All Posts – Page 25 – The Big Sky Centre for Learning and Being Astonished Inc.

Teaching About Technology

January 15, 2015/0 Comments/in News

December 3rd is the United Nations International Day of Persons with DisAbilities. This year the theme is Workplace Accommodation, Assistive Technology, and Accessible Transport.

A! Student Researcher Kelsey Culbert and University of Regina Kinesiology students; Alicia Gurr, Andi Taylor, and Katherine Michaluk have been teaming together to educate themselves and others about assistive technology and accessible transport.

In November they presented their information to students at Riffel High School and Campbell Collegiate. Kelsey shared her stories about how she uses technology. For example she uses Dragon Dictate to compose messages and presentations, and has adapted her cell phone to function as a remote control for her television. It was a great way to inspire others about creative uses of assistive technology, to learn how students are currently using technology, and to identify technology they would like to see developed.

Kelsey wants to develop a phone app for Paratransit users:

I would make a Paratransit App to make it more convenient for someone to book a bus, to be able to find out where their bus is, and to add information and comments to their own client files.

Thanks Kelsey, Alicia, Andi, and Katherine for your great work!

2014 A! Holiday Feast

January 15, 2015/0 Comments/in News

Fifty pounds of potatoes, perogies, cabbage rolls, turkey, ham, salads, carrots, peas, punch, hot chocloate, and beautiful short bread cookies. Yumm! We had such a wonderful time at the Astonished! Holiday Feast. Core Members, volunteers, family, friends, and staff had a great start to the holiday season. Thank you to the Board of Connectors and the Astonished! Leadership Team for preparing the food for this great party. We send our holiday greetings to everyone.

Loving the Mailbox

January 7, 2015/0 Comments/in Grow Gratitude

We love going to the mail box (both our postal box at the University of Regina and our inbox on the computer). We are receiving Grow Gratitude messages and donations from our wonderful community. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

We want to brighten your day by sharing some of these gratitude messages with you.

I am grateful for…..

” The people who come into my life every day. I am learning a new way of being and living.“

– Liz Miller

“My health and the bright sun on a cold but windlessday like today.”

– James McNinch

“Friends, I appreciate their help.”

– Irene Jones

“This opportunity to contribute to the ongoing excitement and success of all that is Astonishing!”

– Barbara Mader

“This chance to work and play with good people.”

– Ruth Blaser

“Everyone who supports Astonished!, I love making my contribution. I am happy to be an Astonished! founder.” – Rebekah Lindenbach

“Having Rebekah Lindenbach in my circle of friends. I am grateful for what she teaches me.”

– Katharine Anderson

JBL Foundation

April 25, 2014/0 Comments/in Donor of the Month

Mark Leier of the J. B. L Foundation has this to say about the contribution of the J.B. L. Foundation to The Big Sky Centre for Learning and Being Astonished Inc.:

As our motto is in honour of St. Jude, we felt Being Astonished is exactly what my father Joseph wanted when he established the J.B.L. Foundation Inc. in 1991.

It is clear this is a very important cause, touching the lives of many young adults that have the desire to be included in every day communities and live fulfilling lives. We wish you the best of luck.

Ross Mcnab

November 25, 2013/0 Comments/in Donor of the Month

My reason for being a Donor is personal.

I’ve been inspired by the energy and devotion of Ruth and Brenda, and by the presence of Bekah, who rolls into Sunset United Church from time to time.

I was a human rights lawyer for the provincial government for twenty years, starting in the late eighties, before the word “inclusion” had the currency it has today. It was way back then that our Supreme Court issued its first Charter “equality” case, in which the Court said, among other things, that the accommodation of differences is the “essence of true equality”. This seems a truism now, but we should not forget how far we’ve come, nor how fragile progress can be.

Human rights often requires that we leave people alone. Just as often, it requires that we do something. Being Astonished is putting into action the recognition that we’re all enriched when we’re all included.

Our Latest News

Teaching About Technology

2014 A! Holiday Feast

Loving the Mailbox

I am grateful for…..

JBL Foundation

Ross Mcnab

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