The Monitor
A publication of
Canadian Deafblind Association Ontario Chapter
Article 1.
Lauren delivers a strike for deafblind awareness
Nine-year-old Lauren Jolette tossed a perfect pitch to catcher Josh Thole to open the Toronto Blue Jays game against the New York Yankees on June 1.
The ceremony kicked off National Deafblind Awareness Month, the sixth time the Blue Jays have invited the Canadian Deafblind Association Ontario Chapter to throw out the first pitch.
Lauren said she was excited and nervous before her moment in the spotlight but a game of catch with friendly Blue Jays mascot Ace helped settle her nerves.
Lauren took the field holding hands with her dad Dan and an accurate throw to Thole, who returned the ball to the family as a keepsake.
“My baby,” mom Angela said proudly as she took in the emotional moment for the family.
The Blue Jays gave Lauren and her family the VIP treatment, presenting the youngster with a team jersey with her name and the No. 9 on the back for her age.
As soon as she learned she was chosen to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Lauren got a brand new baseball glove from her parents and began practising by playing catch with her younger sister Janelle and dad. She even took the glove to school to practice during recess.
The chance to set foot on the field at Rogers Centre made Lauren into a bit of a celebrity at school.
Doris Connors, Lauren’s intervenor at St. James School in Sudbury, said the entire school wished Lauren luck.
“It’s been a good ego boost for her,” she said.
Lauren’s story raised awareness of deafblindness in the Sudbury area with stories by CTV Northern News and the Sudbury Star and Northern Life newspapers.
Lauren has had limited vision in her right eye and none in her left eye since birth. She was diagnosed with a hearing impairment two years ago, which enabled her to receive deafblind intervenor services at school.
Angela said she is helping start a braille club in Sudbury. Lauren will begin learning braille next year in Grade 4.
More than 160 consumers, intervenors, parents, friends and CDBA Ontario staff were in the stands to cheer Lauren on. They went home happy after the Blue Jays delivered a 7-0 win.
Article 2:
Message from the Executive Director
CDBA Ontario has been very busy since the last edition of the newsletter. We have many wonderful stories to share with you as well as some sad news regarding two people who have been very near and dear to our organization.
It has been a while since we have had a newsletter out to you, so please enjoy a larger than usual edition.
On another note, I would like to introduce you to our new Communications Coordinator, Brian Shypula. Brian joined our organization in May and has great experience in the journalism and reporting profession. His most recent position was with the Brant News in Brantford.
Brian is responsible for the CDBA Ontario internal and external communications including our website, social media, newsletters, media relations and events.
Samantha Gaspar is our Event Planning and Fund Development Assistant who works alongside Brian and together they make quite a team!
Since the last edition of the newsletter the chapter has been very involved in a number of activities. Captured in our newsletter are amazing awareness events, activities that have been happening around the province with the people in our services and an update on the amazing achievements of people who are deafblind.
So please enjoy this edition of the newsletter and until next time.
Happy reading!
Cathy Proll
Article 3:
Deafblind advocate speaks at Senate event
Intervenor services that provide a trained person to help with tactile communication and guiding is the key to unlocking barriers faced by Canadians who are deafblind, Penny LeClair told leaders on Parliament Hill.
LeClair, who is deafblind and had her guide dog at her side, spoke at a Senate reception on June 8 to recognize June as National Deafblind Awareness Month.
She outlined the day-to-day communication and mobility challenges she faces having no vision and significant hearing loss. Without an intervenor, LeClair said she could not cross the street, shop at a pharmacy or take care of chores independently.
“We look forward to the day when all deafblind Canadians with the help of intervenors can contribute to their community, enjoy all services and lead more meaningful lives,” LeClair said, as her intervenor relayed feedback about the audience to her by touch.
Deafblindness impacts an estimated one in 10,000 Canadians. The number is expected to grow as the population ages and more seniors become deafblind.
The reception was co-hosted by House of Commons Deputy Speaker Bruce Stanton, Senators Yonah Martin and Jim Munson and retired senator Vim Kochhar.
“I do not know how many of you can visualize just being blind or deaf, but both of these disabilities together bring total darkness and total emptiness. That is why decades after Helen Keller’s death, her life stands as a beacon of hope for those who constantly struggle just to perform routine tasks, that most of us take for granted,” Kochhar said.
“New technologies, products, services and rights are helping deafblind Canadians in their everyday lives, and while other progress has been made, there is still much work to do to ensure that they have the opportunity to enjoy life in Canada to the best extent possible,” said Stanton, MP for Simcoe-North.
“Let us continue building on Helen Keller’s legacy of forward social progress, and together we will work to ensure that deafblind Canadian have equal access to the benefits and opportunities that our country affords us,” Stanton said.
About 40 people attended the reception, the second annual since June was declared National Deafblind Awareness Month by the Senate in 2015, a cause championed by Kochhar, Martin and Munson. June was chosen because it is the birth month of Helen Keller, an American author and political activist who was the first deafblind person to earn a university degree.
Several organizations representing the deafblind community attended the reception, including Canadian Deafblind Association National, CDBA Ontario and New Brunswick chapters, Canadian Helen Keller Centre, Deafblind Ontario Services, CNIB, Deafblind Association of Toronto, George Brown College and Association of Usher Syndrome Quebec.
“I think the challenge across the country is the awareness piece, getting that message out there and helping people understand that there is a disability called deafblindness,” said Cathy Proll, CDBA Ontario executive director.
The delegates witnessed the Senate proclaim June as Deafblind Awareness Month.
Article 4:
Volunteers honored for giving back
Four CDBA Ontario consumers were recognized recently for their contributions to their communities.
JEFFREY
Jeffrey from London2 SILP was recognized for making his community a better place at the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards ceremony in London.
MPP Michael Chan, Ontario Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade, presented Jeffrey with an award for his 10 years of dedication and efforts volunteering at the London Public Library.
The community is not the only one that benefits from what he does. This is a win-win situation. His job brings happiness, self-worth and sense of commitment to Jeffrey. His job is definitely an activity that he enjoys doing.
CARA
It’s an understatement to say Cara of London2 SILP gets a big kick out of soccer, participating through Special Olympics since 2012.
Cara received the Scanlan Soccer Award for her enthusiastic personality and improvement in participation on June 10.
Cara plays indoor soccer every Tuesday in the winter months and outdoors in the spring and summer.
One hour of warm ups and exercises, drills and games is paying off for Cara, who has experienced amazing improvement this year.
Being part of a team is important to Cara, who motivates others by clapping and cheering when goals are scored.
LYNN
Lynn of the London2 SILP has been volunteering at a daycare centre for 30 years.
London Children’s Connection celebrated Lynn’s longtime volunteer service with a specially decorated cake, personalized gift and flowers.
Lynn started at the daycare after graduating from W. Ross Macdonald School in 1986.
With assistance from her intervenor Zara, Lynn found her place at Northridge working in the kitchen preparing the lunch cart for kids.
Today, Lynn still prepares the lunch cart and has her own table with kids, where she teaches them sign language about the food they will eat including the signs for milk, water, please and thank you.
RICHARD
Richard was recognized for 10 years of volunteer service to the North York Seniors Centre (NYSC) on June 24.
NYSC presented Richard with a nice certificate and beautiful bouquet of flowers at a luncheon at the seniors centre.
Richard volunteers in the kitchen at NYSC one day a week.
Article 5:
Getting real with artificial turf
John Jr. touched the tiny rubber beads that provide cushion underfoot for athletes competing on the artificial turf at Rogers Centre.
Richard stretched out flat on his back in the outfield, a smile on his face as he basked in the warm sunshine streaming through the dome’s open roof.
Brandon used his tactile map – a mini diorama of a baseball field made prior to the trip – to identify the different parts of the field.
Something was cooking. Pizza, guessed one person. “It smells like grilled cheese,” said another in the crowd.
The sensory tour of the Rogers Centre lived up to its promise for more than 40 consumers, intervenors and other CDBA Ontario staff who journeyed to Toronto on May 18.
The experience was intended to help prepare consumers for the Toronto Blue Jays game against the New York Yankees on June 1.
Kristi Clark, special projects intervenor, said the learning experience also promoted independence.
Consumers came from London, Kitchener, Oakville, North York, Brantford and Paris. Some drove to Toronto with their intervenors. Others carpooled to the Aldershot GO Train station in Burlington and took the train to Union Station.
“When we introduce things like taking a GO Train it really promotes independence,” Clark said.
Consumers also experienced the field from the same vantage point as a sports reporter during a visit to the press box behind home plate.
Alessandro used his cellphone’s video mode to take in the view.
Article6:
Taking Deafblindness to new heights
Canada’s iconic CN Tower was illuminated in red, white and black on June 2 for National Deafblind Awareness Month.
The tower lighting in the colours of the Canadian Deafblind Association Ontario Chapter was a first for the 25-year-old charitable organization, which provides intervenor and other services to more than 75 people who are deafblind across Ontario.
Alecia was one of six CDBA Ontario consumers to witness the historic event in Toronto.
“I had an awesome night with the CN Tower,” Alecia said happily.
John Jr. made sure to capture the colourful tower on the camera he carries with him to record important experiences.
The consumers were accompanied by their intervenors and joined by staff from CDBA Ontario. The group waved red and white glow sticks at the base of the tower in celebration.
