Vickie Cammack's blog

A winding path leads to Lyn’s brightly painted front door.  The bell is barely rung and there she is, eyes twinkling, smile beaming, extending her hand in welcome.  ‘How lovely to see you,’ Lyn says in her low, genteel voice.

Friends of ours recently held a service for their stillborn first child. It was courageous thing to do. And, for those of us in attendance, it was a miraculous to experience . By sharing their sadness and their love for their beautiful daughter they birthed her into the world.

On our recent trip to Europe I had the privilege of seeing the steely force of love in action - mothers.  In England, Scotland, the Netherlands and Greece mothers are embracing some of our thorniest societal challenges to create social and economic justice for their sons and daughters with disabilities.

No question about it.  The yearning to belong truly is universal.  Today in Brussels, as we shared PLAN stories to representatives from 32 countries, we touched common ground.

Ruth Jones and Gary Nixon are two powerful leaders in the disability community in New Zealand.  They will be married early next year.  They are seen here enjoying some 'Kiwi Kai' (Maroi cuisine).  Ruth is an eloquent and commanding speaker.  She welcomed everyone to our presentation earlier in the day in Maori.  (Maori is frequently spoken here, woven throughout the culture.)  She led everyone in a song whose

These images are of the council chambers in Rotaroura.  The chambers are housed in a beautiful building that incorporates Maori design and the golden woods of New Zealand.  On the screen is a opening shot of  the CBC National documentary on PLAN member David Cohen.  We showed it to a variety of audiences here and there was rarely a dry eye in response to his remarkable story.  This particular sessi

With the constant hum of 21st century distractions as our backdrop we are distanced from each other. When I am worried about traffic or wondering who is emailing me, when I composing what I want to say or hear the vibrating noise of my Blackberry I am not fully present in the situation. When I am removed from the present, like a disabled transmitter, I am unable to fully give or receive.

The following is a speech presented by Vickie at PLAN's Annual General Meeting in September 2007: