Today@Dal

On Monday, Pam Williams, manager of Dal's International Centre, will be having a slightly different work day than usual.

She's one of 15 Nova Scotian leaders who will spend their normal working day in a wheelchair, to raise awareness and funds for the Canadian Paraplegic Association in its "Chair-Leaders" campaign.

Not only will she spend her day at Dal in a wheelchair, but she'll be competing in a noontime obstacle course/race on the Grand Parade in downtown Halifax. All are welcome to come out and watch!

Here's Pam's letter about her participation in the campaign:

Friends and colleagues,

Recently I was asked to participate in the Chair-Leaders event on September 17th, on behalf of the Canadian Paraplegic Association. The event is to raise awareness of the many challenges faced by persons living their day-to-day life with the aid of a wheelchair. Personally I’ve learned that disabilities have no bounds. I dedicate my day, as Chair-Leader, to my father Paul, my cousin Garry and others who are wheelchair dependent.

My personal goal is to gain insight into the barriers faced by persons with mobility disabilities by spending the day in a wheelchair and to raise funds to contribute to the programs provided by so many dedicated members of the Canadian Paraplegic Association. In addition to Rehabilitation Counselling, Community Advocacy, Peer Counselling, the CPA also provides vocational and employment services to those individuals impacted with a forced change in career – employers are also encouraged to utilize this service to evaluate work-site accessibility.

Did you know that Nova Scotia has the highest percentage of persons living with a disability in the country? Nova Scotians with disabilities experience poverty at double the rate of people without disabilities. Sadly, disability and poverty are closely linked and those with a disability are less likely to be employed in the Nova Scotia labour market. Approximately 75% of people served by CPA (NS) live in poverty.

Each Chair-Leader has been challenged to raise $2,000. Please help me reach my goal by visiting http://www.thespine.ca/ to make a donation. Just click on the big red dot that says Make a Donation! While on that page you can also click on the Chair-Leader logo to visit the Facebook page or go to www.facebook.com/ChairleadersCPA. Be sure to donate and ‘like’ before 3pm on September 17th so together we can make it happen!

But that’s not all! At 12:30pm on the day of the event, you are encouraged to come out and cheer me on as I compete against the other Chair-Leaders in the lunchtime Obstacle Course at the Halifax Parade Square. Watch me push, pull and wheel past the others in primetime, as members of the local media will be there covering the excitement. Any and all support would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your support!
Pam Williams
Manager, International Centre, Dalhousie University