People First honoured for role in community People First, a self help group whose aim is to promote the rights of those with handicaps, has become a Charter member of a provincial wide People First organization. And at People First conference late last month in Sudbury the Port Perry People First group was honoured for the active role it is playing in this community in pro- moting the rights of the handicap- ped and fostering better public understanding. Port Perry People First president Michael Stewart and treasurer Darleen Durward told the Star last week they were pleased to receive the honours at the Sudbury conference. Mr. Stewart and Ms. Durward don't like the label "handicapped" in reference to their members, especially when it comes to their ef- forts to find meaningful work which pays-a decent wage. How to find such jobs was the main focus of the three Sudbury conference held the last wegk in Oc- tober and attended by ut 130 members of People First groups from all over Ontario and a few from other provinces. "We are all looking for real jobs as opposed to the workshops; jobs that pay at least minimum wage," said Mr. Stewart. Despite their efforts, Mr. Stewart said the 14 members of the Port Perry group have not been very suc- cessful in landing work in the com- munity. In his own case, he said he has submitted numerous resumes to local businesses and industry without success. "We want to work, we are capable of working. It may take us a bit longer to get the job done, but it will be done and done right," he stated. Although the group also works to promote better public understan- ding of the rights and the needs of those with physical and/or mental limitations, both Michael and Darleen say there is still a long way to go and there are still many peo- ple in the community who remain mis-informed. Most members of People First groups live on government pensions supplemented by small stipends from "sheltered workshops." In Darleen's case, she also is able to earn some extra money through housecleaning, but what they real- ly want is a true job that gets them off the government pension and pays them a living wage and gives them a normal benefit package. But it can lead to a Catch-22 situa- tion. If one of their members is for- tunate enough to land such a job and the pension is dis-continued, they will have a lot of trouble re-claiming the pension should they lose the job for some reason.- Along with attempting to i improve the lives of their own members and CUSTOM GIFT BASKETS RA A NEW GIFT GIVING CONCEPT .. "Sincerely re oa sb on 985-8954 or 985-3616 Yours" Gift Baskets for all occasions. Nobody provides JCAL ANE cellular phone < For the MEI I Mobile Cellular Telephone ® 3 year warranty ® 2 number capability ® call timer ® 16 digit display @ call-in absence indicator ® 100 number memory Add even more flexibility with these OPTIONS ® hands free ® radio mute -- shuts off car radio when making or taking a call ® second vehicle kit e transportable kit -- use it on the job site. Leasing available fostering better public understan- ding of their rights and capabilities, People First is trying to do other things as well. And one of those has been a request to the Central Seven organization for a name change. The group has asked Central Seven to drop the "developmental- ly handicapped" part from its name and call itself the Central Seven organization for Community Living. The Central Seven Board says it will make a decision on this request next April. Mr. Stewart said that other organizations in Ontario similar to Central Seven have agreed to in- clude Community Living in their name. He believes the term "developmentally handicapped" helps to perpetuate the label the group is trying to erase from society. The Port Perry People First group was formed over a year ago. The members hold regular meetings and they have recently purchased a half-hour video which illustrates their cause. Some time in the new year, they hope to bring the Ontario People First president to the Port Perry for a speaking engagement. In the meantime, people like Michael and Darleen will continue the often up-hill struggle for full ac- ceptance and full equality of oppor- tunity for themselves and the members of People First. PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, November 17, 1987 -- 21 PLOPLE FIRST WEAR VER aie po Darleen Durward and Michael Stewart display the People First "new group" award presented to them late last month at a con- - ference in Sudbury. People First is a self help group in Port Perry and the conference brought similar groups together from all over the province. The group is working to improve employment op- portunities for its members and to promote equality through public education and community understanding. (See story) IF YOU'RE USING AN Oil sprays may be less expensive, but you get what you pay for. For one, they have a nasty habit of deteriorating the rubber stripping in your car over time. They can leave an odour. 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