Volunteers
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart”
The City of Kingston has a long, proud history of volunteerism. In September of 2008, the Limestone City was recognized by the Canadian Council of Learning as the 2nd most caring community in Canada. This award was based on caring, volunteering and participation. The statistics for this award were gathered and provided by Statistics Canada. The most wonderful statistic revealed is that 61.5% of Kingston ’s residents volunteer!
Approximately 250 volunteers are required to help us host an outstanding event. The Ontario ParaSport Winter Games is one of the most amazing and exciting opportunities that you will ever experience. Please sign up- You’ll be glad you joined our team!
“Volunteers are not paid – not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless”
Volunteer Handbook
THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!!!
Greetings fellow volunteers,
The Kingston 2010 Ontario ParaSport Winter Games are a showcase for the great athletes we welcome to our venues here and in Calabogie.
We wish all the athletes well in their competitions and with your spirited and dedicated support we endeavor to make these games a smooth-running success.
Without your generous help these games would not be possible.
Please read, refer to and remember all the valuable information in this Volunteer Handbook. Thank you for volunteering, thank you for fulfilling your commitment and thank you for your continued support of future events in Kingston and Calabogie.
Never forget that “Volunteers Make It Happen!”
Cheers to all – Ken Thompson, Chairman, Volunteer Services
VOLUNTEER ACCREDITATION and CHECK-IN
All volunteers are required to have registered with the Games Organizing Committee (GOC) and be on the official games Volunteer Database.
ACCREDITATION: Volunteers will receive an official Accreditation Badge at the time of checking-in for first shift. The Accreditation Badge must be worn when on duty. The Accreditation Badge is also the volunteer ticket for Closing Ceremony Entertainment --- the Abrams Brothers Show --- 7:00 p.m. at the K-ROCK Centre, Saturday, January, 23. Do not lose your Accreditation Badge. Volunteers will also receive a Games Souvenir Tuque and other items.
CHECK-IN: First Shift - Check in 30 minutes prior to your shift with the Volunteer Services Committee (VSC) member at the venue to which you are assigned, for specific directions. Subsequent Shifts – please be early for your shift (20 minutes) to ensure a smooth transition of duties and let the VSC person know you are ready to work.
If you are unable to make your shift call Ken Thompson at 613-217-8892 and we will try to fill your spot.
Light refreshments will be available for volunteers.
Those volunteers requiring verification of Volunteer Community Service should obtain the necessary form and have it signed by the venue VSC member or Venue Manager.
Any volunteer questions or concerns should be initially addressed to the venue VSC member. The athletes appreciate your support and efforts to make their games a success.
MEDICAL AND SAFETY INFORMATION
Certified medical personnel are on duty at all sports venues to assist with any emergencies that may arise during the games. Medical personnel will be clearly identified.
DISABILITY INFORMATION
Some athletes have a congenital disability (i.e., born with their disability) while others may have an acquired disability (i.e., due to an accident, injury or illness).
There are four (4) general disability groups as outlined below.
Amputee and Les Autres form one group but are broken down separately here.
- Arm or leg or single, double or multiple amputations
- Combination / variation of wheelchair users, crutch users, artificial limb users
- Athletes also fall into this group when they do not fit into the classification(s) of other groups (e.g., athletes with dwarfism, Athroygryposis, etc.)
Athletes using wheelchairs
- Paraplegic, tetraplegic and quadriplegic
- Spinal bifida (a congenital form of paraplegia) – some of whom use crutches in their daily mobility but all of whom compete in wheelchairs
Athletes with Cerebral Palsy (CP)
- Other athletes with CP may use wheelchairs, canes, crutches or have Service Dogs
- Some require the assistance of attendants
- Sometimes the disability is difficult to detect
- At times, traditional methods of communication are challenged and assistive technologies are used (e.g., computerized communication)
Athletes with Blindness / Visual Impairment
- Some athletes have attendants (human guides)
- Some athletes require the use of white canes
- Some athletes have Guide Dogs
- Yes, the blind do indeed lead the blind (athletes with less impaired vision often lead fellow teammates; sometimes there is a train of athletes)
- Sometimes the disability is really difficult to detect
Note: Many athletes will bring extra wheelchairs / crutches / artificial limbs needed for sport-specific uses.
SENSITIVITY INFORMATION
6 Barriers to people with disabilities:
- Architectural Barrier
- Attitudinal Barrier
- Physical Barrier
- Policy / Practice Barrier
- Information of Communication Barrier
- Technological Barrier
Person First or Preferred Language and Terminology
Words to Avoid:
- Afflicted, Suffer, Sufferer, Victim, Confined, Handicapped, Crippled, Crazy, Electric Chair, Insane, Normal
- Also avoid using “the”. (E.g., “The” disabled; this categorizes people into one experience. Everyone is an individual, whether or not they are people with disabilities.)
| Instead of... | Use... | |
| birth defect | congenital disability | |
| blind people | visually impaired | Some may be partially sighted, visually impaired, or have low vision; partially blind |
| brain-damaged | person with a brain injury | |
| confined to a wheelchair or wheelchair bound | person who uses a wheelchair or wheelchair user | A wheelchair provides mobility for persons who cannot walk. It is not confining |
| crazy or insane | person with a mental illness | |
| crippled | person with a disability | or be more specific; e.g., person/he/she walks with crutches or leg braces or uses a mobility aid |
| disabled athlete | athlete with a disability | |
| electric wheelchair | power chair / power wheelchair | |
| handicap | person with a disability | |
| MS person | person who has MS or multiple sclerosis | |
| Normal | able-bodied, temporarily able-bodied, or non-disabled; | or be specific with such terms as sighted, ambulatory |
| physically challenged | person with a physical disability |
To view the Volunteer Handbook: Volunteer Handbook (doc) or Volunteer Handbook (pdf)
