M
egan Edgelow, a lecturer in the
Queen’s Occupational Therapy
Program, took a simple idea to her
students: she asked them to work on an
occupational justice project, as a way to bring
attention to people who have been marginal-
ized. The students provided the passion. A
team of six students (Alexandra Carlsson,
Julia Leo, Emily Molzan, Lee Rosen, Natalia
Stadnik and Kadia Wong) came upon a story
in the Toronto Star highlighting the
challenges of a young man with autism and
developmental delay.
Zachariah Keiser was in danger of
falling between the cracks. Because Zach
was 21-years-old, he was no longer eligible
for a program that provided financial support
for his care. Zach found himself on a list with
4,000 other adults, waiting for access to a
government program intended to provide
support for adults with disabilities.
The article mentioned that as Zach’s
mother, Gloria Noseworthy, continued to
struggle financially to provide his care, he
was becoming increasingly isolated and his
health was deteriorating. The six students
started a letter-writing campaign to the
Minister of Community and Social Services,
on behalf of Zach and his mother. To further
publicize Zach’s plight, and the struggles of
other young adults like him, they wrote a
piece detailing his situation that appeared in
The Kingston Whig-Standard
and posted it on
the Autism Canada website.
The students’work had an effect. Zach’s
mother managed to secure a meeting with the
Ministry of Community and Social Services.
She was grateful for the advocacy provided
by the students. “It’s an honour that they
would take this on,” she says. “It helps to
know that other people care.”
Originally published in the Queen’s
University Faculty of Health Sciences Dean’s
Report 2012-13.
deans-report/DeansReport20122013.pdf
4
Mix a simple idea with passion and it can have real effects
W
ith only a couple of months left
beforeACOTUPmeets in Freder-
icton, New Brunswick this spring,
details are being finalized and agendas are
being set. Please update your calendars with
the following information.
May 5, 2014
Annual General Meeting
(9:00 a.m.)
– This meeting is open to all
ACOTUP members and a continental break-
fast will be provided at 8:30 a.m. It will be
held in the Garrison room at the Crown
Plaza, Fredericton – Lord Beaverbrook.
May 5, 2014
Board of Directors Meeting
(9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
– The Board of
Directors (who should plan to attend the
AGM as well) meeting will also be held in
the Garrison room at the Crown Plaza,
Fredericton – Lord Beaverbrook.
May 6, 2014
Curriculum Meeting and
Innovation Session
(8:45 a.m.-3:40 p.m.)
–
All ACOTUP members are invited to attend
the afternoon session, further details will be
provided when they become available. Both
the meeting and the session will be held in
the Garrison room at the Crown Plaza,
Fredericton – Lord Beaverbrook.
May 7, 2014
CUFE meeting
(Time and
place TBa)
–All fieldwork coordinators are
invited to attend. Acontinental breakfast will
be served.
May 8, 2014
Speed Mentoring Session
(11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.)
– In addition,
ACOTUP will be hosting a mentoring
session.
The above information will also be
found on the website at
acpue.ca – we strongly encourage you to visit
your website and access the many resources
it provides ACOTUP members.
Set your schedule for Fredericton, N.B.
Gloria Noseworthy and her son, Zach.
