Employment Series Part 2

Here’s the second of three articles by BIST Member Mark Koning on the steps to returning to work.

Step 2 of 3: Employment Assistance

Image by Adamr

After you have self-disclosed your brain injury and have prepared yourself for the possibility of disclosing to your future employer, my suggestion is to seek out assistance in the job search process. I have written about discussing your venture into employment with your doctor or therapist, friends and family, but I am now referring to specific employment assistance as opposed to friendly advice.

There is quite a lot out there to help with the job search, you just have to look, and in my opinion it is always better to have a second pair of eyes and someone who knows the ins-and-outs of the labour market on your side.

Ontario March of Dimes, for example, has employment services to offer that I don’t think a lot of people are aware of. Unlike places such as Seneca’s Workforce Ready or Job Skills, both of which offer great employment services, Ontario March of Dimes specifically lends services to people with disabilities. Another one is JVS Toronto who are ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) service providers; and through ODSP you can also apply for income supports if you find that you need financial help.

There are many different employment service providers that you can work with and you can locate their services and organizations through Employment Ontario by filling out the requested fields, or by visiting a local disability-awareness site regarding Employment Service Provider organizations or for north of Toronto regarding Employment Services Provider organizations.

Once you connect with an organization, you can obtain the assistance of an employment service provider/employment consultant. Disclosing your brain injury here is not a must but I believe it’s beneficial and your provider is obligated to keep your information confidential. And remember, these people are your assistance in the job search and there to help you, not necessarily to take over and find you a job while you sit back and relax. If you want someone to do look for you then you need to look for an employment (temp) agency/recruiter that will charge an attached fee and/or take a percentage of whatever you make through your temp job. A temp job can last for quite some time, but it is still temporary, not permanent.

The choice is always yours and some people prefer temp agencies and temp jobs. But the employment service providers I am referring to come at no cost.

These Providers work with you on a one-on-one basis and can not only assist you in looking for work, but in building your resume, referring you to other free programs that can help boost your skills, preparing you for those forthcoming interviews and possibly even attending your interview with you and acting as an immediate reference, if you so desire. Your provider can help you disclose your disability (after you’re hired, I suggest and your provider likely will as well) to your employer if you wish and then to help them understand what accommodations you may need, something I will discuss in more detail in Part 3 of this employment series. Providers can be there for you and your employers to help make the transition back to work go smoothly.

(As I discussed in Part 1, disclose only what is necessary in order to help you with the job at-hand. Your provider I’m sure will have suggestions to offer as well).

About Mark Koning:

Mark has two passions in life: Writing and Giving Back through volunteering, donating and advocating in any capacity he can to help out.

First, he decided to further enhance his skills by working toward obtaining a Creative Writing diploma through the Stratford Career Institute; graduating with highest honors.

Next, he decided to learn about his own learning disability and brain injury, (acquired at the age of 6) growing through his writing, speaking with others and his work with One Voice Network, a not-for-profit organization that works to build inclusion and awareness for job seekers with disabilities.

For further information on Mark visit: www.markkoning.com

Mark’s hope is to share, learn, grow, and maybe offer a little inspiration along the way.

Employment Series – Post 1

Over the next few weeks we will post 3 articles by BIST Member Mark Koning on steps to getting back to work

Step 1 of 3: Employment Disclosure

So I believe this to be the most important step in venturing into employment after brain injury and I don’t know if the full meaning of disclosure is really understood and carefully considered.

The definition of Disclosure: n. to make (information) known; to allow to be seen; the act or process of revealing or uncovering; a revelation.

Why do I disclose and when do I do it? These are probably the first questions that come to mind. The first Who would be yourself; and the When, as soon as possible. We put so much emphasis on the employer and we don’t think enough about ourselves; and we should

We need to think more about Self-Disclosure: the process by which one person lets his or her inner being, thoughts, and emotions be known. It is important for psychologic growth in individual and group psychotherapy. (And continually self-disclosing helps keep your mind fresh) I realize disclosing to yourself may sound a bit silly, usually I refer to this as self-awareness, but it is important.

After brain injury has occurred wanting to get back into work and a regular routine is understandable, but taking small steps and gradually building is probably best. Talk to your doctor and/or therapist; speak with close family and friends. Ask them and then yourself if you are ready? What changes have occurred in your life? What kind of barriers or challenges do you face? Can you handle full or part time employment?

As a person with a brain injury, I know how important it is to be honest with yourself; as well as how hard it can sometimes be. And as someone who works within an employment awareness organization I have seen people rush into something without having asked the question, Can I handle an eight hour shift? Can I stand on my feet for a prolonged period of time? Can I really lift the weight described in the job ad? Can I sit and stare at a computer screen all day?

The employment scenarios of job duties may change, but the fact that you need to be honest with yourself and really think it through, does not.

Once you’ve gotten through the process of self-disclosure, you need to ask yourself if you are prepared to disclose to your employer. It is suggested that disclosure is not necessary during an interview and only after you have been hired; but even then only if there is a need in order to get the job done and done correctly. When and if disclosing to an employer there is no need to go into details about your injury and uncover everything that happened or what you may currently go through.

In the end, disclosure is always your choice. The fact that we have an “invisible” disability doesn’t necessarily make it any easier. Knowing yourself and what you are capable of can help you become a better employee, but it is also uncertain the way in which an employer will react to the news. This is why I will suggest that taking on the job search alone should be avoided and in Step 2 I will discuss how to go about making things a little easier by getting some Assistance.

About Mark Koning:

Mark has two passions in life: Writing and Giving Back through volunteering, donating and advocating in any capacity he can to help out.

First, he decided to further enhance his skills by working toward obtaining a Creative Writing diploma through the Stratford Career Institute; graduating with highest honors.

Next, he decided to learn about his own learning disability and brain injury, (acquired at the age of 6) growing through his writing, speaking with others and his work with One Voice Network, a not-for-profit organization that works to build inclusion and awareness for job seekers with disabilities.

For further information on Mark visit: www.markkoning.com

Mark’s hope is to share, learn, grow, and maybe offer a little inspiration along the way.

BIST Brain Injury Awareness Month Event

Come join us on Wednesday June 12th at Nathan Phillips Square for our annual Brain Injury Awareness Event.

Barbara de Catanzaro – “Coming to Be – Me!”

By Richard Haskell

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Barbara de Catanzaro

The First 27 Years

Animals have always held a special place for Ottawa native and ABI survivor Barbara de Catanzaro. She began with an aquarium filed with guppies and Tetras. It wasn’t long before she had proven her capabilities of looking after the tiny aquatic creatures, and for her sixth birthday she was rewarded with a trip to the local humane society, where she was allowed to bring home a “mutt” she named Blackie.  By the time she was 10, her parents had acquired a “hobby” farm near Woodlawn, Ont., 40 km west of Ottawa, providing greater roaming space for other four-footed companions, including “Smokey”, a Shepherd, and “Barney”, a Springer Spaniel-Shepherd mix. There was also a bevy of farm cats. Barbara loved them all.

She began her post-secondary education at the University of Guelph, where she embarked upon a degree in science, agriculture and economics. After stints at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, she returned to Guelph to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. Further studies at Guelph resulted in a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Hotel and Food Administration ­- and from then on, her career in restaurant and hotel management took her to different parts of the world, including Montréal, to cities in Germany, and finally to England, where she worked for the prestigious Trusthouse Forte organization in Bath and later in Boxhill, Surrey.

 The Accident

After three years in Europe, Barbara decided to return home to Canada – succumbing to her “nesting instincts.” Her parents were no longer living together by that time,  so she decided to “head east” to the Maritimes, to visit a girl who had attended her high school and whose parents had retired to Gagetown, N.B. Through perusing the “rides available” ads in the local paper, she found someone who was conveniently heading in that direction in late December. Unknown to her, this would be a fateful journey, one which would alter her life forever.  Five days before Christmas, she and the driver were travelling on the Trans-Canada Highway near Petitcodiac, N.B. in a 1998 Oldsmobile when the car was hit head on by a drunk driver. The vehicle was totalled, and tragically, the driver of the car she was in was killed.

Rehabilitation – one step at a time

Miraculously, Barbara survived, but not without sustaining considerable trauma. She had suffered a “closed brain Injury”, one resulting from an external impact that doesn’t include a break in the skull. Closed head injuries usually involve swelling or bleeding within the skull, which may in turn lead to brain damage. She also had a Mylar fracture involving the upper left cheek and eye socket, causing the displacement of her left eye, resulting in a life-time of double vision requiring special glasses. Barbara was taken to a hospital in Fredericton   – the only one in the area at the time treating closed head injuries. There she remained in a coma for nine days, but it was three months before she was released. Upon regaining consciousness, she remembers feeling puzzlement as she looked out the window and wondered where she was.   She remembers her first attempts at walking and being very discouraged at having to think hard about putting her feet in motion. But she rationalized: “I’m here in public, don’t cry about it, just DO IT!”

By February, she was able to travel back to Ottawa, but upon her arrival, it was discovered all the beds in the hospital designated to rehabilitate brain injury survivors were filled. Barbara was fortunate that her mother was a registered nurse. Rather than being sent to a different facility, Barbara was taken to the family farm. There, she was treated by means of an in-home rehabilitation program in which she was visited by physio-’, speech-, and occupational- therapists on a weekly basis.

“Having a one-on-one relationship with my therapists and not having to wait for therapies allowed me to heal and begin the process of re-filing the emptied drawers of my brain’s ‘Filing-Cabinet-of-Knowledge’,” she says.  “I do not believe I lost any marbles but simply had them re-arranged.”

Learning to walk and talk again took  eight months, from  February to the following  September. Barbara discontinued speech and occupational therapy first, but continued on with physiotherapy for considerably longer. According to her, she trained with the zeal of an Olympic athlete – she was determined to make a recovery, and not be forced to “walk like a drunk.”

“I swore never again to take my body, and my ability to walk and talk, for granted,” she reflected at the time.

Barbara did learn to walk and talk again, and although her short-term memory suffered, her long-term memory stayed intact.

Life Since Then

By September, 1991, Barbara was able to move into her own apartment in Ottawa’s west end, where she began the long process of putting her life back together. A big plus was having parents and supportive friends close at hand who were able to guide her during this early stage of her new life.  It wasn’t long before she was directing her energy and positive outlook into a variety of volunteer activities with numerous organizations. Since 1994, she’s been involved with the Brain Injury Mentoring Program at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Ottawa, where she has offered her assistance to the Physiotherapy Department, demonstrating what she had learned herself in physiology and rehabilitation. For four years, she was a physiotherapy assistant with Neurogym Technologies Inc, where she volunteered her skills as a “Motion Analysis Specialist” and for six years, she also gave her time as a caregiver at the Elizabeth Bruyère Health Centre.

Among the most interesting – and most recent – of her endeavours are those with Windreach Farm, where she donates her time as a self-proclaimed “farm- hand”. Located in Ashburn, Ont., Windreach was founded by cerebral palsy survivor Sandy Mitchell in 1989, and was originally set up to accommodate the needs of those with a wide variety of disabilities. Having spent many of her formative years on a farm , it seemed a natural step for Barbara to offer her services to such a worthwhile undertaking – and it’s also her good fortune that the property is only a 20 minute drive from  home. Thus far, her duties there have involved the training of animals, including what she refers to as “The Cuddly Bunny Project.”  In this capacity, she is currently “taming” six rabbits with the ultimate goal that they grow better accustomed to being handled by humans. All her observations are being carefully logged in a scientific manner. Barbara is also involved in sheep-herd training– a skill not as easy as it sounds, for among other things, it involves gaining the confidence of the sheep-dog, a Puli named “Obee.” Barbara is currently contemplating applying for a paid position with Windreach, and has a long-term goal of becoming a certified animal behaviourist.

Restaurant and hotel manager, ABI survivor and animal therapist – Barbara de Catanzaro has worn many hats over the course of her lifetime.  At this point, it would seem that her life has come full circle, having spent several of her formative years on a farm, to now helping out at Windreach. She proudly claims:

You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl.”

She has nothing but gratitude for the opportunity to be given a second chance, and for the many friendships she’s made through BIST. Yet she disagrees with the label “disabled persons,” far greatly preferring the designation of “people of different abilities.” Her positive attitude and forward thinking have allowed her to accomplish much in the last 22 years – and there’s still more to come.

Volunteer Spotlight Colleen Worsley

BIST’s Volunteer Appreciation night is on Monday April 22nd.  We are so thankful for all the hard work and dedication of each and every one of these individuals who give of their time to enable BIST to fulfill it’s mission:  to enhance the quality of life for people in the City of Toronto, living with the effects of acquired brain injury through education, awareness, support and advocacy.

In light of this, we would like to continue to showcase the efforts of volunteers in our Volunteer Spotlight.  Click here to see some of our past Volunteer Spotlights.

Colleen Worsley

How long have you been a member of BIST?

3 years

What is your volunteer role with BIST?  

Special Events Committee Member-Support at special events, monthly community meetings.

What motivated you to become a volunteer with BIST?  

I wanted to learn more about the BIST group, interact with the members, and offer my skills to promote the BIST team.

What is the best part of being a BIST volunteer?

Many things:  The inspiration I get from the members, being part of a great team, skill development in areas of planning and program development and increased knowledge of the ABI field.

Why do you think it is important to volunteer?

To give back time to the community that you earn a living from but it honestly makes a person feel good to do it.

What would you say to potential volunteers? 

Consider giving of your time, fulfill the commitment you make and enjoy the above noted benefits.

How do you balance work, life and volunteering?

I selected a committee that realistically met my available time and I set time aside for family activities which cannot be changed—even for work.

What is your favourite book?

Baking cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin

What is your favourite movie?

The Princess Bride

What other activities are of interest to you?

Hiking, riding, painting.

What is the most important thing you have learned through volunteering with BIST?

Everyone has challenges to overcome—your attitude in doing so makes all the difference and having some friends to make the journey with makes for an easier road.

 

Rising With Mentorship

By Mark Koning

Mark Koning

From the day I was born and into childhood I had been a quiet individual who liked nothing more than to make others happy.  I grew into someone who is a quiet individual who likes nothing more than to make others happy, and to lend support where I can. I continue to grow into that more and more every day. I have been through so much, I carry so many experiences that I’ve battled through. that I feel it is my duty to give back.

It was during an Ontario March of Dimes Brain Injury Awareness conference in June of 2012 that I stumbled upon a way to give back like nothing else I had done before. I had and was volunteering at a few things, but this was personal, and it touched my heart the more I thought about it. OBIA (Ontario Brain Injury Association) was offering a Peer Support Mentoring Program.

The more I learned about it, the more I came to love it. But also question it. Was this something I could do? The OBIA website states:

The Peer Support Mentoring Program connects a volunteer who is a “veteran” of a life experience involving acquired brain Injury (the “Mentor”) with an individual who is coping with similar issues (the “Partner”) and is in need of support.

A definition I found said this:

Mentor: noun; a wise and trusted counselor or teacher, an influential senior sponsor or supporter; someone who imparts wisdom to and shares knowledge with a less experienced colleague.

I liked the idea of offering support; I knew I had much experience to share; but words like “veteran”, “teacher”, “wisdom”, and “influential senior”???? Was I those things? Eventually I just decided to move ahead with this and I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and reached out to one of OBIA’s listed affiliates that ran the program closest to my location; BIST.

After speaking with the Coordinator at the Brain Injury Society of Toronto I was put more at ease and I came to realize that my experiences and the thoughts I had surrounding them, along with my eagerness to help and share, made me those things. When I attended the training session for this program I fell in love with this idea, the idea of paying it forward, even more. Not only was I being lead by a passionate and brilliant Coordinator but to meet seven other individuals who presented thoughtfulness and an unwavering sentiment to help, in many ways, complete strangers, was encouraging to say the least. I was surrounded by awesome, beautiful and knowledgeable people. Survivors and fighters and individuals whom simply wanted do right by others.

My questions were gone. I could do this. I could not only help someone else, but I could grow with this. It would and could benefit me as much as whomever I was to be partnered with.

Another definition I missed is:

Mentorship: a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person. However, true mentoring is more than just answering occasional questions or providing ad hoc help. It is about an ongoing relationship of learning, dialog, and challenge. The person in receipt of mentorship may be referred to as a protégé (male), a protégée (female), an apprentice or, in recent years, a mentee.

I have been a mentor now for a little over a month and it is going good, and it is, well…. Fun! It is not just about teaching someone and imparting wisdom, but building a trusting relationship, communicating, and supporting and learning from one another. I think that this is the type of relationship we could all use; because our truest strengths not only come from past experiences, but the healthy relationships that we keep.

With brain injury we can all feel a little trapped in the dark. With this program it helps teach us and others, that we are not trapped, and none of us are really alone.

To get involved in this program contact: Kat Powell, Peer Support Coordinator at connections@bist.ca, or 416-830-1485.

Internet Safety and Security: Protecting Your Time Online

By G. Ian Bowles

Often we forget that some of the Internet’s most powerful benefits are also its biggest dangers. Information is available everywhere, good and bad, and we are all anonymous in an online context. Unfortunately, there are many people who will use that to their advantage by trying to trick us into revealing private information. The Internet is a fully shared experience, and we must think about consequences before we add to what is “out there.” Anything we leave, anything we write or “say,” cannot be taken back.

But we can’t just unplug our mobile devices and disconnect our Internet service. So to help educate Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST) members about Internet Security and Safety, IT and Web Consultant Matthew Kleinosky presented an overview of the topic during January’s BIST community meeting.

Kleinosky’s style was quite effective: most of us use the Internet, and I think all of us left this session with a reminder that although online activities should be fun and productive, our time needs to be protected as well. The presentation was fun and light, but pulled no punches when giving recommendations on being safe.

Kleinosky mentioned a few of the primary risks. One is your “online legacy”: people will be able to see, 10 years from now, simple comments you make on websites today. Future employers and co-workers and friends will see those comments as though they were just made, and you won’t be able to explain the context. There are many more malicious dangers as well: identity theft, cyber-bullying, predators and scams. Bullying is an important topic because it can easily affect how you perceive your time online, and result in physical or emotional hurt. Remember: bullying is a crime, and can be reported at  Cybertip!ca

Kleinosky made several suggestions to avoid Internet pitfalls, and they all involve a certain amount of vigilance and constant observation. Much of it is being careful, but people can try to trick you into letting your guard down.

A few tricks to be on alert for:
♣    Beware of emails from people you don’t know, and always confirm what you read.
♣    Be careful about links provided in an email.
♣    Develop good password habits and never give those passwords to anyone.
♣    If you’re dealing with anything related to money or paying for a purchase, make sure you’re on a secure site. One way to check for this is to see if the URL has https:// at the beginning. (The “s” is key.)
♣    Although the Internet can be dangerous, there are also tools that help to protect us from that danger. One is Lastpass.com. Note that the https:// appears when you first go to the site; this is a tool to help to remember and use passwords.
♣    Kleinosky also suggested Snopes.com and Hoax-Slayer as sites that can be used to check out rumours or stories you hear online.

The presentation was well received and seemed popular. Hopefully, we can avoid the kinds of dangers that Kleinosky explored. Although the Internet should be a place that we can explore safely and with confidence, we need to guard our presence when we’re “out there”.

G. Ian Bowles, brain injury survivor and BIST Communications Committee Chair