2021 Virtual Inclusion BC Summit!

Hey everyone, this year’s Inclusion BC Summit is happening on THURSDAY (OCT 14) from 1-4 pm online! Check out the information below and at this webpage from Inclusion BC, and click here if you want to attend:

The virtual summit is a celebration of Community Inclusion Month. Through presentations and interactive break-out sessions, come explore how to build awareness, inspire action, and advance rights as a federation dedicated to the full inclusion of all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all aspects of life.

World Mental Health Day

Hey everyone, October 10th is World Mental Health Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) is highlighting how our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic has raised our awareness of mental health challenges.

Most importantly, the WHO wants to raise awareness about a mental health challenge that impacts about 5% of adults worldwide: depression. Below you can find PDF factsheets about depression, and about living with someone with depression. The WHO has video testimonials on their website about mental health and support, check them out here. They also have an entire page for mental health resources for the public, check that out here.

COMMUNITY INCLUSION MONTH: Let’s celebrate!

Hey everyone, we posted last week to kick off Community Inclusion Month. This week, we are exploring community inclusion through how we participate. COMMUNITY is one of the 7 keys to citizenship listed in Inclusion BC’s video. Everyone has a right to be included in their community. It’s part of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), check it out here.

Given that we are still battling the COVID-19 pandemic, we can consider how we want to participate in community while still keeping ourselves and others safe and healthy — such as getting outside into local parks (like the upcoming Spooktacular Pumpkin Walk coming up in Kelowna), or participating in an online community, like on the Inclusion BC Facebook page, through an event listed in the Family Support Institute’s Calendar for Connection (like the upcoming Halloween Howl), or alongside your favorite interests and hobbies (like on Pinterest) — or, in the comments section here, too!

Want to hear more about online communities? Let us know in the comments!

Fire Prevention Week!

Hey everyone, it’s Fire Prevention Week! The National Fire Protection Association theme this year is LEARN THE SOUNDS OF FIRE SAFETY, and they have a great resource that helps explain the sounds you may hear coming from your smoke and/or carbon monoxide alarm. You can download it below. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions page here.

There’s also this page with helpful ideas for those who may need a different kind of alarm.

The City of Kelowna has a great fire prevention webpage full of information and resources, as well as a helpful videos from the Kelowna Fire Department that explain smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements and maintenance, and kitchen fire safety. Check those out below!

It’s COMMUNITY INCLUSION MONTH!

Hey everyone, October is COMMUNITY INCLUSION MONTH – so let’s celebrate inclusion in our communities!

All month long, we will be posting ways to celebrate inclusion, ways to build inclusion, and ways to explore the meaning of inclusion.

To get started, here are some places you can check out all month long for community inclusion month information, events, and posts:

Cold and flu season…

Hey everyone, the weather is getting cooler as we head into cold and flu season. The symptoms of the flu can be similar to the symptoms of COVID-19 — so, it is very important if you feel unwell or have symptoms that you call 811 (or your doctor) and get tested for COVID-19.

Here is some more information about colds and the flu from HealthLink BC.

Hand washing helps keep you and others healthy by stopping the spread of germs, including those that can cause the flu. Use water and soap and wash your hands for at least as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice (about 20 seconds)!

Small Business BC celebrates Accessibility!

Hey everyone, Small Business BC is celebrating Accessibility Month through September by offering a month of free business education webinars that feature ASL interpretation and closed captioning. Their webinar “HOW TO REMOVE BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AT YOUR BUSINESS” is running on Monday (Sep. 27) from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm. You can find out more (and register) here. Know someone who owns a business who could use some help making it more accessible? Send them the link!

Their website also has information about workplace accessibility grant funding. You can check out more information via YouTube as well:

Find out more about what Small Business BC has to say about accessibility on their Accessibility Month webpage, here.

Sleep and Sleep Disorders – Virtual Lectures

Hey everyone, between October 28 and October 30 the Canadian Sleep Society is presenting free online public lectures about sleep disorders (including insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and hypersomnia). Check out more information about sessions here, or click here for registration information. Thanks to our Home Share team (Mike and Lindsay) for passing along this information!

Accessibility