Access 2 Entertainment is proud to announce that it now serves over 35, 000 people with disabilities across Canada, and has been in operation for 5 years.

Greater Toronto Area residents can still take advantage of the Centre for Independent Living Toronto’s (CILT) promotion for free new or renewal cards by downloading the application form on our website, or submitting their renewal forms and omitting the fee. There are over 600 free Access 2 Entertainment cards to give away, and the promotion will last as long as quantities do.

Access 2 Entertainment cardholders who have cards expiring within the next six months can renew their cards by going to the main website and downloading the renewal form: http://access2.ca . The expiry date is noted on the bottom right hand corner of the card in the format of Month/Day/Year.

Thank you to all our cardholders and venues who provide us with feedback about the card and the program. We strive to provide you with the best service possible, and love to hear how the Access 2 Entertainment card is working for you.

Contact us at:

Access 2 Entertainment
c/o Easter Seals
40 Holly Suite, Suite 401
Toronto, ON
M4S 3C3

Phone: 416-932-8382 ext. 227

Saturday Speech Therapy, Drama & Social Skills Club for Individuals with Down syndrome

We’d love to have your child join in on a fun & exciting Speech-Language Therapy program. Each child is seen individually for Speech Therapy while the remainder of the group is busy dancing, singing, acting out stories, cooking, playing co-operative games, doing crafts, dressing up, practicing a show that they will present to their families…

All activities focus on communication & socialization

Highlights
•10 sessions; 2 hour program
•School Age 1 (8-11 year olds)
Time: 9:00-11:00

• School Age 2 (7-8 year olds)
Time: 11:00-1:00

•Teen/Tween Group (12+ years)
Time: 1:30-3:30

•Preschool Group (4-6 year olds)
Time: 3:30-5:30

•goals may include articulation, speech rate, expressive & receptive language, asking for clarification, topic maintenance, initiating conversation…
•theme-based programming
•located at 30 Birch Avenue (Community Living building)
•ratio of 1 staff to 2 clients
•focus on communication and social interaction skills

Registration
•$645 if registered by March 24; $685 thereafter
•fee may be covered by private insurance or Special Services at Home
•contact Tina Gasee, Speech-Language Pathologist, for more information or to put your name on a contact list to be notified about future programs

(905) 326-9616
tgasee@hotmail.com

Tina Gasee
M.H.Sc., Reg. CASLPO
Speech-Language Pathologist
tgasee@hotmail.com
(905) 326-9616

People With Disabilities Deserve Jobs: Official
Posted By Kelly McShane, Special to the Packet and Times
Posted Mar 2, 2010

With the help of a new community support campaign, it’s going to be easier for people with disabilities to showcase their talent as part of Ontario’s workforce.

“We want to ensure that all Ontarians have the opportunities and tools they need to reach their full potential,” said Kristen Tedesco, communications coordinator for the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Provincewide, more than 150 service providers have signed on to help hundreds of people with a wide range of disabilities find jobs.

The campaign aims to create employment opportunities for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) clients, while working to change attitudes toward the value of disabled community members in the workplace, both from the perspective of potential employers as well as from disabled people themselves.

“The campaign is two-fold: it helps employers identify talent and create a more inclusive workplace, while at the same time helping people with disabilities discover and apply their skills in the workforce,” Tedesco said.

Through the campaign, employers and potential employees can connect with employment support agencies that offer a range of employment services, including job matching and help with training and retention.

The majority of these services are free of charge.

People who leave the ODSP for paid work may be eligible for a $500 Employment Transition Benefit, as well as automatically receiving a $100 work-related benefit to help with costs, such as transportation or clothing.

“We also increased the maximum deduction for informal child-care costs from $390 to $600 per month per child to provide another child-care option for working parents,” she said.

In addition to these measures, in April 2009, the ministry exempted as income and assets the earnings of social assistance recipients attending full-time post-secondary education.

“We simplified rules around earnings exemptions, so for people on ODSP, the more you work, the more money you keep,” Tedesco said.

For more information on the campaign, visit www.mcss.gov.on.ca/talent

A unique event is coming up at the National Film Board Mediatheque – we are celebrating the launch of
Tying Your Own Shoes, an animated documentary that offers an intimate glimpse into the exceptional mindsets and emotional lives of four adult artists with Down syndrome. The event includes a screening of the film, as well as a workshop opportunity with the film’s workshops facilitators and the artists. The workshops are held on Sun March 14 and March 21 at 10AM.

The event is free but there is limited space – please call to reserve a spot at 416-973-3012.