2011 Scholarship Entry #56: Kirsten Kinsella

In today's society the number of people living with disabilities is growing drastically. This is a challenge to our society because it must learn to adapt to this changing demographic. My name is Kirsten Kinsella, my passion is creating relationships with people who have been categorized as disabled and working with them to improve their quality of life. I am currently employed by the Centre for Autism, and my main responsibility is to program and facilitate a socialization group for children between the ages of 8-14 who have autism. My work allows me to play as well as enter the minds of children who are sometimes misunderstood by society and its norms. I want to create opportunities for students with disabilities to express themselves and interact with others through socialization. I am currently working towards my degree in education at the University of Alberta. Once I graduate, I plan on working with students of all abilities. My priority will mainly be with students who are more vulnerable and my focus will be integrating them into a mainstream classroom.

This past summer I was given the opportunity to expand my knowledge and understanding of people with disabilities when I worked at Camp He Ho Ha. Camp He Ho Ha provides recreational opportunities for children with disabilities, and adults of all ages with every degree of disabilities. Working at this camp has changed my life by helping me realize the beauty and potential that people with disabilities possess. I feel this potential is underestimated in the classroom dynamic today. When I graduate, I want to help remove the barrier that some people have regarding disabilities, and try to give all my students the best educational experience. I am preparing for this by gaining more experience working with a variety of individuals with a wide range of disabilities as well as integrating myself in events that allow me to see into the lives of the children that I could be working with.

I dream with an international scope; that I could share my thoughts and ideas with more than just Canada. I would like to travel to countries where there are no systems or societies in place to advocate for children and adults with disabilities. I would begin by educating parents of disabled children, introducing them to new and more effective ways of interacting with, communicating with, and understanding their children. I want to catalyze the establishment of education, integration, and cooperation amongst those with disabilities and those that may not understand them. In most cultures, people who have disabilities are constantly undervalued and hidden from the world when in fact they should be honoured for value, sincerity, and genuineness. It is my life's goal to find these hidden areas of society, and bring light to them; the light of acceptance and understanding.