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  • Career Profile: Golf Caddy

    Career Profile: Golf Caddy

    Playing games can be fun and relaxing, but sometimes people need help. If you play any team sports, you know how important it is to work together with the others to get a goal or a touchdown. Golf is not normally a team game, but the players can often use help. Golf caddies used to be essential to the game. Even though fewer people work in this field than in the past, it can still be an interesting job to have for people who enjoy golf and spending time outdoors.

    Before the invention of golf carts, caddies were essential to every golf course. Golf clubs and other equipment can be very heavy, and caddies would carry everything so that the players could concentrate on the game. They would estimate distances between wherever the ball landed and advise the players on the best club to use and smooth out any part of the course that got disturbed so that it would be good for the next player. They would look at the weather, ground conditions, and other factors and try to help make the game more enjoyable for everyone involved.

    With motorized carts, most players no longer need caddies to carry their heavy bags around, and many of them prefer to make their own decisions about how to play the game. However, caddies are still necessary in some contexts. Elderly players, for example, might not have the strength to carry golf bags and might also appreciate having someone to help them decide about their next move. In addition, professional players normally have caddies who can tell them about the course and make sure that they can concentrate on the game. A good caddy can help a player win important tournaments and win large prizes.

    Becoming a golf caddy takes time and experience but no particular education. Basic math skills are important for keeping score, and knowledge of weather patterns can help. However, the most important requirements are to know about the game and to know the particular golf course where the people are playing. Caddies need to know where the player has to hit the ball next and what might cause problems along the way. Caddies also need to know the rules of golf and how to use all of the different equipment.

    Salaries for golf caddies can vary a lot. Some people in this field work for one or two golf courses and receive regular salaries. Others get paid according to each bag that they carry and can earn up to about $5000 in one summer. In professional tournaments, caddies often also receive a percentage of the prize money if the golfer wins. Sometimes this amount can be quite large, and caddies can earn a lot of money by doing their job well. If this idea is appealing to you, why not start practicing your golf skills?

    Bibliography:

    Answers.com. “How Much Do Caddies Earn.” http://www.answers.com/Q/How_much_do_caddies_earn.

    Careers.org. “Career Occupational Profile for: Golf Caddy.” http://www.careers.org/occupations/16812/golf-caddy

    Cameron, Patrick. “How Much Money Do Golf Caddies Make?” http://www.golflink.com/tips_5167_much-money-do-golf-caddies.html.

    Herrfeldt, Bill. “How to Be a Golf Caddy.” http://www.golflink.com/how_1185_be-golf-caddy.html.

    Payscale.com. “Average Salary for Industry: Golf Course.” http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Industry=Golf_Course/Salary.

    Roland, James. “How to Become a Professional Golf Caddy.” http://golftips.golfsmith.com/become-professional-golf-caddy-1888.html.

    Wikihow.com. “Be a Golf Caddy.” http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Golf-Caddy.

  • Career Profile: Farrier

    Career Profile: Farrier

    Imagine becoming a doctor who specializes in toenails. Do you think that you would get much work with something that specific? Farriers have the very special job of looking after horses’ hooves, trimming them and putting on shoes if necessary. If you like horses and can manage the demands of the work, this job might be right for you.

    How much time do you take every week to trim your toenails or fingernails? Depending on how quickly they grow, you might have to cut them every few days or maybe once every two or three weeks. Horses’ hooves are like nails, and they need to be trimmed regularly. Depending on where they live and what kinds of ground they walk on, horses also often need shoes on their hooves. Farriers work with every aspect of hoof care, including treating any diseases that might develop. They need to know all about cleaning dirt out of hooves, keeping them healthy, and anything else that might affect the horses’ ability to walk comfortably.

    Knowing a lot about horses is the first step in becoming a farrier. People who regularly ride horses know how the hooves can collect dirt and small stones which can cause a lot of pain for the horse. They know how to lift one foot up at a time and clean out anything that might cause problems.

