides free resources to help your son or daughter with a disability find inclusive opportunities to lead a good life, as they transition out of school and into their adult years – and many of these resources are a great fit for the Moving On Project!
In decades past, in every province, most young adults with an intellectual disability would transition “by default” into segregated settings – group homes, institutions or sheltered workshops. Many parents, with few alternatives but good intentions, viewed such limited options as safe and appropriate. Today we know that many (if not most) of these settings were less than ideal and even harmful.
Views on disability have changed and continue to evolve. The Canadian Human Rights Code states that persons with disabilities have fair access to education and jobs and are able to participate as citizens to the fullest extent possible.
Full inclusion for this sector is hard-won and welcome. At the same time, parents know that kids with a disability about to enter the world of adulthood must be safe and secure as they navigate their new world.
Envision, Plan, Take Action
For families and special needs advisors seeking the best way to use Moving On funding for a son or daughter moving into adult services and supports, Partners for Planning (P4P) offers a wide range of free resources.
Parents are encouraged to spend time with their child exploring his or her dreams, goals and talents. Some families use funding to hire an Independent Facilitator, Community Connector or other mentor to help guide this process. Once passions and skills are established, he or she can find or create inclusive opportunities within a specific community.
Engaging in meaningful pursuits after high school invites fresh opportunities to make new friends and authentic connections in everyday settings – which can influence the future in a positive way.
For the first time in history children with disabilities will outlive their parents. Families must be resilient and creative in applying individualized funding supports. Supporting a person with a disability to build a good life takes effort and intention, but benefits everyone. Enjoying real relationships, pursuing dreams and goals and participating in life is something everyone needs – and deserves!
Most of the P4P website is available in French including info on Federal supports, the RDSP and CRA tax tips. This Ontario-based organization offers free resources relevant to all Canadians interested in disability-related topics.
PlanningNetwork.ca Offers Webcasts & Wide-Ranging Resources On:
Federal & Provincial Supports
Education & work
Relationship-building & community life
Housing options for independent living
Tip Sheets for navigating life stages
Short videos featuring real-life stories
Legal & financial planning
Family Networks
And much more!
P4P empowers people with disabilities and their families with FREE resources to create meaningful lives and secure futures, firmly rooted in community.
Visit planningnetwork.ca for info on upcoming webcasts with live Q&A, and other free planning resources.
Partners for Planning (P4P) is a non-profit organization in Ontario.
Susan with her daughter Rebecca.
Susan is a firm believer that individuals with a disability deserve opportunities to “do everyday things, in typical places, with ordinary people.”
Susan is a special needs advisor with the Moving On Project and is co-founder of P4P.
I really appreciate the funding I get from the project for my grandson. We have had guardianship of him since he was 6 months of age. We finally got the diagnosis of autism at the high end of the spectrum at almost 3 years of age.
With the extra funding I was able to purchase a weighted blanket for him. This makes all the change in the world for his sleep. I know we make a fair wage but with added expenses of a special needs child the extra funding makes a difference in helping a child to have a more normal life!
Thanks for the support.
P.S. The advisor is a fantastic person.
PO4
Stoney Mountain, MB
Brandon.
We have two boys...
Logan and Brandon. Brandon was diagnosed with an intellectual disability – cognitive apraxia, learning, and speech delay when he had his 4-year assessment.
Brandon is in Grade 9, last year of Junior High.
Brandon has resource and EAs at school. He also
does life skills during the day; he delivers messages and newspapers to the teachers, helps fill up the vending machines, recycling bags, cleans the cafeteria, and puts the pylons out at the end of the day for the buses. And on Friday mornings, the EA kids all go swimming. They are all great friends with each other.
There has been some tears and frustrating times for Brandon, but with a lot of hard work and determination, it all worked in the end for him.
Brandon is involved in Special Olympics, bowling, and floor hockey in the winter, and soccer and baseball in the summer. Brandon is off to the Special Olympics Canada National Summer Games in Antigonish, NS from July 31 – August 5, 2018, with the baseball team. And Brandon also does YBC bowling on Saturday mornings.
We are so very proud of Brandon and what he has accomplished. It has not been easy. Keep the great work going Brandon.
RSMC
Milton Station, PEI
Giving Her 100%
Jessica, Special Needs Advisor for Quebec
Jessica and her daughter.
“They’re like part of my family. Even though they don’t have enough time, resources or services, the parents I talk to are still always trying to find the best thing to do for their children. I really appreciate everything they do for their kids.”
Jessica started working with the Special Needs Project in 2014, advising parents in the large region of Quebec from the South Shore, where she lives, to Montreal and up the North Shore to the Laurentians and as far as the Eastern region of Sherbrooke. Jessica says she finds her work with the Project very satisfying: “If I could do it full-time, I would!”
