More+ - Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre
Transcription
More+ - Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre
S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 IDHHC NEWS Newsletter of the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre Income Tax Nights Dates: IDHHC – Victoria Tuesday, March 25 IDHHC – Nanaimo Thursday, April 5th Big Band Bash Success 6th Annual Event Benefits IDHHC More than 180 supporters attended this major annual fundraising event, presented by McNeill Audiology, on November 12, 2013. The big bands that graciously donated their time included: The Island Big Band, The Swiftsure Big Band, and The Commodores. The evening of jazz and swing music set the tone for an extremely beneficial Silent Auction. The funds raised at the Big Band Bash support IDHHC programs and services. None of it would have been possible without the generous support of the Sponsors! (More on page 8) Tax Night services are available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY and spaces are limited. Both the Victoria and the Nanaimo offices will be hosting our annual Tax Nights. Tax Night is for low income Deaf, Deaf-blind, deafened and hard of hearing individuals; particularly for those who require the services of an ASL Interpreter or who have significant barriers to communication. Professional accountants and Interpreters volunteer their time and expertise to provide this service. Our Victoria staff would like to extend their gratitude to Norgaard Neal Camden Accountants and our community Interpreters for their generosity. Our Nanaimo staff would like to extend gratitude to John Hough for his kindness and generosity. TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT: - At the Victoria office, please go in person to the Victoria office or contact Lundie Russell at [email protected] - At the Nanaimo office, please contact Roxanne Beatty at [email protected] IDHHC NEWSLETTER SPRING 2014 Report from Board President This winter has been a roller coaster for IDHHC but we have faced our many challenges with determination and optimism. As with most nonprofit social service agencies, funding has been a constant concern but staff, members, donors and the Board have worked together to cut costs and increase revenues. We face the rest of this year with confidence. Client services continue to be the heart and soul of our organization and I am very proud of the staff in our Victoria and Nanaimo offices who have weathered the financial storms with dedication and professionalism. Our year-end “ask” was also very successful and we welcome our new donors and supporters who will work with us to build and strengthen the agency in the years ahead. Through the tireless work of our Executive Director, Denise Robertson, we have secured new grants that will allow us to protect and expand services. I personally thank staff for their unwavering commitment, the Board for its dedication and generous spirit, and our Executive Director for her work ethic, sound decision-making and leadership. Michael Hayes Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre Annual General Meeting Tuesday June 17th 2014 6:00 pm #201 – 754 Broughton Street Victoria BC 250-592-8144 ASL Interpreters and Captionist Provided 2 IDHHC NEWSLETTER SPRING 2014 Program News Employment Program BC Welcome to new staff members! Dominic Husereau, Employment Counsellor Anna Fodchuck, Job Developer The past year held wonderful success stories for many of IDHHC’s clients. The Employment Program helped clients keep their current jobs, assisted them when applying for training funds and helped find the right job once training was complete. On a much brighter note, IDHHC is very pleased to welcome two highly dedicated ladies, Dominique Husereau and Anna Fodchuk to the Employment team. Dominique, a former Nanaimo employment counselor, is back! Dominique missed working with all of her clients and has decided to dedicate her career to IDHHC. The Employment Program staff are delighted to have Dominique return and share her passion and knowledge of employment services out of the Nanaimo office. This program also experienced some challenges during the year. Most of the daily postings are in customer service and sales jobs; as on-going communication is constant in such jobs, accommodating clients can be exceptionally challenging. Fortunately, when Discovery or psycho-vocational assessments are completed, IDHHC staff can explore where abilities best fit the workforce. Together, a client and employment counsellor searches for a good match within today’s labour market. One project that IDHHC consistently strives to develop is in obtaining contracts in areas where specialized employment services for the Deaf and hard of hearing are missed. Currently, the EPBC team has been unable to serve the north Island; under the WorkBC arrangement IDHHC cannot serve the Deaf and hard of hearing community across Vancouver Island as it does not have contracts with any Ministry holding Contractors further north. This results in clients, who previously received support under the Employment Program of People with Disabilities, now needing to obtain support via their local WorkBC Service Centre. To find out which employment centre can serve you, please visit the http://www.workbc.ca/WorkBCCentres.aspx website. Enter your address to locate the employment service centre nearest you. IDHHC is working on getting these contracts for northern communities, and will keep you all updated! Anna joined the Victoria employment team as a Job Developer mid January. It’s been a smooth and productive addition to this program. Anna is fairly new to the Victoria area as she moved here from Edmonton in 2012. She brings with her years of experience working in nonprofit organizations, pre-employment programs, sales industry and post-secondary work environment. She has worked with diverse groups of people including teaching yoga to the Deaf community in Edmonton. Her warmth and thoughtful interactions fit very nicely within the IDHHC team and will be fundamental in her role as IDHHC’s Job Developer. Her role will be to develop and build strong relationships with Victoria’s employers that will assist IDHHC clients by opening doors to upcoming jobs. Networking is essential especially in today’s labour market for job seekers and requires time, focus and the ability to connect with people with ease. Anna is just the right person for the job! 3 IDHHC NEWSLETTER SPRING 2014 Family and Community Program SUMMER CELEBRATION IN VICTORIA July 2013 was the 22nd anniversary of this popular community event. With financial support from the Evening Optimists of Victoria, and donations from a variety of local businesses (Thrifty Foods, St. John Ambulance, Serious Coffee and Tim Horton’s) Summer Celebration 2013 was a huge success. Thank you all for your support! IDHHC also received very positive feedback about the event’s location at Galey Farms. Along with the delicious BBQ, the community enjoyed the three-part corn maze, an exciting train ride and cute petting zoo. Fifty-seven Deaf and hard of hearing adults, children and their families had the opportunity to socialize and network. All of these activities were supported by 11 tremendous volunteers, 3 enthusiastic IDHHC staff members, and 3 dedicated IDHHC Board members. This year the IDHHC Victoria Family and Community Program team hopes to make Summer Celebration 2014 an even greater success. Dates and location to be announced soon! Interpreting Program Hearing Loss Resource Program Over the last year, the Interpreting program has seen an increase of appointments; particularly Community based. The Hearing Loss Resource Program is pleased to introduce its newest staff member, Kim Dillon, who started working in the Victoria office August 12, 2013. IDHHC works very hard to educate the community on the Rights of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, and it appears that it is paying off. Kim is the Hearing Loss Resource Assistant in the Victoria office 2 days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. After a seven-month hiatus, this complements the already existing 3 days a week, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays that the Audiologist works. More Service Providers have understood their ‘Duty to Accommodate’ and have willingly provided Registered ASL Interpreters for their appointments with Deaf clients. Clients are also feeling more comfortable in requesting interpreters and understand that it is their Right to clear communication. This is a huge success for the Interpreting program at IDHHC. With the steady increase of interpreter requests however, comes the steady need for interpreters. Kim comes with a background as an Employment Counselor and Community Support Worker. She has taken on the challenge of learning the ins and outs of hearing loss and assistive equipment with enthusiasm and this keen desire to learn, combined with her gentle people skills, make her a wonderful addition to the Hearing Loss Resource Program. Welcome Kim. (Continued next page) 4 IDHHC NEWSLETTER SPRING 2014 Hearing Loss Resource Program – continued from Page 4 Since the article about loop systems and accessibility in our last newsletter, Janis Ringuette, a citizen’s advocate, became very active in promoting accessibility for those with hearing loss in the Victoria area. She has contacted and talked to many groups and organizations about the importance of accessibility and enquired which hearing assistive systems are in place, if any. She had an opinion editorial published in the Victoria Times Colonist in the Spring and has also compiled an extensive list of buildings in the greater Victoria area that have some type of system that promotes accessibility for those with hearing loss. These include stage theatres, movie theatres, seniors care facilities and residences, municipal buildings, churches, hearing clinics and more. Some buildings have infrared systems, some buildings FM systems, some loop systems, and some a type of captioning. If you are interested in finding out about a particular building and what kind of system that building has or if you want to make sure your building or workplace is on that list please visit the IDHHC website (Links to Resources) or contact [email protected]. IDHHC appreciates the hard work Janet has done in this area. In addition, Audrey Sowerby has also been in touch with many facilities and groups in the community again raising the awareness of accessibility and the loop system. In the past few months Advanced Listening Systems has installed several assistive systems in local buildings; a loop system in the Thrifty Foods/Sobeys James Bay Pharmacy, 2 loop systems at AMICA at Somerset House; one at the reception desk and in the theatre, loop systems in the Broadmead Hearing Centre, Oak Bay Hearing Centre and both of the McNeill Audiology Clinics (Sidney and Oak Bay). An infrared system was installed in the Belfry Theatre and the Town of Sidney had a complete audio “redo” including a loop, new sound system, projector and acoustical treatment for the council chamber installed. These are in addition to the loops Van City installed in each of its banks last year. Thank you to all who are making this region more accessible for those with hearing loss. If you have any questions about this technology or how you can access it please contact one of the staff members in the Hearing Loss Resource Program. The Canadian Hard of Hearing Association has initiated a petition to bring CapTel phones into Canada. When you place or receive phone calls using a CapTel telephone, your phone conversations are automatically displayed in text on the telephones’ built-in screen. Unlike Voice Carry Over telephones or TTY’s currently in use in Canada, callers do not have to dial a special phone number for a Relay Operator. CapTel phones are available in the US, but even if you purchase one in the US and bring it across the border, it will not work in Canada. For more information and to sign the petition, please visit the CHHA website http://www.chha.ca/chha/. And finally, by now, many are aware that 75-watt and 100-watt incandescent light bulbs have been phased out and that 40-watt and 60-watt incandescent light bulbs will be phased out after December 31, 2014. Unfortunately the new compact fluorescent (CF) bulbs are not going to work with the alerting and signaling systems that many people use, as they need to “warm up” before they are at full power. So everyone using an alerting system should stock up on 40 or 60watt incandescent bulbs while you can or use halogen or LED bulbs. If you have questions about any of the above please feel free to contact the staff in the Victoria or Nanaimo office. 5 IDHHC NEWSLETTER SPRING 2014 The Winds of Change: Office Moves at IDHHC Once again the winds of change have ascended upon IDHHC and, as change is the only constant, staff are becoming old hands at navigating these gusts of transformation! Paramount in IDHHC’s daily environment is the ongoing and what seems like never-ending funding challenge. Like so many organizations there is a struggle to secure sustainable funding sources to ensure programs and services can be maintained. Currently IDHHC relies heavily on the generosity of individuals and granting foundations to support current work – but these funds are neither sustainable nor consistent from year to year. As any organization or individual will do when funds become tight, thoughtful ways to reduce and save money becomes an everyday operating process. So, IDHHC found ways to reduce operating overhead while maintaining current staffing levels – this allowed the stability to operate programs and provide services without reducing delivery to clients. Reducing rental costs is one area that has received ongoing consideration and after much deliberation both the Victoria and Nanaimo offices will be changing facility space to save money. To undertake the renovations at both of our area offices, there will be brief closures in order to make these moves happen. IDHHC will do its best to ensure they are able to meet client needs with as little disruption as possible. Office Closures: At the present time, both offices will be closed for the Easter long weekend from Friday April 18th to Monday April 21st inclusive. CHANGES IN VICTORIA CHANGES IN NANAIMO IDHHC will remain at its current location on Broughton Street but will be giving up the front lobby and office area known as suite 100. With some minor renovations the main reception and administration offices (and meeting space) will soon be on the 2nd floor; additional work will be done on the main floor at the rear of the building to add more offices for client service staff. As our lease