December 1, 2016 The Kamloops Self-Advocate

1

The

Kamloops

Self-

Advocate:

A Newsletter for

People with

Diverse Abilities

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Feature Articles

Jokes

Recipe

Awareness days

Upcoming Events

Quotes

December 2016 Issue# 37

It’s an exciting time of year everyone. The Kamloops Self

Advocate wishes everyone a safe and happy winter season.

There are lots of winter events in the community to be a part

of and share with other people. If you would like to tell our

readers how you enjoyed the winter season, you’re your

stories to thekamloopsselfdvocate@yahoo.com.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our

regular contributors and our advertisers for their continued

support. You have helped to make 2016 another great year

and without you the newsletter wouldn't be such a great

success.

Just as we want to acknowledge our supporters, maybe you

would like to do the same. Starting in January, there will be

a recognition column. We want to hear about all of the great

people in the community who are doing things to help others

overcome barriers or be more successful. See page

7 for more information about how you can

recognize someone great in your life.

Contact us at:

thekamloopsselfadvocate@yahoo.com

743 Nicola St., Rear, Kamloops, BC V2C 6G4

December 1, 2016 The Kamloops Self-Advocate

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Capturing the Lost Art of

Christmas Caroling

For many people singing

Christmas carols has

become a tradition or a

ritual. The Christmas

season is a time of

pondering and reflection.

Singing Christmas carols

helps us do this. When we

concentrate on the words,

we often remember the

true meaning of Christmas.

My favorite Christmas

carol is “O Holy Night.” I

love this song because the

words have great meaning

for me.

Have you ever

wondered what happened

to Christmas caroling? I

have. Why don’t we see

this tradition as often

anymore? Christmas

caroling is nearly a lost art

that should be revived.

Christmas carolers used to

travel from home to home

singing Christmas songs to

all of those who opened

their doors. This lifted

everyone’s spirits. This

tradition is beneficial for

everyone, especially for

those with diverse abilities

because they are not

always able to leave their

homes.

The Christmas

season can be a very lonely

time for people with

diverse abilities. This

Christmas activity is a

great way to gather

community involvement

no matter what our abilities

may be. Be brave and

gather a group of your

friends, travel around your

neighborhood and sing

your heart out. If going out

caroling is not your style,

wrap yourself in Christmas

carols and let them nourish

your heart and soul.

Be hospitable and

open the door and let the

warmth of the Christmas

song envelope your home.

This does not cost

anything. Remember that

Christmas carols are more

than words on a page.

They possess truth and

meaning. Merry Christmas

to all.

If you would like to

attend a Christmas Eve

service, please join me at

Summit Drive Church on

Dec. 24th

at 4:00pm,

5:30pm or 7:00pm. There

are many other churches in

town that have Christmas

Eve services as well.

O Holy Night

(Composed by Adolphe

Adam in 1847)

O holy night!

The stars are brightly

shining

It is the night of the dear

Savior's birth!

Long lay the world in sin

and error pining

Till he appear'd and the

soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary

soul rejoices

For yonder breaks a new

and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees

Oh hear the angel voices

Oh night divine

Oh night when Christ was

born

Oh night divine

Oh night divine

Led by the light of Faith

serenely beaming

With glowing hearts by

His cradle we stand

So led by light of a star

sweetly gleaming

Here come the wise men

from Orient land

The King of Kings lay thus

in lowly manger

In all our trials born to be

our friend

Truly He taught us to love

December 1, 2016 The Kamloops Self-Advocate

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one another

His law is love and His

gospel is peace

Chains shall He break for

the slave is our brother

And in His name all

oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in

grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His

holy name

Krystian’s Corner

We like to spend time at

Christmas with family and

opening and giving gifts.

It’s better to give then get

and that’s what Christmas

is all about. It’s also a time

for some to celebrate

Jesus’ birth. For others,

it’s about being together as

family or friends and

having lots of fun!

It’s also a time to go and

see wonderful Christmas

lights and drink hot

chocolate or eggnog. I love

eggnog and Christmas

because I get to spend time

as a family.

There is a CPR holiday

train that pulls into

Kamloops on Thursday

December 15th

at 5pm.

