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ConnecTra Events

ConnecTra provides a variety of outreach services for people with significant physical disabilities in the Lower Mainland. The primary objective is to link people with disabilities to activities and programs that will lead them to become more active, more involved in their community and more employable.

This will include:

• A series of regular workshops
• Presentations to clients and service providers
• One-on-one leisure planning
• Operating a centralized resource centre

In addition, ConnecTra’s affiliated societies are themselves involved in arranging events and activities for people with disabilities.

For more information about ConnecTra, contact Stephen Street: 604-688-6464 ext. 115, or sstreet@disabilityfoundation.org

Next event - Disability Expo

ConnecTra presents a multi-agency Disability Expo in April.

Billed as a festival of services, arts and recreation for people with disabilities, it will be held Wednesday, April 21 at The Roundhouse in Vancouver.

For more information, contact Stephen Street: 604-688-6464 ext. 115, or sstreet@disabilityfoundation.org

Most recent meetings:

February meeting - review

ConnecTra's most recent workshop, Sex and Intimacy Uncovered, was held at Library Square Conference Centre, Vancouver, on Thursday, Feb. 26.

The theme was sexual health, with a presentation by Vancouver Coastal Health sexual health clinician Christine Zarowski.

December meeting - review

ConnecTra's December workshop was held Wednesday, Dec. 16 at The Roundhouse in Vancouver.

A packed audience enjoyed presentations by Lori Tran and Lynne Davidson of SuiteHarmony; Anna Parisi - pictured, right - Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Communication Chief (look here for info and here for tickets!); Campbell Macdonald of Parking Mobility, which offers a service using "mobile phone  technology to empower persons with disabilities to find accessible parking and to identify when people park in those spaces who do not have proper identification."

October meeting - review

ConnecTra's most recent workshop, held October, celebrated our 10th birthday!

Presenters included Canadian 2010 Paralympic curling team member Darryl Neighbour (pictured, below); Link-up, which provides "employment services for people

with disabilities;" and Buggy Bag

Mobility Accessories.

Naturally, there was birthday cake and a celebration!

August meeting - review

ConnecTra's August workshop included Neal Squire Society, which provides "Education and career development for

people with physical disabilities;" Theatre Terrific, "transforming lives through the power of theatre;" a demonstration from Soup 'n Stuff; and a Q&A session with HandyDART.

June meeting - review

ConnecTra's June workshop   featured INTERFIT – Integrated Fitness Society, which provides accessible recreation opportunities, and Theo BC, which offers training for health and employment opportunities.

Brian Bell (pictured) spoke about Interfit, a North Vancouver based program offering leisure opportunities to people with disabilities. It includes hiking,kayaking and skiing programs, as well as helping people equip themselves for adaptive expeditions. See the latest ConnecTra newsletter for more about Brian and Interfit.

April meeting - review

ConnecTra's April workshop mixed job-finding resources with accessible adventure travel.

Presenters included Triumph Vocational Services, which provides employment programs for people with disabilities, and Adventure Travel Specialist Michele Cohen (pictured above).

February meeting - review

ConnecTra's February meeting included a detailed account of the the first disability savings plan in the world”– the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).

The RDSP was designed specifically for people with disabilities, and offers substantial returns – for those eligible – which can grow and subsequently cashed without impacting benefits or pensions.

The reality is this was drawn up with children in mind, enabling parents of a child with disabilities to make long-term investments, and there is an age cut-off. “People aged 30 and below will really benefit the most from it,” said presenter Doug Brodhead.

The deadline was March 2 for people wanting to retroactively receive government grants and bonds for 2008, but RDSPs can be opened any time.

Full report of the presentation here.

More info: sstreet@disabilityfoundation.org or phone 604-688-6464 ext. 115.

Christmas workshop - review

The pre-Christmas ConnecTra workshop was held on Monday, Dec 15.

More than 15 members defied the ice and snow to attend.

Guest Speakers were from IAM Cares Society, which provides "employment assitance and

support services" for people with disabilities, and inner city regeneration group Building Opportunities with Business.

Seen here (right) are Krista Lefler (IAM Cares), Lani Johnson and Liz Charyna (both Building Opportunities with Business).

October Workshop - review

The presenters at ConnecTra's October workshop were

Dr Udo Erasmus (seen here with Steve

Street, right) who spoke about “life wellness,” and a representative from Access Works who spoke about paid and volunteer opportunities with the 2010 Winter

Olympics.

A late lunch was provided.

For more information about ConnecTra, contact Stephen Street: 604-688-6464 ext. 115, or sstreet@disabilityfoundation.org

ConnecTra is a connecting agency, linking people with disabilities to activities and programs that will, over time, allow them to gain confidence and become more active and involved in community life (it also includes self-employment group Abilities Business Co-op). ConnecTra is one of the six affiliated societies that make up the Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation

Others are:

British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society provides opportunities for people with physical disabilities to explore the outdoors, centered around the TrailRider. This is a specially designed, single-wheel, remote access wheelchair that enables the user, propelled by two able-bodied helpers, to take part in wilderness and recreational activities.

Disabled Independent Gardeners Association provides people with significant physical disabilities the opportunity to become involved in gardening. DIGA recognizes gardening as a recreational activity that can enable people with disabilities to develop skills, build self-confidence, learn and grow.

Disabled Sailing Association of British Columbia promotes freedom and independence by providing people with disabilities the opportunity to actively participate in an exciting and challenging outdoor sport. Uses a specially designed adaptive sailboat, the Martin-16, which allows joystick or (mouth-operated) sip 'n' puff control. DSA has affiliates in Victoria, Chemainus, Kelowna, and other cities across Canada.

Tetra Society of North America provides volunteer engineers to design and construct customized assistive devices for people with significant physical disabilities. Volunteers work one-on-one with people with specific needs that cannot be met by commercial assistive devices.

Vancouver Adapted Music Society works with musicians of all levels of ability. Provides karaoke and entry-level music making, along with fully equipped performance studios at the GF Strong Rehab Centre and George Pearson Centre, both in Vancouver. The society also promotes more accomplished musicians through its website, by arranging performance opportunities, staging concerts and through recordings.