Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy 2013 Achievement Report

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Elaine Shaw
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1 Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy 2013 Achievement Report Reviewing the activities and highlighting the accomplishments over the previous 12 months

A Message From The OFCP President There can be no deeper understanding of an organization s integrity than the way in which it treats its membership.

2 A Message From The OFCP President There can be no deeper understanding of an organization s integrity than the way in which it treats its membership. Once again, in opening and on behalf of the membership I would like to thank my fellow board members for their support, wisdom and dedication during the 2012/2013 term. I would also like to recognize the countless hours of work given by Linda Bowen our Vice President. Her perseverance and dedication has been invaluable to the Federation. I would like to make special mention to the board members who have left us. Thank you to Roly Bergman, our past Treasurer for all your years of service; your roles on the board of directors and the endless hours being part of various committees. I would also like to thank Robert Barber for the keen insight you brought to the Board of Directors. A special thank you to the staff. Again, without denial, the staff have been amazing through this period of change. Their diligence, hard work and commitment to the membership and the organization are to be commended. To the various staff, board members and volunteers, who have served on our many committees, for their various commitment, I am grateful for all you have given of yourselves. It is clear from all those involved that the Federation is host to a caring group of people committed to the good health and betterment of the organization. It is also important to recognize the years of service by our founding Executive Director, Clarence Meyers. Clarence has dedicated over forty years to the OFCP. We wish Clarence all the very best in his years of retirement. As it is imperative to recognize the accomplishments of those who have left us it is also equally important to recognize the people who are joining us. This certainly rings true as I take this opportunity to welcome the newest staff member of the OFCP, our Executive Director, Cathy Samuelson. Cathy, it is a honour and a pleasure to welcome you to your role as our new leader. I recognize the task ahead is great but I also believe we have hired an incredible individual whose dedication to improving the lives of those who have cerebral palsy will certainly guide us in moving forward. The membership, the Board of Directors, the staff, the committee members and I look forward in supporting you in your role on our new journey. As always we will continue to strive to meet the ever growing needs of people who have cerebral palsy through every stage of life. Our holistic approach is certainly reflected in the diversity of our programs. As you are the soul of this organization, I encourage you to continue to let us know what you want and need from us. You truly are our driving force! Victor Gascon OFCP staff welcoming our new Executive Director, Cathy Samuelson

Dr. Christina Fisher receiving OFCP award at the 2012 Annual Conference OFCP Awards The OFCP Professional Recognition Award recognizes the contributions of a professional and is presented to an

3 Dr. Christina Fisher receiving OFCP award at the 2012 Annual Conference OFCP Awards The OFCP Professional Recognition Award recognizes the contributions of a professional and is presented to an individual who provides exemplary service to persons with cerebral palsy. Dr. Christina Fisher was a recipient of this Award in 2012, nominated by Harriet Lahman. Harriet shared that, Dr. Fisher is very professional and she has made a point of being knowledgeable about cerebral palsy and deafness. We have a very good relationship. She also told us, Dr. Fisher has a wonderful sense of humour and I can laugh with her. She has learned finger spelling and a little sign language. I can write a note to her about my health issues and she speaks slowly for me to understand her. I m very comfortable with her. Congratulations Dr. Christina Fisher! The OFCP Mona Winberg Achievement Award is presented to a person with cerebral palsy in recognition of his or her personal achievement of such caliber as to be a significant role model to all. This Award in 2012 was presented to Priyanka Choudhary who was nominated because of her positive strength, strong will and resilience and helpfulness to others. She has completed her first year of studies in Computer Programming at Humber College. Priyanka has been very involved in her community and during the summer she volunteers as a camp counselor. She also volunteers at a technology camp teaching kids web design and robotics. With her academic and personal success in her first year of studies at college and her involvement in the community, Priyanka is certainly a role model to other prospective students transitioning to college. The OFCP Therapy Scholarship Award, in the amount of $2,000.00, is presented to a student in their second year of either Speech and Language, Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy. One of our recipients in 2012 was Edward Aust. He is a student at Queen s University in Kingston in the Physical Therapy Program. Edward feels that through physiotherapy he is able to connect with people of all backgrounds to work toward meeting their goals and maximizing their potential. He recognized the importance of physical activity and social participation in improving a person s quality of life during his volunteer placement at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital as a swim instructor for children with physical and cognitive disabilities. During Edwards volunteer experience providing therapy to a man with cerebral palsy, he came to realize that rehabilitation goes far beyond physical restoration, requiring an open and close relationship between client and therapist. Congratulations Edward!

Victor Gascon guest speaking at North Yorkers for Disabled Persons Good morning to all of you: I wanted to write a quick email to say that I thank you all for assisting me to go on a trip.

It gave me the chance to have a dream come true to have a dolphin encounter and I actually challenged myself and went parasailing!