    That is basically what farriers do. They work with horses to keep the hooves clean and healthy. If necessary, they replace horseshoes with new shoes that they have either bought or made themselves. Farriers need to be able to lift heavy objects and to be able to stand for many hours as they work. They have to be able to work with tools and sometimes also to be able to make horseshoes, nails, and anything else that they need.

    Learning to become a farrier involves a combination of education and experience. Many farriers learn through apprenticeships in which they work with other farriers for a year or two. Courses in animal care or blacksmithing can also be helpful, and anything else that might help with understanding horses. However, most of what farriers learn comes on the job in dealing with horses and discovering what works.

    Most farriers get paid by the horse instead of receiving an hourly wage. They can often receive $30 or $40 for each time they trim a horse’s hooves, which usually needs to be done about every six weeks. In parts of Canada, farriers earn between about $14,000 and $32,000, although some can earn more. However, they also need to pay for their equipment, insurance, vehicle, and anything else that they need to do their job. It helps to be able to get a job at a ranch or somewhere else with a large number of horses to provide a regular source of income.

    Do you love horses? Why not become a farrier?

    Bibliography:

    Careers.org. “Career Occupational Profile for: Farrier.” http://www.careers.org/occupations/16531/farrier

    Kramer, Mary Hope. “Farrier.” http://animalcareers.about.com/od/Careers/a/Farrier.htm.

    Legel, Ray. “How Much do you Really Make?” http://www.thefarrierguide.com/employment-guide/how-much-do-you-really-make/.

    Salary.com. “Farrier Job Description.” http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Farrier-Job-Description.aspx.

    Salary.com. “Farrier Salaries in Ontario, CA.” http://www1.salary.com/CA/Ontario/Farrier-salary.html.

    Young Rider.com. “Horse Care – Friends With the Farrier.” http://www.youngrider.com/horse-care/job-of-a-farrier-3392.aspx.

     

  • NEADS: 2015-2016 Residence Programs

    Applications are currently being accepted for the 2015-2016 The Sharon Wolfe Artist in Residence Program

    The Sharon Wolfe Artist in Residence Program facilitates a disability and/or mad-identified artist to undertake a project that advances their own artistic goals and practice, and which has the potential to benefit the wider community of artists with disabilities.

    For the last 13 years, Tangled has been presenting and promoting the work of exceptionally talented disability-identified artists across the entire spectrum of disciplines. The Sharon Wolfe Artist in Residence Program allows us to take this mandate a step further. And, while funding poses a significant challenge for all artists, people with disabilities encounter a host of additional institutional and bureaucratic barriers.

    Named in honour of the organization’s founding Artistic Director Sharon Wolfe, The Sharon Wolfe Artist in Residence Program provide artists with a $5000 stipend, as well as access to a shared studio space at the prestigious 401 Richmond art space for up to 2 months to allow an artist to devote themselves to a specific program of work. The body of work produced during this residency will be publicly exhibited. During their residency, the selected artist will also be contributing to a larger dialogue and sense of engagement with both the Tangled community and the wider community of disability artists.

    Eligibility:

    The Sharon Wolfe Artist in Residence Program is intended to benefit disability and/or mad identified artists who have completed basic education or training in their discipline and can demonstrate a history of professional practice and exposure. The residency is open to artists who have a clearly defined project that they wish to undertake during this residency.The residency is open to Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. They need not be residents of Toronto, but they must be prepared to spend at least one month of their residency in Toronto at their own expense. Tangled will provide assistance in locating appropriate, accessible accommodation in the city.

    Applications must include:

    • A professional cv • A 2-3 page (max) description of the intended project indicating the connection to   the artists developing body of work and the potential benefit to the larger Disability   Arts community • A schedule and time-line for the project • A budget indicating how the funds would be spent: i.e. subsistence, travel,   materials, equipment, and accommodation. • Applicants are also welcome to include support materials documenting their work.

