DALE IP autograph

Now, don't get too excited. I'm not talking Hawerchuk, Hunter or even Smedsmo.

 

 

 

 

Each year on December 3rd, the United Nations recognizes International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year’s theme is “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all.”

Over one billion people live with some form of disability and often face barriers to full participation in society. Barriers can take many forms, including physical, or those resulting from legislation or policy, or from societal attitudes or discrimination. The result is that persons with disabilities do not have equal access to society or services

Today at my workplace we had an event called DALE. (Disability Awareness Learning Expo). There were booths with information on guide dogs and several disabilities. (blindness, hearing ,mental health). The guest speaker was Tyler Miller, a member of Canada's gold medal winning wheelchair basketball team at the 2012 Paralympics. He told of his journey from being an able bodied kid who loved sports to where he is today. His message was one we've heard before. Focus on what you can do, not what you can't. Hearing it from him seems a lot different than reading or hearing it. Afterwards, he was at a booth wearing his gold medal and signing autographs.

He had a stack of these Super Athlete postcards with the Canadian Paralympic Committee logo to sign.

 

Also a postcard of the Canadian Paralympic team and roster on the back.

 

 

I had heard on Friday that Tyler was going to be the guest speaker. I made a couple of CIC's for him to sign. He was quite surprised to see these. Very informative day and autographs from not a mainstream sport.

Listening to what he went through makes me glad I didn't have to go through it. I don't know how I would react. I don't think anyone would. Something to think about.