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I was greatly saddened when I heard that Harry Ohr had passed away on
Sunday, April 27th. Being a founding member and a long-serving chairman
of the VCP he was our elder statesman. As the Honourary Past Chairman he
garnered much respect and admiration from the other board
members. He provided a link with the past and shared his experiences
and insights with us. Inspite of having no formal schooling, he was very
intelligent and well-informed. He could be counted on to regularly attend
board meetings. He often corrected mistakes in the minutes and continually
asked pertinent questions. He was a solid, dependable member of the VCP
whose contribution over the years has been substantial. I, personally,
will greatly miss him, both as a friend and as a colleague.
To commemorate his contribution to the VCP, at our AGM in May our members
voted to name the VCP's loan program after Harry. It is fitting. Just as
he worked to ensure that people with CP can reach their potential, this
program gives people the resources to acquire what they need to
move toward theirs.
In memory of Harry we are reprinting the following article we ran
about Harry in the December 1995 issue of Tone.
This article is the first in the new series "Voices Within" featuring members within the VCP. So often people know more about the society than the people within it. Yet it is the people which give the VCP its distinct character and direct it in the issues it tackles. I had the pleasure to interview Harry, one of the founding members of the VCP, on Friday, September 22nd.
Harry was born on September 16, 1921 in the Vancouver General Hospital. He lived in various areas on the east side of Vancouver as a child before moving to Burnaby where he stayed until he moved to False Creek in Vancouver. He grew up in a large family of seven siblings. He was the oldest with four sisters and two brothers. One of his brothers was killed in the war and two of his sisters have since died. He did not go to public schools because the schools would not accept him. His mother and sisters taught him at home. His home schooling was augmented by what he learned from watching TV. He also went to a neighbourhood house with a girl who had Cerebral Palsy for a couple years. Then around 1950 he and three other people went to Sunset Community Centre to be taught by a retired teacher. He attended classes there for about three years.
When Harry was growing up society had a very closed-minded attitude toward people with disabilities. There were no services nor groups for disabled people. Very little was known about different disabilities. -In fact it was not until Harry was 25, when a teacher for homebound students paid him a visit to find potential members for the Spastic Society, that he found out he had CP. Up to that point he had never even heard of CP.
The Spastic Society had a big Christmas party at Christ Church Cathedral
that year. The members
enjoyed the party and decided to meet again. They met every Friday
night at different members' houses. They especially liked meeting at Harry's
house because the Ohrs' lived in a big eight room house which could comfortably
accommodate the group. At these meetings it was decided to form a club
which they named the "Happy Club." The Happy Club, which was formed for
members to socialize and go on outings, became separate from the Spastic
Society. Then the Spastic Society got a store on Broadway and Cambie and
gave the Happy Club space to meet there. However, the parents were not
allowed to stay for the meetings. Needless to say the parents were not
pleased about the inconvenience of either going home or somewhere else
until the meetings ended.
In the meantime Harry went to work for Alfred Meadows. Alfred, who was also disabled, had a workshop in his basement where they did carpentry work. They made ironing boards, wheel barrows, clothes horses etc. Harry remembers making 140 ironing boards in a single session. Alfred would then sell them and give Harry some of the proceeds. Harry worked with him for about four years. He then went to work for the Good Will as a repairman. He repaired donated used goods which were then sold in the Good Wilt store. He worked there from approximately 1948 to 1952.
During this time Harry continued to be involved in the Happy Club. However, the members were having trouble finding transportation. Harry's friend Alfred, who was also working at the Good Will, decided to approach his friend Fred Sharp who was a member of the Lion's Club to ask whether they could provide transportation. As a result, the Lion's Club provided transportation for members of the Happy Club every Friday night for years. Mr. Watson, who later took over the Happy Club, was also a member of the Lion's Club. Ultimately the Lion's Club donated a Station Wagon which Harry believes was the beginning of the handyDART system.