expired in the current location in Nanaimo we were given the opportunity to find alternative space – again smaller and much more cost effective - for our mid-island team. The new location will be 75 Front Street in downtown Nanaimo – a wonderful space in the downtown core with easy access to parking and transit. The Victoria office will be closed from April 22nd to 25th for renovations, reopening on Monday, April 28th. The Nanaimo office will be closed from April 28th to May 2nd to move locations, reopening on Monday, May 5th. * Please note these times may change so please call your local office to confirm. IDHHC staff members look forward to getting moved and settled and back to work as quickly as possible and thank clients and staff for their patience during this time. 6 2 1 IDHHC NEWSLETTER SPRING 2014 Increasing Accessibility for People with Disabilities in British Columbia In person community consultations were held from January 20 to March 7, 2014. The purpose of the twenty-three consultations held throughout BC was to provide insights into what we, as a society, can do to make BC more accessible and inclusive. The White Paper leadership team stated, “It is important to recognize that the BC Government is committed to balancing its budget and reducing debt for future generations. The White Paper and Summit must include a conversation about how this fiscal commitment can be met, while at the same time reducing barriers and improving accessibility.” This feedback will be used in the development of a White Paper, which will be the foundation for a Summit in June on the issues facing people with disabilities in BC. IDHHC participated in four of the community consultations, including one in Vancouver that had a specific focus to consult with Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deaf-blind constituents, as well as educators, and program/service providers. Six discussion themes included, but were not limited to: Innovation, Personal Supports, Work & Contribution, Housing & Accessibility, Social Networks, and Asset Accumulation. There were multiple ways for people to participate, other than face-to-face meetings: online discussion, submission of stories, ASL videos, Tweet, Email and mail. “I appreciate the time and interest that many of our staff and Board members expressed by attending and participating in some of the sessions in our area,” said Denise Robertson, Executive Director. DID YOU KNOW? About a quarter of the population has some degree of hearing loss, ranging from mild to profound. 7 IDHHC NEWSLETTER SPRING 2014 BIG BAND BASH SPONSORS Thank you to our Generous Sponsors! Presenting Sponsor Don St. Germain “The Big Band Bash was a huge success, with everyone putting in significant time and energy to make it the best ever. We are so grateful to the Sponsors, the bands who donate time and talents, the donors for their bighearted support, and all who came with generous spirits and open wallets.” - Michael Hayes, IDHHC Board President IDHHC Website: idhhc.ca 8 IDHHC NEWSLETTER SPRING 2014 9 IDHHC NEWSLETTER SPRING 2014 Reminder – Membership Renewal Time! If you have not renewed your annual Membership please come into the office or call us to ensure your membership remains active! Annual Membership is active from January to December each year, so please be sure you are a Member in Good Standing* and can participate in the Annual General Meeting scheduled for June 17th 2014. BOARD OF DIRECTOR NOMINATION FORM Members of the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre (IDHHC) are invited to submit names of nominees to the Board of Directors to be elected at the Annual General Meeting on June 17th, 2014. Nominees and those nominating must be Members in good standing.* All nominations must be signed by at least three (3) current Members of IDHHC and by the nominee. PLEASE NOTE: No nominations will be taken from the floor at the AGM. We, the undersigned, being Members in good standing of Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre, nominate: __________________________________________________________ (please print Nominee name) as a Director to the Board of Directors of the Society on June 17th 2014 1. Member Signature _____________________________________ Print Name: __________________________________________ 2. Member Signature _____________________________________ Print Name: __________________________________________ 3. Member Signature _____________________________________ Print Name: __________________________________________ I accept this nomination by signing below: Signature of Nominee: ________________________________________ Dated: _____________________________________________________ The signed nomination form must be submitted to the Board of Directors Nominating Committee by Tuesday May 13th 2014. Nomination forms can be faxed to 250-592-8199 or dropped at IDHHC offices with attention to: Nominating Committee. 10