Our Latest News
Check out what’s been going on in our world!
Check out what’s been going on in our world!
Remember Maslow (or perhaps this is your first encounter with him)? 40 years ago, when I took my nursing degree, we had a class in Human Psychology which taught Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. For some reason, that class stands out in my memories and over the years I frequently thought about this theory. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory of human motivation and was extended to include observations of humans’ innate curiosity.
Life can be very busy just meeting our physiological and safety needs. We need air, water, food and metabolic requirements for survival, along with clothing, shelter, personal and financial security and adequate health and well-being. But we all know there is more to life than these basics. Life is richer as we experience and offer love. Life is richer when we offer and experience belonging in our homes and in society. Maslow’s theory suggests that the hierarchies of needs are interrelated, rather than sharply separated, and human needs extend from sustenance to group membership and justice.
We will be celebrating Rebekah’s 25th birthday this summer! As we reflect on the passing of a quarter of a century, we are so grateful to the community of Astonished! Rebekah, her peers/core members, student researchers, staff, family, volunteers, and friends of Astonished! have had and continue to experience an opportunity to know love, belonging, and self-actualization . What a gift! The Big Sky Center for Learning and Being Astonished! has and continues to change all our lives, it’s quite the ‘ride’! We want to extend your HEARTFELT THANK YOU to EVERYONE who supports Astonished! in all the numerous ways. We are better together! (Joy Lindenbach for Joy, Brian, and Rebekah).
THANK YOU Joy, Brian, and Rebekah
83% of our annual budget comes from individual donations.
Joy and Brian donate monthly through our pre-authorized debit donor option.
Rebekah makes a cash donation twice a year.
To learn more about our donor options……..
You never know where your connection with Astonished! will take you. Have you ever been to a drift race? While she was a student at the University of Regina, Kaylah Zahara, Drop Dead Drift Team Manager, was introduced to Astonished! by A! Student Researcher Avery Ottenbreit.
Recently Kaylah came to us with the proposal that the Drop Dead Drift Corporation hold a fundraiser for Astonished! on Sunday, July 26, 2015.
Drop Dead Drift has two pro-am drivers who complete in the Spec-D Series in Edmonton, Alberta. They take cars around corners at close to 100 km/hr sideway! It is exhilarating to watch and to go for a ride! Drop Dead Drift Corp has numerous events at Kings Park Speedway throughout the summer. Be sure to check them out on Facebook.
Drop Dead Drift Corp will be accepting Donations for Astonished! at the gate. Donations of $15.00 and above are eligible for a tax receipt. Proceeds from the day will go to Astonished! Kings Park Speedway is about 10 km northeast of Regina, on Inland Drive, just north of the Tor Hill and Murray Golf Courses (click link for map). Gates open at 11 am. The day ends when the drivers run out of tires!!! Gate Fee: $10.00/person 10 and under free!
If this seems like an event you want to experience come join us.
Photo by Tony Koch
Mosaic weekend (July 4 -6) is upon us! The Astonished Social Club was so pleased to take in the Kyiv Ukrainian Pavilion at the dress rehearsal for Mosaic on Wednesday, June 3rd. Going to the Ukrainian Pavilion was the idea of Leadership Team member Kaitlyn Hoar, who attends this dress rehearsal every year, and it was a pleasure to see how popular Kaitlyn and her family are in the Ukrainian community. Thanks to Kaitlyn, we all felt like a bunch of VIPs! Although it was a dress rehearsal, it felt like the real deal: the dancers just as talented, the crowd just as enthusiastic, and the food just as delicious. A round of vareneky (perogies) for everyone, please! Big thanks to all involved for their hospitality and for sharing their bright and vibrant culture with us. We were thrilled to be a part of it.
“I believe that Universities should not reflect the society we live in. They should reflect the society we WANT to live in.” This is how Dr. Vianne Timmons began her address to the community gathered at the University of Regina (U of R) on June 2, 2015 to celebrate the signing of a five year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U of R and Astonished! Inc.
It was wonderful to share this significant occasion with U of R faculty, administrators, and staff; Astonished! Core Members, Board Members, staff, and the wider community.
