By: Krystian Shaw, Kamloops BC.
The year 2017 is an exciting year for me as a self advocate already!
This month I received the social Innovation youth award for those under 30 who have created social change in their community. Here is the press release https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2017SDSI0016-000267
My work partner, Lisa, and I have started an Inclusive Wellness class called “Wellness Tool Box.” This is a class for all ages and all levels.
It is totally inclusive, but caters to those with diverse abilities.
It will be a drop in every Monday starting in March by donation for all those who want to attend from 1:00 pm to 1:50 pm.
There are more details about this class at the end of my story.
As a self-advocate, I’m also working with the Government on changing policies.
The Canadian Government was looking for accessibility ideas for their legislation. They have had consultations with me and others.
One idea I gave them was how important I feel it is for law enforcement and front line health workers to be trained better on how to deal with people with developmental disabilities and mental health issues.
I also e-mailed them about the Partners in Policy Making program in the U.S.A and to bring it to Canada. I feel it’s important to establish advisory committees all across the country by federal law and provincial and territorial law, like the states have done so those with diverse abilities can work in conjunction with policy makers, so we can deliver testimony to the government and policy makers.
I also told them lots of cool and beneficial ideas for the whole country that they responded back to me with positive feedback.
I am very excited about self-advocacy this year and about advocacy in general.
I am very proud of my Social Innovation Youth Award. I am able to create social change in large part by my newsletter. Eliminating stigma and discrimination is my main goal with every issue of the Kamloops Self-Advocate newsletter. I am the first self-advocate to start a newsletter to promote social change. I feel so lucky to be acknowledged for doing something I love so much.
Here’s more information about Let’s Move Studio!
And Video Social Innovation Youth Awards
