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.

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.

Congratulations to the everyone belongs™ Toastmasters Club

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Crysta Trask holds a certificate presented by area and district directors from Toastmasters.
Crysta Trask holds a certificate presented by area and district directors from Toastmasters.

Last week, the everyone belongs™ Toastmasters club members were visited by the area and district directors from Toastmasters International. The visit was made to provide congratulations to the club for their ongoing successes and the welcoming atmosphere that they foster.

Toastmasters, for those who are unfamiliar, is an international organization that allows people the opportunity to master the art of public speaking. For DDRC clients, this is a chance to speak out and be heard in a supportive environment.

The club is overseen by Crysta Trask, the DDRC’s Creative Coordinator. She believes that the success of the club represents the growing skills and confidence of its members.

“They go outside of their comfort zone each week to grow and develop skills that they can use in their day-to-day lives,” Trask said. “They represent everything that DDRC is supposed to be about: inclusion, perseverance, dedication, advocacy, and everyone belonging.”

Since the beginning of the year, 12 club members have earned their “Competent Communicator” designation. In order to earn this designation, members must prepare and deliver 10 speeches.

Part of the Toastmasters program is the International Competent Communicator Manual. To ensure the success of club members, Trask created a modified version of the document using plain language. The visiting directors were impressed with this idea, and hope to adopt it for other groups where members are individuals with disabilities or are learning English as a second language.

During the weekly meeting, Table Topics were introduced through the creative method of “Table Topic Jenga,” where members carefully picked a block from the tower with a question printed on it to start a conversation.

“I was just trying to think outside of the box and create a fun new way to present and practice our Table Topic skills,” Trask said. “It can be a challenge to come up with new Table Topic questions on a weekly basis.”

The directors were again impressed with the idea, and plan to share it with other Toastmasters clubs.

For Trask, the highlight of the weekly meetings is watching the progress of the clients involved.

“Seeing the pride and excitement when someone successfully completes a speech is always fantastic.”

For more information about the everyone belongs™ Toastmasters club, please see our article from April.

The 20th Annual Inclusion Awards!

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On September 24th, the DDRC celebrated the 20th annual Inclusion Awards! The event was a huge success with approximately 400 people in attendance. Throughout the evening, we recognized 13 deserving individuals with awards for their outstanding contributions to making Calgary a city where everyone belongs™.

The theme for 2015 was the 1920s, and everyone “put on the ritz” by donning some of the fun costumes at our photo booth. If you had a shot taken at the photo booth, you can e-mail us for information on how to download your free picture.

We would like to provide a heartfelt thanks to:

We appreciate each and every one of you. The Inclusion Awards couldn’t have happened without all of your support!

It’s never too early to save the date – mark your calendars for the 21st annual Inclusion Awards on September 22nd, 2016. We’ll see everyone there!