    Applications will be assessed on the basis of:

    • Artistic merit; • Relevance to the applicant’s professional advancement; • The viability of the proposed program of work and budget; and • Overall value to the field of Disability Arts and its community at large.

    Applications will be accepted between August 10 and September 15, 2015. Applicants will be notified about the jury’s decision by the beginning of October 2015. Questions about this residency can be directed to Eliza Chandler at eliza@tangled.org or 647-725-5064. Completed applications should be sent to: eliza@tangledarts.org

    Tangled Art + Disability 401 Richmond St. W Ste S-30 Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8 Telephone: 647-725-5064 Fax: 1-888-845-7775

    Website: http://tangledarts.org/ Email: info@tangledarts.org

  • NEADS Job Board: August 2015

    Event Planner position with the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) – Apply by August 5, 2015

    Organization: National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS).

    Website: www.neads.ca Part-Time Contract (2 year project)

    Hourly compensation: $22.50 per hour

    Location: Ottawa

    Job description:

    The Event Planner will plan 7 full-day employment workshops from October, 2015 to March 2017 in cities across Canada.

    The Association’s head office is in Ottawa, but the consultant can work on the project from anywhere in Canada. Required skills and knowledge:

    Previous experience with the planning of conferences/workshops/meetings;

    Must be detail-oriented, thorough and precise;

    Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;

    Communicates professionally at all times including when under pressure;

    Must be able to work to deadlines;

    Familiarity with database software and management an asset:

    Works well with a team and independently;

    Bilingualism an asset.

    Education and Qualifications:

    Post-secondary education preferred, either current student or recent graduate.

    In order to apply for this position, please email your CV and a covering letter explaining your suitability for the job (with the subject line: NEADS Event Planner) to: Frank Smith, National Coordinator by August 5, 2015: frank.smith@neads.ca

  • NEADS Events of the Month: August 2015

    Organizer: Reclaiming Our Bodies and Minds: Inter-Campus Disability Services Conference

    Title: Reclaiming Our Bodies and Minds: Inter-Campus Disability Services Conference

    Category: Education

    Location: Toronto, Ontario

    Date:   August 5, 2015

    Web site: https://reclaimingourbodiesandminds.wordpress.com/

    Description: The first general programming meeting for Reclaiming Our Bodies and Minds, and inter-campus disability conference in Toronto.

    ROBAM 2016 First Planning Meeting

    August 5 2015

    3:00 P.M.

    Room 310, Student Campus Centre

    The meeting will be in a brightly lit, wheelchair accessible room on the third floor of the building. There will be seats and free water available. No loud startling sounds or sights are expected. There is transit and parking nearby. We ask that all participants help make the room a safer, sober, scent-free disability, mad, and Deaf-positive space. Should you have any accommodations, such as live-captioning that you will need in order to attendance please contact us as soon as you can.

    Conference links:

    Website: https://reclaimingourbodiesandminds.wordpress.com/

    2015 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/766223156804254/

    Email: ryeaccess@rsuonline.ca and reclaimconference@gmail.com

     

     

    Organizer: Richmond Centre for Disability

    Title: Richmond Centre for Disability – Technology Fair Through A Disability Lens

    Category: Accessibility

    Location: Richmond, British Columbia

    Date: August 15, 2015

    Telephone: 604-232-2404

    Web site: http://www.rcdrichmond.org/NewsAndEvents/TechFair/TechFair_Att_Reg.php

    Description: Richmond Centre for Disability (RCD) 30th Anniversary Celebrations – August Event

    As part of the year-long celebrations of the RCD’s 30 Anniversary, we are hosting a special August event – Technology Fair through a Disability Lens. The purpose of this inaugural event is to enable and facilitate “information sharing on modern technology that helps to build an easier and better life for everyone, including people with disabilities and diverse abilities”.

    When: August 15, 2015, Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    Where: Westminster Room

    Executive Airport Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre

    (7311 Westminster Hwy. Richmond, BC)

    FREE ADMISSION!

    The Technology Fair is open to everyone, aiming to empower people through technology. You can network, explore and be inspired. The fair features technologies that are for everyday usage.

    DOOR PRIZES!

    We have door prizes for the first 60 people who pre-register.

     To pre-register:

    – On-line registration (see below); or

    – Email your name, email and phone number to techfair2015@rcdrichmond.org

    Register NOW! Your door prize is waiting for you at the Technology Fair.

    HIGHLIGHTS!

    – Exhibitor displays & demonstrations

    – Technology presentations

    – Refreshment

    – Reduced parking fee ($3.5 event parking)

    Enquiries: Email techfair2015@rcdrichmond.org or call Viet at 604-232-2404

     

     

    Organizer: Workplace Essential Skills Partnership (WESP)

    Title: August Fast Track Workshop

    Category: Employment

    Location: Toronto, Ontario

    Date: August 17, 2015 – August 21, 2015

    Telephone: 416 260 3060 x234

    E-mail: skhan@ccrw.org

    Web site: http://www.ccrw.org/wesp

    Description: Workplace Essential Skills Partnership (WESP): Toronto’s premier pre-employment program for persons with disabilities operating under the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW) – a national not for profit organization dedicated to providing equitable and meaningful employment for persons with disabilities. For more details about registration, please see our event page at http://wespworkshop.eventbrite.ca or visit our home page at www.ccrw.org/wesp

     

  • Addictions: Everyone and Everything

    Addictions: Everyone and Everything

    News and stories on addiction seem to be everywhere, on T.V, in the paper/magazines and in books- even you may have an addiction to something. Overall, addictive behaviour in humans is common, no matter what the medium. Now, an addiction can be bad or really bad, since having too much of one thing is never healthy. Most people do not even realize they have and addiction to something because they may not want to realize they are addicted to something. It is sometimes difficult for someone to admit they are addicted to something. This takes time and support from others in order for the person to realize how bad their addiction really is.

    When we hear about someone being addicted to something, 9 times out of 10 we assume the addiction is to drugs; cocaine, prescription drugs, heroin, etc. However, the addiction does not always need to be a drug in that instance. You can be addicted to anything; video games, TV, candy, even people. A person can become addicted to caffeine or painkillers that you buy over the counter just as easily, and can be hidden from others, also. So when you watch My Strange Addiction, the people on that show really do not have an abnormal addiction; they are just like the rest of us. Although eating chalk is not necessarily like a shopping addict, we all have something that we cannot stop doing. We just generally call people addicts when they are addicted to something that could seriously harm them or ruin their health for the long run, or possibly kill them.

    Drugs like PCP (Phencyclidine), Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine (Meth), are generally what a person will think of when you picture a drug addict; these are some of the most chemically addictive drugs in the world. You don’t tend to picture someone drinking coffee or playing video games all day and all night. Some serious general effects of addiction to drugs can be brain damage, liver damage, and damage to your nervous system, heart problems, depression, memory loss, anxiety/paranoia, and many more. A most prominent and terrifying side effect can be death- scary, no? If you know someone suffering from a drug addiction or otherwise, encourage them to get help. It is our job as friends, family and neighbours, to stand beside those in need. However, you can only do so much to help people, sometimes. Just let them know you love them, and check up on them regularly. If you feel like you are having trouble with an addiction, it is never too late to stop.

     

    Reference:

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/addiction

     

  • Career Profile: Business Interviewer

    Career Profile: Business Interviewer

    Some people are good at asking questions and getting people to talk about themselves. They know how to get to the core of an issue and retrieve the right information Does that describe you? If it does, you might want to consider a career in asking questions. Business interviewers work to help people get the information they need to work with others.

    Suppose a business owner wanted to sell dog food to a chain of grocery stores. The seller would have to know a lot about the buyers before they could really be sure of what kinds of products or services to offer. Maybe the grocery stores are in areas with many more cats than dogs. The seller is unlikely to make much money in that case.

