By Kendall Worth!
Carrie Ann and I had kept in touch on Different Occasions since her Unwanted move home to Newfoundland; after 15 months of her living in Nova Scotia happened. Carrie Ann continues to Remains Confident that the day will come when she will return
to Nova Scotia and continue her Studies in person on Campus at MSVU. Carrie Ann
Cannot do everything herself where she is living in Newfoundland because
of the layout of the house. She felt she had a lot more independence while she was living in Nova Scotia and living; plus studying in person on the MSVU Campus. Despite Everything that has happened while she was living on Campus that has made her feel like her Disabilities of
caused by cerebral palsy (CP) She also has some other invisible
disabilities including ADHD and PTSD was being Discriminated against and Disrespected. Also the amount of accessibility Halifax had to offer like the Accessible Metro Transit buses and actual wheelchair accessible Malls and Public Buildings Helped her feel a lot more independent while in Halifax.
I want to let the readers know that I was in touch with Carrie Ann Over Easter weekend and she informed me that Starting within the next couple of weeks she plans to start working on looking for a wheelchair Accessible Apartment here in Halifax so she can return to Nova Scotia and Live off Campus. She also brought to my attention in recent conversations that she has made some contacts right here in Nova Scotia who is going to be helping her with her apartment Searching.
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| The reason why this photo was chosen for this current BLOG post on Carrie Ann is because this photo was taken on August 30th 2024 when for one last time she got to sit outside of her old apartment at Westwood just before the move to Assisi Hall happened. This Easter weekend brought back memories from one year ago because close to Easter 2023nearby Easter 2023 is when her issues at Westwood all got started. |
When Carrie Ann and I was in touch over Easter weekend 2024, Carrie Ann brought to my attention during conversation that it was roughly around Easter weekend of 2023, or close by when things started going weird and downhill for her at the University. Carrie Ann was 3 weeks to a month before Easter; was offered stuff through the University. Things that she was offered was things that would have helped her be successful in Westwood and throughout the University in General. Just before Easter 2023 Carrie Ann was even interviewed for a employment position at the University. Within roughly the 2 to 3 weeks after she was offered all of this, everything was taken off the table immediately and these opportunities was never discussed again . At the same time as everything was taken off the table this is also when Carrie Ann got her First indication from the university administration that we need to have a meeting and was advised to get an advocate. Carrie Ann feels now that exact dates of when all of this happened dose not matter now according to Carrie Ann. Carrie Ann would like to just move forward by getting her own apartment somewhere in Halifax off the MSVU Campus. Of course the whole concept of what part5 of her story talks about, part5 self explains why Carrie Ann is feeling these days the way she is feeling.
Carrie-Ann is remaining Confident that she will get herself back to Living in Halifax despite the current Housing Crises. She also wants to be back in Halifax by July 2024 because she is finding her overall experience of being at home is Newfoundland is not the mental health break she was looking for. Also Carrie Ann tells me that she is starting to apply for scholarships wish she is hoping she can get approved for them.
As you regular readers of my BLOG may remember I have done a 7 part story on Carrie Ann while she was still on Campus. Click here to see the Full Story https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/search/label/Carrie-Ann Her Living arrangement at home in Newfoundland is Unsupported and remained Unsupported the whole time she was home since December 19th, 2023. Her Mom cannot lift her anymore due to health problems of her. Also, she got news about her wheelchair reasonially. She reasonially has service technicians come by to look At her wheelchair and found that her chair needed repairs that should have been done while she was in Nova Scotia. She could not access funding while she was on Nova Scotia for repairs to her chair. She pointed out in here letter to Nova Scotia Primer and Community Services Minster https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2024/02/in-carrie-ann-bugdens-own-words.html that figuring out her wheelchair is one of the things she is going to need before she returns to Nova Scotia.
