Achievements

• 3 Folio Polio editions are being published every year

• Presence on Facebook

• Since 2010 — Post-Polio Clinic Open Houses. During those days, Board Members benefit from their personal appointments at the Post-Polio Clinic to discuss with people who come there to share their experiences and make the Association known.

Launching of a crowdfunding campaign. The funds will be used to create tools to raise public and medical awareness of all aspects of polio and post-polio syndrome.

Production of a documentary short film about polio and post-polio syndrome. The purpose of this video is to foster public and medical awareness of all aspects of polio and post-polio syndrome.

Partnership for an article on post-polio syndrome in the Journal of the Ordre des infirmières et des infirmiers du Québec.

October — Transition of our website to a WordPress interface to make it easier to update and see on different devices (including tablets and smartphones), as well as allowing interactions with those who consult it.

March — Launching of a new website in order to develop the content, make the browsing easier and more accessible, and improve the design.

March — Polio Quebec participated to a conference organized by the AMEIPH. Mr. Gilles Besner and Mrs Pauline Sweer shared their polio experience with participants and gave them information about polio and PPS.

Conception of a leaflet giving simple information about the post-polio syndrome (PPS). He was then replaced by the series of 6 leaflets aiming not only towards explaining SPP, but also describing available resources to help those who suffer from it. (Support our members – 2012)

Conception of a promotional flyer about the Polio Quebec Association.

November — Polio Quebec went to the annual colloquium of the INDCP (International Network on the Disability Creation Process). This colloquium about “Urban environments, municipal policies and people having disabilities” was held in Quebec city.

October — Polio Quebec underlined polio awareness month. On October, to underline the polio awareness month, we sent information capsules on polio and PPS to many organizations, all-over Quebec, which were more likely to have members who had been affected by polio. Also, we participated at a radio show from the Carrefour des personnes handicapées, broadcasted on CKIA FM 88,3 Radio Basse-Ville, Quebec. The radio interview Mrs Andrée Pomerleau did with Geneviève Meunier aimed to give information about polio, SPP and Polio Quebec Association.

As part of the redevelopment project for the Esplanade of the Place des Arts, Polio Quebec has sent a letter to the CEO, Marc Blondeau. We asked that he considers people with disabilities in this important project.

Polio Quebec wrote a letter to the Conservative MP of Bellechasse-Les Etchemins-Lévis, Steven Blaney, to protest against the decision of Canada Post to stop door-to-door delivery. Polio Quebec believes that the door-to-door delivery service is essential to its members who have mobility problems.

We wrote a letter to the Prime Minister and got an answer from the International Cooperation Minister (in french) to make sure that Canada was actively engaged in the international battle to eradicate polio.

Support of the ratification of the UN Convention relating to the rights of the handicapped person. Increasing awareness and putting pressure on our political representatives in order to insure that the Canadian government ratifies this convention. It was finally achieved in March 11, 2010. This Convention doesn’t ratify everything – far from it. But it allows us to go further in recognizing our rights and their application.

Support of the campaign on the respect of parking spaces reserved for handicapped persons. This campaign was initiated by the Association Paraplegiques du Quebec, called today Moelle Epinieres (Spinal Cord) et Motricité Québec.

June — Meeting with the clinical directors of the Association des établissements de réadaptation en déficience  physique du Québec (AERDPQ) to affirm the point on reform taking place at the level of resources of social services and health, and to better know where to refer people who ask us for help. This meeting enabled us to fully understand that the CLSC are the entry points of all health systems. They direct people to the services they require.

• We answer to a lot of questions and support requests per month. We also redirect members to other organizations and professionals throughout the year. Feel free to contact us!

• Organization of conferences at the Annual General Meeting to inform and support the members of Polio Quebec.

• Since 2015, the Folio Polio magazine has a new look! A professional design, a larger font and dynamic images to make you enjoy your reading.

• Since october 2008 — We send about 10 Flash-Info-Rapide every year, a news bulletin that is sent by email.

• Agreement with Dr Linda Edgar, Ph.D., to sell her book « Mastering the Art of Coping in Good Times and Bad » on our website (also note that half of the retail price is a donation to Polio Québec).

• Since June 11th 2010 — Meetings (to gather and share information) with our members in the Quebec region and with  all those in that area who were touched by polio and wished to be present.

• We send a membership directory to facilitate the interactions between our members.

• We send birthday cards to our members.

Organization of a coffee meeting for Polio Quebec’s members of the Montreal area.

September — Putting together needs and expectations of our members. The preoccupations that were identified in 2009 remain and we gathered quite a few theme suggestions for the next Folio Polio editions.

May — Creation of 6 new pamphlets in order to respond to its members’ needs and requests and to support them in their daily lives. 

Avril — We helped creating an information pamphlet for those living in the regions “Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches” with Pauline Demers and Gérard Cossette.

October 10th — Celebration of the 25 Anniversary of Polio Quebec with our members, friends and co-workers. Publication of a special issue of Folio Polio retracing the history of Polio  Quebec. Distribution of souvenir bags with the Polio Quebec logo on them.

April — Meeting with Bob Goulet, representative member in Estrie, with the possibility of organizing a regional meeting.

Creation of a reference book of pools that are easily accessible, in answer to the needs formed by the Post-Polio Clinic that refers people with therapeutic needs.

Putting together needs and expectations of our members. One of the preoccupations that springs to mind is the access to service in general,  and to health services more specifically.

October — Polio Quebec participated to the COPHAN information meeting about the new governmental policy “Equals in Every Respect : Because Rights Are Meant to Be Exercised”. This meeting aimed at better understanding this policy in order to better explaining it to our members.

September — Polio Quebec participated to the ARUTAQ symposium on the 30 years of the adapted transport in Quebec. Our main objective was to collect pertinent information to share to our members. A report of the lectures has been published in the Folio Polio #42 Winter 2009-2010.

June — Polio Quebec participated to the PHAS symposium. Our objective was to learn pertinent information to share to our members.

Montreal Neurological Institut and Hospital — From its beginning in 1985, Polio Quebec has maintained a good relationship with the resources of the Montreal Neurological Institute and its Post-Polio Clinic. These resources are unique and greatly appreciated. They have  enabled us to benefit from their continuous support as well as from the research results in the university milieu both national and international.Over the course of 25 years of collaboration, Polio Quebec has greatly profited by the professional and personal  investment of D^r Neil Cashman (neurologist) and D^r Daria Trojan (physiatrist), in their roles as medical consultants to  the Board of Directors. In addition, we would like to underline the work of the whole medical team – physiotherapists, occupational therapists and neurologists who have given their support and comfort to those who have polio, namely the members of Polio Quebec. D^r Diane Diorio, neurologist, should be particularly mentioned. She has been with the Clinic since 2001.

MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre — Since 2005, Polio Quebec offices have been in the Mackay Centre, which is part the MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre. The Center offers services of adaptation, adjustment and integration both specialized and ultra-specialized for those with important and persistent deficiency.

Change It — Polio Quebec is now part of the Change It program, which lets donors to automatically round up their debit or credit purchases and donate to Polio Quebec. It’s the easiest way to support people who had polio and now suffer from post-polio syndrome.

COPHAN — Polio Quebec is a member of COPHAN (Confederation of Groups of those who are Handicapped).  COPHAN consists of 54 groups and has as its primary objective the defence of the rights of those with functional limitations.

AMEIPH — The Multi-ethnic Association for the Integration of Handicapped Persons is a non-profit organization that offers handicapped persons of a variety of cultural backgrounds, and their families, a resource that will sustain them at all levels in their period of integration and point them towards the resources that will answer their needs. In situations where an immigrant obtained polio in their country of origin, Polio Quebec and AMEIPH collaborate to bring appropriate help to these members.

Le Carrefour familial des personnes handicapées (Québec) — The Carrefour familial des personnes handicapées (CFPH) is located in the City of Quebec. Its mission is to bring together and represent handicapped people and their families, to enable members to help each other, to learn, to represent themselves, and to entertain each other. For certain members of CFPH who have polio, Polio Quebec and CFPH began to work together in 2009. Since then, Polio Quebec has participated in two of their radio broadcasts and organized with their participation an afternoon conference on polio in Quebec City. In addition, we have worked together to held a Tool Box worshop during Spring 2011.

Rotary — Our vice-president, Stewart Valin, has allowed us to strengthen our ties with the Rotary Clubs,through his presence at activities of the Jean de Brebeuf’s Rotaract Club, as well as the Westmount and the St-Laurent Rotary Clubs. This connection is also essential, given the huge implication of Rotary in the operation END POLIO NOW, which is aiming for the final step in the world-eradication of the polio virus. We hope they will reach their objective, after many years of sustained efforts.

Butterfly Wings Foundation — Support of the Butterfly Wings Foundation, a charitable organization whose main goal is to improve the living conditions of children affected by various neuromuscular conditions. Butterfly Wings also seeks to help people who had polio and now suffer from post-polio syndrome.

Réseau de l’action bénévole du Québec — Since 2015, Polio Quebec is proud to display the Action Bénévole Québec logo. This commitment demonstrates the importance and the value we place in volunteers working within our organization.

Moelle épinière et motricité Québec — MEMO-Qc is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the autonomy of people with spinal cord injuries, but also of all people with disabilities. MEMO-Qc promotes social integration and employability, defends the rights and collective interests of people with disabilities and support research. Given their common mission, Polio Quebec and MEMO-Qc maintain a collaborative relationship in order to offer members activities that match their needs.

Financial contribution to an event in support of the Rotary clubs of Jean de Brébeuf College, Westmount and Saint-Laurent.

Helen D’Orazio, took advantage of her trip to Australia to meet with several members of Polio Australia and to strengthen our relations with that dynamic organization.

June— Polio Quebec officially recognized Rotary International for their persevering work in polio eradication. Mr. Gilles Besner and Mr. Stewart Valin, President and Vice-President of Polio Quebec, gave an honorary tablet to Mr John Kenny, President of Rotary International, during a ceremony held in Montreal within the Rotary International 2010 Convention. This Convention was very special has it was the 100^th anniversary of Rotary International in Canada.