We are the Community Connections Self-Advocate Group. We held meetings on the first Monday of every month, from March through November. We have been meeting since Feb. 22, 2010 and had our final meeting on Nov. 4, 2024. We did not hold meetings during COVID, so have completed our 13th year.
When we started, we had 12 members. Some people are no longer with us because they are busy doing other things. Some people, sadly, have passed away. We miss them all and honour them in our conversations and memories. We have a good chair, and leader of our group for more than 10 years, who has kept the group going with the support of Kindale Developmental Association. In the end, we had four members.
It is time for us to retire from our advocacy work, but we will still get together socially because our group is like a family. Everyone is an individual with different abilities and contributions to make. Friendship is important. We learn from our mistakes. We learn to deal with conflict and to get along with everyone. We let everyone have a voice and encourage people to speak up.
Community Connections Self-Advocate Group started when the local Community Living BC manager brought self advocates together and asked us what issues we would like to work on. He then made a contract and hired one of us to get the group up and going.
We started out in Vernon and then we invited members to join from other communities, like Armstrong, Enderby, Lumby, and Salmon Arm. Guest speakers were invited, including the bus driver. We still have guest speakers meet with us to discuss different issues such as leadership, safety and scams, fundraising, transit, politicians, PWD, affordable housing and more. We prefer to have people come in and speak to us face to face, rather than connecting by computer.
We have worked on issues together and written letters everywhere to try and make positive changes in our community. BC transit issues have been important to us from the beginning. One time, the MLA and the RDNO chair rode the bus with us to see first hand how the issues affected those with physical challenges and disabilities.
Affordable housing is also a priority. We are happy to see all the new affordable apartments that have been developed over the past ten years, but more are needed. We are still advocating for people to be allowed to have pets in their apartments. This is so important for people’s companionship and comfort.
We connected with other self advocate groups in Kelowna and Revelstoke, and attended conferences that helped us connect with others and learn new things. We have learned a lot together along the way, like how to give presentations. One of our members learned how to write a book about important safety tips which she shared with many others in the community. Two former group members formed a new advocacy group to improve accessibility in the Okanagan.
We sought input from others and shared what it means to be a self advocate. We learned to get things done on time. It feels good to get out of our programs to go to monthly self advocacy meetings. We get out into the community more often. We feel strongly that more people know about self advocacy. It is important to be heard and to fight for people who have a hard time speaking for themselves.
We would like to thank all the people and organizations in our community who have supported our group over the years with information, expertise, and encouragement. Working together we can make our community better for everyone.
Ted Dekker, chair