But Jessica already has a full-time job that she loves, teaching and tutoring kids with special needs (and she also does private tutoring on the side—yes she is very busy!). Her 18 years of experience in special education comes in handy when the parents she advises for the Special Needs Project have run out of ideas: “Sometimes a quick fix like a visual schedule or a tweak to the morning routine can make such a difference.” It also means that Jessica has access to teaching colleagues who can point her to resources throughout the vast region of Quebec that she covers—they’re just a Facebook post away.
It’s clear from talking to Jessica that she’s someone who regularly goes the extra mile to help the people she works with. How does she accomplish this with such a packed schedule? By being super-organized and efficient, and finding simple ways to accommodate people’s needs to get the best result. For example, she uses an online tool (Doodle) to schedule her calls with the parents she advises: “This way they know when I’m going to call and I know I’m not calling them when they are right in the middle of something and interrupting.”
Ariane and Chara.
Our story begins in 2009...
with our daughter’s many diagnoses. Although we had known for a long time she was unlike other children, we finally had the words to describe her condition. We then knew that our lives would never be like those of other families around us.
Our beautiful daughter is now a 14-year old teenager. Every day, she faces the world with the reality of her diagnoses. Autism, severe dyspraxia and language disorder, among others, make her social and academic life more complicated. Fortunately, she is a persistent person, and this has allowed her to overcome her prognoses. Through hard work and tremendous efforts, she has succeeded in learning to read and write. She attends a school for autistic spectrum children and continues to learn at her own pace.
Ariane is lucky to share her time with a four-legged friend, Chara, a service dog from the Mira Foundation who helps her with social interactions and alleviates her anxiety. Before getting Chara, Arianne had trouble sleeping and would wake up often. It was exhausting for us, since we still had to cope with our workday. Visits to the doctor and dentist were difficult, if not impossible. Getting this dog has improved our lives, and we can “almost” have a normal social life.
In 2010, we learned about the Special Needs Project through a work colleague. Thanks to this program, we’ve been able since then to provide our daughter with occupational, physio and speech therapy. The program is an invaluable gift, since my spouse had to stop working to take care of our daughter. Without it, we could never have provided her with all of the stimulating activity she needed. If she is now more independent, it’s due in part to the Special Needs Project, which eases the challenges that families like ours experience.
I have to mention our fantastic advisor, Tatiana, who’s been there for use since we got into the program. Her advice, understanding and listening skills are priceless. We are lucky she is still with us. She is truly one of the benefits of the program. Thank you for being part of our lives!
Letter Carrier
Repentigny, Quebec
Jacob has severe autism. He is largely non-verbal. He has been part of the Special Needs Project for several years.
Jacob.
Because of the Special Needs Project, he has had the opportunity to attend Camp Rotary. Jacob has also enjoyed his “piano lessons/jam sessions.” As of November 11, Jacob has found a speech language practitioner. He is learning more every week with this incredibly patient woman.
I will continue to be grateful for all the emotional and financial support the project has provided. Thank you!
SRS
Hanwell, NB
Update on CUPW-211 Disability Supports Portal
The CUPW-211 team is hard at work on the CUPW- 211 disability supports portal! This portal will make Internet ‘searching’ for the disability supports you need easier.
The new CUPW-211 disability supports portal will let you search all of the disability programs and services that are part of the 211 database. We are working with Ontario 211 and Nova Scotia 211 to develop the first phase of the portal for members in Ontario and Nova Scotia.
There will be several ways you can search for information on the new CUPW-211 portal. One way will be to choose a category of disability supports.
We have developed a list of categories to organize the disability programs and services in the 211 database. We began with an initial list of categories that the Special Needs and Moving On Projects developed. We added categories as we learned about the different programs and services listed in the 211 database.
Then we asked members and Advisors in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia about our list of categories. Seven parents and six Advisors from the Special Needs and Moving On Projects offered to help us.
We showed these members and advisors our category lists. They answered these questions: Will these categories help you find the disability supports you need for your child? What is missing? Are any category names unclear? Do you have any other suggestions about search categories? We will use their feedback to finalize the categories for the CUPW-211 portal.
What’s next? After we have all of the categories finalized, 211 will ‘map’ their disability program and service listings into the categories. We will develop a search page and go back to our ‘feedback’ parents and advisors to ‘test’ the search: “How are you finding the search experience?“ “Are you seeing the services that you expect to see in these categories?”
Stay tuned! We are building the CUPW-211 disability supports portal with your help!
We send a big “THANK YOU” to all of our feedback members and advisors for your time, and support!