The MOU, which will carry us to April 30, 2020 states that the U of R and Astonished! Inc. are committed to exploring a number of areas of common interest and benefit, and will use their best efforts to encourage contact and co-operation in these areas (MOU). This is our third MOU with the University of Regina.
Speaking on behalf of Astonished!, Ruth Blaser, former Board Chair said “We are delighted to be celebrating this partnership between Astonished! and the U of R. Any sturdy partnership creates mutual benefits as well as challenges. Here are some early benefits and differences we are beginning to witness:
Astonished! Core-Members have more opportunities to make choices about being involved in meaningful and inclusive activities related to education, employment and self discovery.
The A! TLC, Social Club and Jake Sawa Dance Project are contributing to improved physical and mental health of Astonished! Core Members and U of R Student Volunteers.
We are seeing increased self-determination and social skills and more confidence among and between Core Members and U of R Student Volunteers.
Currently there are two (2) Applied Research projects which are contributing to the body of knowledge related to social inclusion.We are seeing more capacity among University of Regina Student Volunteers and Faculty in working and interacting in meaningful ways, both personally and professionally, with Core Members.
This partnership between the University of Regina and Astonished! Inc. reflects the society we WANT to live in. To read more…..
Photo credit: Trevor Hopkin, U of R
I am a Student Researcher in the Astonished! Teaching and Learning Centre (A!TLC). I graduated from Grenfell High Community School in 2011. I am the youngest in my family (except for my dog). I have two sisters and one brother. I also have one niece Zoey who I like to cheer on at baseball games. My brother Reed and his wife Renee are having a baby so I will have another niece or nephew by the end of this year!
Two and a half years ago, when I started at the Astonished! Teaching and Learning Centre (A!TLC), I was nervous because everything was new and the University of Regina is a big place. Now I am confident and comfortable with both the people and the place. I am so happy for each day that I spend at the A!TLC. It is a place where I can see my friends and a place where I can give and receive lots of support. Everyone there helps me reach for my dreams and we all have lots of fun together.
Making decisions can be hard for me, but once I know what I want I am focused and go for it. With the support of my family, friends, and Astonished! staff I take on all kinds of adventures. My sister Tanys is a professional photographer and I really like what she does. I want to become a better photographer so I do regular photography exercises as part of my work in the A!TLC. I have a special clamp that holds my iPad to my chair and I use a remote control to compose and take my photos. This helps me keep the iPad steady while I decide what I want in the photograph.
Last fall I was a mentor in the University of Regina Social Work class Issues in DisAbilities Studies. I liked mentoring the social work students in my team. Because I am developing my photography skills we photographed places in Regina that were inclusive. At the end of the course I told my mom “We aren’t focusing on disAbility, we are focusing on ability. I am helping them focus on what they can do to be good enablers in community.”
As part of the Astonished! Summer Literacy program I wanted to learn to text so I could send messages to my sister Lynice (you probably figured out my family is important to me). With the support of the Astonished! staff I really expanded my literacy skills and hope to keep doing so.
Right now I am planning a road trip to Alaska with my mom, dad, and my companion Silvia. It would be easier to fly to Alaska but the airlines won’t let me use my seat insert on the plane and I can’t travel without my seat insert. It provides the support that is necessary for my spine. My dad can make almost anything so he made a way for my seat insert to fit in the truck. We are going to drive to Alaska with our travel trailer. I have already started a blog for my trip. You can follow me at Kennen’s Dream Trip. I chose Alaska as a destination because Lynice and her husband Kris live there.
My next goal is a trip to Mexico! My companion Silvia is from Mexico and I would like to see her country. I have already met a lot of Silvia’s friends and family through Skype and Facetime, and am excited to say “Hola!” in person! There is so much to look forward to.
We work in inclusive community to address barriers facing young adults with complex physical disAbilities (core members) by creating opportunities for teaching and learning, social, recreational and cultural engagement, and for employment and housing.
The Big Sky Centre for Learning and Being Astonished Inc.
University of Regina
3737 Wascana Parkway
Regina, SK S4S 0A2
Phone:
Bonnie Cummings-Vickaryous, Executive Director, 306-737-9560
E-mail:
BCV@beingastonished.com