1. From the Executive Director

2. ABLE Talk

3. How much sleep?

4. Desk Job Dangers

5. Mental Health

6. Recipe

7. Crossword Puzzle

8. ALSO Pet Profile

9. Jewellery & All that Jazz

10. Compassion Care Community Weeks

11. Save the Date - Christmas Party

12. Consumer Profile

13. Contact Us

ISSUE 7 OCT/NOV 2017

that the team had to overcome in the

transition from the West End of

Windsor. The LaSalle area has a

very low vacancy rate and finding an

appropriate office was not an easy

one. Many hours were spent

searching for vacant properties

independently and with a

professional from the area. After

several months of searching, the

perfect location was found.

Now that the team has started to

settle into the space, we can see that

this neighbourhood is going to

continue to do great work within their

community. The team of attendants

in LaSalle has already brought on

two new consumers and is

continually focusing on the positive

changes. Congratulations to the

LaSalle Neighbourhood of Care

team for being our newest site and

for working as a caring team.

- Lynn Calder Executive Director

In the June/July newsletter I wrote

about our Neighbourhoods of Care

model being looked at throughout

the province. The success of the

model is evident not only at the

provincial level, but right here in our

own ‘neighbourhood’. On

September 1st, we opened our

newest office and “Neighbourhood

of Care”.

Josilin Allan and her team at

Westgate Neighbourhood of Care

worked diligently to ensure a

seamless transition from one large

neighbourhood of care to two

neighbourhoods. The LaSalle

Neighbourhood is located at 1935

Normandy in the heart of LaSalle.

The location provides convenience

to the staff to have quick response

times to consumers in that area.

Although the transition was very smooth, there were a few struggles

Suzy and daughter Kali, and Monique who volunteered Joslin Allan and her grandmother attended and found great treasures at at the Jewellery and All that Jazz Fundraiser. the Jewellery and all that Jazz event.

Tecumseh Shoreline – Lakeshore News – LaSalle Post

Tilbury Times – Kingsville Reporter – Windsor Parent

In August POSTMEDIA who publish the Tecumseh

Shoreline, Lakeshore News, LaSalle Post, Tilbury

Times, Kingsville Reporter & Windsor Parent

partnered with ALSO to help increase awareness

about accessibility in our community. Here is a

copy of the first article. ABLE Talk

Interacting with People with Disabilities

Some people are uncomfortable talking with people

with disabilities. Why is that? I decided to ask my friend Chris Lemieux who was born with a form of Muscular Dystrophy called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. He actively provides education in our community about employing people with disabilities. In his opinion, everyday people are often just afraid of the unknown. “It isn’t that they are being rude, it’s just that they are uneducated or lack experience when talking to people with disabilities”, he explained. Chris also indicated that another reason that some people are uncomfortable around people with disabilities is that they're afraid that they will ‘say the wrong words.’ In his experience, most people with disabilities are not bothered by wrong wording and when asked, they like to help you learn about the proper terminology. What's important is that you respect the person and see them beyond their disability. Chris and I talked a lot about having a disability and what it means meeting new people in the community. In our conversation we discussed assumptions, assisting people and talking to people with a disability. Our advice is simple and fairly concurrent with meeting people with or without disabilities. Don't make assumptions about people or their abilities. Don't assume you know what someone needs, how they feel, or what is best for them. If you have a question about what to do, how to do it, what language and terminology to use, or what assistance to offer, just ask the person. That person should be your first and best resource.

Just because one person with a disability prefers something one way doesn't mean that another person with the same disability also prefers it that way. Ask before you help. Before you help someone, ask if they would like help. In some cases, a person with a disability might seem to be struggling, but they are fine and would prefer to complete the task on their own. Follow the person's cues and ask if you are not sure what to do. Don't be offended if someone declines your offer of assistance. Speak normally. Some people have a tendency to talk louder and slower to people with disabilities. Don't assume that because a person has one disability, that they do not understand or are hard of hearing. For example, a person with cerebral palsy might use a wheelchair, have uncontrolled upper body movements, have difficulty speaking, and yet have very good hearing, cognitive abilities, and intelligence. When I am out and about with my friend JP, who has cerebral palsy, I notice this regularly. Many individuals will talk to me instead of to him. I try to take this opportunity to introduce them to my friend and educate them on his abilities. Some other helpful advice is to avoid potentially offensive terms or euphemisms. Commonly accepted terminology includes "people with disabilities" and "a person with a visual/hearing/physical/speech/cognitive impairment." Many people find the following words and phrases annoying or offensive: restricted to a wheelchair, victim of, suffers from, crippled, and euphemisms such as physically challenged. If you are unsure of what to say, ask the person with a disability that you are referring to what terminology they prefer. “Remember what makes our community so great is the people that live here, don’t be afraid to talk to anyone after all we are known as the friendly Canadians for a reason,” added Chris. Laura Kay is the Project and Change Manager at Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario ALSO and can be reached at 519-969-8188 Ext. 249 or laurakay@alsogroup.org.

ABLE TALK in conjunction with POSTMEDIA

HOW MUCH SLEEP IS ENOUGH

Article provided by Windsor Essex County Health

Unit. More information is available at

https://www.wechu.org/sites/default/files/workplace

%20wellness/sleep%20tight/gen_sleep_mag_final.pdf

Desk Job Danger No. 1: Lower Back Pain - Whether

it’s an occasional twinge or an ongoing ache, back pain

can keep you from performing at your best. Sitting

chained to your desk for hours at a time can lead to

lower back pain, the most common work-related back

problem. So what exactly is going on back there?

Slumping back in your desk chair or slouching forward

means your spine is out of alignment. That puts a strain

on the ligaments and muscles in your back.

Desk Job Danger No. 2: Wrist Strain - Spending your

days pounding away at your keyboard responding to

emails or writing reports can cause injuries that can

become a serious health issue. A combination of

overuse and how you’re positioning your wrists at your

keyboard are to blame. Poor posture also plays a role in

wrist pain. Having your shoulders hunched forward

decreases the blood flow downstream, including to your

hands, causing soreness.

Desk Job Danger No. 3: Neck and Shoulder Pain -

You never realize just how much you move your neck

and shoulders until they’re injured—and then you feel

every single shift and twist. These aches and pains may

come from placing your keyboard or computer monitor

too far away on your desk, causing you to jut your neck

and shoulders forward, throwing them out of alignment

with the spine and straining the muscles and soft tissue.

Desk Job Danger No. 4: Eye Strain - Staring at your

computer for hours at a time can cause eye fatigue, as

can having a computer monitor that’s too far away

(making your eyes strain to read the small print) or too

close (making your eyes work harder to focus). People

also tend to blink less often while staring at their

computer, which leads to dry eyes and fatigue.

DESK JOB DANGERS YOU CAN PREVENT

How to Relieve Tension: To tame muscle tension when it

crops up, rock your pelvis back and forth while seated in your

desk chair, tilting your hips up and rounding your back, and

then tilting your hips back. Also, make sure your feet are

resting flat on the floor, with your thighs parallel to the ground.

Breaking a sweat can also help. Abdominal exercises, such as

crunches, two to three times a week can strengthen your core.

That takes pressure off your back and makes it easier to

maintain good posture.

How to Relieve Tension: Perform a prayer stretch, also

known as a Buddha stretch: Place your fingers and palms

together with your hands in front of your chest, fingers pointing

upward. While keeping your palms together and your elbows

moving out, lower your hands until you feel a good stretch in

your wrists. Hold for five seconds. When you’re using the

keyboard or mouse, hold your wrists naturally so they’re

floating horizontally in the air—not perched higher than your

hands or resting on your desk.

How to Relieve Tension: To release a tight neck, try a chin

tuck exercise, also known as neck retraction. While standing

or sitting upright, keep your spine straight and push your head

forward, jutting your chin out as far as possible. Slowly reverse

the movement by pulling your head back as far as possible, as

if recoiling away from someone. Your head should stay level

throughout the stretch, which you’ll feel at the base of your

neck. Repeat up to four times.

How to Relieve Tension: Every 20 to 30 minutes, look at

something off in the distance, such as a window across the

length of the office, for 20 seconds to give your eyes a break.

Better yet, get up and chat with a coworker in another area of

the office or run to the supply closet to grab a new pen—

anything to give your eyes a break from the computer.

We go to work hoping our days spent at the office will challenge us

professionally, but in reality, living the 9-to-5 desk jockey life can be demanding on

the health and wellness front, too. Sitting hunched over a computer, typing furiously

and staring at screens all day, can also wreak havoc on the body. The good news

is that, along with doing some simple stretches, making ergonomic adjustments to

your work environment can significantly reduce the daily discomfort most

employees deal with. With the following moves and expert tips, you could be on

your way to keeping the most notorious desk-job dangers at bay.

*Article adapted from https://www.fastcompany.com/3055658/5-simple-exercises-to-fix-the-damage-your-desk-job-

GETTING HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH

RECIPE: POT PIE SOUP OCT / NOV CROSSWORD

A classic and comforting dish, this hearty soup is a healthy twist on chicken pot pie that embodies the flavours of fall.

Ingredients:

- 1 tsp olive oil - 1lb chicken breast, boneless and

skinless 1 large yellow onion, diced - 3 diced carrots - 3 cloves minced garlic - 1/2 cup chopped onion - 1 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1 teaspoon ground black pepper - 1 teaspoon dried thyme - 1 teaspoon dried oregano - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt - 3 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth - 1 1/2 cup frozen peas

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large pot. Add chicken, carrots, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, thyme and oregano. Stir over medium-high heat until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender. 2. Remove chicken from pot. Shred and return to the pot. 3. Add Greek yogurt and chicken broth. Stir to combine. Cover and allow to simmer for one hour. 4. Add frozen peas. Stir to combine and re-cover the pot. Cook for an additional 30 minutes. Season to taste before serving.

Tip: Add all ingredients to a crock pot and allow to cook over low heat for 4-5 hours for a quick and simple supper!

SkateABLE MAKES SKATING ACCESSIBLE

ALSO PET PROFILE

Rosemarie Catani has worked at ALSO for more than three years and is currently at the

St. Luke site. Her family loves their three fur babies!

Meet Athena, a ten-year-

old black lab. She is a

renovation dog who has

undergone two knee surgeries.

Her eight-year-old brother,

Sammy, is a collie who is sharp

as a whip. Their seven-year-old

German shepherd rescue,

Lexie, is the baby of the family.

Rosemarie is amazed

with the way that the older ones

teach the younger members of

the pack. Consistency and hard

work pay off tenfold!

SkateABLE™ is a charitable organization that exists for the

purpose of enriching the lives of persons with physical and

developmental disabilities by offering high-quality adaptive ice

skating programs.

SkateABLE™ is a progressively structured program that is

developmentally appropriate for persons of all ages with any type of

disability, including physical. Skaters and coaches are matched up

for the season, and lesson plans are catered to each skaters’

needs and goals.

Through the use of adaptive skating equipment including

skating walkers and harnesses, persons with any form of physical

or developmental disability can participate in ice skating. We can

accommodate skaters with disabilities including cerebral palsy,

multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, Autism, Down

Syndrome, language and speech delays, hearing impaired, and

learning disabilities.

Visit http://skateable.ca/ for more information or to get involved!

“JEWELLERY AND ALL THAT JAZZ” IS A GEM OF AN EVENT

ALSO’s pasta dinner and jewellery event was a tremendous success. On October 19th at the Royal Canadian Legion #255 on Wyandotte Street East, Jewellery and all that Jazz took place.

Almost 100 attendees found their treasures at the 50 cent up to 5 dollar tables. Each participant received a door prize ticket, a pasta dinner, and the access to the bargains on the sales floor. Three board members, some of our management team, and many ALSO staff members attended the event. Kids were also seen picking through the shiny jewellery and each one found something that caught their eyes.

Approximately $3000 was raised and the organizing committee has already started plans for the 2018 event. Jewellery donations will be accepted all year long. Volunteers are in demand for the planning of next year’s event. If you are interested in volunteering for the 2018 Jewellery and All that Jazz event, please contact Laura Kay at 519-969-8188, Ext# 249.

Proceeds from events like the Jewellery and all that Jazz fundraiser help provide adaptive equipment for ALSO consumers that can not afford devices (like Medical Alert Systems), help with our Social Recreation Programs, and provide other support for services that are not covered by our provincial funding sources.

Special thanks go out to Chrysalis Day Program, Participation Industries Program, Pat Girard, Melanie Gardin, Program Site Staff of ALSO, Formally Yours Boutique, Anthis Beauty & Wellness Spa, Combined Insurance, Lynn Calder, Liz Smith, Board Members, Royal Canadian Legion #255, Snap’d Windsor, Ann Ryan, Iris House, Kim Trudell, Janet Ouellette, ALSO Student volunteers, Community Volunteers, and all our wonderful Jewellery Contributors.

Do you know someone that wants to learn new skills, enhance their resume or wants to meet new people? Have them call

Laura Kay at 519-969-8188 Ext. 249 for a list of upcoming volunteer opportunities.

CONSUMER PROFILE ~ FELISHA DOREY

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER MAILING LIST at www.alsogroup.org today!

INTERESTED IN BEING FEATURED IN THE NEWSLETTER?

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER?

DO YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION?

CONTACT: Laura Kay

519-969-8188 Ext 249 laurakay@alsogroup.org

CONTACT US

Felisha Dorey

Similar to many of her favourite book

characters, Felisha is an adventurous spirit

with a heart of gold. At just 29 years old,

Felisha takes advantage of her youth and

energy by exploring. She loves to spend

time outdoors and enjoy the warm weather

whenever possible. However, her

adventures aren’t just limited to her physical

surroundings.

Felisha loves to lose herself in a

good book, especially one filled with action

and fantasy. As a self-confessed bibliophile,

Felisha always has a novel in hand. The

Hunger Games is one of her favourites, but

she is also a huge fan of the Harry Potter

series. Both the books and movie

adaptations are favourites of Felisha’s.

Meeting Daniel Radcliffe would be her

dream come true.

Felisha loves summertime, especially

because it is when the baseball season

Felisha loves summertime, especially

because it is baseball season. As a sports fanatic,

Felisha loves to watch her favourite athletes in

action. She passionately supports the Detroit

Tigers baseball team. The dark blue featured in

their logo is even her favourite colour!

Taco Tuesdays are the best day of the

week for Felisha. She loves to eat out at Taco

Bell, but she has a sweet tooth as well. A big bowl

of Honey Nut Cheerios is Felisha’s perfect

breakfast. Hawaii would be her ideal vacation, but

Felisha isn’t a fan of Hawaiian pizza. Pepperoni,

onions and ham are her go-to toppings.

Being involved with ALSO gives Felisha the

opportunity to take part in many outings and

activities. She recalls the recent trip to St. Jacob’s

as one of the best experiences she has had.

Felisha looks forward to future outings with ALSO

and can’t wait for her next adventure!

“It matters not what someone is born,

but what they grow to be”

– Albus Dumbledore,

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire