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by LEN LOPEZ , Support program Coordinator/Counsellor
Support Program Committee Retreat
The Support Program Committee will be holding a retreat on
October 18th and 19th for committee and program development.
This much anticipated meeting will be an opportunity for the
Committee to discuss recent developments in HIV/AIDS treatments
and how to adapt the Support Program to meet the changing needs
of ACAS service users. ACAS PHA clients continue
to be involved in this process through consultation at Client
Socials and participation on the Support Program Committee.
Issues to be discussed at the Support Program Retreat include:
- treatment information translation resource development
- PHA health promotion strategies
- Asian PHA Power Project
- substance use and addictions
- future PHA retreats
- fundraising for PHA Grants
- Vietnamese language support
- client social
- support volunteer program
- PHA TAB workshop
If you have any suggestions or issues you think need to be
discussed, please contact Len at ACAS by October 15, 1997. We
will continue to inform you about the plans and goals we will
set for the next few years.
JOSE'S ROOM
The drop-in centre, library, training room was named in honour
of one of our former Board Members and Vice-President of the
Support Program the late Jose Olicia. As you may have noticed,
we are in the process of reorganizing and redecorating this room.
If you have any furniture you would like to donate, (particularly,
framed prints, bookshelves, pamphlet magazine racks, chairs or
a sofa) please contact William at ACAS.
by James Grasley , ACAS Member & Volunteer
I'm James Grasley, an active member of ACAS for a number of
years. My late partner Jose Olicia Jr. was a former member of
the Board and Vice-President of the Support Program. We were
both clients of the Support Program and I have continued to receive
support from ACAS after Jose passed away.
I would like to take this time to share a special moment of
my late partner, Jose. Jose always felt the need and the love
and care for all who are committed to this wonderful organization
that makes every day living with AIDS bearable. As a member of
the Board, Jose continued to show active concerns and exceptional
stamina throughout his entire illness not wanting to slow down
his work at ACAS no matter how bad his condition was -
always willing to lend an ear or a hand to the end. At the time
it was a difficult decision letting him continue his work for
I was more concerned with his health. I have learned since then
that to have taken any part of ACAS away would have been
detrimental to Jose. I have come to respect, honour, all who
are involved with ACAS and hope now that I have chosen
to become more involved in the program it too will someday help
me.
The Support Program has been of vital significance in that
Jose and myself have received excellent counselling, care, and
services from all aspects of ACAS. I appreciated the highly
supported efforts by all involved with Jose's care and the help
I received to grasp and understand what I was going through at
a very difficult time for myself, his family and many friends.
I would like to acknowledge sincere thanks to all members of
ACAS including Dr.. Alan Li, William Lau, Len Lopez, and
Alma Ramos for their tireless efforts in making me understand
the qualities and love there are from people like you. May the
organization continue to have success in the future for all persons
like myself and others living with HIV/AIDS. Without their help,
what would become of us as individuals with no support. Their
dedication and commitment to the community has proven without
doubt they are the best.
PHA is an acronym for Person Living with HIV/AIDS
CNIB
The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) held
a training workshop for Toronto area HIV/AIDS Support Program
staff and volunteers on June 25/97 to provide an orientation
of their services to visually impaired PHAs (as a result of CMV
retinitis). An impressive range of services including talking
books in Asian languages, workshops to facilitate mobility, and
Asian language interpreters demonstrated the CNIB's commitment
to accessibility to diverse communities. If you are a PHA and
are visually impaired, please contact Len at ACAS on how
to access services at the CNIB.
CLIENT SOCIAL
A Client Social was held on July 23/97. Issues to be discussed
at the Support Program Committee Retreat were reviewed and discussed.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 15/97. This will
be a final opportunity to share ideas for the future of the Support
Program before the Support Program Committee Retreat. As well,
we will discuss ideas about the distribution of the limited quantities
of vitamins donated to ACAS. Please contact Len at ACAS
for more details.
SPIRITUAL RESOURCES
A special thank you to Lily Hu and Minh Ta who donated a collection
of books on Buddhism as well as some vitamins to the ACAS Support
Program. The books are available for loan from Kirby's Room at
ACAS. The distribution of the limited quantities of vitamins
will be discussed by ACAS services users at the next Client Social
on October 15/97.
ACAS is continuing to accept donations of books from
other religions to represent the diversity of the other spiritual
groups of our service users. If you have a donation for our collection,
please contact Len at ACAS.
ACAS welcomes the submission of articles for consideration
in our newsletters. If you would like to write about your experiences
living with HIV/AIDS, share your story or information, please
contact Len at ACAS.
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