Corner Brook -
If you want to know about breaking down barriers, Melissa Woods is the woman you need to talk to.
The 21-year-old with cerebral palsy has just about all the excuses one could possibly imagine for not succeeding in life. However, she is educated, active in the community, and she holds down a part-time job.
"Can't" is not a word she takes lightly.
She recognizes there are sometimes barriers in her way, but she has never let them prevent her from reaching her ambitions.
"I never really looked at it from that perspective," Woods said, while attending the Inclusion Now: Disability Information Fair held in Corner Brook Wednesday. "There are sometimes barriers for me, but I work with my family, and whatever people I have to deal with, to overcome those barriers."
Being interviewed for a newspaper article is a prime example of one of those barriers, which a person with a speech impairment may shy away from. Not Woods, she had no qualms about speaking her mind and allowing her home-care worker to help with translation.
She currently works part time at the community access program at the Humber Community YMCA. She has her high school education and wants to pursue a career in business.
The information fair brought people together to learn more about available services and resources from various local groups and organizations. There were also presentations on issues related to disabilities and an overall awareness of disabilities and equality.
"Participants are coming in and taking in the knowledge that is available," Woods said. "A lot of people that have disabilities don't know what is out there for them, and don't know where to go and what to do.
"I didn't know that Service Canada has a website for people with disabilities that I can go into that offers services for people with disabilities."
Sherry Harding, Woods' home-care worker, said she learned a great deal by taking in the fair. She said it is important to know as much as she can to help her client continue to overcome any of those barriers she may encounter.
"I went into home care because I enjoy it," she said. "I know people with disabilities have their limits, but there are things that I am not aware of. For people with disabilities, home-care workers and their families are their voices. When there are challenges, how are we supposed to help them, if we don't know what is out there."
Harding and Woods said the first-time fair was beneficial for people with disabilities and the general public. They hope to see it continue and grow in the future.
"We can learn from people with disabilities," Harding said. "I have a mother with a disability and I have an aunt with a mental disability.
"People look down on a person, like Melissa, with a disability. They want to shove her aside and keep her hidden. That's not the way. It's nice to see people out today saying, 'I have a disability and I want to work, I am a human with feelings.' It's nice to see Service Canada and all the businesses today that are willing to get people with disabilities out in the public."
Woods said inclusion is a big issue that has to be addressed, not just for her, but it could be for just about anybody.
"You never know what is going to happen to you tomorrow," she said. "You could go to bed tonight healthy and wake up tomorrow disabled, not able to move, God forbid. I know somebody it happened to."
