Each month Vivian Garcia, long time Peer mentor and organizer of the Surrey City Centre SCI BC Peer Coffee Group puts together a newsletter about upcoming Surrey events, opportunities, and important information for people living with SCI, and featured here in Vivian’s Corner.
This edition of Vivian’s Corner highlights:
- Theme: Wheelchair Repair and Maintenance
- Presentation: Wheelchair Maintenance by Eduardo Jimenez from Macdonald’s Home Healthcare
- InfoLine Corner: Advocacy
- Tax Tips Resource from the SCI Information Database
Click here to download the PDF of the MONTH newsletter.
SCI BC Surrey City Centre Bean There Coffee Group
Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 1
Theme: TBA
In Full Newsletter:
- Macdonald’s Home Healthcare: Wheelchair Maintenance:
- New primary care online service: Babylon by TelusHealth
- Newsletter shorts:
- Wheelchair Maintenance: Cleaning Casters (Girls On Wheels)
- How to Get the Most From Your Power Wheelchair Battery (Your ALS Guide)
- Wheeled Mobility – SCIRE Community
Events:
- Family Matters Virtual Family Peer Support Group – April 4
- South Fraser Active Living Coffee Group – April 15
- Reach Out! Virtual Peer with Brandy – April 15
- Cooking with Shelley – April 23rd
- South Fraser Active Living Group Bowling @Scottsdale Lanes – May
- Fill out our metro Vancouver Peer Feedback Survey (covering all Vancouver-based events, Coffee groups in Richmond and Vancouver, plus Virtual Peer Sessions with Teri). Tell us how we’re doing! – Until April 12
Newsletter Snapshot
Wheelchair Maintenance & Repair
On March 6, Eduardo Jimenez, Service Coordinator from Macdonald’s Home Health Care, a sponsor of SCI BC, joined the SCI BC Surrey Bean There Coffee Group to discuss wheelchair maintenance. He brought some manual wheelchairs and some parts to show. We looked over some bearings and talked about batteries, smart wheelchairs and different types of frames along with other items. For more info check out the handouts linked in the Highlights section of this page.
InfoLine Corner with Heather Lamb, MSW
In my position as Information Resource Specialist at SCI BC I have met many people who are experiencing significant challenges in living with spinal cord injury and accessing the system. One of my roles is to know the system and to help people find ways to get their needs met through existing social, health, and other support services, including advocacy.
My advice: I suggest people figure out which level of government is responsible for the issue they want to advocate about and then try to set up a meeting with the appropriate local representative (eg. council member, MLA, etc. or write a letter outlining the situation. Eg. parking issues would go to the local city council whereas PWD issues would go to the province. People should find out what the current situation is (eg. any laws or rules that govern what is currently happening) and what other jurisdictions do for the same issue. Then outline the problem AND potential solutions.
LEARN MORE:
Advocacy: How to get your voice heard
I’m happy to talk to people about how to direct their efforts for particular topic areas. I can discuss this in more detail with anyone who wants more direction or needs help with the fact-finding portion of it (eg. finding the right laws, or stats to back up how many people are impacted by the problem). — HL
Peers, family members, clinicians, and the general public are all welcome to call SCI BC’s Infoline:
Toll-free from 9 am-5 pm, Monday to Friday at
1-800-689-2477 or via email at info@sci-bc.ca.
Tax Tips for People with Disabilities:
Use this information to find out tax information specific to people with disabilities. Not all of these tips will apply to you; for more specific information regarding your situation, please see a tax professional who can help you assess your circumstances and the best way for you to file your tax return. This document has been updated for the 2018 tax year.
Great newsletter Vivian!