Welcome to IL Vernon's BLOG

IL Vernon is a resource centre for people with a variety of disabilities! IL Vernon focuses its services on providing information about community services. For more information, please visit http://ilvernon.ca

Friday, December 9, 2011

Independent Living Vernon's AGM, Volunteer Appreciation & Network for Inclusion Community Meeting

On December 2, 2011 IL Vernon hosted a community consultation to hear from people with a variety of disabilities about their experience in the community. Before the consultation, IL Vernon held its AGM. We had a great turn out for both events.  Here are some pictures:

IL Vernon was excited the new Mayor was able to join us, so we could welcome him to his new job!

 And we are always excited to have Patrick Nicol at any event, he has always been very supportive of IL Vernon.
 Three social workers!
 The new mayor Buffy & Don
 Some of IL Vernon's great Board members (Left to Right) - Leon, Maggie, Susan, & Linda!



 The Executive Director dishing out dessert to members and volunteers - glazed coissants are highly recommended by IL Vernon! YUM!
 Peer Support in action!

IL Vernon appreciates all the support from members and volunteers and community members. Feedback from the community consultation will be circulated! Keep a look out for it!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Dogs of Independent Living Vernon 13-month Calendar


Dogs for Independence 13 month 2012 Calendar

IL Vernon is selling the calendars for $10.00! They are great gifts!  There are full colour photos of various assistance dogs and family mutts!

To purchase a calendar and support Independent Living Vernon:

Please click here for the Order Form or visit:

IL Vernon's office in the People Place
#107, 3402-27th Ave, Vernon, BC

250-545-9292

http://ilvernon.ca

or

Healthy Pet Spot
3115 48th Avenue
Vernon, BC V1T 3R5

250-545-9000
 
All proceeds support Independent Living Vernon!

Monday, October 31, 2011

International Day of Persons with Disabilities - IL Vernon is celebrating December 2, 2011


International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 2, 2011

IL Vernon's Annual General Meeting
11:00 – 12:00 pm

Volunteer Appreciation Lunch

12:00 – 1:00 pm
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Network for Inclusion Community Consultation

1:00 – 2:30 pm
Have an opportunity to provide your input on disability issues in the areas of:
-Accessibility
-Economic participation
-Disability Supports
-Community Contribution

People Place #006, 3402-27th Ave

Please conform your participation,
by contacting 250-545-9292 or laura@ilvernon.ca

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Dogs for Independence Walk 2011













Thank you to everyone who participated in the walk this year to help raise over $700 for IL Vernon. 

An extra big thank you to the Vernon and District Kennel Club for their $200.00 donation. 

Also thank you to those who donated food, which will be given to people with low incomes who have dogs.

IL Vernon's Dogs for Independence Calendar will be available for sale at the beginning of November.  $10.00 each

Hiking for people with mobility disabilities in Vernon


Hi everyone,

IL Vernon has 2 TrailRiders available for rent.

The TrailRider has been described as a space age rickshaw. Developed especially for accessing the outdoors, the lightweight aluminum frame of the Black Diamond TrailRider transports people with disabilities with the assistance of two or more able-bodied team mates called Sherpas. Ergonomically designed with fully adjustable seating, footrests and armrests the TrailRider is built to ensure comfort for riders and sherpas. Other features such as the cargo compartment and adjustable seat make it convenient and easy to use. The TrailRider's single-wheel designated stabilizes the ride and provides the narrow profile necessary to access hiking trails and paths, this vehicle is ideal for trekking (sailing) in environmentally sensitive areas as it leaves little more than a footprint. 



Rental Rate: $10.00/day or
$25.00 for 5 uses

Are you a person with disability who loves to hike?

To book the TrailRider, contact:
Independent Living Vernon
#107, 3402 - 27th Ave, Vernon, BC

250-545-9292


Completed and signed Liability waiver required.  Click here to access the forms. 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

IL Vernon Puppy wrestle!

ILV's June 2011 Calendar boy, Baldur and 4 month old Tessa wrestle to settle who knows more about Independent Living Philosophy!




Dogs for Independence Walk October 16, 2011

Dogs for Independence Walk Sunday, October 16, 2011


This is a fundraiser for IL Vernon to promote awareness of the various duties of assistance dogs and people with disabilities. 


Registration Fee: $20.00 (includes walk, prizes, brown bag breakfast, and 2012 Calendar)

For every $10.00 in pledges raised, you will get a ticket for door prizes!


Brown Bag Breakfast: 8:30 - 10:00 am. 


Location:  


Start at People Place parking lot and walk along linear park path.



Friday, June 24, 2011

Dogs for Independence Calendar Advertising

IL Vernon would like to give businesses the opportunity to advertise in the Dogs of IL Vernon 2012 Calendar.