Harry did not have much to do with the Spastic Society because it catered to children. The Happy Club was for adults to socialize. Mr. Watson started an adult Cerebral Palsy group. In about 1965 it shared an office space on Kingsway with the Happy Club. The adult Cerebral Palsy group started swimming for people with disabilities. They started at the Canadian Memorial Pool and then went to the YWCA and finally to Percy Norman Pool where Harry continues to go.
In about 1975 Audrey Hill phoned Harry and invited him to a meeting at her place. After a few such meetings which also included Yoshi Tanabe, Annette Gerein, Fay Fergusson, Dr. Roy Clark, and Bob and Karen Woodward the VCP was formed in 1977. Harry was the one who gave the VCP its name. Harry became involved because he wanted to help out a group of people sharing the same disability.
Some of the highlights of his involvement in the VCP include being president for a number of years, the sod turning for the apartment building and having Jack drive him to swimming on Mondays.
Harry would like to see the VCP continue to work with people on a one-to-one basis especially in the area of training them so they can gain work related skills. He would also like to see the VCP get involved in attendant care and possibly put up more housing.
Harry is also involved in two other groups. He sits on the Riley Park
Community Centre Board. He has been on the International Society of Greater
Vancouver Board since 1976. The International is an advocacy group which
also has social gatherings and arranges outings.
On Tuesday, June 10th we met with Halldor Bjarnson, the new Executive Director of the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC (CPA). It is worth noting that this is the first time the CPA has had an Executive Director who has CP. We applaud the CPA for taking this step.
The main thrust of our discussion was how we could work together on issues of common concern. We decided to start by working on the four following areas.
1. Reforming GAIN. The VCP history of attempting to reform the GAIN
Act so that GAIN is permanently attached to people with disabilities irregardless
of their changing circumstances. Just be- cause a person gets married or
finds a job does not mean his/her disability disappears. By making GAIN
plus any additional income taxable the person wins by having more aggregate
income and the government wins by getting more tax revenue
.
2. Exploring developing housing. The VCP has extensive experience developing
and managing housing and would be happy to work in partnership to put up
more housing. The VCP frequently receives requests for accessible, affordable
housing and is seeking ways to put up more housing to meet this demand.
By pooling our resources we might have better luck sponsoring a developer.
3. Creating a speakers bureau. We hope to create more public awareness about CP by developing a speakers bureau. Those people with CP who are on the list would then speak at various functions. Anyone interested in doing so should contact the VCP at 874-1?41 or the CPA at 205-9455.
4. Creating a data base of services specifically for people with CP. Presently there are listings of services for people with disabilities in general, such as the Red Book, but there is not such a thing for people with CP in particular. We hope to also include people with CP who are providing services in the data base. if you know of services or people which you think should be included, contact us at the above phone numbers.
As always, we would like to hear from you. Let us know your ideas and suggestions on future directions for the VCP.
Fredericton -- A child disabled before birth may sue his mother for negligence for injuries suffered in the womb.
That controversial decision has been upheld in New Brunswick's highest court.
"A pregnant mother has a general duty to drive carefully, a duty she owes to her children as well as the general public," Chief Justice William Hoyt of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal ruled in a written decision released Wednesday .
Four-year-old Ryan Dobson of Moncton, N.B., now has the right to sue his mother Cynthia for injuries suffered when her car crashed head-on into a pick-up truck.
The child was subsequently born with cerebral palsy. He lives with his mother. A civil suit was launched by Gerald Price, Ryan's maternal grandfather. It alleges the child's mother was negligent in not avoiding the 1993 collision that permanently disabled Ryan.
Price launched the action in order to obtain damages from his daughter's insurance company.
A Court of Queen's Bench judge ruled ear1ier this year that the suit could proceed.
Hoyt said he was convinced this case would set a precedent of mothers being sued by their children for smoking, drinking, or taking medication during pregnancy that could injure a child.
But a spokeswoman for the Right to Life Association claimed the decision shows courts are finally addressing the real issues. Beth Crouchman, in Saint John, N.B., said it's only a matter of time before the fetus is recognized as a person with legal rights.
