To Hull And Back 2009: Just Before The Beginning

Monday, August 31, 2009

Just Before The Beginning

I am just trying to figure out this new concept (to me) of blogging. As I get this all straightened out, I will link to Facebook (new to me, as well) I am leaving on a cycling trip to Ottawa shortly, but am getting hung up on the technical stuff and on packing to go. The shopping for this trip has eaten more severely than I realised into my travel funds. I am feeling braindead from all the planning. I'm feeling nervous about the trip as I have never done this before, but I'm also very excited about going 'splorin' too!

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My Manifesto

To Hull and Back, Manifesto of a Mission
By Matthew S. Rehkoph

I am going on a journey to Hull and back. I know it's called Gatineau today, but that isn't very catchy. My journey is a mission to appeal to the Minister of Community and Social Services, the Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, MPP for the riding of Ottawa-Vanier. The appeal is for a reinstatement and equality of training funds for those of us on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). This funding appears to be highly discretionary in nature, with no appeals available if you don't agree with their decision. In the past, it used to be available to us on ODSP. People who are on Ontario Works (OW) are eligible for training funds, however, ODSP recipients are not, unless it is retraining for a former career, or simply support for going back into a trade that one already has experience in. Unfortunately, a number of us are now either disabled, or at least differently abled, or our former careers are no longer appropriate. For some of us, like myself, we have fallen through the cracks in the system and not been trained for any career better than dish washing or other thankless and highly stressful jobs.

I am personally trying to get funding to go into a one of a kind course in Professional Bicycle Mechanics at Winterbourne Bicycle Institute in Guelph through Conestoga College. This course is 11 days, 88 hours of intensive training with much after school homework. It is a certificate course. I've been told that if I were on OW, I would have had my funding already for the course, lodging in Guelph and transportation. While I don't expect to land a job immediately after finishing the course, it will give me a better idea of which direction I wish to go.

I am leaning towards a career somewhere such as Toronto's Community Bicycle Network, who helps those with some skills and an eagerness to get dirty and fix their own bike with assistance, or to starting my own shop, after getting in some experience in an established shop or two. I am interested in the idea of opening a late night bike repair shop, aimed at those who have had a breakdown after work, or after hours. Just think of the worst possible time to snap a brake cable, or twist your front wheel in streetcar tracks, and you would know when I want be open.

I have a grade 9 education, having been thrown around in a school system of the late '70's that didn't know what to do with kids who were different and required alternative teaching methods. Today, the school system would recognise a problem and step in. I am now 38 years old, and am good with my hands, and I have finally found a career I could be both a benefit to society, and be current with the times. My only stumbling block is that I am living on a fixed income that by its own rules, discourages most from getting ahead legitimately, and puts far too many barriers in our way. Like we needed any more barriers??? I don't intend to get off the system, I still need it for medical reasons. But, I would like to be less of a burden to society, and to be able to contribute more. I believe that I am not alone. I am not asking for more handouts, or free money. I want to work for it without adding further unnecessary stresses on my mind and body. While my challenge is of first benefit to myself, I would be very pleased if others could benefit as well. I am not the first with this dilemma, but I would like to be the last.

My struggle to get funding for my training has been going on since early May 2009. In a nutshell, I have been to every agency in Toronto that has been suggested to me, and been turned down for not qualifying for a number of reasons. Everything from not being eligible for EI to the course not being long enough to fit their funding guidelines. The ODSP directives suggest that if I can not find funding elsewhere, that they may fund it if it is approved for discretionary funds. The onus is on me to prove that I have exhausted my other resources. I don't know how to do this as there are no clear guidelines. I keep getting referred back to ODSP by being told that there is funding for me, but not by telling me how to get it.

Thomas Edison once was asked if he got discouraged by having so many failures inventing the light bulb. He replied that he had not been unsuccessful, he had learned 50 000 ways that it would not work, and that he would find the right one by trying more until he found the right one. I don't have his patience, but I too have learned many ways that don't work, now I hope that my journey will find the right way to be productive.

I am leaving Toronto by bicycle to Ottawa to ask that the government consider lowering some of these barriers so that those of us that would like to become productive may do so in our own ways and abilities. This journey will serve two purposes for me. First, I will get a much needed break from the big city, getting me to see the province in a way I've never done before, and second, to promote my cause to the minister responsible for my income and how it is applied. Non traditional people can be productive, just in non traditional ways. It bothers me to be doing nothing and not earning my way in life, possibly as much as it bothers many people that see us as just "welfare bums collecting the dole". I don't like sitting still, doing nothing, but I don't like getting in trouble trying to fill my time, and I believe that I still have a long time left in this world to be used wisely. Very expensive…

A short background on my different ability would include a possible undiagnosed learning disorder, a past of psychiatric treatment, and having lived with HIV since my October 1991 diagnosis. This was upgraded to AIDS last year, and I started medications, which seem to be doing quite well, providing me with even more time on my idle hands to become someone useful. People with HIV are living much longer with medications. AIDS is no longer the death sentence that it was once believed to be. With a lack of means to get ahead, this could be a considerable increase on public resources as medications are still very expensive. My medications cost the government about $1500.00 a month plus the $1200 that I get to live on for food, rent, clothing, toiletries, etc. I would like to better myself, and I'm sure there are many others that would do the same with the right help. It has been said that God helps those that help themselves, perhaps the government could do the same?

My journey will be as economical as is possible, without (knowingly) breaking any laws. I am relying on the kindness of others for donations of cash, bicycle supplies, bicycle clothing, trail support and experience. I have people who believe in what I am doing and that gives me the morale that I need to go where this man has not gone before. I will be cycling to Ottawa with stops along the way to see the attractions I have only dreamed of before, staying in homeless shelters if I can and promoting my cause along the way. I will be keeping a blog to chronicle my travels and success. I also will gladly acknowledge those who spport me with cash donations, supplies, shelter, food, information that helps my trek, unless they prefer to remain anonymous. I will also be adding photos as I am capable. I will be traveling lightly, but hope to bring souvenirs of my trip home to remember it by. I believe in this country, and that by showing that I am willing to do something with my life, that hopefully I can get the support that I need to improve my situation, and possibly for others as well.

With Many Thanks To My Sponsors

The wonderful and helpful staff at Central East Farm Supply, who kindly supplied me with reflective tape for my bike,and a reflective safety vest, at no charge, and also gave me a bottle of ice cold water, always welcome to a hot cyclist! ;-) www.cefs.com
The staff and residents at Shardon Manor for a great breakfast, good chat and a good night's rest in Smith's Falls
The kind folks at Smith's Falls Rail Museum for trail and train advice/info
My unnamed friend from Kingston who is on the way to Windsor , thanks for coffee money
Kendra in Ottawa for advice and help towards seeing the sights
Bill in Newcastle for supper in Kingston
John Nelson for support letter and other services
TPWAF for info and intellectual support
Kerry@Urbane Cycle for trail info
Sherri@CBN The Panniers are working Great, THANX!!!
Jordan@FVC for cycle clothes
Carol@Express Pizza
Meghan
Community Bicycle Network for Bike Stuff and Service Extreme

To Hull And Back 2009

Monday, August 31, 2009

Just Before The Beginning

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About Me

B/A Newcastle

Me at the Oshawa McLaughlin Library

My Manifesto

With Many Thanks To My Sponsors

The Night Before