Why dogs? IL Vernon is a resource centre for people with various disabilities. IL Vernon's unique and friendly office environment allows staff to bring their dogs to work. IL Vernon recognizes the impact dogs have on staff and consumers of the Centre. For example, reducing consumer's anxiety when accessing support and information from the Centre, providing comic relief, enhances relationships, and allows people who are unable to have a dog to get their 'dog fix'.

This year's calendar will continue its focus on raising awareness of assistance dogs. Many people are familiar with a seeing eye dog for people who are blind, however there are a number of duties assistance dogs can be trained to perform. For example, dogs can be trained to detect seizures, low blood sugar in people with diabetes, and have a calming effect for people with mental health disabilities.

IL Vernon has met a number of consumers who have been denied access to businesses because their registered assistance animal is different then a seeing eye dog. For example, a consumer with a registered assistance dog for her anxiety, was waiting for a transit bus at the bus stop and the driver did not stop for her. This lack of awareness causes enormous anxiety and frustration for that consumer and any person with various disabilities with registered assistance animals. Therefore, IL Vernon is working to raise awareness about the many varieties of assistance animals.

IL Vernon's slogan is 'Promoting a new perspective on disability' because it is the only disability organization which serves people with a variety of disabilities. Other disability organizations focus their services for specific disabilities. By supporting IL Vernon, you are supporting a unique organization that makes a difference in the quality of life of people with various disabilities. The Dogs of IL Vernon Calendar will be sold for $10.00 and the proceeds of the calendar will go to support recreation activities for youth with various disabilities.

The calendar features:
  • 1000 copies to be professionally designed and printed
  • Your business will be promoted for the month in which you buy advertising
  • Over 30 full colour pictures of assistance dogs
  • Helpful tips about bringing dogs to work & Service dog etiquette
Exposure of your ad:
  • 1000 copies of the calendar will be printed
  • IL Vernon will recognize your support of an advertisement:
      • Sponsor's logos will be displayed in the IL Vernon office to the more than 6000 yearly visitors
      • Sponsors will be recognized on IL Vernon's social media sites (BLOG, Twitter and Facebook) – 1000 hits/year
      • A special ad will display sponsor logos on IL Vernon's website http://ilvernon.ca - 3000 hits/year
      • IL Vernon's AGM report recognizes sponsors of all IL Vernon fundraising – circulated to 100 consumers and funders
      • IL Vernon is hosting “Dogs for Independence Walk” on October 16, 2011 to help raise awareness of assistance dogs. Sponsors of the calendar will be acknowledged at this event – exposure to 300 people
With one ad, your business has a chance of being recognized by over 11,000 potential customers!

Please click here to view the advertising options and rates. 

-Advertising information can be emailed to laura@ilvernon.ca
  • Business logo- format options: eps,ai,or png
  • Business name, address, phone number
  • Name of contact person and phone number

-Please indicate if you prefer a certain month, advertising spaces will be on a first come, first serve basis.

-Payment can be made by cheque, VISA, or Mastercard

Thank you in advance for supporting Independent Living Vernon!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities

As a person who identifies as having an invisible disability, disability issues are more than a passion for me. April 2011 will mark the first year since Canada ratified the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. The purpose of the Convention is “to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.”

International Conventions can seem irrelevant, ambiguous, and appear to have no real connection to the reality of daily life for people. So I went looking for an answer to the question: What does success look this for this Convention in the daily lives of people of disabilities?

It looks like people with physical disabilities accessing buildings for employment or shopping through the FRONT door, or joining their families on the beach for fun in the sun. People with disabilities, who have an assistance dog, won't be denied access because of lack of awareness of the many duties of registered service dogs. For example, assistance dogs include, but are not limited to assisting with seizures, psychiatric disorders, diabetes, autism, hearing, and seeing. A taxi driver will not deny a ride to a woman who uses a wheelchair, because she has too many groceries. A woman with cerebral palsy will not be pushed down, because she got in the way of a police officier.

To start making a difference right now in the lives of people with various disabilities, substitute the word 'ridiculous', instead of using 'retarded' and don't park in accessible parking spots, even if 'it is just for a minute'!

For information on resources for people with disabilities, please contact IL Vernon by visiting http://ilvernon.ca


References

A Guide by the Commonwealth Secretariat Human Rights Unit (April 2010). retrieved December 10, 2010 from http://www.thecommonwealth.org/files/229435/FileName/CRPDPublication.pdf

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

IL Vernon staff and dogs show their support for Anti-bullying!

In this picture, Kelly, Crystal, Laura & Lisa!

 IL Vernon staff and dogs show their support for Anti-bullying 2011, including socks!