Reprinted from the Friday, May 30, 1997 issue of the Province.
by Lynne Swanson
"Wow! Entrepreneurship!" Pam Langille of Dartmouth remembers that reaction to the Network of Entrepreneurs with Disabilities booth at the People in Motion Show in Toronto. Several Ontario residents expressed interest, and the group which originated in Atlantic Canada, plans to expand across the country.
A video produced by Ability Network Publishing features two Nova Scotia members of the network: Bilingual Adrienne Drake, who is blind converts French and English printed materials to Braille and large print, and consults on adaptive technology; and brothers Derek Smith and Douglas Brown -- co- owners of Douglas Enterprises with their parents, and both with intellectual disabilities -- grow bean, alfalfa and speciality sprouts for Nova Scotia grocery stores.
Newfoundland member Eliza- beth Ryan, who has spinal injury, has designed cat Tarot cards. Ryan is now seeking financing for production and to expand into calendars and posters.
The "new economy" presents new opportunities and challenges for people with disabilities, who are often excluded from the workplace due to individual and societal attitudes, inaccessibility, lack of accommodation, and transportation difficulties.
Entrepeneurship may offer solutions. Deborah Gardener of Toronto's Project Work, which provides services to people with cognitive disabilities resulting from brain injuries or strokes and people with intellectual disabilities, says, "How do you take a life shattered by injury or illness and rebuild it? Often, it's through self-employment."
Gardener stresses that accommodation to "level the playing field" is
critical, including technological aids and human supports. Gardener explains
that while many people with intellectual disabilities may not become totally
self-sufficient, self-employment reduces social
assistance dependency and costs, while increasing dignity and self-worth.
"More Canadians than ever are commuting downstairs, rather than downtown," according to The Globe and Mail. Entrepeneurs with disabilities are part of a growing trend, although their "commute" may mean a ramp or a stair lift, or may be in a barrier-free, one-level home.
Some "homepreneurs" with disabilities save identified gaps in products
or services for consumers
with disabilities and have established businesses to address their
needs.
Debbie Willows, who has a significant level of cerebral palsy, holds Canadian and world records in back stroke and has won several world and Paralympic records in swimming, boccia and soccer.
Willows' business, DeWill Products, imports modified sports equipment for people with disabilities from Denmark and ships throughout North America. Half of Willows' imports are used for competition and half for recreation. Clients include national and local teams, individuals, schools, retirement homes and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and Paralympics.
DeWill Products originated after Willows set a Canadian record in 1990 for wheelchair slalom. Her required wheelchair was provided through corporate sponsor, Union Gas. "Because everyone liked" hers, Willows began importing these. Soon, she expanded into adapted sports equipment.
DeWill soccer and golf balls emit sound so blind athletes can hear them. Leather boccia balls are lighter than standard wooden ones. Volleyballs are softer, to reduce injury risk and for wheelchair play. DeWill hand weights have velcro so "people with no grasp can work out."
After having served as boccia referee and networked at the Barcelona and Atlanta Paralympics, Willows hopes to expand into more sports products and markets since modified equipment "seems to be the thing that's selling."
Willows, who lives in London, Ontario, finds some drawbacks to homepreneurship. She "can't get away from it," unless she leaves home, she says. "Family and friends come and go when they want. They don't really understand it's your workday." But Willows finds significant advantages for accommodating her disability in a home business. She has no transportation problems. Willows works at her own pace, which is critical because of her disability. An accessible washroom adjoins the office.
And, Debbie along with her special skills dog, Lego, "watched the Olympics while [she] worked."
... Although home businesses represent an option for people with disabilities, there are barriers. Brian Oulton, Manager of Creative Options for people with significant disabilities at the Vancouver office of the Neil Squire Foundation, advises that workplace obstacles can perpetuate when establishing a business.
People with disabilities who have never found employment usually do not have the financial resources or work experience required for a business. Even a telephone headset for an individual unable to use his or her hands may be too expensive if the person has been on social assistance for years. Oulton says that entrepreneurs with disabilities, like many owners of small businesses, find it difficult to obtain bank financing. But he is encouraged by the cooperation his organization has received from financial institutions and other corporations for initiatives such as "mentoring" to acquaint people with disabilities with business.
