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Linda
Perry, our Executive Director, oversees
development and management of Vela Microboard Association's
work. As well, she provides direct support and facilitation
to many Vela Microboards. Linda's other responsibilities include:
project development; consulting support to families and organizations
outside of B.C.; providing workshops and presentations; and,
initiating networking opportunities with other like-minded
organizations.
Linda was the 1999 recipient of the Community Living Institute's
Leadership Award, and was a 2006 finalist for the YWCA's Women
of Distiction Award for Community Development. Linda has advocated
and worked for/with people with disabilities for over thirty
years. It was Linda who developed Vela's first Microboards
in 1989, and whose unparalleled commitment and leadership
ever since has been pivotal and central to Vela's growth and
development. Vela's many successes can be attributed to her
nearly twenty years as our Executive Director.
Family
and friends play an integral role in Linda's life. She is
the proud mother and grandmother to her daughter, Brandy,
and granddaughter, Samantha, both amazing people with special
needs. Linda is also foster mom to four exceptional and
delightful children. Here entire family is a source of joy
and inspiration for Linda.
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Jeanette
Holder - facilitator -is the parent of three children,
two of whom have disabilities. Jeanette has been involved
in advocating for the right of all children to be fully integrated
into their community and for families to receive financial
support from government, in three provinces.
Jeanette developed a Vela Microboard for her own daughter,
Jennifer, who lived in her own home with a roommate for two
and half years before passing away in 1998, at the age of
twenty-two.
Now that her other two children have moved away from home,
Jeanette has more spare time. She enjoys gardening, hiking
and cooking with her husband.
Jeanette has supported the development of Microboards on Vancouver
Island since 1992. She brings a wealth of practical knowledge
and skills to her position as a facilitator with Vela Microboard
Association.
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Lori
Emanuels -
facilitator - Lori Emanuels originally trained as a licensed
Practical Nurse. She has been a Vela facilitator for nearly
ten years.
Lori grew up in the Okanagan. As an adult she moved to the
Lower Mainland raising her two sons, Chuck and Joe, in Cloverdale.
Lori is deeply committed to her children and her extended
family. She has been a strong and consistent advocate for
Chuck, who has autism, throughout his life. Lori in partnership
with her son Joe, continues to ensure Chuck has a full and
productive life.
Lori has used her talents as an advocate for Chuck to support
and advocate for other individuals with special needs and
for their families.
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Terry
Robertson
- facilitator - Terry lives in Prince George with her husband
Gord, son Drew and daughter Bree. Her daughter Bree-Anna
has Cerebral Palsy. To meet the many needs Bree-Anna has
Terry's family has become involved in many groups and organization
over the years.
Terry has served on a variety of local committees with Social
Service, sat on SunnyHill’s Parent Advisory Committee, and
joined Family Support Institute in the mid ‘90’s.
In 1997 Terry joined the Family Summit group eventually
becoming part what is presently the Community Living Coalition.
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Kim
Thomas provides administrative support
to the Vela Team. Kim believes strongly in the work being
done by Vela and is dedicated to helping others. Kim brings
a diverse set of personal and management skills to complement
the Vela team. Kim's background is in office administration
and service management and she is a trained Medical Office
Assistant (MOA).
Kim grew up in Burnaby and
now lives in Surrey with her husband and daughter. Kim is
a past commissioner and longtime Guide Leader as well as
a fundraiser for the local school. Kim spends much of her
time caring for her ailing father and volunteering at his
assisted living residence. Kim maintains her strength and
motivation through her valued relationships with family,
friends and colleagues.
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Doris
Singh - has been coordinating our
volunteers and assisting with a variety of office
supports for many years. Doris's behind the scenes
assistance has ensured that we have the right people,
in the right place, at the right time.
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Caitlin
Ferworn -
Caitlin
was born and raised in the Kootenays and moved to the lower
mainland in 2005 in order to complete her degree in Child
Development Psychology. She currently resides in Coquitlam
and enjoys spending time with her family and friends whenever
possible. Caitlin has worked with people with disabilities
all her life, starting out by helping with her disabled
foster siblings. In more recent years she has worked for
individuals that have their own microboards giving her a
deeper understanding of the difference that support and
service can make in the lives of individuals living with
special needs and their families.
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