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SPIRIT NEWSLETTER - May 1999

Chairman's Address

As the new Chairperson of K-W Access-Ability, it's my honour to send greetings to all of our readers. As most of you already know, I took over the Chair of the Board of Directors from Joyce Nieuwesteeg who stepped down to take on the position as P.H.I.R.S.T. LINK tutor. We on the Board wish her great success in her new position.

As for myself, I have worked and volunteered for the agency for the past five years. The last three years, I have been a member of the Board of Directors. It has been a great experience working with such dedicated people and I'm sure it will continue to be in the future.

We have a few new members on our board who have brought a new energy to the agency. I'm sure we will be seeing the effect of their abundance of energy on all of us soon. And as spring approaches, we will have some special events coming up that we can all look forward to.

Speaking of new energy, I would like to welcome our new Resource Information Person to the agency. And guess what! Her name is also Joyce! So if you are in the office and call for Joyce to help you, don't be surprised if two people come running. I'm sure they will work it out.

It looks like the warm weather of spring is really here, so shake off those winter blaaas and start getting revvvved up for the spring/summer activities. There is no harm in getting a head start. I'm sure there will be plenty of chances to get some good volunteer experience in and Chris would be happy for any interested people to let him know.

I must leave space for the really interesting stuff. So until next time, this is your chairman signing off.

Randy Barrett

Executive Director's Address

January 15, 1999 has come and gone! This was Kathryn Cowan's last day working at the agency. I knew in my head that it wasn't true, but felt in my heart like our world would end that day.

Both my head and my heart were right. There will never be another Kathryn, and it is certainly different here, now that she has left, but we carry on.

Joyce Baker began working here as Resource Administration Person (R.A.P) on January 22. Joyce is a wonderful addition to our staff, as those of you who have met her will attest. She brings a wealth of experience and new eyes with which to see our agency. Our new office layout, which many have commented positively on, was Joyce's idea.

One additional factor which adds excitement to our day to day lives here, is the fact that we have two Joyces now working in the office; Joyce Nieuwesteeg, P.H.I.R.S.T. LINK, and Joyce Baker, R.A.P. We are still working out the best system for dealing with this situation, but I can say that it has lead so far to a few humorous situations.

Numerous members have commented to me concerning the news about what is going to happen to Waterloo Town Square. It appears that there will in fact be major changes which will impact the agency. The Board will certainly be watching the situation very carefully and we will keep you informed as events unfold. We are planning a special night of entertainment for our upcoming Annual General Meeting this year so I would encourage you to mark June 9th on your calendar, as we think it will be a rather exciting evening. We were planning for members to be a part of the entertainment but collectively have decided to save this for the Summer Variety Show. Instead we will have the TheatreSports group performing for us. I guarantee you an exciting evening.

As we approach the new millennium, there are many past accomplishments to celebrate, and much change still to come in the future. We would like to hear your thoughts and comments on the future. I invite you to call, write, E-mail or come and in talk. We know what we see as the issues of the future, but we would like to know about your concerns.

We will also be hosting on Wednesday June 2nd, during Access Awareness Week, "The Millennium and Beyond" an opportunity to speak to employment and educational service providers, to give you a chance to hear what the concerns of others are about the future. For more information on this please contact Joyce Baker at the office.

Also in conjunction with Access Awareness Week, we will again be hosting with the Ontario March of Dimes, our annual Wheelchair Clinic, Monday May 31, 1999, 9:30 A.M - 5 P.M. For further information or to book an appointment, contact Joyce Baker at the office.

Chris Hodnett

Message from your new Resource Administration Person

As most of you are aware, Kathryn has departed to enjoy her well-deserved retirement. As new RAP, I am hoping that I continue to offer you the same dedication and reliability that Kathryn gave during her eleven years at K-W Access-Ability.

First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kathryn personally for coming in on her own time to help me familiarize myself with the duties of R.A.P. Best wishes to you, Kathryn, you will be missed by everyone you have worked with and whose lives you have touched.

Since I will be producing the newsletter, its only fair to let you know about who I am. About six years ago, I decided that I wanted more out of life, so I went back to school to take an Adult Business Co-op course. Upon completion, I volunteered at the Canadian Hearing Society. I eventually enrolled in the Barrier Free Program that led me to take computer courses here at K-W Access-Ability. To make a long story short, I was offered a position at Barrier Free Communication to Employment, a program offered by C.H.S. And now, I am pleased to say that I am now part of the team here at K-W Access-Ability.

To be honest, I was anxious about starting here but gradually things are starting to fall into place. Since my arrival, I have had the pleasure of meeting a number of the members and board of directors and was overwhelmed by the warm welcome I received! There are so many names to remember! If I have forgotten your name, please remind me. For those of you whom I haven't met yet, take a moment just to drop by and say hello. I'm friendly, honest!

I am looking forward to working with everyone here at K-W Access-Ability. Everyone has been so helpful that my transition from C.H.S. has been flawless. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to make me feel so welcome! Your efforts are appreciated!

Joyce Baker

Who's News

Congratulations to K-W Access-Ability Board Member Frank Rovers of Waterloo's Conestoga-Rovers & Associates (CRA). Frank received an engineering medal for management from Professional Engineers Ontario.

A choir is being formed for blind teenagers. Others are welcome to apply as age is no limit. All you need is a desire to have fun! Music teachers will be provided by Wilfrid Laurier University. It will be a pop group singing songs from the 50's, 60's and 70's. Concerts are planned for Spring and in December. For further information, please contact Alexander Romero at 742-8636 or by E-mail at aromero@kwa.on.ca

KITCHENER PARKS AND RECREATION 1999 ONTARIO GAMESKitchener-WaterlooJuly 15 - 18, 1999Track and field, Boccia,Powerlifting and Golf.For more information contact741-2229 (voice)741-2385 (TDD/TTY)GOLFING WORKSHOPSIndividuals 15+ yearsWednesday, May 19th1-3:30pmDoon Valley Golf CourseCost: $7 workshopFor more information, call741-2225 (voice)741-2385 (TDD/TTY)CONESTOGA SAILING CLUBwill be offeringIntroductory sailing workshops. Ongoing lessons are also available. Workshops Dates: July 10, July 24 or August 21Cost: $30 per sailor(fee assistance and alternate payment plans are available)The club is open to arranging specific days and times for groups.For further information, call741-2225 (voice)

P.H.I.R.S.T. Tutor

As most of you know, I resigned as Chairperson of K-W Access-Ability a few months ago so that I could take on the new role of P.H.I.R.S.T. LINK Tutor. I sat on the Board of Directors for eight years, the last four of which I was Chairperson. As Chairperson, I was always asked to write something for the newsletter. Who would have guessed that, as P.H.I.R.S.T. LINK Tutor, I would still be writing something for the newsletter?!

I have now been a staff member for just a little over five months now. I have been involved with the agency for so long that taking on a new role seemed like the most natural thing in the world. I have not experienced the usual amount of stress that people feel when they start a new job. K-W Access-Ability feels very much like home to me so there was no reason to be nervous. I had the advantage of already knowing the other staff members and many of the agency's members. So I was able to settle right into my job and get to work.

Over the past months, I have learned some new things and met some new people. Our P.H.I.R.S.T. LINK students are great and I enjoy working with them. I learned a few years ago that teaching gives me a great sense of satisfaction. I did not realize how much I missed it until I I got this opportunity to teach again. While it is true that I had to give up a few things in order to take this job, I know that I made the right decision. Few things in life are better than doing something you love and getting paid for it too.

I hope to teach at K-W Access-Ability for a long while and I look forward to meeting new students along the way.

Joyce Nieuwesteeg
P.H.I.R.S.T. LINK Tutor

P.H.I.R.S.T. News

Greetings once again from P.H.I.R.S.T. LINK. This issue of our newsletter has the second installment of our Computer Corner feature, entitled "The Year 2000 Problem and You." Be sure to read it so that you can make your computer ready for the year 2000. P.H.I.R.S.T LINK staff are continuing to make student work stations and administrative computers Y2K ready.

P.H.I.R.S.T LINK now has a second Graphics Internet Connection hardwired to our ISDN line. This machine is set up to receive Real-Audio and Sound Files over the Internet, and currently features the Dual Screen Reading and Screen Magnification utility, Zoom Text Extra, Level II and Text Assist.

I would like to welcome Joyce Nieuwesteeg to P.H.I.R.S.T. LINK as our new Tutorial Assistant. Joyce will be known to most of you as she has served the agency in various capacities for some time now. She is very familiar with the workings of K-W Access-Ability and brings a special proficiency in the area of the Internet.

Up to date copies of the F-Prot Virus checker are now available. If you wish a copy, please bring in two blank disks for us to use.

Please remember, if you calling P.H.I.R.S.T LINK with a technical question, you should have your computer turned on, and all the relevant information and error messages at hand.

Ronald Fleming
P.H.I.R.S.T. LINK Manager

COMPUTER CORNER:THE YEAR 2000 COMPUTER PROBLEM AND YOU

The "Year 2000 Y2K Computer Problem" is really a group of problems that can affect computers as we approach and enter the next century. In the early days of computers, information storage space was at a premium. So, to save valuable storage space, many programmers used two digit years such as 88, to represent four digit years such as 1988.

Using the two digit year was not initially a problem However, as today's technology is based on yesterdays, and as we are now about to change from 1999 to 2000, the problem is that computers will interpret the 00 in the year 2000 as referring to 1900, and may not recognize that 2000 is a leap year. In other words, computers may not know what year it is.

This problem will affect computer hardware as well as programs. For example, your computer has a "real time" battery powered clock that runs even when the computer is shut off, and a BIOS chip which stores all kinds of information including the date. When you turn on your computer, the clock sends a two digit year to the chip which changes it into a four digit year. Unfortunately, the chip may interpret 00 as 1900.

You may say, "it is only a date", and "it is not a problem". However, if you have a personal computer that does not know what year it is, it may shut down, malfunction, or produce inaccurate information. It is everyone's responsibility to take preventative action to address the cause of the problem--now, before it is too late. A bit of time and money invested now could save you a lot more in the future, especially if you use your computer to organize your finances.

Don't panic, however. The good news is that you might not have to do anything at all. Apple Macintosh computers are already set up to work in the new century, though the programs they use will still need to be checked out. Most computers purchased since November 1st of 1998 will not require any special modification. However, if your computer is relatively old or you have added a lot of programs over the years, you may need to take action.

To see if your computer's clock and chip can handle the Y2K first make sure you have the original program disks for your computer, and backup data files that are important to you. (If you need help to do this, get advice from a local computer specialist or from service providers on the Task Force Year 2000 Secretariat Web site at http://strategis.ic.gc.ca).

Turn off screen savers and passwords, then: If your computer fails this test, you may need to try a second test. Manually set the date to 01/01/2000 with the DOS DATE command or the Date/Time function in the Control Panel of Windows-based systems. Then turn your computer off, and then on again after a minute. If the date is now 01/01/2000 your computer has passed this test.

You also need to check to see if your computer recognizes that the year 2000 is a leap year. Repeat the first test above, setting the date to 28/02/2000. Wait for the fake "midnight" to pass, and turn the computer on again. If the date has changed to 29/02/2000 your computer has passed this test. Double-check by testing whether your computer changes from 29/02/2000 to 01/03/2000 in the same way. After testing, return your computer to today's date and time.

There are a number of computer programs that you can buy that can check, and in many cases fix, problems with your computer's clock and chip, such as Check 2000PC by Greenwich Mean Time, or Norton 2000. Make sure you read the spine of the box that the program comes in to determine whether it will work for DOS, Windows 3.1 or Windows 95, etc. Some computer manufacturers may also produce free fixing programs. Remember, though, there are no programs available that can fix all computer system problems. If your chip cannot be fixed, it may need to be replaced, or you may need a new computer.

You also need to set up your computer's Windows 3.1, you should at least change the Date Format of Control Panel's International Icon to Century and a four digit year. For Windows 95, it is generally recommended that you change the date format in the Regional Settings of Control Panel from DD/MM/YY to DD/MM/YYYY in the field at the bottom of the screen. (However, some programs may not accept these changes.) A patch to fix some problems with File Manager and Windows Explorer can be obtained by calling Microsoft at 1-888-673-8925 or by visiting their Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/year2000.htm

You may need to change the way some other programs are set up and used as well. In spreadsheets, for example, such as Microsoft Excel 5, you should use four digit dates, i.e. 1999 instead of 99 in a "date cell" You may consider updating your programs to later versions that are not affected, providing your retailer can demonstrate that existing data can be transferred correctly into the new program. Freeware and shareware programs are not quality controlled, and, unless you can contact the people who produced them, are unpredictable as far as the Y2K problem is concerned. Beware of getting two-digit data files on your computer through e-mail attachments, or through sharing diskettes.

Some web sites list simple descriptions of and setups for Y2K readiness of the most commonly used operating systems and programs. For general information related to year 2000 issues, and a comprehensive listing of Y2K web sites worldwide, go to http://www.communitech.org/whatsnew/Year2000.htm For Microsoft, go to http://www.microsoft.com/technet/year2k/

Finally, make sure your computer is turned off before midnight on December 31, 1999. Turn it on again on January 1, 2000. Remember, only you are responsible for making your computer Y2K ready.

Ronald Bruce Fleming br> P.H.I.R.S.T. LINK Manager

Fundraising Bingo - Volunteers Urgently Needed!

If you can spare approximately 2 to 3 hours every Tuesday, we are in desperate need of volunteers at our fundraising bingo at the Uptown Bingo.

If you are interested, please give K-W Access - Ability a call at 885-6640.

Memberships: If you have renewed your membership for 1999 and have not received your membership card, please ask at reception.

The Barrier Free Advisory Committee: Making changes today...for a barrier free tomorrow - Would you like to help bring about changes that would make public buildings more accessible. We are currently recruiting volunteers to join our Assessment or Education Committee and help us continue our progress towards a barrier free tomorrow! The time commitment is 1 - 5 hours per month, with meetings held on the 3rd Monday of each month at Kitchener City Hall. Training will be provided. For more information call 741-2225 (voice), 741-2385 (TDD)

Recreational Fitness Centre

Commute

Variety Village

> Membership is only $100 Year/ + Share Travel Expenses

Call for more information

519-585-1143

Thursday Night Tours of Facility

I am looking for persons who share interests in disabled sports and are willing to commute to Variety Village . Sharing expenses will make it more affordable. I am especially interested in starting a local group to compete weekly in archery. Contact Daryl at 585-1143.

Upcoming Events

K-W Access-Ability is offering a six week course on Human Rights in Ontario. Join us if you wish to:1. increase your awareness of the Ontario Human Rights Code 2. identify the grounds and social areas covered by the Code;3. know your rights and responsibilities under the Ontario Human Rights Code.Our course begins on Wednesday June 16th, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.. Spaces are limited and are allocated on a first come, first serve basis. For more information call 885-6640.

Tandem Biking. All blind or vision-impairedpersons interestedin tandem biking:Please join us at an *Information Meeting*Wednesday, May 192 p.m. or 7 p.m.atK-W Access-AbilityR.S.V.P. 885-6640

BLIND REPORTER REACHES TO OTHERS WITH DISABILITIES

Al MacRury 45, a Hamilton Spectator reporter lost his sight in the early-1990s and, instead of throwing in the towel, going on a long-term disability pension/ allowance and giving up his beloved profession, came up with an alternative idea. He'd write a column on disabilities.

His columns run the gamut from stories of triumph to guiding a disabled senior to get assistance. His lifeline is his telephone which keeps him in touch with shut-ins, disabled people who have been mistreated by family, employers or society at large. It is a great opportunity for him to help people with disabilities.

In February, MacRury was presented with the first media award to be given by The Canadian National Institute for the "Blind" for the way he has used his column to raise awareness of visual impairment issues. The column covers a cross-section of ages. " It's a wealth of human interest issues and I see my role as an ombudsman for the disabled."

If you are interested in reading his Saturday weekly column in the Hamilton Spectator, The Kitchener Public Library carries it in the Canadian Newspapers section.

The free VISITING LIBRARY SERVICES

KPL VOLUNTEERS visit readers, who are unable to come to the library with: