A podcast devoted to the developmental disability community is brought to you by the Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA). DDA has been an advocate and supporter of this vulnerable part of society since 1952. We operate over 50 group homes, child development centres, and drop-in programs in Vancouver and Richmond, British Columbia. Today, we support over 1,800 people with developmental disabilities and their families each year.
…
continue reading
1
Standing at the Intersection of Race and Disability is Rabia Khedr
39:34
39:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:34
It's one thing to have a disability and feel left out, it's another to be part of a marginalized group as well. We chat with Rabia Khedr, founder of Race and Disability Canada in this Encouraging Abilities podcast.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
1
CURIKO - Filling the Spaces in Between
1:11:04
1:11:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:11:04
Community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities is and always will be a driving force for DDA. However, here in 2024, some new players and organizations are emerging to fill the spaces in between to help broaden horizons and cultivate relationships for people of all abilities. Say hello to CURIKO.…
…
continue reading
1
The Life That's Chosen Me - From Russia With Love
40:15
40:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:15
Making personal sacrifices for your partner's career is one thing, creating a home in several countries while at the same time caring for a severely disabled child is another. We caught up with Rachelle Rosolofo-Czerwinski to talk about her new memoir, The Life That's Chosen Me - From Russia With Love.…
…
continue reading
1
Vital People - A Career in Caregiving at DDA
34:54
34:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:54
Ratnam Mathur is one of our valued group home managers who, like many staff at DDA, found a calling that pulled them off a defined path and into a career that meant so much more than money and fancy titles.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
1
Freeing Teresa - A Chat with Authors Franke James and Her Husband Bill
44:43
44:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:43
Freeing Teresa, a new book by Franke James, her husband Bill, and Franke's sister Teresa talks about the challenges a family can face when it comes to the care and consideration of a family member who has developmental disabilities. On one side, is the freedom to choose, on the other is family dysfunction that is likely beyond repair.…
…
continue reading
He's a man on a mission. Meindert Hinlopen hopes to level the playing field when it comes to personal training. His company's focus is to help people with developmental disabilities get in shape and find their passion. Say hello to Spectrum Health in this Encouraging Abilities podcast!By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
1
Jamie Dri Success Story: Celebrating 15 Years With Jobs West
21:42
21:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:42
For many, success is defined by job title and bank accounts. For Jamie Dri, overcoming crushing anxiety and living independently means she is on top of her game. She has been a part of DDA's employment program, Jobs West, for the last 15 years and has no plans to stop! She shares her lived experience in this episode of the Encouagring Abilities pod…
…
continue reading
1
Managing Anxiety in Autism: Going Full Improv with Dr. Nathan Keates
31:24
31:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:24
A chance meeting on 'X' has DDA chatting with Dr. Nathan Keates, in London, England about his Ph.D. thesis that postulates improv theatre has a benefit for autistic people when it comes to managing anxiety and more.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
1
Dementia and Alzheimer’s - When Caregiving is Vital
43:48
43:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:48
At some point in our lives, we will all be touched by dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, in the developmental disability community, these conditions are more likely to show up. We connect with Karen Tyrell, author of Cracking the Dementia Code and consultant to the DDA community.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
1
Looking to the Future of Caregiving: Artifical Intelligence
36:21
36:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:21
Good caregivers are few and far between. It's a tough sector to keep staff for several reasons. So what's the answer for supporting an aging population or people with disabilities? Artificial Intelligence is already starting to play a role. We caught up with Mercer Gary from Drexel University in Pennsylvania about the positives and some ethical con…
…
continue reading
1
Making Travel Accessible to the Neurodivergent Community
30:41
30:41
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:41
In this episode of DDA's Encouraging Abilities podcast, we chat with Angela Faminoff, owner of Travel With Ange travel agency based in Victoria, BC. A champion of the disability community, it's her mission to make sure everyone sees the world.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
A local man is nothing short of a pioneer when it comes to inclusion. Master Michael Sirota has been teaching Taekwondo and Hapkido to the disability community for over 20 years and feels there is nothing they can't accomplish through the practice of martial arts.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
1
Connecting on the ice and pitch with Sportability BC
34:47
34:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:47
Adaptive sports are expanding in B.C. In this podcast, we connect with Jade Werger from Sportability BC and what they are doing to improve the lives of people with disabilities.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
The City of Vancouver is making strides with its Accessibility Strategy. DDA chats with the city's Accessibility Planner, Karen Lai who offers perspectives from her lived experiences.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
1
DDA Chats with Disability Advocate Spencer van Vloten
32:38
32:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:38
Success will come when advocating and fostering change in prevailing attitudes when it comes to disabilities. In this episode of DDA's Encouraging Abilities podcast, we chat with well-known disability advocate Spencer van Vloten who prides himself on being a champion for the disability community.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
1
Roshni is a Self-Advocate with a Mission to Feed!
