An Invitation from P.E.I. People First!!

People First Group Writes for Change

You are invited to the release of a collection of stories, called “Writing for Change”, on Thursday, December 3rd, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, at the offices of the P.E.I. Council for People with Disabilities, 5 Lower Malpeque Road in Charlottetown.  The stories are a result of a project, sponsored by the Charlottetown Rotary Club Literacy Foundation, that brought together a group of People First members with writer Vian Emery for a day-long workshop in November.

Telling stories is a big part of People First, a group that is all about empowering people with intellectual disabilities to speak for themselves, and to make their own choices.  Over the years the group has produced newsletters, plays, films and made countless presentations based on their personal stories.  By sharing their experiences, their hopes and their dreams, they aim to change attitudes and dispel some common myths that have kept people with intellectual disabilities on the margins of society.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is meant to create awareness of the issues and policies that stop men and women with disabilities from enjoying their basic human rights.  Far too many people with disabilities, in Prince Edward Island and around the world, are isolated from their communities, living in institutions, or don’t have access to community supports and jobs.  At the same time there is a growing recognition of the diverse contributions that men and women with disabilities have made and continue to make in their communities, especially if they are provided with appropriate support.  Projects such as “Writing for Change” make us thing about the common threads in all of our lives, and recognize that people with intellectual disabilities  are people with the same rights as everyone else; to have a job, to have a good place to live and to do more things in life.

Writing for Change will be launched at 10:00 a.m. at the offices of the P.E.I. Council for People with Disabilities, 5 Lower Malpeque Road, Unit 2 in the Landmark Plaza.  Please call 892-8989 for more information.

Please call Barb Fanning or Ann Wheatley at 892-8989 for more information.