the

Volume IV No. 35 December 6, 1982

informer

United Way: a personal meaning

"Go'' was the first word he uttered

clearly. That was two years ago. In a way
it was very symbolic because Michael

(Misha) Wittman, now four years old, has
Cerebral Palsy (brain damage at birth) and

cannot go. As a spastic quadriplegic, he
has limited muscle control and breath

control which, in turn, affect speech.
However, this year Misha has started to

gain more head control than ever before.
Much of this progress is directly

attributable to the work of the physio,
speech and occupational therapists at the

Vancouver Neurological Centre, a non-
profit organization funded, in part, by

the United Way.
With reduced government subsidies, the

Centre Is even more dependent on the
United Way--if the Centre is to continue

to meet the needs of children like Misha.
These needs also include complex,

specialized and expensive medical
equipment.

"Universal health care is a Fallacy in
BC,'' says Martin Wittman, instructor in

Communications. There is a detectable note
of bitterness in Martin's voice as he

explains the dilemna brought about by
shortages in funding: ''Whereas the

majority of CP's children have an inherent
normal intelligence, their physical

disability--if not treated and decreased--
eventually leads to a situation where

physical retardation becomes
indistinguishable from mental retardation.

Thus the urgent need for continued and
intensive therapy treatment at an early
age."'

The Wittmans are extremely grateful to the

United Way for the help it has provided.
With increased head control Misha's sense

of balance should increase, thereby
allowing him to sit by himself unsupported

--some day. His communications skills have
also increased; it's wonderful to hear him

say "love you."

C=
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Last chance to contribute
All of us meet with problems that we
cannot handle alone and it is then that we

realize how much we depend on the many
agencies funded by the United Way. If you

have not yet donated to this year's
campaign, there is still time. To make

donations contact Averil McCreadie, local
369, by December 8. One day's pay is the

suggested giving guideline, but the United
Way will be more than happy to receive any

donation you can afford.

Keenlyside Quintet performing here

A debunking of the myth that those who can
do and those who can't teach will be

taking place this week as members of the
Music faculty who are involved in the Tom

Keenlyside Quintet put on a jazz concert
here on campus. In this case those who can

both do and teach--at any rate Tom
Keenlyside used to teach here inthe

Commercial Music program and Graham Boyle
and Rene Worst still do. The quintet

consists of Tom Keenlyside, flute and
... continued

An intriguing aside...

Magnified 200 times, a computer chip is

dramatized with a human hair.

ga Capilano college