Help us voice our idea to the world
Donation protected
Hello and welcome. We are Susan, David, Donna, Brian,
Kim, Lynetta and Raymond; an active Advocacy group of intellectually diverse adults engaged in making social inclusion, realization of rights and informed choice not only priority discussions but actions for ourselves and our peers.
As a group we work to advance the message of full citizenship and its navigation of rights in our homes, communities and our services.
Recently we responded to a call out for presenters to share their experience, knowledge and success in the promotion of Inclusion on the world stage at the ’World Congress International Inclusion Conference’, in Birmingham UK , May30-June 1st 2018.
We were chosen and received an invitation!
How did our group from Realm in Cranbrook BC get to the point of pursuing the opportunity and ultimately getting invited?
Here’s the back story-
As advocates with diversity, we chose many ways to live in the community. Some live with families, in specialized homes, independently, with room mates or with contracted share homes.
As advocates we often share our experiences successes and failures with each other in a way to find skills, problem solve and work toward solutions.
So when the group was facing many conversations with our peers describing difficulties that the were having in their living arrangements, the group decided to do something.
They worked to create a ‘toolkit’for communication. The goal was to make a plain language tool that could be used to support in dialogues and discussions when considering entering into a new living situation or keep the one they were in. It became very useful for individuals to get information they felt was important, enhancing their right to informed choice.
Once the group developed the toolkit, it wasn’t long before the group was sharing it with peers, committees and community service providers. The group was asked to present their information at a Regional Advocacy Conference.
This brings us to now, and our very exciting present opportunity!
We have accepted the invitation to present our ‘toolkit ‘ to our international peers, exhibiting the ability to be active solution engagers- showing that we can advocate, support, problem solve and continue to be a voice.
Presenting will and does have costs and this is where we would like to consider your support.
As mentioned this Conference is in the UK and we are in Canada. We will be needing to secure our travel plans including flights, ground transportation ( trains, taxis) and accommodations. We have registered and paid conference fees already.
(Each participant is and has been contributing funds to the opportunity to support the experience).
The costs break down as follows:
Airfare: $7000.00
Apartment rental: $2100
Bus from airport: $350
Taxi / ground transportation :$350
The monies that we raise here will go to the travelling and accommodation costs as listed above, lessening the total amount overall for individuals.
Although the group will not be travelling until end of May (May 26-Jun2), the airline tickets and deposits for rentals need to be made at months end March 31st /2018.
The Support that we receive will mean of course the opportunity to travel and experience a new country, meet new acquaintances and spend time with like minded peers. More importantly, the support we we receive will solidify for our Advocacy group that like us, others recognize that our message of social inclusion, promotion of citizenship, informed descision making and choice matters ! That Intellectually Diverse individuals are active ‘Change Makers’ and for this we are truly grateful.
We we are so excited to be sharing our work and truly appreciative that you are willing to learn about and support us!
Thanks,
Susan, David, Donna, Brian, Kim, Lynetta and Raymond.
Kim, Lynetta and Raymond; an active Advocacy group of intellectually diverse adults engaged in making social inclusion, realization of rights and informed choice not only priority discussions but actions for ourselves and our peers.
As a group we work to advance the message of full citizenship and its navigation of rights in our homes, communities and our services.
Recently we responded to a call out for presenters to share their experience, knowledge and success in the promotion of Inclusion on the world stage at the ’World Congress International Inclusion Conference’, in Birmingham UK , May30-June 1st 2018.
We were chosen and received an invitation!
How did our group from Realm in Cranbrook BC get to the point of pursuing the opportunity and ultimately getting invited?
Here’s the back story-
As advocates with diversity, we chose many ways to live in the community. Some live with families, in specialized homes, independently, with room mates or with contracted share homes.
As advocates we often share our experiences successes and failures with each other in a way to find skills, problem solve and work toward solutions.
So when the group was facing many conversations with our peers describing difficulties that the were having in their living arrangements, the group decided to do something.
They worked to create a ‘toolkit’for communication. The goal was to make a plain language tool that could be used to support in dialogues and discussions when considering entering into a new living situation or keep the one they were in. It became very useful for individuals to get information they felt was important, enhancing their right to informed choice.
Once the group developed the toolkit, it wasn’t long before the group was sharing it with peers, committees and community service providers. The group was asked to present their information at a Regional Advocacy Conference.
This brings us to now, and our very exciting present opportunity!
We have accepted the invitation to present our ‘toolkit ‘ to our international peers, exhibiting the ability to be active solution engagers- showing that we can advocate, support, problem solve and continue to be a voice.
Presenting will and does have costs and this is where we would like to consider your support.
As mentioned this Conference is in the UK and we are in Canada. We will be needing to secure our travel plans including flights, ground transportation ( trains, taxis) and accommodations. We have registered and paid conference fees already.
(Each participant is and has been contributing funds to the opportunity to support the experience).
The costs break down as follows:
Airfare: $7000.00
Apartment rental: $2100
Bus from airport: $350
Taxi / ground transportation :$350
The monies that we raise here will go to the travelling and accommodation costs as listed above, lessening the total amount overall for individuals.
Although the group will not be travelling until end of May (May 26-Jun2), the airline tickets and deposits for rentals need to be made at months end March 31st /2018.
The Support that we receive will mean of course the opportunity to travel and experience a new country, meet new acquaintances and spend time with like minded peers. More importantly, the support we we receive will solidify for our Advocacy group that like us, others recognize that our message of social inclusion, promotion of citizenship, informed descision making and choice matters ! That Intellectually Diverse individuals are active ‘Change Makers’ and for this we are truly grateful.
We we are so excited to be sharing our work and truly appreciative that you are willing to learn about and support us!
Thanks,
Susan, David, Donna, Brian, Kim, Lynetta and Raymond.
Organizer
Kerry Taylor Johnson
Organizer
Cranbrook, BC
