Let Abilities Work Partnership Society

by Paul Tingley

I hope that you have enjoyed your winter. Now, we begin sailing season!

The Sail Able Association of NS is gearing up for a second summer at the RNSYS (376 Purcell's Cove Road). After a successful 2009 season, we are pleased to announce that our sailing instructor, Emilie Bishop, is back on board with Sail Able this summer. Emilie will begin holding sailing sessions on June 7th, 2010.(...continued)
To make a booking, please call Emilie at (902) 401-3571, or send her an email at em706148@dal.ca.  The sailing program will run from Monday to Saturday (with Tues and Sat only morning sessions), with 2 sessions per day. The annual membership fee is $25, and each sail is $7 per member. The program will run until the end of August.

To ensure that all sailors have a chance to get out on the water, each sailor will be allowed to book only one session per week. However, you can book additional sessions each week if an opening remains unfilled 48 hours before a session is due to begin.

This summer, we would like to allow twice as many people to get out on the water by making full-use of both Martin 16 sailboats that belong to Sail Able. We are therefore looking for volunteers to act as sailing companions, and help out with the program.

Emilie is organizing an education session that will provide volunteers with information about the boats, accommodating the needs of each participant, and facilitating a sailing session. The volunteer session will be held in mid June. Please spread the word, and let us know if you would like to take part by contacting Emilie at the contact number above.

Sail Able and the Canadian Paraplegic Association are hosting a BBQ & "Have a Try" day at the RNSYS on Saturday June 19th, 2010 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. The rain date is June 20th, 2010.

We are thrilled to be starting a new sailing season at the RNSYS, and with improvements to the grounds and a new building on the foreshore, our program is expected to run more smoothly than ever!

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We hope to see you out on the water!
Paul Tingley, Chair of Sail Able NS, (902) 229-0281, email: nssailable@gmail.com

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The Nova Scotia Telehealth Network is a little known Health initiative - a video conferencing communications network that is intended to improve the medical service to all the rural areas of the province.

Through this system, patients from across Nova Scotia can meet face-to-face with health care professionals located anywhere on the network, without leaving their home communities. This saves patients the time, stress and expense associated with travel. (...continued)

Our Department of Health beginning with a pilot program in 1996, has over the past several years been actively developing this on-line technology and service  to create Canada's first province-wide Telehealth network.  It is now being offered to medical doctors, health professionals, staff and patients from all hospitals throughout Nova Scotia's nine Community Healt Districts.

What do you need to know about Telehealth? The Department publishes contact information and answers frequently asked questions on its website.  I think that information is important enough to reproduce here below for Let Abilities Work readers.

To access the Telehealth Network service here in Pictou County, you need to contact Linda Muir who is the Coordinator for Health Districts 4, 5 & 6 and can be reached at - Phone: 902-752-7571; Fax: 902-752-8407 or Email: Linda.Muir@pcha.nshealth.ca

Q. What are the benefits of Telehealth?
A. Telehealth provides health care professionals and patients in rural communities access to health care services and information through the use of videoconferencing technology.

Q. How do I know if my local hospital is involved with the NSTHN?
A. NSTHN services are avsailable in all hospitals across Nova Scotia .

Q. Does my family doctor have access to this technology?
A. At the present time, individual practitioners have access to this technology through their local hospitals. Ask your doctor about accessing specialist services using the NSTHN.

Q. If I use the services of the NSTHN, does that mean I won't be able to meet face-to-face with my doctor?
A. No. Face-to-face meetings with your health care provider remain an integral part of health care delivery. Video consultations supplement, but do not replace, hands-on care.

Q. What health care programs use the NSTHN?
A. The NSTHN collaborates with a range of clinical programs across the province for the purpose of introducing and developing Telehealth-based applications for health care delivery. Current clinical programs include:

•Dermatology
•Genetics
•Geriatrics
•Lung Transplant
•Mental Health
•Oncology
•Preoperative
•Rehabilitation
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(Updated May 07th) - Call Ralph @ 485-6740 with updates to this schedule: -Click below on Read More! for event listing.

• June 23rd at 6:00PM - LAWPS & CHAD will hold a joint AGM in New Glasgow Library. Not sure at this point if it will be on the main floor or upstairs. Both rooms are accessible
• June 02nd at 1:00PM in Salon D at Summer Street Industries: This roundtable meeting will consider our lacking in Pictou County of ASL interpreting for Deaf and sponsored jointly by LAWPS and SDHHNS.  Tea, coffee And sandwiches will be provided so contact Ralph or Crystal to pass on to SSI contact Diana re food requirements including any special diet accommodation for wheat-free/gluten-free plus and diabetic diets etc.
• May 19th: Monthly Meeting LAWPS - The Let Abilities Work Partnership Society will meet Wednesday May 19th at 10:00 a.m. in the Progam Room of the Westville Library.
• May 18th: Archery-Northumberland Strait Shooters Archery club will be shooting on Tuesday evening May 18th at the Michelin Social Club. 7 pm. All are invited to attend. For more information phone 396-5937
• May 11th: Archery-Northumberland Strait Shooters Archery club will be shooting on Tuesday evening May 11th at the Michelin Social Club. 7 pm. All are invited to attend. For more information phone 396-5937
• April 28th: Monthly Meeting LAWPS - The Let Abilities Work Partnership Society will meet Wednesday April 28th at 10:00 a.m. in the Progam Room of the Westville Library. 
• April 20th: Archery is scheduled at Michelin Social Club from 6:30 to 9:30pm on Tuesday April 20th. This is a combined Archery events for both able bodied and persons with disability. So come for a fun time and enjoy the sport!
• April 13th: Archery is scheduled at Michelin Social Club from 6:30 to 9:30pm on Tuesdays as follows: April 13th, and 20th. These will be combined Archery events for both able bodied and persons with disability. So come for a fun time and enjoy the sport!
• April 6th: Archery is scheduled at Michelin Social Club from 6:30 to 9:30pm every Tuesday as follows: April 6th, 13th, and 20th. These will be combined Archery events for both able bodied and persons with disability. So come for a fun time and enjoy the sport!
• April 3rd: A wheelchair and stick curling demonstration is scheduled at the New Caledonia Club in Pictou from 1:00pm to 4:00pm on Saturday April 3rd cosponsored by the Canadian Paraplegic Association and Let Abilities Work Partnership Society. - Laughlie Rutt – Nova Scotia Provincial Wheelchair Curling Player will instruct.  Plan to attend this event to promote active living, meet others in the community with a physical disability, meet your CPA Community Client Service Counsellor and of course to HAVE FUN!
• March 30th: Archery is scheduled at Michelin Social Club from 6:30 to 9:30pm every Tuesday as follows: March 30th, April 6th, 13th, and 20th. These will be combined Archery events for both able bodied and persons with disability. So come for a fun time and enjoy the sport!
• March 26th: The Let Abilities Work Partnership Society is to receive two grants from United Way One grant is global funding to assist the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to better integrate in the local community. The second grant is project funding for materials to help construct an accessible main floor washroom in the New Caledonia Curling Club making it assessible to persons with disabilities for stick curling. The official signings will take place in the United Way office at 2:30 PM on Friday, March 26th.
• March 23rd: Archery is scheduled at Michelin Social Club from 6:30 to 9:30pm every Tuesday as follows: March 23rd, 30th, April 6th, 13th, and 20th.These will be combined Archery events for both able bodied and persons with disability. So come for a fun time and enjoy the sport!
• March 17th: Monthly Meeting LAWPS - The Let Abilities Work Partnership Society will meet Wednesday March 17th at 2:00 p.m. in the Progam Room of the Westville Library. Wearing of the green is anticipated !
• March 16th: Archery is scheduled at Michelin Social Club from 6:30 to 9:30pm every Tuesday beginning March 16th. [March 16, 23, 30, April 6,13, 20} for the next six (6) weeks These will be combined Archery events for both able bodied and persons with disability. So come for a fun time and enjoy the sport!
• February 17th: Monthly Meeting LAWPS - The Let Abilities Work Partnership Society will meet Wednesday February 17th at 2:00 p.m. in the Progam Room of the Westville Library.
• January 13th: Monthly Meeting LAWPS - The Let Abilities Work Partnership Society will meet Wednesday January 13th at 2:00 p.m. in the Progam Room of the Westville Library.
• December 10th: Meeting & Christmas Social - We will gather for an abreviated meeting and fun time to celebrate the season with each other in the community room of the New Glasgow library. Come and enjoy the fun and goodies.
• December 9th: Archery at Michelin Social Club. - Archery is scheduled to take place (Wednesday, Dec. 9), at the Michelin Social Club, beginning at 1:00 p.m., and lasting roughly about, 2 hours.
• December 8th: Low Vision Clinic - Michelle Fudge with CNIB will run an all day low vision clinic at the Let Abilities Work office on Tuesday, December 8th from 9am - 2:30pm.
• December 7th: Low Vision Clinic - Michelle Fudge with CNIB will run an all day low vision clinic at the Let Abilities Work office on Monday, December 7th from 3-5pm.
• November 3rd: Archery at Michelin Social Club. - Archery is scheduled to take place (Tuesday, Nov. 3), at the Michelin Social Club, beginning at 1:00 p.m., and lasting roughly about, 2 hours.
• September 17th: Monthly Meeting LAWPS - The Let Abilities Work Partnership Society will meet Thursday September 17th at 1:30 PM in the progam room of the New Glasgow Library.
• September 10th: Low Vision Clinic - Michelle Fudge with CNIB will run an all day low vision clinic at the Let Abilities Work office.
• August 30th: Afternoon backyard party at Doug & Crystal Mann's - Come along for fun and wish our student Alex well in his studies as he heads back to school for the fall.
• August 26th: Concert at Trenton Youth Centre - Alex MacNeil and friends will perform in concert at the Trenton Youth Centre from 7-9 PM. All are welcome. This is the Summer Concert / Dance, that we promised and is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, August 26, at the Trenton Youth Centre, Main Street, Trenton. Performing will be The Northend Rythym and Blues Band, (which features our Summer Student / Coordinator, Alex), along with the band, Alamo, performing as well. Join us there for a super time!
  