    How can business owners find out what they need to know before they spend a lot of time on something that is unlikely to work? They can hire an interviewer who can go to the other businesses to find out what they need. The interviewer then does research on possible customers for the product or service and asks questions about what kind of help people want.

    If you’ve ever answered a survey, you know that the questions depend on what kind of information the people want to know. The same thing happens with business interviews. Good interviewers will choose their questions to reflect the kind of information that the company needs.

    Business interviewing requires many of the same skills as employers need for interviewing possible employees. Interviewers have to choose their questions carefully to get the right kind of information. They also have to be good at understanding what is not being said. In job interviews, people often leave out a lot of information, possibly because they are embarrassed about it or maybe they just think that it is not important. It is not mandatory to answer certain questions in a job interview, however. For example, it is illegal for an interviewer to ask how old you are when interviewing for a job position.

    Part of the job is to take the information that comes out of interviews and to assess it, deciding what to pursue if another interview is necessary. This step might require repeat visits to the company’s office to talk to people and to learn more about it. Business interviewers often work at whatever time suits the other person, and they might spend little time in their own offices.

    Becoming a business interviewer requires a thorough knowledge of the type of work that the company does. The interviewer has to know how well the products or services match with what other companies need. Being able to talk easily with other people is also necessary, and technical knowledge might also be required in some cases, especially for companies that deal with computers or other technology. Some full-time business interviewers earn about $12 per hour or more, but it depends on the company.

    Do you like to talk with people and to ask them questions? If so, you might be well suited for a job as a business interviewer.

    Bibliography:

    Business Interviews.com. “Our M.O.” http://www.businessinterviews.com/about/.

    Call Centre Job.ca. “Business Interviewer.” http://www.callcentrejob.ca/en/job-offer/qc/montreal/greenwich-associates-19272/business-interviewer/690610.

    Entrepreneur.com. “How to Conduct an Interview Effectively.” http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/225960.

    Statistics Canada. “Job Description (Interviewer).” http://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/employment/otheropp/interview/description.

     

  • Working in a Team and Managing Your Productivity

    Working in a Team and Managing Your Productivity

    Teamwork is a necessary skill. From group projects in elementary school to large-scale operations in the workforce, it is extremely likely that you are going to find yourself in team situations various times throughout your education and career.
    That doesn’t mean it’s easy to work in a team. Sometimes it may seem easier to work on your own. If you have ever had uncooperative group members, you know exactly what that refers to. Instead of having to deal with people who start conflict or don’t pull their weight, it can actually be easier to take on all the work yourself. The problem is that in reality, this won’t always hold up; especially in a professional situation, you certainly don’t want to come across as uncooperative yourself.

    The true benefit of teamwork is the fact that when it does work, the end product can turn out much better than it would have had you worked alone. It makes sense: a group consists of individual workers, each with their own talents, capabilities, and creative ideas to share. It is a relief to know that you don’t have to be responsible for absolutely everything, but instead can focus on what you do best. If your group members are compatible—or if they learn how to work around one another’s faults—you can help each other achieve excellent results.

    It is not enough for individual team members to be strong, if the group itself leaves something to be desired. Effective teamwork is therefore a valuable skill that must be cultivated. It is important to learn how to cooperate in pursuit of a shared goal. If you learn to work together, you will pull through together, and you can consequently reap the rewards.

    Here are three tips for making teamwork work for you:

    Know your strengths—and those of others. Before you start working together, do a makeshift skills assessment to see what certain group members do best. You can keep this in mind when splitting up the work.

    Communicate. Know where you’re at during every step of the process. This is even easier if you make use of technological tools—online document sharing services like Google Docs, as well as social media groups and messaging, can be lifesavers.

    Be fair but firm. If someone isn’t pulling their weight, hear them out before you cut them out. There might be extenuating circumstances, and they might still wish to contribute in another capacity. However, don’t let anyone get away with coasting and taking credit for the hard work of the rest of the group.

  • Paying it Forward with Volunteering

    Paying it Forward with Volunteering

    On special occasions such as birthdays or Christmas, many people like to give gifts to their family and friends. They might give objects like books or toys, or they might decide to give an experience like a trip to somewhere special.

    Often, people give gifts to people who have given them something in the past, but sometimes they help someone else instead. People call this action “paying it forward,” and one of the most common ways that people pay it forward is through volunteering. Do you ever pay it forward in this way?

    People have tried to help each other throughout history, but the term “pay it forward” is relatively new. It has become a popular idea since an author named Catherine Ryan Hyde used the term as the title of one of her books, in which she wrote about the concept of doing good things for others.

    The idea of paying it forward is fairly simple: people should give gifts or help to others instead of returning the favour only to the people who have helped them. For example, suppose that someone helped you by finding your lost bicycle. The next day, you might decide to help a third person with a problem that you know how to solve. That’s what paying it forward is all about; helping strangers or other people whom you might not normally help.

    Finding someone to help is not always very easy, but working for a volunteer project can be a good choice. Many Canadians are involved in volunteer work in different areas such as sports and recreation, social services, and education. They might coach a sports team, visit the elderly, or tutor at a school. Some people renovate houses for the poor or deliver baskets of food and gifts to people who can’t afford to buy what they need. Opportunities are available for almost any kind of volunteering.

    Suppose that you got help from a tutor in one of your classes when you were struggling to learn what you needed to know. You could pay it forward by volunteering as a tutor at your school or in a community centre. Or suppose that one of your friends wants to play on a sports team but lacks the necessary skills. Maybe you needed help when you wanted to get onto the team, and someone took the time to assist you. Now, maybe you want to give someone else the kind of help that you got. You and your friend could practice together after school.

    Volunteering and paying it forward is different for each person. Maybe you know how to teach writing or mathematics. Maybe you enjoy caring for animals or raking leaves. Whatever you can do to help people can be part of paying it forward. You might even start a new paying it forward movement and help to change the world, at least for a few people.

     

    Bibliography:

    Hay, Susan. Volunteer organization looks to ‘pay it forward’ http://globalnews.ca/news/1033474/walls-of-hope-make-a-difference-to-families-in-need/

    Pay It Forward Day.com. “About the Day.”

    http://payitforwardday.com/about/about-the-day/

    Vézina, Mireille and Susan Crompton. “Volunteering in Canada.” http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2012001/article/11638-eng.htm.

    Volunteer Action Centre. “Building Blocks for Youth Volunteer Engagement.” https://volunteer.ca/content/building-blocks-youth-volunteer-engagement.

     

     

  • It’s Okay to Need Help: Therapy and You

    It’s Okay to Need Help: Therapy and You

    Throughout life, everyone needs help. Whether it is a child learning to walk or speak, a teenager learning responsibility, or an adult learning how to truly listen. All of us have learned something, in different circumstances or the same. We will continue to need help and so will people in the next life (if there is one). So when your heart starts to get heavy and your eyes water, it is okay to crave a helping hand.

    Needing someone to talk too does not necessarily mean you are weak or needy. Everyone needs support without judgment; it is not an unnatural thing. That person can be a close friend, a close family member, as long as you can speak openly to them. They should never hold anything against you, and they should be trustworthy enough not to tell anyone else what you have divulged to them.

    Just because you need someone to talk to does not mean it has to be a therapist. It can be someone educated in helping others with their problems, i.e. a counsellor, social worker or mentor. Therapy comes from the Latin word therapīa which literally means “curing” or “healing”. So, therapy is only ever meant to help and in any way possible.

    There are different types of therapists to help with different types of problems, in different ways. The most common type of therapy is Psychotherapy:

    “Psychotherapy is therapy in which a person with mental or emotional problems talks with another person (talking therapies).This other person may be a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, clinical social worker, member of the clergy, alternative practitioner, or (to use the concept in its broadest sense) any helpful person. “[1]

    Here is a list of common psychotherapies and their focus:

     

    [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotherapy