Yvonne Spicer | Actor from London, UK My Volunteer Experience Extra-curricular Activities– ODSP Action Coalition, Community Living Ontario, New Vision Advocates, Elections Ontario Accessibility Committee, Community Living Agencies & Miss All Canadian Pageants. Describe my volunteer experience, Hello, my name is Yvonne Spicer, and I am self-advocate living with a disability, She’s live in London, Ontario. Yvonne have been a valuable member of Community living Ontario Yvonne is an individual who brings advocacy and a strong passion for the sector and would represent families and the self-advocates on the board in a positive way. Yvonne is a currently a college student and she is taking a course specialized for persons with disabilities in Fanshawe College. She is currently in her last term and is currently taking Early Childhood Education electives courses in hopes with her experience she can achieved she can locate a job once the course is completed. Yvonne is someone who enjoys giving back and helping others who have disabilities. When she is with someone and she notices they are shy Yvonne continues to provide assistance to the person by getting to know them and work with them to give them the strength and courage to locate their voice and encourage them to speak up for themselves. Yvonne’s experience and skills are through advocating for persons with disabilities to the Ministry of Community and Social Services of the needs and issues people are facing in their daily life living with a disability. Yvonne was instrumental on starting a self-advocacy committee within Community Living North Halton in 2007. Yvonne has been a valuable member of the New Vision Advocates she is a part of, that has made several presentations in the community to various groups, conferences, and self-advocate groups. These presentations are often focused on providing information sharing of who we are and what we do. Yvonne have participated in many roles on The Council for Community Living Ontario for 12 years. She has been the chair person, for 2 years, an acting secretary for 1 year and the vice chair for 2 years. Yvonne has been on several committees inside Community Living Ontario and being an active voice for the council. She has been on the Milton Accessibility Advisory Committee for 4 years and was instrumental in speaking up for many people who have disabilities in the community of Milton. Yvonne had been currently on the Board of Directors with Community Living North Halton as a self-advocate in which she brings the voices of self-advocates to the for front every month and ways we can create changes in the system. Yvonne has the experience of board governance training, advocacy and understands the waitlist issues in Ontario are a severe issue in the work Community Living Ontario is currently working on with the Ministry of Community and Social Services. The experience she has gained has given her considerable exposure and insight into the work being done in the Community Living movement and the need for the continued effort and advocacy not only provide a more inclusive community but to provide an environment where people have access to supports that they may need to live a good life in the community. Yvonne is responsible, diligent and dependable through the work with self-advocates and the community of business owners. She continues to be an active community member in London by being involved with the New Vision Advocates and Community Living London. Yvonne understands and supports the mission of Community Living Ontario in addition to having a disability, she has learned how to speak up for herself and encouraging others by working together in addition to being a council member with Community Living Ontario it has given her a better insight on the issues facing people with disabilities living below the poverty line and being a person on ODSP.