The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities (BCCPD) is having a peer support group for people living with a disability.

What is “peer support”?

An opportunity for people to exchange ideas and experiences in a confidential, respectful environment with trained facilitators.

The group will explore many topics, such as:

– Daily living and coping in a changed world
– Relationships with friends, family and others
– Navigating medical systems
– Personal wellness and finding joy
– Exploring and sharing ideas about ‘what’s next’

Group size limited to 15 people. Group members can participate as much as they feel comfortable. Bus tickets and snacks provided.

Dates:           May 15, May 22, May 29, June 5, June 12 & June 19
Time:            1pm to 3pm
Location:     BCCPD office, 204-456 West Broadway, Vancouver
To Register: Contact Nicole at 604-875-0188 or nicole@bccpd.bc.ca

Have you ever wondered about the people who seem to be naturally successful in life? They appear confident and competent and once they set a direction or a goal, they sail along with apparent ease until they “arrive” at success. When I was much younger I believed that life could be that simple. As I was growing up I believed the prevailing myth that life was “fair” and that success was earned by “playing by the rules” and hard work. I soon discovered that life was not always fair and hard work was not always enough to achieve my goals.

Read the rest of “A Cup Half Full” by BCCPD’s Shelley Hourston in The Positive Side (pages 4-5), the Positive Women’s Network’s quarterly magazine. Link: http://pwn.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/2012-AprMayJun-for-web.pdf

Time sensitive! Register by Thursday, April 12, 2012

The Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation (CWGHR) (www.hivandrehab.ca) has received funding to grant access to the Managing Episodic Disabilities: Accommodation Best Practices course to a maximum of 30 HR professionals in small/medium sized businesses free of charge ($349 value) over a 6 week period, beginning April 16th, 2012.

Participants in this 6 week course must work for a small/medium sized business. Continuing education credits will be available upon completion of the entire course for selected HR associations across Canada .

Participants in this program will be asked to post to an online forum on episodic disabilities in the workplace for HR professionals weekly during the 6 weeks of course access. Course access is available in both English and French.

For additional information see: http://tinyurl.com/7uy8mxm (overview available in English only) or contact Melissa Popiel at mpopiel@hivandrehab.ca.

For those interested in participating, a statement of interest (maximum one page) can be sent to mpopiel@hivandrehab.ca by email by Thursday April 12th, 2012.