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2008 Summer Programme Staff Members "Speak Out"!
Karla Schuldes: "There is nothing anyone can do to prepare themselves for the summer job experience of being part of the
summer staff at K-W Access-Ability. From the application process, to the interview, to the offering of a job as a
summer worker I had no idea in what to expect. The summer ended up being an incredible opportunity and a life-
changing experience. I met such a variety of amazing and interesting people and learned so much about challenges
that individuals with physical disabilities face each and every day, in tasks that most of us take for granted being able
to do. I grew a deep respect for the way in which these individuals fight so strongly for respect, fair treatment and
ability to do the things they want and need to live their lives to the fullest. Getting to know everyone in the
organization, their stories and their lives was truly amazing and each and every one, unforgettable. Though the
summer was extremely hectic and the 3 of us were always on our toes, facing new and challenging situations in our
job, we enjoyed each and every event to its fullest and were blessed in being given the opportunity to provide fun and
challenging activities for these individuals. My favourite part of this whole experience was watching and being a part
of someone doing something new for the first time and being extremely successful in the process! Some had never
hit a pool ball before, or played a game of mini-golf in the dark, attended a fitness class, or flew in a glider. These are
a few of the many experiences that we were able to provide and had such fun in the process.
The summer program is a huge asset to K-W Access-Ability and its members. I wish that more members had become more involved and
that I could have met everyone. Hopefully the summer staff of 2009 will be able to provide even more new and
exciting opportunities to K-W Access-Ability’s members and be able to build upon the previous successful summers
in the past, including this one. I would like to thank each and every member and staff for welcoming the 3 of us with
such open arms and allowing us to be part of your world for 3 incredible months."
Krista Richards: "Becoming involved with the KWA community has been a wonderful experience. I’ve had
the opportunity to meet new people and build lasting relationships. Being part of the summer
staff is not a job to be taken lightly nor is it a job for just anyone. This kind of position requires
an individual to be thoughtful, open minded and to possess the will to learn. Though I have
had experience working with persons with disabilities before,working with this group was a whole
new experience. Everyone has a different story and learning about each individual’s struggles and triumphs
helped me to appreciate, even more, the role I was able to play in their everyday
lives, even if it was just for 3 months. There were many highlights throughout the summer, some
of which included the many day trips we undertook. The great part about the day trips was that
we were able to take our group to places to which they may not have normally had an
opportunity to visit. Being able to witness the enjoyment the members got from visiting new
places made all the efforts very worthwhile. The best day trip, however, had to be when our
group went gliding. I was lucky to be able to accompany the members on both trips which we
planned to Arthur this past summer. I was able to see, first hand, the joy the members got from
getting the chance to fly. This event was probably the one outing that we received the most
positive feedback from because the experience for many of the members was just so
overwhelming. The Freedom's Wings program is outstanding and we are blessed to be involved
in an activity that creates so many happy memories. The purpose of the summer program was to
create the opportunity for members to become actively involved within the community and grow
as individuals. I believe we accomplished just that and much more. Any positive effect which we
may have had on any of the members’ lives proved that we have accomplished what we had set
out to do. I would truly like to thank KWAA and its members for allowing us to be a part of their
memories and I hope that they are able experience life in a positive light for many more years to
come."
Return to the 2008 Summer Programme Main Page
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