By: Barbara Matiru
In August 2009, I was feeling somewhat depressed as I had just received a letter with bad news from the Canadian Red Cross. They wrote to inform me that the Aids to Independent Living Program was unable to fulfill my request for a power wheelchair due to recent funding cuts. My Occupational Therapist of the Vancouver Coastal Health had assessed me as needing such a chair and I had been on the Red Cross wait list for over a year. My efforts to get help elsewhere, as I am a disabled senior with only a Guaranteed Income Supplement Pension, failed. Every charitable organization or foundation had only its specialized areas where it was willing to help.
How excited I was when I heard, in the middle of January 2010, about the Equipment and Assistive Technology Initiative (EATI). I phoned at once to get an application form and was warmly encouraged by Josh Vander Vies, when he heard the account of my severe osteoarthritis and heart problems, coupled with my desire to do more volunteer work. I was in that space where my mind and spirit dreamed of wanting to do so many things but my physical body was unable to do so. Josh expedited the whole application process very efficiently.
When I received the letter informing me that my application for a power chair had been successful, I was overjoyed. My life has changed since that day. Now, I am able to get on HandyDart and go to places that much further away. There, I can travel for long distances on my power chair and get everything done.
Every week, I now go to the West Vancouver Seniors Centre and play my recorder flutes with the 17 member ensemble. Then, about five times a year we will volunteer to perform concerts at seniors’ residences and care facilities. I have only performed in two or three such concerts in the past and was always amazed by how much people appreciated the music. Moreover, I have no problem practicing for 1hr.30min. duration of each class, as the chair gives me excellent back support.
I am also in my fourth week of volunteering as an ESL Teacher at a Kiwanis Seniors’ Residence. The students are eager to learn and have said that I’m a good teacher. After the second class, one elderly gentleman said, as he was leaving, ‘’Thank you my teacher for coming. I am very happy to be improving my English with you.’’ In turn, I’m happy to be able to give to the community something they really need, as they had been unable to find an ESL teacher since they lost the one they had, over a year ago.
My church had been asking me to return to leadership work on the Church Council. When I got my power chair, I phoned and offered my services again. We meet on a regular basis and it feels good to contribute my ideas once more. This Saturday, for the first time in years, I attended an all-day workshop. The venue had installed an elevator and made the front entrance accessible, since I was there last. The guest speakers were from Toronto and Calgary, respectively. I acquired lots of good ideas and was acknowledged, after our group sessions, for my lucid suggestions and opinions. During our singing, I supported the pianist on an African drum. One of the participants came up afterwards and thanked me.
On a monthly basis, I have started to plan the Taizé Prayer and Contemplative Music Services for this joint initiative of two North Shore churches. I also play my recorder flute for the service, together with another recorder, violin, organ and two lead singers. I’m thrilled by being able to be involved in all this music once more.
At my assisted living residence, I’ve been able to help others by going to the mall and shopping for them. For example, this week was Nurses Appreciation Week and I was able to go and price the cake that was to be presented. I also bought a large manila board, had it rolled up and put in the bag behind my chair. With it I made a lovely appreciation card for the occasion. In addition, I have volunteered to produce our newsletter and can get around to the outings, interviews and other events I later report. Since I was an editor for ten years, this allows me to apply my skills in a new way that is needed by our tenants. I also volunteer on the Tenants Council.
I have gained a new lease on life with the power chair and the possibilities it offers me. I am again able to be in a leadership role, teach and be more creative. Feedback from others lifts my spirit and boosts my ego. My friends are glad for me and my new-found mobility. My life would go back to much narrower, less interesting confines if I were to be without my power chair. Thank you EATI! I hope many others may also benefit.
