Message from the CEO
By Rick Mowles, CEO
This month in The Citizen we are exploring CLBC’s work to engage with community. Connecting people with informal supports and events is a big part of supporting individuals to lead full lives and participate in their communities. We are profiling the Self-Advocate Summit that provided self-advocates with an opportunity to explore a number of important questions and include input into CLBC’s strategic planning process.
The theme of this year’s 2010/2011 CLBC Annual Report is “Engaging with Self-Advocates and Families”. We are committed to creating opportunities for families and individuals to engage with CLBC and others in the community to discuss significant issues and listen and learn from one another. Last year we held over 300 meetings, workshops and forums to connect with our key partners on topics such as ageing, transitioning youth, family stories, safeguards and personal support networks. The Annual Report is now available on our website and in local CLBC offices. You can read more about the Annual Report here.
We have also witnessed the successful launch of www.icanbesafeonline.com, CLBC’s new website designed to educate and inform the individuals we support on how to stay safe while enjoying online activities. Currently, this is the only website in Canada that is dedicated to teaching online safety to adults with developmental disabilities. In this issue of The Citizen we feature Katrina’s story about her involvement with icanbesafeonline.com and how she uses social media to create awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
As part of our ongoing commitment to engaging with families, CLBC worked with the Family Support Institute to create a book of families’ stories about informal safeguards and personal support networks. “The Power of Knowing Each Other: Stories about informal safeguards told by BC families” was launched last month across the province. Launch events promoting the book have provided an opportunity to share families’ messages about how they have developed friendships and social connections to create positive experiences.
I hope you enjoy reading this month’s edition of The Citizen and all of the valuable work that we are doing to connect people to the broader community and some of the innovative approaches that are strengthening and fostering inclusive communities.