Also if you readers Click on the above link titled in Carrie Ann Budgen's own words, you will find she makes the fallowing points regarding what her needs actually are for when she does return to Halifax:
A safe, clean, and crime-free area of the HRM on a fixed bus route
Barrier-free, above-ground entry with ramp if necessary
Accessible kitchen appliances with front-end switches for ease of use
Accessible laundry facilities
Accessible bathroom facilities with a standard left-sided toilet with a corresponding facing wall for installation of appropriate grabrail and pedestal style sink (presence is required for installation of safety grab bar)
Doorways that can accommodate a standard-size motorized wheelchair (dimensions 33 inches in length and 26 inches in width) *areas must have appropriate turning radius and space*
If roommates are an option, they must be verified by me; additionally, the apartment must be pre-approved by me before lease signage.
Also in that same letter she points out that her Max Housing Budget is $900.00 to $1200 a month.
(Note – A letter was also written and Submitted to Brian Wong: Nova Scotia Minister of Advanced Education Dated February 20 Th 2024 and just to let you readers know this letter will not be going public on my BLOG. Carrie Ann and Discussed the Reasons why this letter should not go public) However I personally made sure that all contacts I have here in Nova Scotia who want to support Carrie Ann, and also submitted copies to all Revilement Officials, they all did receive a paper copy of this letter. In short this letter Elaborates on things that has happened to Carrie Ann at Westwood that has never gotten addressed by the University and to provide the message for her need to have to live off the MSVU Campus once she is back in Halifax.
Now and especially for those of you who are new to reading my BLOG, I believe it is A-bit important for you to know the history of the Carrie Ann Bugden story expecially for anyone who wants to help and support Carrie Ann. So now I am going to Provide a Recap on what Carrie Ann's story is about to give you all an understanding as to why I am Advocating for her as well as reporting on her story through my BLOG and to educate you on who Carrie Ann Bugden is.
I started reporting on Carrie Ann Bugden back in the Summer. I first met Carrie Ann through another contact I have here in the Disability Community in Halifax who also happens to be a long time supporter of my Journalism. After first talking to Carrie Ann I have decided I wanted to take on this story for my BLOG because I am strong believer in the fact that we have to as a society treat everyone including persons with Disabilities with the same respect that we give ourselves. As you will see in this link here https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/search/label/disability%20rights Carrie Ann's story provide many examples of the importance of respecting Disability rights in general. Also In many of my other unrelated BLOG posts I report on the Canadian Disability Benefit wish the Federal Government is currentially working on. https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/search/label/disability%20benefit In several places throughout Carrie Ann's story, I report on how if the Disability Benefit had of already existed when Carrie Ann had no choice but to make that mandatory move, and if the amount provided by the Benefit was enough for her pay rent and live off of, then she would have more freedom to move and go live somewhere off campus. Also the Existence of this benefit could have also prevented her from making that unwanted and unprepared for move home to Newfoundland. Also throughout all 7 parts of this story I report on how what happened to Carrie Ann builds the case on why the Canadian Disability benefit is needed.
Now I invite and encourage you to read the next paragraph and Click on Every link Below to get full scoop of her story.
Part#1 of her story https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2023/08/carrie-ann-bugdens-story.html was posted on my BLOG on August 19th 2023. In part#1I provide the general introduction of who Carrie Ann Bugden is, and of her story. Her story turned out to be a 7 part Serious I reported on my BLOG. Part#7 was posted December 10th, 2023. Carrie-Ann Bugden is currently a psychology, youth and family studies, student at Mount Saint Vincent University. As mentioned in the first paragraph of this BLOG post, Carrie Ann is a wheel chair user who’s disability is caused by cerebral palsy (CP). She also has some other invisible disabilities including ADHD and PTSD. While in Nova Scotia She received no support or financial assistance from Income Assistance, or any part of the Department of Community Services. The reason why I took interest in her story for my BLOG is because I am strong Supporter of Disability Inclusion. Despite Carrie Ann's Disability of her having CP, While getting to know Carrie Ann I was so inspired by her and how she was able to COPE through all her verouis Struggles. In https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2023/09/carrieann-bugdens-story-part2.html I report on an unwanted move she was moved from her Westwood residence to her current housing at Assisi Hall located on the MSVU Campus. This move the MSVU Officials made this move mandatory for her for her to continue her studying into the 2023/2024 Academic year. Also Parts#2 and Parts#3 https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2023/10/part3-of-carrie-ann-bugden-story.html I Elaborate on the behaviour of Carrie Ann's former Roommates at Westwood. Then in Part#4 https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2023/10/part4-of-carrie-ann-bugden-story.html Includes a list of Questions that Carrie Ann has tried to ask the University on Several Occasions regarding; why she was wrongfully disciplined by the University Administration and why her former Westwood Roommates was never disciplined, plus questions around why the unwanted but yet mandatory move even happened in the first place.
(Note - By Drawing your attention specifically to Part 3 and Part 4 linked above, you will develop a better understanding for the reasons why she can-not move back onto the Mount Saint Vincent Campus to live)
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| Carrie Ann feels that if her Former Roommates at Westwood and certain others at the University had a better understanding of what the book she holds in her hands in this picture teaches us then everything described in Parts 3 and 4 of her story linked above could have been avoided. |
Then in Part#5 https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-latest-on-carrie-ann-bugden-part5.html I report on how everything that has happened to Carrie Ann from top to Bottom while she was an in-person Student at the university; has affected her mental health to the point where she ended up in Hospital. In Part#5 you will see her experiences dealing with the health care system in Nova Scotia. This is the point where Carrie Ann has Seriously started thinking about moving home to Newfoundland. Carrie Ann however feels strongially confident that if she can live in Halifax a second time around and as long as she is living off the MSVU Campus; What I reported on in Part#5 shall not repeat itself. Part#6 https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2023/11/part6-of-carrie-ann-budgen-story.html Elaborates on Reasons of why she all of a sudden made her decision to move home final, not being limited to Both what happened to her at the University and as talked about in part#5 the hospital not doing more for her during her hospital visit. Part#6 also explains that if she ended staying in Halifax she would have had no Choice but to have to live in a tent after she had to be off the MSVU campus on December 18th, 2023. Part#7 https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2023/12/part7-of-carrie-ann-bugden-story.html I talk about how she is very saddened by her unwanted and unprepared for, but yet forced decision to have to move home but Circumstances have left her no Choice.
And now for what-else is new with Carrie Ann!
Carrie Ann’s mom has said at times Carrie Ann is living at her current home for free while she is at home on what Carrie Ann was hoping to call a mental health break. Carrie Ann now feels that this whole thing about her living at the house for free is possibly starting to annoy them. Also, Carrie Ann's studying has been affected at times due to things that are happening at her house she is staying at in Newfoundland. But the Question becomes how can Carrie Ann Contribute to the house while she is temperamentally living their when money is not in her Budget to Contribute to the household? As Explained in Part#2 Carrie-Ann was living on a student loan of $16K for the full academic year. This includes her expenses for books and tuition, accommodation and food etc.Carrie Ann reasonially brought to my attention that this amount decreased to $10K for the Full Year since she moved home and became an Online Student. Also Carrie Ann brought to my Attention that just like while she was here in Nova Scotia she could not get on income assistance because of her Student loan, - After she moved home she tried to get on the system in Newfoundland and was told the same thing. The Canadian Disability Benefit or Guaranteed Income does not even exist yet. Over these past 2 months Carrie Ann's mom has even asked her if she was ever able to work things out with the university yet. So hopefully Carrie will get approved for some scholarships she is applying for.
Carrie Ann is now is a position where whatever happens to her in the future she will soon have to think more about getting out of Living with her Mom and Brother. She wants to come back to Nova Scotia because Despite what happened at the University, the Concept of living in Nova Scotia was so much better for her mental health. However, she cannot return to living on the MSVU Campus. Also what is clear is she cannot come back to Halifax and Live in a tent due to her Disabilities.
At this point, Carrie Ann is in a Tough Position!
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