16:18
16:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:18
Roshni Kashyap was born to make food. The young woman with Down syndrome started a chutney business and is poised to launch a cookbook. However, she has many other talents and her whole life to explore them. Including publishing a book of poetry. Available on Amazon is Don't Forget You're Beautiful.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
1
Kello Inclusive: Edmonton-based Modeling Agency is Starting to Get Noticed
32:31
32:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:31
Not even two years old, Kello Inclusive Modeling Agency, based in Edmonton already has some massive brands seeking them out. But what's more important is the clients they represent. We chat with founder Katie MacMillan.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
1
DDA Talks Accessibilty with Brad McCannell
41:14
41:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:14
B.C. is a leader when it comes to accessibility. Just ask The Rick Hansen Foundation's Brad McCannell. However, attitudes still need to shift in order to guarantee inclusion for everyone, and that means making noise so everyone is heard.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
Inspired by an accident ten years ago that left her brother with a life-changing intellectual disability, a young B.C. artist creates a book about inclusion. DDA chats with Invermere's Veronika KitzulBy communicationsz8
…
continue reading
Ableism is an issue. From inadequate designs to being left out or looked down upon, ableism prevents many from being included in everyday life. The Office of the BC Human Rights Commissioner and Disability Alliance BC have joined forces to address the issue and created a new awareness campaign called Rewrite the Rules.…
…
continue reading
1
A Chat with Dr. Jaimie Borisoff: On the Forefront of Wheelchair Design
28:35
28:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:35
Accessibility affects many people, and even one day, perhaps yourself. In this Encouraging Abilities Podcast, we connected with Dr. Jaimie Borisoff who runs a development program at BCIT with an eye on designing better wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment that helps people stay included.By communicationsz8
…
continue reading
1
Transforming the World One Building at a Time With Karin Pasqua
30:13
30:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:13
Accessibility should not be an afterthought. Buildings and spaces should not be designed for people with no disabilities only. Because, as Karin Pasqua of Meaningful Access Consultants says, we are all going to be affected at some point in our lives by accessibility issues. With that in mind, we need to look at design as universal before shovels hi…
…
continue reading
The Developmental Disabilities Association's Executive Director Alanna Hendren talks about the association's 70th anniversary, where the organization has been, and where it's headed in the 21st century. A staunch advocate for people with developmental disabilities, Alanna Hendren has been involved in this sector for over 40 years.…
…
continue reading
1
A Chat with Dr. Laverne Jacobs - Canada’s First Member of the UN’s Committee on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities
28:00
28:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:00
Dr. Laverne Jacobs is making Canada proud. Not only has she published one of the first books on disability law in Canada, but has recently been elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities. And...she has another book in the works! TRANSCRIPT: Evan Kelly 0:05 Thank you again for joining us on the Developmental D…
…
continue reading
1
DDA Talks to Author and Professor Deborah Stienstra About the Current Disability Rights Landscape in Canada
32:17
32:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:17
Rights are usually a foregone conclusion in Canada, however, when it comes to people with disabilities, their rights are sometimes overlooked, or, at best, not really taken into consideration. Accessibility matters, inclusion matters, but making sure these things are enforced and protected takes an entire population to shift its collective outlook.…
…
continue reading
Esther Thane is an expert in music therapy whose team helps families with children who have autism communicate and reach behavioral objectives while exploring the universal language of music. TRANSCRIPT Evan Kelly 0:04 So welcome back to DDA's Encouraging Abilities podcast. I'm your host, Evan Kelly. I'm the Communications Manager here at Developme…
