Celebrating Success: Morgan Gehring

Posted on By Communications Team
Photo: Morgan and Kim.
Morgan and Kim are excited for a great volunteer opportunity.

Morgan Gehring can’t stop smiling when talking about her upcoming role as a volunteer for the Juno Awards. On Sunday, April 3, the PACE client will be distributing programs at the Songwriter’s Circle, an interactive event where musicians share the stories behind their songs. “It’s at the Jack Singer Concert Hall,” Morgan shared. “And after, I get to hang out and watch the concert!”

When Kim Taylor, Morgan’s Community Resource Worker, first heard that the awards ceremony was coming to Calgary, she knew immediately that it would be the perfect role for Morgan.

“Morgan loves to sing, dance, act and perform. Basically, anything involving a stage,” Kim laughed. Morgan also writes her own songs, so having the chance to hear what inspired these musicians is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Normally, volunteer applications are submitted online but Kim found some of the questions difficult to answer in a way that would really let the Juno team to get to know Morgan. She decided to reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator directly to introduce Morgan and ask if they could set up an in-person interview.

On January 11, Morgan and Kim met with the Volunteer Coordinator. “Morgan was able to ask questions, talk about her past volunteer work, and share why she wanted to be at the Junos,” Kim said. More than 1,000 people submitted applications for the Junos, so Morgan certainly made a great impression.

More details about the event will be sent to Morgan and Kim at the end of February, including which musicians will be at the Songwriters Circle—which may be what they’re most excited about! According to Morgan, this is already her favourite volunteer position, even though it hasn’t happened yet: “I really like music and I can’t wait!”

Inside Out Theatre Visits the DDRC

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Employees and clients were treated to two workshops run by Calgary’s Inside Out Theatre. The workshops were facilitated by Jeremy Park and Michelle Brandenburg from Inside Out, and offered an introduction to acting basics like movement and improvisation. Activities included connecting emotions with movements, having an emotional reaction to a situation, and creating a short skit with a partner.

For Park and Brandenburg, acting workshops provide individuals with disabilities a chance to take risks in a safe space and explore their creativity.

“I love when the impulse to take a risk overpowers the impulse to remain internalized,” Brandenburg said. “Performance training helps with so many foundational learning skills like public speaking, eye contact, being comfortable, having the ability to think on your feet, and problem solving.”

Park added that being able to express oneself in a safe space can lead to encouraging results. “When you can put yourself out there, take that risk, and have it validated by a group, that’s a form of positive reinforcement that can stay with you outside of these walls,” he said.

Col Cseke, the artistic director of Inside Out, explained that the company “offers theatre classes to adults with disabilities that foster a love of theatre, the joy of community, and the rewards of self-confidence.”

For more information about Inside Out Theatre, visit their website.

We’re Almost There!

Posted on By Communications Team

untitledAs of today, we have received generous donations from 122 individuals, bringing us to a total of $21,591 raised for the DDRC’s new Ability Fund during our 2015-2016 winter fundraising campaign. That means we’re only $3,409 from reaching our goal of $25,000! Thank you to everyone who has helped support this campaign.

The Ability Fund is a resource for our clients that will remove financial barriers to greater community inclusion. We believe that inclusion is an important factor in improving the quality of life for adults with developmental disabilities, and strengthens our community as a whole.

If you’d like to learn more about the Ability Fund, watch our video or visit our website. Interested in supporting the Ability Fund? You can make a donation here.

Time for a Change of PACE

Posted on By Communications Team
Photo: Brandi and Kieran in the new PACE office.
Brandi and Kieran in the new PACE office.

The PACE team has recently expanded into a new office space on the main floor of the DDRC, and they’re already seeing lots of excitement among clients and staff: “I really like it here,” PACE client Kieran Corrigan said. “It’s nice and quiet and not as busy as [the old office].”

Both the PACE team and its clients recognized the need for another room quite some time ago. However, given the size of the building, it hadn’t been possible until now. According to Shannon Mills, PACE Team Leader, the new office is a positive move because it shows that the DDRC values its staff and clients. “Our team is growing and we really needed more space,” Shannon explained. “We now have 52 clients and more than 20 PACE staff; we were overflowing into the hallways!”

With its six computers and white board, the room has a classroom-like feel to it. Currently, both PACE rooms are being used by the whole team. The client’s goals help determine which space they will use. “The extra computers will help me apply for different jobs. I’m also working on my writing, math, and resume writing,” Kieran said.

Eventually, the PACE team plans to run courses and training in the new space. “It will be geared towards [the PACE] population and age group,” Shannon said. “The courses and training will develop the skills and positive relationships our clients are looking for.”

Though they’re still working on adding a few personal touches, both clients and staff are thrilled with the new room and its potential: “I like the new space. I love that it has a window,” Brandi Russell, a PACE Community Resource Worker, said. “I think that coming down [here] is a good way to refresh everyone and help them focus on their goals.”

Celebrating Success: Trevor Warburton

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Trevor + LataTrevor Warburton can proudly say that his hard work and dedication have led to great successes; his improved computer literacy skills have landed him two rewarding volunteer positions in one short year.

For several months now, Trevor has been volunteering at the Heart & Stroke Foundation twice a week. With the support of his Community Resource Worker (CRW), Trevor uses screen reader software for individuals who are visually impaired called JAWS to input and maintain the Foundation’s donor database.

Though Trevor began his volunteer position at the Heart & Stroke Foundation this year, he has been training to use JAWS since moving to Calgary nearly a decade ago. The many different versions of the software can make it difficult to use, so Trevor decided to invest in his own laptop two years ago. He now has his own customized software that he can install wherever he is volunteering to ensure he can work efficiently. Trevor also regularly attends JAWS courses at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).

The secret to Trevor’s success—besides his ongoing training and commitment to keeping up with JAWS software updates—is the personal keyboard that he brings with him. By sticking raised “bumps” on frequently used keys, Trevor is able to find them easily and work much faster. In fact, Lata Iyer, a CRW who often supports Trevor, shared that he types very well and has seen significant improvement since purchasing his own laptop. “When Trevor started, he would complete about 20 entries during a shift,” recalls Lata. “Now, he does between 50 and 60 entries.”

After the holidays, Trevor will begin his new position at the University of Calgary. He will be working at the Residence Services reception desk and his responsibilities will include tracking student transactions and inquiries. Trevor is really looking forward to this opportunity, and said he is “excited to try something new.”

Congratulations on your success, Trevor!

Trevor

Photos: (top) Trevor and Lata at the DDRC. (bottom) Trevor received the Inclusion Award of Excellence – Career and Community for his work with JAWS in 2014.