There will be music from

entertainers and Santa. I

have been to it a couple

years now since Ben my

friend lives in Kamloops.

Bring a non-perishable

food item for the

Kamloops Food Bank. I

hope Santa sings again this

year. Remember to dress

warm if you go.

Quotes

Christmas is the perfect

time to celebrate the love

of God and family and to

create memories that will

last forever. Jesus is God's

perfect, indescribable gift.

The amazing thing is that

not only are we able to

receive this gift, but we are

able to share it with others

on Christmas and every

other day of the year. ~

Joel Osteen

Christmas isn't a season.

It's a feeling. ~ Edna

Ferber

Maybe Christmas, the

Grinch thought, doesn't

come from a store. ~

Dr. Seuss

Christmas is not a time nor

a season, but a state of

mind. To cherish peace and

goodwill, to be plenteous

in mercy, is to have the

real spirit of Christmas.

~ Calvin Coolidge

Linda’s Butterscotch

Squares

Melt 1 package of

butterscotch Chip-its and

1/2 cup margarine (Do not

boil, leave to cool)

Mix 1/2 package miniature

marshmallows, 1/2 cup

peanut butter and 1/2 cup

coconut

Then pour cooled

butterscotch mixture over

the marshmallow mixture

and press into a 8 x 8 inch

pan.

Refrigerate and enjoy.

Jokes

Q. What do Santa’s elves

learn in school?

A. The Elfabet.

December 1, 2016 The Kamloops Self-Advocate

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Q. What does Santa like to

do in the garden?

A. Hoe, hoe, hoe!

Q: What do Santa’s elves

drive?

A: Minivans.

Q: What do Santa’s elves

drink?

A: Minnesoda.

http://www.funology.com/

christs-jokes/

A Friend

Remembered

It is with great sorrow that

I announce the passing of

my friend, Leanne

Gunnison. She died in

November after battling

cancer. Although she had

some severe physical

disabilities, I enjoyed

bowling with her each

week. And, she loved

playing cards. We were

long-time friends, going

way back to when we were

in school together at

Overlander Secondary.

Towards the end of her

life, I enjoyed feeding her

and visiting with her. She

made me laugh and it was

a joy being her friend. I

know you are at peace now

where pain is no more.

Take care of yourself

Leanne. You will live in

my heart forever.

By: Colleen Dickie

Christmas with

Diverse Abilities.

https://www.theguardian.c

om/social-care-

network/2012/dec/18/learn

ing-disabilities-tips-family-

christmas

For most families,

Christmas is a time of

celebration and fun. The

odd bah-humbug moment

aside, most of us would

probably admit to enjoying

the sheer indulgence of it

all. If, however, a member

of your family has autism

and/or a learning disability,

it may be a different story.

Kerrylee Doxsey has three

sons. Her middle son,

George, has cerebral palsy,

autism, epilepsy and severe

learning disabilities.

George hates any change

in his routine, and

Christmas is a nightmare

for the family.

"The build-up to Christmas

is intolerable for George,"

says Kerrylee. "The lights,

the crowds, the queues in

shops. It all makes him

extremely anxious. If

anyone pops round with a

gift, George will drop to

the floor and start head-

banging. Even phone calls

wishing us a happy

Christmas will set him off.

"We are no longer invited

to family gatherings

because of his behaviour.

We'd love to have a

'normal' Christmas for the

other boys, but instead it

has to be like every other

day or George can't cope."

Kerrylee's experience will

be recognised by many

other families caring for

someone with autism and

other forms of learning

disability. Christmas can

be an extremely stressful

time for parents who have

to balance the whole

family's needs.

Netbuddy has collected the

following tips and advice

for surviving the festive

season from families of

people with learning

disabilities:

Sensory overload

The disruption to the

normal routine, unfamiliar

sights and smells, crowds,

lights, the house full of

noise and people –

December 1, 2016 The Kamloops Self-Advocate

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Christmas viewed from the

eyes of someone with

autism or learning

disabilities takes on a

totally different

perspective.

Try and look at the world

from your child's angle.

Schedule in daily activities

to give them your

undivided attention, even if

it's only for 10 minutes.

Give them some

Christmas-free time every

day.

Create a Christmas-free

zone in your home where

your child can feel safe. If

they really can't cope with

any changes in the house,

encourage your other

children to decorate their

own bedrooms.

Many people with autism

find the strong smells

associated with Christmas

difficult to handle. Try

introducing new smells

gradually. Add cinnamon

to your child's playdough,

for example. Ask visitors

to hold off on the perfume

when they come to visit.

Presents

Choosing a gift for a

family member who has

learning disabilities can be

a struggle. Finding a

present that is age-

appropriate but also

suitable for someone's

ability and development, is

never easy.

"People often give Sam

presents he can't play with

or that he'll just break,"

says one parent. "It is so

difficult explaining to

relatives why something

they've bought isn't

suitable."

Many people with autism

and/or learning disabilities

get a particular comfort

from familiarity.

Unwrapping presents and

opening new things can

create anxiety and

confusion. The expectation

to open one present after

another on Christmas Day

is often overwhelming.

A good solution could be

to ask friends and family to

donate towards a single

present. That way, you can

choose something suitable,

which will get used, and

your child won't be

overloaded with gifts.

Also, try wrapping up

some favourite toys. It can

be very reassuring to

unwrap something

familiar. Netbuddy has

created a Christmas gift

guide of suitable presents

for people with learning

disabilities, which have all

been road-tested by

families.

Siblings Balancing the needs of

people with learning

disabilities and their

siblings can be really

difficult at Christmas.

"Sarah finds it so hard to

be happy and jolly with all

her friends, then come

home to a house where

Christmas is essentially

cancelled," says one

parent. "I feel like I'm

taking away part of her

childhood."

Try and make time for

Christmas activities with

siblings, even if it's just for

an hour or so a day. Try

taking turns with your

partner to do things

individually with them.

Don't be afraid to ask for

help. Friends and family

may not know how to

support you unless you tell

them. Enlist their help to

look after your child with

additional needs, while you

focus on Christmas

activities like school plays,

visits to Santa's grotto or

carol singing with your

other children.

The Big Day Many parents of children

and adults with learning

disabilities worry about

how relatives will react to

their behaviour. Talking to

them in advance about

your child's specific needs

will really help. Ask for

their support and let them

know this will make the

December 1, 2016 The Kamloops Self-Advocate

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whole experience better for

everyone.

If Christmas Day is at

another family member's

home, make sure there will

be a calm room or space

where your child can go if

it all gets too much. Pack a

backpack with their

favourite things, which

they will find comforting if

they get over-stimulated.

If you are hosting, try not

to overstretch yourself.

Your child will pick up on

your stress levels, so keep

your plans simple.

Give your child jobs, such

as taking coats and

offering nibbles round.

Giving them something to

do will reduce the stress of

having people in the house.

Try giving them an

itinerary in advance so

they know what will be

happening throughout the

day and they understand,

for example, that people

stand around and chat a lot.

Emma Sterland is the

website manager of

www.netbuddy.org.uk, a

practical tip-swapping site

and online community for

parents, carers and

learning disability

professionals

Awareness days

December 3: United

Nations International Day

of Disabled Persons;

International

December 5: International

Volunteer Day;

International

December 6: National Day

of Remembrance and

Action on Violence

Against Women

December 10: Human

Rights Day; International

Christmas Trees

Woodward Christmas

Trees is open daily

beginning November 26th

to December 23rd, 2016

On weekends we offer Hay

Rides that take you to the

trees and bring you and

your tree back again. (We

have saws) Enjoy the

concession and a Bon Fire

to follow. We will also be

re-opening our winery -

Privato Vineyard and

Winery for the Christmas

season. The tasting room

will be open daily as well

until 4 pm. Come and taste

what we are so proud to

offer to Kamloops,

purchase your Christmas

wine for the holiday season

and or as gifts for that hard

to buy for person right here

at Privato Vineyard and

Winery.

We also have tree lots at

the two Safeway Stores

where we bring freshly cut

trees from the farm daily.

Safeway is open daily

beginning December 2nd

from 10 until 6 pm except

Sunday when we are open

11-5.

For you early birds!!! You

are welcome to come prior

to November 26th just call

ahead to ensure someone is

here!!!

Info from:

https://www.facebook.com

/Woodwardchristmastrees/

Christmas Bargain

Ideas

Ladies Auxiliary Gift Shop

The Ladies Auxiliary is a

group of ladies who are

dedicated to the success of

December 1, 2016 The Kamloops Self-Advocate

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the Seniors Community

Centre and willingly

donate their time and

energy to provide those

unique gifts that make their

shop so successful.

The Ladies Auxiliary gift

shop is located in the lobby

of Desert Gardens

Community Centre. We

have a wonderful selection

of items from knitted

scarves, homemade quilts,

hat and scarf sets. We

have items for all

occasions from Christmas,

Halloween, Easter, and any

other holiday. Many items

are made by the talented

volunteers and the prices

are well within everyone’s

means.

Gift shop hours are

Monday to Friday 10:00

a.m. To 1:30 p.m. So come

on down and take a little

peek at everything.

All ladies are welcome to

join our Auxiliary and

experience the warm

generous spirit of our

group.

Please call Desert Gardens

for more information at

250-372-5110.

(Proceeds from sales are

donated to Desert Gardens

Seniors Community

Centre)

Info from:

http://desertgardens.ca/ladi

es-auxiliary-gift-shop/

Coming Soon –

Recognition Page

Do you know someone

who deserves to be

recognized for what they

are doing to raise

awareness and create a

positive community for

all? It could be a support

worker, family member, or

an individual with a

diverse ability who is:

- supporting others to

achieve their goals

- promoting the

abilities of others

- breaking down

barriers and raising

awareness about

- encouraging

advocacy and/or

inclusion

- willing to go above

and beyond the call

of duty

The Kamloops Self-

Advocate would like to

showcase all of the good

work that people do every

day to help people

overcome barriers and be

successful.

Please submit your stories

and let people know about

this new recognition page

so they can either talk

about a self-advocate or a

support person. You can

send your story to

thekamloopsselfadvocate@

yahoo.com

Moving into a

Homeshare Part 2

By Ben

In October, I moved into

my new home. It took

some time to get used to

the new place and my new

bus route. It has only been

a couple of months, but

now I am feeling settled.

My home share experience

came to life in front of my

very eyes. I feel right at

home. I have a new and

different routine. I have

been exercising lots and

working at getting fit.

It is exciting to be your

own boss. This has been a

really fun experience. The

best thing about it is that

you get to connect with

different people outside of

your regular family. You

get to know how they live

and get to decide how you

want to live.

Sometimes I miss being

with my family, including

my dog, but I’m getting

used to it and I still go for

visits. I would definitely

recommend homeshare to

others.

Events

Dec 7th

- Book snowman

adults craft night@ North

Kamloops library- 7-

8:30pm, must register.

December 1, 2016 The Kamloops Self-Advocate

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Community Living BC (CLBC) is a provincial crown

agency, mandated under the Community Living Authority

Act, that funds supports and services through service

agencies for adults with developmental disabilities and their

families in British Columbia. CLBC is working to create

communities where people with developmental disabilities

have more choices about how they live, work and contribute.

#45 – 450 Lansdowne Street,

Kamloops, B.C. V2C 1Y3

Telephone: 250-377-4444

Toll Free: 1-877-377-4433

Place your ad here – contact us for rate

information:

thekamloopsselfadvocate@yahoo.com

This newsletter is brought to you by the amazing and ongoing support of our great advertisers!

Dec 10th

– 11th

Christmas

with the Kamloops

Symphony Orchestra @

Sagebrush Theatre

Dec 15th

- CPR Holiday

Train at 5pm.

Dec 16 – 18th

, Santa's

Alpine Visit &

Spectacular Holiday Kick

Off @ Sun Peaks Resort

Dec 24th

- Breakfast with

Santa @ Sun Peaks Resort

Dec 31st - New Year's Eve

Celebrations @ Sun Peaks

Resort

Dec 9th

– Jan 2nd

,

Wildlights @ BC Wildlife

Park