OFCP Member Group Simcoe County Carriage Driving for the Disabled OFCP Annual Conference 2012 Activity Funding Program This year the Activity Funding Program was a tremendous success.

The purpose of the program is to help individuals with cerebral palsy to attend activities of their choice in the community and have an opportunity to vacation anywhere in the world.

4 Victor Gascon guest speaking at North Yorkers for Disabled Persons Good morning to all of you: I wanted to write a quick to say that I thank you all for assisting me to go on a trip. I have never been able to do anything like it and have not had any time to even go on a small trip since my mom died in It gave me the chance to have a dream come true to have a dolphin encounter and I actually challenged myself and went parasailing! Vanessa, one of the Teaching Through Puppetry characters It was the trip of a lifetime and there are no words that I can express how much it meant to me and how I want to thank you all! OFCP Member Group Simcoe County Carriage Driving for the Disabled OFCP Annual Conference 2012 Activity Funding Program This year the Activity Funding Program was a tremendous success. The program enabled people with cerebral palsy to attend various day programs, guitar lessons, horseback riding and educational courses among other things. The purpose of the program is to help individuals with cerebral palsy to attend activities of their choice in the community and have an opportunity to vacation anywhere in the world. Teaching Awareness Through Puppetry The OFCP is a proud sponsor of Teaching Awareness Through Puppetry (TAP). TAP is an educational puppet show that travels to public schools to teach children grades 1-6 about disabilities and differences. One puppet, named Vanessa, has cerebral palsy and walks using a walker. She teaches kids all about cerebral palsy and how to be an inclusive friend!

Helping Our Members Live Life To The Fullest Fran Elliott is an athlete, coach, and mother of four whom happens to have cerebral palsy. She has been accessing Planning Services at the OFCP since 2005.

Fran has coached both able-bodied and riders with disabilities in Canada and the United States; she has also achieved international classification in Para-Equestrian Dressage and Para-Combined

Fran has used the funding to join a sailing club, achieve a lifelong dream of flying an ultra-light, and re-enter into the Para-Equestrian world.

5 Helping Our Members Live Life To The Fullest Fran Elliott is an athlete, coach, and mother of four whom happens to have cerebral palsy. She has been accessing Planning Services at the OFCP since Fran has accessed the activity funding for 2 years. She has been a certified Equine Canada coach for more than 30 years. Fran has coached both able-bodied and riders with disabilities in Canada and the United States; she has also achieved international classification in Para-Equestrian Dressage and Para-Combined Driving. She has always had a passion for riding. Her dreams of flying ultra-light planes were inspired by childhood experiences of flying with her father. Fran has used the funding to join a sailing club, achieve a lifelong dream of flying an ultra-light, and re-enter into the Para-Equestrian world. Fran s story is a stand out because, not only did she physically benefit from participating in these activities, it also gave her the opportunity to create new social networks and make friends. The support and success she has found with all three of these endeavors has deeply influenced her sense of self. Fran now has aspirations of becoming a sailing instructor; re-prizing her role as an Equestrian Coach and competing internationally in riding competitions. She has a goal of competing in the Paralympics Fran has shared that it is the Activity Funding that created the opportunity for her to get involved with both of these sports. She is grateful for the chain reaction it has caused; fitness, career possibilities, friends, and a community that supports her. While, therapies and medical interventions can often be useful to improve one s life; Fran is an outstanding example of the value of self directed, inclusive community opportunities. Together, Fran and activity funding have created a lifestyle rather than a program. She has found a purpose and community that accepts her. In the upcoming year she will complete a life plan and hopes to establish a support circle with the assistance of the staff in Planning Services. We all look forward to working with Fran again. Attendees team building at the OFCP Annual Caregivers Conference Fran Elliot OFCP staff Cindy and Emily talking with OFCP member Elaine

Assistive Devices Funding Program The OFCP Assistive Devices Funding Program enables Individual Members of the OFCP to access life-changing assistive devices and

Some of the equipment approved for funding this past year for children and adults was wheelchairs, orthotic devices, home accessibility aids and communications

6 Assistive Devices Funding Program The OFCP Assistive Devices Funding Program enables Individual Members of the OFCP to access life-changing assistive devices and equipment. Some of the equipment approved for funding this past year for children and adults was wheelchairs, orthotic devices, home accessibility aids and communications and writing aids. Your Donation Dollars At Work Programs and Services $1,200,000 Public Relations $500,000 Administration $300,000 Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy, Lawrence Avenue West, Toronto, ON M6L 1C5 Phone: (416) Fax: (416) Toll-Free: RC#

2017 OFCP Program Achievement Reports

2017 OFCP Program Achievement Reports Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy 104-1630 Lawrence Avenue West Toronto, ON M6L1C5, Canada Phone: (416) 244-9686 Fax: (416) 244-6543 Toll-Free: 1-877-244-9686