• CANCELLED too few plan to attend - August 26th: Wednesday Bowling - We have bowling going on again, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Cost: $5:00 per person includes CHAD bus transport if required. That is always fun, fun, fun!
• August 20th: Archery at Michelin Social Club. - Archery is scheduled to take place the following day (Thursday, August 20), at the Michelin Social Club, beginning at 1:00 p.m., and lasting roughly about, 2 hours.
• August 19th: 'Games Night' - This will be taking place this coming Wednesday evening, in the Community Room, at the Atlantic Superstore, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Although at this point, It is 'seeming' like our 'Games Night', might ONLY be consisting one particular game... 'Dingo' (similar to "Bingo', only modified to accommodate the hearing impaired), the same game that we played at our last 'Games Night'... SORRY 'bout the lack of variety in he 'games cat-
  egory'! Gotta work on that, BUT... it will STILL be SO-ooo MUCH fun, just like last time... I can assure you that!!!
• August 15th: a Fusion Festival at Trenton park - This is a community event to which all are invited. It sounds quite fun, too. It is running from 11:00 a.m., to 3 p.m. At 11 a.m., there is a Welcoming Social, at 12:00 p.m., they'll be featuring culturally diverse music, at 1:00 p.m., games, activities, and wagon rides, and at 2:30 p.m., there'll be treats for the kids, prizes to be won, and door-prize give-aways. Another enjoyable time!
• August 12, Wednesday Bowling - We have bowling going on again, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Cost: $5:00 per person includes CHAD bus transport if required. That is always fun, fun, fun!
• CANCELLED -Rained out. August 10th: Pictou, Monday evening 6:00 p.m. Enjoy another outdoor concert, taking place at the Hector Quay, Vistor's Marina stage, in Pictou. Performing that evening, will be Jakki Rouge. We always have a very enjoyable time there!
• July 29th: Bowling with Let Abilities will be returning for the summer and will be held every second Wednesday at Heather Lanes.
• July 22nd: Archery - Come and join us for archery at the Michelin Club at 1:00 pm. You'll have a wonderful time shooting bows and arrows. It's great fun! And don't worry about safety because we pay very careful attention in this event to keep everyone out of harms way.End of Article - Return to main page

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The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) urges all Parliamentarians to support Bill C-304 – An Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians. One of the major issues people with disabilities have is finding affordable and accessible housing. “Too frequently people have no choices and live in housing that is unsafe and marginally accessible,” said Marie White Chairperson of CCD.(...continued)

“All parties should support this legislation. Adequate housing is essential to the well being of persons with disabilities,” said White. “Canadians with disabilities disproportionately live in poverty and finding affordable housing is a huge challenge,” said Laurie Beachell, CCD National Coordinator.

Canadians with disabilities want a federal government that works with provinces to build more accessible and inclusive communities. “Sadly many Canadians with disabilities end up homeless and living on the street,” said White. Bill C-304 is an important initiative in that it will ensure housing strategies include financial assistance for those who are otherwise unable to afford housing and to set targets and timetables to eliminate homelessness.

CCD calls on all parties to support Bill C-304. Affordable accessible housing is an essential need for persons with disabilities.

CCD is a national organization of persons with disabilities that works to build a more inclusive and accessible Canada. Contacts: Marie White, National Chairperson – 709-739-8233 and Laurie Beachell, National Coordinator – 204-947-0303
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Nova Scotia Home Builders' Association and Scotian Homes have worked together to bring leading-edge building design, state-of-the-art technology and energy efficiency to support an independent lifestyle. This first-time initiative is being called a "Lifestyle Home". It is intended to address Nova Scotia's ever-changing demographic needs in the housing industry.

This project specifically targets the "aging in place" marketplace, incorporating features and technologies which will allow the aging population, or any persons with limited mobilities, to remain in their home as their needs change.(...continued)

The home located in Enfield, is certified R-2000 and comes with all of the benefits associated with R-2000 construction and certification. There are increased insulation levels, EnerGlas plus windows supplied by Kohler Windows and Entrance Systems, and in-floor radiant heat with electric boiler (taking advantage of time-of-day rates through Nova Scotia Power). The home also features a solar domestic hot water system, saving the homeowner up to 65 per cent on the cost of hot water heat, which is the second highest energy cost in an average household.

The Enfield home is open for tours at 25 Bona Crescent in White Estates.

Some of the most exciting features of the Lifestyle Home are the technologies incorporated within it, providing security, comfort and peace of mind. For example, the Powerhouse Energy Management System helps keep track of the home's environmental footprint by showing in real time how much energy every attached appliance in the house is using, how much electricity is being produced by the solar panels on the roof, and more.

The Lifestyle Home is available for viewing Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 p.m., or by appointment by contacting Scotian Homes at 883-2266.
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