Roger B. Jones ~ The Ability Guy

Discovering the Power in Me

The Pacific Institute in Seattle Washington has launched a new program titled "Discovering the Power in Me". Created under their Social Solutions division, the curriculum is geared to individuals recently facing disability, their families and other stakeholders.

The Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities has selected Roger B. Jones as a member of the Ministers Advisory Committee on Accessible Transportation (ACAT), for a three-year period.

When we look at intersections pertaining to race and disability, we are faced with more questions than conclusions. It is apparently obvious that both persons with disabilities and people of colour are marginalized within North American society, and we would assume globally as well.

The Geoffrey X Lane Facilitator Training Certification (FTC) Program addresses issues of facilitation, training and communication in an integrated fashion. This enables the graduate to address the major challenge facing humanity; to sustain the desirable features of communication ecosystems at a time of rapid changes in all of the major forces that shape their structure and functioning.

Upon completion of this program, graduates have the ability to administer and deliver training on the GXL NLP System. See http://geoffreyxlane.com/index_front.html for details.

Over 400 people from across Canada have applied to be on the committee.Through consultation between the federal transportation industry and representatives of seniors and persons with disabilities:

1. Identify obstacles and emerging issues in the national transportation system that impact on accessibility for seniors and persons with disabilities.
2. Advise on accessibility issues and initiatives as requested by the Minister.

Quality Used wheelchair vans now available in British Columbia.The Ability Guy has just made arrangements to bring quality used wheelchair accessible vans to the west coast of Canada. In an arrangement with Dan MacLellan of Accessible Transportation Sales and Service Canada (ATSS),affordable and accessible vehicles will be available for purchase in Burnaby BC. The company previously only had vehicles available in Nova Scotia.

Roger Jones wages a campaign to get the British Columbia Premier to provide wheelchair access to the front of the legislature.

A campaign to get the British Columbia premier to provide wheelchair access to the front of the Legislature has been waged by Roger Jones "The Accessibility Guy". You will see from the following e-mail response from his office, that SOME PROGRESS has been made. They have been asked to keep him posted regarding the results of their study.

"IMAGINE the Difference; Stories of Celebration From Our Communities" includes story from The Ability Guy"IMAGINE the Difference; Stories of Celebration From Our Communities" is a project of the IMAGINE Conference 2005, Reclaiming Our Passion.

On June 21, 2005 Roger Jones was elected to the Board of Directors for the PLAN Institute at their annual AGM.

Roger Jones was elected to the board of directors for The PLAN Institute for Citizenship and Disability on June 21, 2005. Roger is very excited to be a part of this organization.
The Institute provides consultation and training to family groups; conducts research and offers a list of publications.

Robert Kay was the 2005 Recipient of the Susan Marshall Fighting Spirit Award.

For 14 years Susan Marshall courageously battled the adverse effects of a spinal cord injury until her death on April 13, 1999. Susan became a C5 quadriplegic as a result of a motor vehicle crash in Nova Scotia in August 1985. Serious health issues and difficulties from surgical complications plagued her entire life after disability. However, throughout it all she managed to laugh joke and smile despite the constant pain and suffering which she was forced to endure. Her main concern was always the well being of the other people in her life. On numerous occasions when the medical professionals were about to give up hope Susan would bounce back against seemingly impossible odds. This "fighting spirit" was immediately apparent to anyone who came in contact with Susan.

Roger B. Jones "The Ability Guy" & BCMOS (British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society) Present...

"Access Challenge" video screening in Halifax, Nova Scotia Thursday, March 25th.

Access Challenge is a documentary of a multi-day wilderness expedition, involving a diverse group of team leaders with disabilities and their teammates. At the base of the Cascade Mountains in British Columbia's Manning Park, six teams prepare to trek high into the alpine meadows. But this is no ordinary wilderness expedition. The captains of each team cannot climb, hike or walk. Meet three of these captains - world traveller Linda McGowan, basketball enthusiast Roger Jones and Vancouver City Councillor Sam Sullivan - all active, adventurous individuals who are confined to wheelchairs. This inspiring documentary chronicles their participation in Access Challenge, a three-day, 60-kilometre hike through glorious and rugged terrain.

Roger Jones was one of the facilitators for the January 24 - 25, 2005, meeting which resulted in A Framework for Dialogue and Action on Accessibility and Inclusivity.

Roger is also a consultant for The Accessible/Inclusive Cities and Communities Project Report.The work of the Accessible/Inclusive Cities and Communities Project began two years ago with a simple, but fundamental goal: to foster greater opportunities within all of our communities for people with disabilities.

Business could be missing out on an access cash bonanza worth £50 billion the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) warned today. 

The warning comes in the wake of new figures showing very low awareness of impending equal access legislation affecting two million businesses in Britain. Failure to act could result in legal action.From 1st October, 2004, every business, large or small - from the local shop to restaurants, health clubs, dentists and supermarkets - will need to become more user-friendly to Britain's 8.6 million disabled people. The new duties under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) call for improvements including adapting premises, removing physical barriers or providing services in an alternative way.