INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / FEBRUARY 14, 1989

 

 

They are also hoping he will an-
nounce a new initiative for
disabled students, as his Minis-
try has at past conferences.
Thursday, Feb.16, 9:00 a.m.

*Keynote Speaker Don
Posterski will follow minister
Hagen and present "Image of
the Emerging Generation". He
is a youth consultant and social
analyst for Project Teen Canada
(funded by the Secretary of
State), and author of two best-
selling books on youth in
Canada. Posterski, described as
a youth advocate, will interpret
the younger generation - who
they are, what they value and
how to communicate with them.
His knowledge is based on five
years of research in which 3600
teenagers 15-19 years of age
were profiled. Thursday,
February 16, 9:00 a.m.

*A workshop "You and Your

- Carole Taylor, Alderman, City
of Vancouver;

- Doug Mowat, M.L.A.,
representative of the
Canadian Paraplegic
Association;

- Walt Lawrence, a disabled
community representative.
Panelists will discuss how the

government works, how to ac-

cess it and how to facilitate

change. Thursday, February 16,

11:00 a.m.

*Entertainment ’89. An ex-
travaganza of song, dance and
theatre presented by top per-
formers with disabilities,
including:

 

Government" featuring panelists:

 

- Vancouver blues musician Jim
Byrnes performing from his
wheelchair;

- acomedian who lives in
Pearson Hospital and must
use a respirator (he regularly
appears at Punchlines);

- three performers from Theatre
Terrific (a theatre group for
disabled people) will present
a short skit;

- a disabled student singer from
Douglas College
Thursday, Feb. 16, 12:00 p.m.

*Final Keynote Speaker W.
Mitchell of Denver, Colorado
will present "It’s not what hap-
pens to you, it’s what you do
about it." Described as a
"master communicator",
Mitchell has overcome seeming-
ly insurmountable obstacles;
after 65% of his body was
burned in one accident he then
suffered paralysis in a plane
crash. He now uses a wheechair
and speaks to audiences
throughout North America
about self-imposed limitations
and how to tear down the
obstacles separating people from
their goals and dreams. Friday,
February 17, 12:00 p.m.

The B.C. Education Associa-
tion for Disabled Students will
meet at the same time. About
60 participants will discuss is-
sues dealing with education and
disabilities from the students’
perspectives.

The association president
Bruce Mesman says the member-
ship of the organization consists
of students with any kind of dis-
ability, - physical, neurological,
mental and emotional - who at-

 

lepBc”A2 tA TRL i MSR pA gS lc ite le A NE Sa 2 TA PS TS SOA. PN eM RSDP a RT
Conferences on Disabled Continued

tend a B.C. post-secondary in-
stitution.
"The theme of the conference

is ‘directions’," says Mesman.
"Directions a person can inde-
pendently choose for his or her
life, directions of our organiza-
tion, and directions for disabled
students in the future from a

legal standpoint."

Mesman, a Douglas College
Therapeutic Recreation and
Psychology student, has
neurological impairment from
an accident. He says disabled
students must begin to demand
better services in the education
system. "Although Douglas Col-
lege is the elite model for
services, many of the colleges
have poor accessibility and few
services for the disabled."

Conference workshops in-
clude Career Decisions, Peer
Helping, Legal Issues, and
Assertiveness Training. The dis-
abled students’ conference will
also share keynote speakers,
lunches and an exhibit with the
Adult Special Education con-
ference.

Disabled students who are not
members of the organization are
welcome to attend the con-
ference and the $50 registration
fee includes a $10 membership
fee.

Registration for the Adult
Special Education conference
costs $100.

For information about both
conferences, contact Gladys
Loewen at local 2791. To
register by phone, call Com-
munity Programs, 520-5472.

 

 

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