WORKING

AND

VOLUNTEERING:

YOU

CAN

DO IT!

ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUTEMPLOYMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

written by and for people with Down syndrome

FROM THE EDITOR

VOICES is the only North American magazine written by and

for people with Down syndrome. The magazine has been

in circulation for six years and continues to be a source of

information and entertainment for self-advocates. VOICES

represents inclusion for all people in the human family.

Got something to say? Pitch us a story, submit an article, send

us photos and art—anything that you would like to see in

VOICES! Not sure? Let us know if you want to write for us and

we’ll pitch YOU a story!

Contact us at kaitlynp@cdss.ca

Canadian Down Syndrome Society283 - 5005 Dalhousie Dr. NWCalgary, AB T3A R58Toll-Free: 1-800-883-5608 Fax:403-270-8291E-mail: info@cdss.ca | Website: cdss.ca

This magazine repor ts items of interest relating to Down syndrome and will provide a forum for others. The Canadian Down Syndrome Society does not promote or recommend any therapy treatment or product. The opinions and views expressed in this publication may not necessarily be those of the organization or its members. We wish to bring together those interested in Down syndrome and create an optimistic outlook and attitude. The editors reserve all rights.

STATEMENT OFPOLICY & DISCLAIMER

VOICES is a publication of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society.

Editor: Kirk CrowtherAssociate

Editors:Kaitlyn Pecson

Ashlee StoneContributors: Cassie Albright

Mary Frances Brennick

Janet Charchuk

Chris Drake

Ruth Joseph

Matthew MacNeil

Matthew Milakovic

Christine Millson

Nicholas Popowich

Natalie Stevanus

Pam TaylorSpecial

Thanks:Clare Hitchens

Anne Livesey-Husak

MAGAZINE STAFF

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Employment and VolunteeringIN THIS ISSUE

From The Editor ........................................................................3

The Voice of VATTA ..................................................................3

How Do You Find a Perfect Job That You Will Love? ............4

Employment & Volunteering: A Sense of Accomplishment ...5

Volunteering: For the Love of the Community .....................6

Becoming Part of VATTA ..........................................................7

My First VATTA Experience .....................................................7

Artists’ Corner: Jane Cameron Award ...................................8

Photos Of The Moment ......................................................... 10

SPEAK OUT

VOICES PAGE 2

FROM THE EDITORWORKING FOR A LIVING!

A friend of mine asked me one day, “Why do we have to work?”

It got me thinking about why having a job is important to most

people. While many self-advocates (people just like you) have

great jobs, many people with Down syndrome have not had the

chance to work at their dream job. I think people work for

several reasons:

To make a living and afford things like homes, rent, food and have spending money

To keep busy and not get bored. Having a paid job makes you feel important

To make new friends

To learn new things

Everyone should have the opportunity to work and to try new jobs until they fi nd the

perfect job that they enjoy. In this issue of VOICES we look at how to fi nd a perfect job,

what it’s like to work, and more! As a bonus, the two new VATTA members each wrote

an article about what it was like to join the CDSS team.

Enjoy reading VOICES and always believe in yourself. Confucius says, “Choose a job you

love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

-Kirk

Hey Canada! The VATTA Committee is very

excited to announce that they have a brand new

logo! The Committee has been advocating on

behalf of Canadians with Down syndrome since

2005, and are excited to fi nally have their very

own mark!

The Committee chose this logo because:

• It says VATTA–so people know what the logo stands for

• It uses the same lines and circles that are used in the CDSS logo

• The black and red shapes look like a proud person, someone who is standing up

for the rights of people

• The red head on the person is very bright and full of ideas

• The arms on the person are raised, which we think represent power (or

empowerment) and celebrating our accomplishments

THE VOICE OF VATTA

VOICES PAGE 3

By Janet Charchukby Ruth Joseph

EMPLOYMENT & VOLUNTEERING:A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

I think fi nding a job is hard for some people and they may need help.

People might have trouble putting together a resume, fi lling out

application forms, or doing interviews. They even might have trouble

following directions and socializing with other people at work.

Another problem people may face is fi nding a job that is a good fi t for

their skill level and interests.

One idea that may help you fi nd a job that is a good fi t for you is making a

list of your interests and hobbies that may turn into a career and another

list of the skills you have.

For example, my favourite hobbies are: Fashion Nutrition/exercise/healthy cooking/baking Scrapbooking/photography Drawing

My skills are: Reliable Good with people Cooking An eye for fashion

Based on my hobbies and skills I feel working in the fi eld of retail or the

culinary arts would be a good fi t for me.

I hope this is helpful and that you fi nd the job of your dreams.

Another problem people may face is fi nding a job that is a good fi t for

their skill level and interests.

One idea that may help you fi nd a job that is a good fi t for you is making a

list of your interests and hobbies that may turn into a career and another

list of the skills you have.

VOICES PAGE 4

By Janet Charchukby Ruth Joseph

EMPLOYMENT & VOLUNTEERING:A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

When I wake up every morning I am very much eager to start the day.

So when I go to work I feel very happy and I feel good to be there.

I feel proud of myself. To me working makes me feel good and feel like I have

made an accomplishment by the end of the day. I like to make a difference

in people’s lives. Working with other people is awesome because they are

friendly and easy to get along with.

Working means a great deal to me because it gets me out in the community

and lets me meet all kinds of people and get to know them. The best thing of

all is making money to help me to live on my own and buy things I need or want.

Since I graduated from school I have been working or volunteering in various

places. I have run into a few challenges along the way but I did not give up. Some

employers do see things in different ways when they go to hire people with challenges.

They sometimes think this person can’t do the job, or they think they should get

government money to hire people with challenges.

Here is another challenge: if we make a mistake they will think that we can’t do it

and they will do the job for us. That makes them think it will be more work for them.

Sometimes they are scared to hire us because they don’t know our abilities. I much

prefer them to see us as any other employee looking for work—that we do have the

abilities. Yes, they may be different, but we can use them. All they have to do is match our

abilities to different skills needed to do the job, and that is how everyone wins.

I have had lots of jobs before, from working with seniors, to working with kids at

daycares, to working at hotels and gyms. Sometimes I started out by volunteering. I did

get funding to start out but ever since then I have been working and getting paid like

everyone else and I very much love that. I have a job coach who helps me to learn the

job and to do it right.

Right now I work at a daycare a couple times a week and I also work at a liquor store

once a week. My dream job is to work with kids of all ages to learn how to live a healthy

lifestyle and be active in their communities.

VOICES PAGE 5

by Mary Frances Brennick

VOLUNTEERING: FOR THE LOVE OF THE COMMUNITY

by Matthew MacNeil

BECOMING PART OF VATTAby Nicholas Popowich

MY FIRST VATTA EXPERIENCE

Volunteering means working on behalf of others, without getting paid. You

may ask yourself, “If there is no payment for working those hours, why

do it?” For me the answer is simple… I love it! It’s a great way to open

my heart, to share my gifts and talents, and to feel more connected to

people. Over the past twenty-fi ve years I have been fortunate enough

to volunteer at three schools and in my church community. What a

wonderful journey it continues to be!

Volunteering at the schools and my church has given me a sense of

accomplishment and pride. It has raised my self-esteem and confi dence,

and has helped me appreciate the beauty of life. It has helped me with my

listening and speaking skills, and I have made some great friends. But most

of all, volunteering has connected me to my community—it has allowed me

to advocate for other people with Down syndrome to be included in their

communities. Volunteering has helped me show people of all ages, from

kindergarten students to the elders in my church, that I have important

talents that are useful to my community.

Volunteering is something that helps others, but volunteering is also an

attitude; it is my belief that people’s gifts and talents are meant to be

shared, and our community grows when we make time for each other.

Volunteering means working on behalf of others, without getting paid. You Volunteering means working on behalf of others, without getting paid. You

may ask yourself, “If there is no payment for working those hours, why

do it?” For me the answer is simple… I love it! It’s a great way to open

my heart, to share my gifts and talents, and to feel more connected to

people. Over the past twenty-fi ve years I have been fortunate enough

to volunteer at three schools and in my church community. What a

Volunteering at the schools and my church has given me a sense of

accomplishment and pride. It has raised my self-esteem and confi dence,

VOICES PAGE 6

by Mary Frances Brennick

VOLUNTEERING: FOR THE LOVE OF THE COMMUNITY

by Matthew MacNeil

BECOMING PART OF VATTABECOMING PART OF VATTAby Nicholas Popowich

by Matthew MacNeil

MY FIRST VATTA EXPERIENCEI’m Matthew MacNeil! I’m one of the new people picked to join VATTA.

They picked two people to join this group and I was one of them. I was

so happy that they picked me. I didn’t expect it. I was surprised!

I got to go to Toronto to meet the other members of VATTA. It was my fi rst time

travelling alone to Toronto and my fi rst time taking a Greyhound bus! It was fun—it

was a good experience for me. I learned a lot. When I got there and met the other

people in the group, they were so nice to me. I got to stay in a nice hotel room and

I had a really nice roommate. At the VATTA meetings, we talked about how to change

and fi x the program to make it even better, and what to add to the web site. Then we

got to present our new logo to the Board of Directors.

Overall, it was a great trip and I got to learn a lot!

Hi, my name is Nicholas Popowich and I am one of the newest

members of the VATTA Committee. I learned about VATTA from a

friend, who is very active with the CDSS. Volunteering is not new to

me—in high school, I got involved with our Student Activity Council. I also help out

at my local community musical theatre company, selling tickets, and moving sets. I used

to belong to Cubs and Scouts, and we volunteered at Saskatchewan Roughrider games

and other events. So, I guess volunteering is part of my life. VATTA is a great opportunity

to meet other people, travel, and talk about issues facing my friends.

The interview for VATTA made me a little nervous but I gave my best answers. Waiting

to fi nd out if I was on the Committee was the hardest part. I would describe our

Committee as a family—people have different abilities and we don’t all think and act at

the same speed, but we all have something important to say.

Our fi rst meeting was exciting because I travelled to Toronto by myself. Meeting the

other committee members was easier than I thought. It’s so much more fun to meet face

to face. As a member of VATTA, I would like to talk more about education. Education

is for everyone, including students with disabilities. It is important for every student to

be included, respected and celebrated.

VOICES PAGE 7

ARTISTS’ CORNER

JANE CAMERON AWARDJane Cameron was an artist with Down syndrome. In 2001, the Canadian Down

Syndrome Society and the Jane Cameron Archives at In-Defi nite Arts decided to give an

award in her honour. Here are the 2011 recipients:

Runner up: Pam Taylor - “I Like It”

Runner up: Matthew Milakovic - “Landscape”

Runner up: Christine Millson - “Family Sounds”

VOICES PAGE 8

ARTISTS’ CORNER

Winner: Chris Drake - “Funky Tree”

Congratulations, Chris Drake!

ARE YOU AN ARTIST?

Send scans or photos of your art—of any kind, like paintings, drawings, collages, weavings, and

sculptures—to kaitlynp@cdss.ca with the subject line “VOICES: Artists’ Corner” and you may

be featured in this section in our next issue!

VOICES PAGE 9

PHOTOS OF THE MOMENT

Selena Gomez with Cassie Albright (from Orleans, Ontario)

“The Kissing Bridge” by Natalie Stevanus (from Bloomingdale, Ontario)

HAVE A GREAT PHOTOGRAPH?

Send it to kaitlynp@cdss.ca with the subject line “VOICES: Photos of

the Moment” and you may be featured in this section in our next issue!

VOICES PAGE 10