Area students have a chance to show off their video making skills and win one of three $500 bursaries.
The Community Living B.C., North Okanagan-Shuswap Community Council, is sponsoring the contest that’s seeking videos showcasing the benefits of employing adults with developmental disabilities.
“These high school age students will have grown up with students with disabilities in their classrooms and know what happens after high school. They will be the best ones to tell these stories,” said Colleen Larson, a family representative on the board of directors of the Community Living B.C., North Okanagan Shuswap Community Council.
Lorne McEwen, who has worked with individuals with developmental disabilities, is the chairperson of the council. He is looking forward to seeing the creativity the students will bring to the project.
“We know the videos will be interesting. We are asking that the videos celebrate the inclusion of adults with developmental disabilities and stories from individuals about their employment experiences,” he said.
The videos can focus on the personals stories of employees and employers, show the benefits to individuals with developmental disabilities and employers and the community, taking any point of view within a five-to-10 minute length.
The videos may also focus on one theme of employment and tell the experiences of more than one person.
“The aim is to tell a compelling story,” said McEwen.
Larson said the theme of the contest echoes comments she has heard often.
“When you ask adults with disabilities about their lives, one of the things they say all the time is, ‘I’d like to have a job.’ Working gives a sense of inclusion in the community.”
Community Living BC, North Okanagan Shuswap Community Council, is one of 13 councils around the province made up of family members, individuals with developmental disabilities, service providers and interested citizens.
The council helps provide information on services, and a variety of supports, including employment support.
The goal is to promote inclusion in the community and provide feedback to Community Living B.C. provincial board, a crown corporation of the province.
This is the first time the Community Living B.C., North Okanagan Shuswap Community Council has sponsored the contest.
The contest is open to all students in Grades 8 to 12 in the North Okanagan and Shuswap area.
Submissions must be be received by March 20 and the winners will be announced in April. For more information contact Wendy Phillips, at wendy.Phillips@gov.bc.ca or Larson atclarson@shaw.ca (phone 250-260-0132), or McEwen at loren.mcewen@shaw.ca.
