Today we're in Vernon British Columbia at the
eleventh community consultation. We're at the halfway point we started the Comox Valley we've been
up to Prince George, we've been down to Surrey Vancouver Island and now we're in the beautiful
Okanagan. I think this is an awesome idea you know because how do we know these
situations exist if we don't talk about them. I'm hoping
that this is a forum where we can gain some
recognition and hopefully reduce the isolation of people who have a severe hearing loss. One of the innovations we've talked about is the volunteer piece: for example we have, in Vernon the school children
coming into our soup kitchen to do volunteer work we have a community garden that was
recently started so wanting to bring folks who traditionally haven't held
employment to get involved, being outside getting
their hands dirty and things like that.
Myself have found it very frustrating
and very degrading because you're looked at
differently. You look at me and you don't think
I'm disabled, but I tell you I'm on disability and I'm dependent on the
government, you're looked down upon and it's not right. There's a lot a lot of us that are willing
and able and it's hard, it's all a catch-22 and
it leads into depression we want to be part of the community but
there's some days where I just don't have the energy and strength. and i cant get out and yeah so if we all come together and we push for this I think that BC is going to be a better place. One of the things that this community
consultation but at all the community consultations is as a politician it's not about us talking
it's about us listening. and Vernon is definitely stepping up to the
plate, they are providing solutions, they are pointing out where the gaps are in service providing
and and not just, you know with the ministry but also with the many different
levels of government but also how we can make things all
better for persons not just with disabilities but all society.