Vancouver workshop

Tetra Society volunteers are opening up their Vancouver workshop to people with disabilities.

The Tetra Society of North America is a non-profit society that recruits engineers to volunteer their time to create one-of-a-kind gizmos for people with disabilities to overcome mobility-related obstacles. Experienced Vancouver volunteers have branched out and are offering classes for anyone with a disability interested in learning how to use workshop equipment to produce craft projects.

Titled Tetra Ability Opportunities– or TAO – it provides a unique opportunity to learn and practice craft skills in a 620-square-foot, fully accessible workshop. Opened June 2010 at the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre (818 West 10th St., Vancouver) it features a table saw, mitre saw, band saw, drill press wood burning kit and a variety of hand tools.

Over the past year, dozens of people with a range of disabilities have completed projects there.

“We encourage people to do whatever they can physically do,” explained Tetra volunteer George Shipley. “We are there to advise and inspire people – but mainly to guarantee safety.

“Some people that come along to the workshop are just curious to see what there is, and some are there because it will give them broader experience, and some have a specific project in mind. In addition, there’s definitely a social aspect involved.

“It’s something different. People tell me that when they are working on an art project they can forget about everything else.”

It costs $10 per session for classes, which are run in four-week blocks, every Thursday between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. with time for a lunch break.

For more information, contact George Shipley by email or at 604-596-9404.

Outcomes: Elaine’s story

Opportunities to create art in a new medium are opening doors for Elaine Lee.

But then, as Elaine is proud to say, she’s spent her whole life overcoming obstacles.  “With hands as tiny as a newborn baby, nobody knew what I’d be capable of – not even I knew,” she said.

“Born with a rare condition known as osteogenesis imperfect – known as brittle bones – I was never expected to live past the age of two. I spent my first five years living in the hospital where I baffled doctors, family and friends by overcoming every fathomable challenge.”

An acclaimed artist, inspired and tutored by Canadian painter Ted Harrison, she has been drawing and painting in acrylics for most of her 32 years.

But earlier this year, Lee got to try woodwork through the Tetra Ability Opportunities project, which gives people with disabilities hands-on workshop skills. It’s operated by the Tetra Society of North America at a 620-square-foot, fully accessible workshop located at Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, Vancouver.

“Never in a million years did I ever imagine that I would be getting down and dusty on a scroll saw, electric drill, banging nails, creating everything from small wooden animals, designing unique benches and making pretty pictures with wood burning tools,” she said.

Support

Thanks to a generous grant from the RBC Foundation, Tetra volunteers can continue running this innovative program for people with disabilities. Their donation, presented November 2011 will cover operational expenses, ranging from adaptation to equipment to shop supplies.

Main workshop sponsor:

Tetra is an independent non-profit that provides custom assistive devices to people with significant physical disabilities. Its volunteer engineers work one-on-one with those with a specific need that cannot be met by commercial aids.

If you are in need of an assistive device to overcome some sort of daily barrier, or else would like to give your technical services to help out, or donate money to enable us to continue to serve people with disabilities, please contact us at head office.