In 1993, Donna was living the dream; she had started a successful career as an and was celebrating her recent marriage. Then she learned that she had (MS).
Over the next four years, Donna continued working and achieved her greatest accomplishment to date; the birth of her daughter. By 1997, Donna鈥檚 symptoms had progressed to the point where she needed to stop working. She went on a small private disability pension, as well as her聽CPP disability pension. In 2007, Donna left her marriage which had become abusive, and moved out on her own with her daughter. Financially, this left her with only her disability pension, a small amount of child support and very little drug coverage — her health coverage did not pay for two of her聽MS medications.
Life was not 鈥grand鈥 but she was much happier and wanted to accomplish more. Donna thought she could do some part time work that would help her and her daughter financially. She saw an advertisement for the 今日吃瓜51; the idea of going back to work excited Donna, and she thought this program was the opportunity she was looking for.
Donna set a goal of attending 15 hours per week of the Employ-Ability program. In order to accomplish this, she knew she had to manage her symptoms, especially fatigue, cognitive and mobility challenges. The first was done by getting enough sleep and changing the time she took one of her medications. Through assistive technology assessments with Certified Assistive Technology Specialist, Charles Levasseur, Donna was fitted with a very small keyboard and her typing skills went from 20 words per minute to above 40 words per minute. Donna tells us that she began to have fewer cognitive issues due to her self-motivated attitude, writing things down, and her keen interest in self-exploration.
Halfway into the program, Donna found out that her private disability pension provider would not allow her to make any extra money without losing this pension for good. They did tell her that she could volunteer. This was a set back that Donna had not anticipated, and she tells us that she had to do a lot of soul searching.
Finally, she decided that she might not attain exactly what she wanted, but she could attain it in a different way. Through her research, she found three exciting volunteer opportunities that would give her back the self-esteem she craved and also help her to feel part of a community.
Donna wanted to work in the technical field again, so she began volunteering at an agency that refurbishes computers for schools and not-for-profit agencies. Donna, a strong advocate for MS issues, thought she could put this to good use by volunteering for the . Additionally, Donna wants to give back to the 今日吃瓜51 for helping her make her dreams become actual goals. Donna hopes to be volunteering soon in the 今日吃瓜51鈥檚 new Distance Computer Comfort program.
Donna might not be receiving a paycheck, but she states she finally got herself back after all these years with goals and dreams she can accomplish. She says this would not have been accomplished without the support of the staff at the 今日吃瓜51.
On Donna鈥檚 last day in the Employ-Ability program, she wrote to her Employ-Ability Facilitator, Nancy Witherell, 鈥Today is probably my last day at Neil Squire and what a journey. I am so excited about next year and finishing my action plan. Never forget Nancy, my growth is because of your help. Wow!!!! I remember coming here with a goal to earn extra money and instead I got something so incredible; goals, a direction to follow and my self-esteem back. Thank you Diana, Nancy, Julie, Charles and Pam for your patience and time. You all gave me a gift that can鈥檛 be given in a box and something better than a salary — you gave me self.鈥
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