Corey Fisher's Speech

Honourable Claude Richmond, Honourable Shirley Bond, staff and clients of CAYA, Communication Assistance for Young Adults,  our families and friends,

Can you imagine living your life without a way to let people know what is on your mind?   What if you couldn’t tell your friends or family how you feel?  Or what you want to do?  What you want to see at the theatre?  What food you want to order at the restaurant??? 

I know what this is like because I speak with a language called Minspeak on a communication device.  And if I didn’t have this I wouldn’t be able to do any of those things or be here today to thank you for the supports that are being added to CAYA.

I have graduated from Highland Senior Secondary in the Comox Valley.  Because I have had equipment and support, I was able to say what I wanted to take and do.

I wrote and performed a part for my Theatre 12 production on Peer Pressure, I kept stats for my school sports teams and I wrote sports trivia for my school newspaper.  My favourite course was Rhythm and Blues where I played percussion in the jazz band with my technology. 

With my device, I can give my dog Rico commands. I can talk to my staff on my own ~ directing my care and the things I want, like Taco salads for dinner, when I need rest, or need my shoes off. 

Over the past year I have become really high tech doing my emails, Internet, Facebook, and cell phone , all run through my system.   With my device, I can have fun with my friends and I can be a friend.  Maybe even a boyfriend!

Now I am making a movie about the rest of my life because there is still a lot to do!  I want a job! I want my own place to live.  I wasn’t able to get into college this year to learn more about getting and taking care of my own assist dog. I still want to do that!

I want to meet other people like me who are a little older and find out how they make things work in their lives.
I want to be a speaker and teach people about minspeak.

. . . and now, CAYA will be there to continue to help me as I grow older.

If I didn’t have my voice or my support, I would feel very sad.  I wouldn’t be talking to you today.
So, thank you very much from me and my CAYA friends ~ With your help, we can do more than imagine living our lives. . . we can all live great lives!