September 24, 2007
Conference Hopes to Make ‘Connections’
Norman Kunc was born with cerebral palsy and the doctors recommended that he be institutionalized.
But, Kunc’s parents ignored that advice and took him home from the hospital.
Kunc went on to earn a master’s degree and for the past 20 years he has worked to ensure that people with disabilities are treated fairly in schools, at work and in their community.
The British Columbia man will share his uplifting life story of living with a disability while serving as the keynote speaker for the ninth annual Community Services Bureau conference in Missoula Sept. 26-28 at the Hilton Garden Inn and Convention Center. Cost to attend is $180.
Kunc’s speech “Everything Worth Knowing, I Learned from Being Disabled” is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26.
Over 300 people throughout the state are expected to attend the three-day event sponsored by the Senior and Long Term Care Division (SLTC) of the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The Community Services Bureau is located within SLTC.
This year, the conference theme is ‘Connections’ and according to Community Services Bureau program manager Cecilia Cowie the sessions offered will help people learn more about their disabilities and will help them foster relationships with service providers.
The event also includes the opportunity for people with disabilities to discuss the hurdles they face on a daily basis, Cowie said. “They all face the same issues of securing quality caregivers, finding accessible housing and locating transportation,” she said.
Nurses, social workers, individuals who are elderly and disabled, home-based care provider agencies, and direct care staff will also be in attendance.
Session topics include consumer activism, cultivating self-motivated workers, pain management, innovative treatments for traumatic brain injury, and geriatric issues.
This year, about 100 scholarships were provided to the elderly and people with disabilities, family members, advocates and direct care workers to help defray the costs of attending the conference.
To learn more about Kunc go to www.normemma.com.
For information about the conference contact Cowie at (406) 444-4077 or ccowie@mt.gov.