“I’m very proud,” said Cathy Proll, CDBA Ontario executive director.
The tower lighting capped an action-packed two days in Toronto.
More than 160 deafblind people, intervenors, family and supporters attended the Toronto Blue Jays game against the New York Yankee on June 1. Thousands in attendance at the Rogers Centre learned about the unique disability of deafblindness and CDBA Ontario as nine-year-old Lauren Jolette of Sudbury, who is deafblind, threw out the opening pitch.
The trip included a chance to explore dinosaurs, learn about wildlife from across globe, visit ancient China and see the art of tattooing at the Royal Ontario Museum. They also dined at Signs Restaurant, where the staff are deaf and communicate by sign language, and enjoyed a stay at the Chelsea Hotel
Article 7:
Sensory experience in Niagara
Helen Keller once said, “Life is either a great adventure or nothing.”
Adventure for 23 consumers on Monday, June 27 – the anniversary of Keller’s birthday – included touching, smelling and tasting herbs in a sensory garden at a Niagara-on-the-Lake winery, sampling four Reif Estates wines, dinner at a rainforest-themed restaurant and seeing the iconic Peace Bridge in Fort Erie illuminated in red, white and black – the colours of CDBA Ontario.
The daytrip culminated National Deafblind Awareness Month activities for CDBA Ontario during June.
The sensory garden provided an aromatic and tactile experience for the consumers.
“It’s soft,” LeeAnn said as she got down on her hands and knees to touch some lamb’s ear.
Alecia was able to pick out the familiar scent of lavender right away because she grows it in her garden at home.
She wasn’t as fussy on another herb, agreeing with intervenor Toby it was “kind of stinky” and left their hands feeling sticky.
The herbs and flowers in the garden represent both the colours and flavour profiles of wines sampled on the tour.
Alessandro said he enjoyed the garden tour and wine tasting. “It’s mature.”
Participants were allowed to pluck and take home herbs from the garden. Each consumer had a CDBA Ontario bag to collect items from the trip to include in an “experience book.”
“I hope it’s going to be very exciting and people will have something to bring back with them so that they can remember this day for a very long time,” said Kristi Clark, special projects intervenor.
Rena, Allison and Ingrid weren’t about to be undone by the screw cap bottles used by Reif. They cleverly dipped corks in the wines to capture the scents for their experience books.
The CDBA Ontario entourage of more than 70 people gathered near Mather Arch on the shore of Lake Erie to witness the historic first lighting of the Peace Bridge in CDBA Ontario’s colours.
Article 8: True colours
Having just moved in to their new apartments in Paris, everyone made it feel more like home with colourful coats of paint.
Each resident got to choose from hundreds of colours for his or her bedroom and intervenors and volunteers joined them for a painting party on May 14.
Kevin applied the first roller of a soft blue in his room.
Connie chose a brave purple for her room.
The day was organized by Samantha Gaspar, event planning and fund development assistant.
The paint and supplies were donated by Dave King, store manager of the Sherwin-Williams on 15 Sheldon Dr. in Cambridge.
Maintenance coordinator Dennis Vecchiato supplied the meat and manned the grill for the barbecue lunch. The burgers, hotdogs and salads hit the spot.
Volunteer painters included Kara, Kristi, Krysta and her dad Len, intervenor Ala and her dad John, student intervenor Samantha and Brian.
Everyone’s true colours shone through.
Article 9: A few of his favourite things
Nicholas put his best foot forward, and of course it was in a funky sock.
About 30 people came to party with Nicholas at the CDBA Ontario Resource Centre on June 25, and they were wearing their brightest, loudest and most fun socks too.
“We’re gearing this party around Nicholas’ likes, his favourite things – and that’s socks and popsicles,” said Cullen Drew, intervention coordinator.
With Shay Butler’s catchy “The Socks Song” pumping in the background, the guests danced, took part in a sock toss contest and made creative sock puppets.
Daniel’s puppet with a full mustache and bushy eyebrows looked just like his dad, maintenance coordinator Dennis.
Nicholas’ Apt. 1 roommates got into the spirit of the party, sporting special socks for the occasion. Sean, who loves the wild kingdom, wore animal print socks. Jason went for the superhero look. His brand new red socks had a yellow lightning bolt for The Flash.
Parents Joel and Angie travelled from Bowmanville for Nicholas’ party. They said they’re pleased by changes they’ve seen in their son since he moved into the new apartments beside the CDBA Ontario Resource Centre in February.
“He’s become so independent since he started living in the complex,” said Angie, impressed that Nicholas has learned to sign please and thank you with them all the time.
“It’s phenomenal that he has a community of his peers,” Angie said. “This is awesome. We don’t get to see the interaction with his friends very often.”