…
continue reading
1
DDA talks to $10 a day childcare advocate Sharon Gregson
22:42
22:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:42
DDA operates nine child development centres in Vancouver and Richmond. As the province shifts towards a $10-a-day childcare system, we reached out to childcare advocate Sharon Gregson about where we are now and where we need to be when it comes to reaching that goal. TRANSCRIPT: Evan Kelly 0:04 Welcome to DDA's Encouraging Abilities podcast. I'm yo…
…
continue reading
1
Accessibility Needs to be Universal: A Chat with CANBC Founder Heather McCain
29:02
29:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:02
Heather McCain is the creator of www.canbc.org, a disability advocate website born out of need that offers workshops and support for those in the disability community and the disability Queer community. As Pride Month comes to an end for another year, it's good to raise awareness that people in LGBTQ community who identify as disabled have other co…
…
continue reading
1
Protecting the Most Vulnerable from the Heat of Climate Change
30:34
30:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:34
DDA talks with Jeanne Hansen who's sister, Tracey McKinley, who suffered mental health issues, died in the heat dome of 2021. Despite new government policy, what can we do to better protect people who can't protect themselves? TRANSCRIPT: Evan Kelly 0:05 So welcome back to DDA's Encouraging Abilities podcast. This is where we connect with advocates…
…
continue reading
1
DDA Talks to Delia Meinhardt, Assistant Director of Employment with Jobs West
18:53
18:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:53
Finding a job is a dauting experience for anyone. Now, imagine having a developmental disability. There are many barriers that can prevent you from finding work and gaining independence. Fortunately, there are people like Delia Meinhardt who helps run DDA's social enterprise operation, Jobs West. TRANSCRIPT: Evan Kelly 0:05 So welcome to Developmen…
…
continue reading
Christie Faye Collins is Autistic. Like many in the disability community, finding a partner isn't always easy. So, she is creating NOMI. A new dating app specifically for the disability and neurodiverse community. www.nomiconnect.net is still in the testing phase and Christie and her team hope to have it up and running in 2023. TRANSCRIPT: Evan Kel…
…
continue reading
1
DDA Talks to Nathan Shipley During National AccessAbility Week
27:27
27:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:27
Nathan Shipley was born with Cerebral Palsy. Today he is a public speaker and does not see himself as disabled. DDA reached out to him during National AccessAbility Week to talk about his life and what it means to build accessible communities. TRANSCRIPT: Evan Kelly 0:05 Welcome to the Developmental Disabilities Association's Encouraging Abilities …
…
continue reading
1
Accessible, Assistive Technology: A Chat With Keegan Newberry Asst. Director at DDA
24:55
24:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
24:55
May 29th to June 4th is National Accessibility Week in Canada. We sat down with Keegan Newberry, DDA's Assistant Director of Assistive Technology, to discuss what's happening in the community and business world to help facilitate accessibility for people with developmental disabilities. TRANSCRIPT: Evan Kelly 0:05 So welcome to Developmental Disabi…
…
continue reading
1
DDA talks to Autistic Self-Advocate Margaux Wosk
23:57
23:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:57
Margaux Wosk is an Autistic person and a staunch self-advocate who runs their own business. TRANSCRIPT: Evan Kelly 0:06 Welcome to Developmental Disabilities Association's Encouraging Abilities podcast. We're here to chat with members of our neurodiverse community. I'm your host, Evan Kelly. Whether it's talking about new government policies or new…
…
continue reading
1
DDA speaks with Krystian Shaw, publisher of the Kamloops Self Advocate
17:25
17:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:25
Krystian Shaw was never expected to read or write. With dogged determination and a steel resolve, he is now the publisher of a 12-page newsletter he distributes in Kamloops B.C. TRANSCRIPT: Evan Kelly 0:03 Welcome to DDA's encouraging abilities podcast. I'm Evan Kelly. And our goal is to make our stories more accessible to enlighten people as to wh…
…
continue reading