Editor's note: If you would like to start up your own business and need advice, call us at the office.
Reprinted from Abilities/Summer 1997 Issue
Therapeutic Recreation is a very important part of everyone's life. The reason it is very crucial is because it is very important to exercise in as many ways as possible. For example, swimming, horseback riding, walking, Bochi and many other types of sports. If you get injuries of any kind, then you should start with a Physiotherapist or Massage therapist. If neither of those techniques do not work, then start with a therapy that is best for you. Before you start the activity, the first thing that must be done is to get your doctor's permission. Once you have his permission, then ask a Physiotherapist to do an assessment to be able to find out what event you should be placed in.
What l am trying to say is that the muscles in your body can just get very tight and then not work at all. The most difficult problem to deal with is to get yourself motivated to do something. The other thing that can happen is that a person can start talking negatively about yourself. For example, a person can say: "I will never be able to run, walk, or ride a horse again." The other thing that I am trying to say, is you must speak in a positive way.
There is a saying that is "If you fall off, then get straight back on". This is a very important rule in the life of Therapeutic Recreation. Please use this saying because otherwise you will get nowhere in life. A person may be afraid of something, but that person will try to do the task again. I have been swimming and walking, but I would like to start riding. I rode once this past weekend, and it felt very good to ride again.
My experience that l had was spending time taking a course in England at a Riding Centre working with people with every kind of dis- ability that I could mention. One person I was watching was a girl with Spina Bifida. This girl was riding with three volunteers, one leading the horse, and two volunteers on each side of the horse. On my last day at this Centre, she was riding on her own - no volunteers at all except the Instructor.
That is one example of how Therapeutic Recreation helps many different people. It may not help everyone, but some people may benefit from this type of therapy.
Before I came home, I had the experience of riding in the Third International Conference in Stonleigh Riding stables. It was a wonderful experience because when our group was introduced, everyone was told that I was the only person riding from out of the country. I could not believe it myself. The other riders that were with me were disabled from Thalidomide. One rider had no legs and the other had no arms. When l arrived back in Canada, I started working at another Centre called Pacific Riding for the Disabled. One of the riders is completely deaf and blind and she has been riding all over the world.
I am just trying to convey how Therapeutic Recreation is able to help people with disabilities. There are some disabilities where people are unable to ride, but there is no reason that they are unable to swim. For instance, when a person is in the water, the buoyancy of the water will take the pressure off of the injured part of the body.
Make sure that a person does stretching before riding so that their muscles do not get tight. The different types of exercises that would be an idea to do on the horse would be to try and get the riders to bend over and touch their toes, bend over to hug the horse, and take their feet out of the stirrups and circle their ankles. These are just a few. There are many more even when the riders are not riding.
Therapeutic Recreation has a positive impact on my life. I'm sure it
could be the same for you.
Congratulations to the following members for being on the board of The Voice of the Cerebral Palsied of Greater Vancouver:
Ted Nelson
- Chair
Laurette Yelle
- Vice Chair
Vivian MacArthur
- Treasurer
Lori Kemp
- Secretary
Catherine Lambrecht
Gillian Lawrence
Joanne Goudreau
A. J. Brown
Roy Clark (Dr.)
Patrick Clark
Karen Woodward
Bob Woodward
Julie Storey
Karen Van Biesen
Congratulations to the following members for being on the board of The Voice of the Cerebral Palsied Housing Society:
Vivian MacArthur
-- President
Lyle Meredith
-- Vice President
Catherine Lambrecht
-- Treasurer
Gillian Lawrence
-- Secretary
Roy Clark (Dr.)
Karen Woodward
Bob Woodward
Julie Storey
Ping Lum
Lianne Crowe
Production:
Chairperson of the Board of Directors - Ted Nelson
Executive Director - Yoshinori Tanabe
Chairperson of the Newsletter Committee - Laurette Yelle
Webmaster - Derek Isobe
Editorship - Newsletter Committee
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