Summer Coordinator for Community Networks (Adaptabilities) - Plan 2013

As a Summer Coordinator for Community Networks (Adaptabilities), my main responsibility is to increase awareness of major disabilities in Canada and provide practical information about them to parents, teachers, and other educators.

Schools play a very important role in what this work position is about. Teachers and other individuals involved in the education system are the people that will have one of the biggest roles in shaping the lives of children with disabilities. Increasing the understanding about common disabilities will help teachers improve the classroom environment for kids affected by disabilities. Creating a network that can communicate new knowledge and address any concerns with disabilities will surely improve the lives of the children and their families!

In order to accomplish this task, I have been working with a team of other coordinators to create blogs that introduce useful information regarding disabilities. Cerebral Palsy, Deafness, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Autism are some of the disabilities addressed in these blogs. These and many others affect a number of children across Canada and it is important that people become aware of how disabilities affect the lives of children. This way, they can be treated fairly and assisted to reach their maximum capabilities. Ultimately, this will not only increase the children’s’ quality of life but also lead them to become contributing members of society.

Planning and organizing an annual symposium dedicated to improving the understanding of disabilities is another task I am working on. This involves: contacting organizations and groups interested in partnering and presenting, finding sponsors for funding the event, booking a venue, organizing the details of the symposium, and finally, hosting the event.

As a separate project, I am working closely to with the NAIT Digital Media and IT Co-op Coordinator in order to improve the success rate of students finding co-op jobs. Both short term and long term improvements are being worked on.

Lastly, the Summer Coordinator for Community Networks position also includes work with the Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre to meet the needs of the homeless individuals around the community.