Thanks, Jane.
Thanks again for the opportunity to be here this morning.
I'll offer just one or two considerations, I think. From my own experience, as a person with a disability who was born blind, and who grew up with brothers who were blind as well, we were very fortunate, I think, to really be challenged. That's number one. I think that's a really important thing for a person with a disability. People with disabilities need to be challenged in the same way as able-bodied people of all abilities.
We were challenged to play in our neighbourhood when we were growing up. We played soccer with a ball that had a plastic grocery bag attached around it, which allowed us to hear the ball in the air and have the experience of playing soccer. Out of that, we had the confidence to become involved in other sports. For me, I got involved in track, in middle-distance running. I've had the fortunate experience of competing three times at the Paralympics.
The common denominator, really, has been being challenged all the way through--by my parents, by coaches, by teachers in school, and also by guide runners with whom I've run. So challenge is very important.
As well, I think giving educators and coaches and parents the tools to know how to assist a person with a disability is very important. That's some of the work we're doing with Active Living Alliance. In the program I work with, we promote inclusive strategies so that people know how to help people with a disability, how to challenge them to overcome their situations, to evolve and grow as individuals, and to realize their human potential.
I'll pass it back to Jane, who's going to talk about some of the programs we offer at the alliance.